Thread: Got a new Air Compressor for $700

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Started doing body work yesterday and after having to stop every five minutes to let the compressor build air pressure back up got pissed.

So me and the wife got in the old ford truck and went out in search to buy a new air compressor.

Found one with a 80 gallon tank, three piston compressor, 230 volt wiring.

This also means more work because I’m gonna have to run another 230 wire into my shop now.

That means digging up the back yard again to run under ground pvc to protect the wire.

Then I have to tie into the power panel on the house.

I’ve run 250 volt for my welders, but my old air compressor was only 110 volts.

I ran the welder power to the front of my shop or the side of the house.

It is out side where there is nothing but block and cement to keep me from burning things up.

Plus I built a giant steel table to weld on, and a 3X3 foot wide by 3 ½ foot tall safe, that I use

To beat on stuff on. Oh and that is 2in. thick all around steel, the door is about 4in thick.

No fun to move either. Sat that on the back of my car trailer and picked the back end of

My 89 full size Bronco, right up off the ground. Think I’ll leave that if I ever move again.



Kurt

Been there, done that on being frustrated over a too small air compressor. No question that having a big enough unit to do sanding and sand blasting really makes working on a car a pleasure. The one we have now does a great job.

Good idea on using that safe for a work table. Plus it gives you a place to keep all your money!

Don

A friend had a 60 gal unit that died and he replaced it with an 80 gal IR upright unit. Store loaded on to his pickup (with pallet attached). When he got it to his garage, it took 4 (BIG) guys to unload it and put in place. He said that for a while he thought it might have to stay on the pickup forever.

Nearly mandatory to have an 80 gal or larger unit when you do a lot of air work. Thinking of getting a new 60 for myself this year, but I don't do a great deal of air work, and especially very limited painting.

Thats the way mine came with a pallet attached.
Put a wood ladder on 3 jack stands up to my tail
gate and slid it down that to the ground.
Me and my 20 year old son and his friend Kevin,
and that was still a fight to keep it up right.
Then moved it in to the shop on pallet type
dollie with 4 coaster wheels.
Thats one heavy mother.

Kurt

Ive been looking at the home depots husky compressor, it runs 22cfm at 90psi 80 gallon tank, not bad for under $2000.

I was thinking of selling my 30gal air compressor, it's only about a year old.
But maybe I'll just plumb the two together on second thought.
Kurt

Why can't you tie the compressor into your welder power supply? They should be the same voltage and it's not likely you'll be using both at the same time. Then you won't have to run another cable out to your shop. I run my entire shop off a single 220 volt line and split it at the breaker box for 110 volt service for lights and outlets. No problems for over 20 years.

Just did that myself only it was a sixty gallon three piston unit. I had a 220 outlet already and just swapped out the outlet for the correct connection. Also when I pulled up to the house my neighbor and his kid were outside so I recruited them and my son to help unload. I was hooked up and running in about an hour. I love it when a plan comes together.

It's funny because yesterday I went and looked at a 60 gallon, 220 volt Cambell Hosfeld compressor. It was too big for my limited space, plus no 220 or desire to put in 220 right now. It was a great deal though, 200 bucks, looked brand new!
I've been eyeing the Porter Cable 25 gallon upright that has a boost feature when pressure drops to 120, to get back up to 150psi, It runs 5.4 cfm at 90 psi, and 7.7 at 40 psi. The idea is to keep pressure above 90 psi that most air tools run at. This will run all of my air tools. I've seen it at 308.00 at the cheapest, but by time tax and shipping add in, it's 360 just about anywhere I can find it. My birthday is coming up, so I thought I'd punt this to my wife and offer to pay a little to offset the cost!
Right now I have a small pancake compressor, which won't run my cut off tool more than 20 seconds, makes it hard to get anything off the truck that doesn't belong there! Costco also has a Cambell Hosfeld around the same size that is also a vertical unit, but it has the compressor motor mounted lower to keep the center of gravity low, going for about the same price, but, less cfm's at 90 psi. What do you guys think(in light of bigger is better, remember, smaller fits for me)

most air tools require 14-19 cfm to run, if its only putting out 5-7 it beats up the compresser real bad,

I could if I had the 250 not 220 in the shop.
The 250 is on the side of my house in a weather proof plug.
About 100 feet in the front of my shop, on the side of my house.
This is the all cement and block place where I do all the welding to
keep from burning things up. This is also where my giant steel
welding table is. I would like to keep the Compressor out of the
florida weather.
Thanks Kurt

Originally Posted by hotroddaddy

most air tools require 14-19 cfm to run, if its only putting out 5-7 it beats up the compresser real bad,

Fortunately the tools I'm using are for small jobs, not fulltime work, and solely for my truck project right now, though I appreciate your thoughts. I wish I had the space for a larger setup, but it would be wasted on me and the amount of use it would get! Although watching Don's son's rpu project with the new body makes me want to get more experience!

It's like one of my old girl friends said,
better to have to much then not enogh,
when you really need it. I guess that I
learned that lesson the hard way.
HE! HE! HE!
Kurt

Just got this air compressor for 200 used. It is a Campbell Hausfeld 5HP, 30 Gal tank. The people selling said their son bought it to paint his car, but only used it for prep, as their garage let too much dust in for finish painting.
The dad said it may have less than ten hours on it. It looks new, and the tank was stored with the bleeder open so it's dry inside and clean. I know I can sell it for what I paid for it if it doesn't work out, but I'm confident it will. It also came with a 50 ft air hose!

upright is good