Size of shop air compressors - Printable Version

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Size of shop air compressors - encantotom - 08-13-2014

i am trying to decide what air compressor to get for my new shop.

the 60-80 gallon vertical compressors are easy to find and relatively inexpensive.

but, i have a couple of buddies that have the horizontal ones and i really like that. one has a quincy.

i am going to pour a pad at the outside far corner of the shop and put the compresor outside. will likely make a shade screen or something to keep it out of the sun.

so the real question is.....how big of one do i need?

i may keep the coach plugged into it like they do at newell. i will run some air tools and they really take the cfm. but not very often.

do you guys have any recommendations? i am thinking a 5-7.5hp 240v singe phase with a pump that does from 15-20 cfm and a 50-80 gallon tank. but that is pretty broad price and size ranges.

i keep looking for a used commerical one but they are mostly all 3 phase.

thoughts?

tom

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RE: Size of shop air compressors - Retro - 08-13-2014

I have a rotophase converter in my shop, runs the lathe and milling machine etc. Depending on what else you might want to run it might be an option. 3 phase equipment is usually cheaper to buy. If you dont plan on using any 3 phase a single would work well too, I would overkill the compresser somewhat, it will run less and build air better. More is better than not enough in my opinion.
I bought my phase converter here http://www.americanrotary.com/products/phase-converters
Its a 15hp 11.2kw/240v

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RE: Size of shop air compressors - encantotom - 08-13-2014

i will not have any 3 phase equipment. i will not have machine shop type equipment. so i will stick with a single phase compressor. i would love to find a great deal on a high quality used one, but have been looking for a long time and have not found one yet.

any of you ever heard of schultz compressors? alot of features/spec's for the money. garagejournal has a thread on them with most folks having good things to say.

tom

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RE: Size of shop air compressors - Ozarkguy - 08-13-2014

Tom something like this will do the job as you only have single phase. It will run your air tools and air up your tires also.. Need to also put in a good water separator..
http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Quincy-2V41C60VC-Air-Compressor/p855.html

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RE: Size of shop air compressors - Retro - 08-13-2014

That is a nice compresser, I think something like that would do the trick

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RE: Size of shop air compressors - encantotom - 08-13-2014

i really dont want an upright. i prefer a horizontal. and some air tools take more than 15cfm.

have a look at this one

http://www.schulzamerica.com/products/piston-compressors/v-and-w-series-heavy-duty-model-7580hv30x-1/

this can be had for 1500 plus shipping

tom

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RE: Size of shop air compressors - qcj - 08-13-2014

Tom, I have a 40 year old cast iron Sears single stage 240 volt which I have not been able to wear out. It is rated at 150 psi. Most of the newer single stage are rated to 135 psi. I have a couple of those I use for nailers etc. because I can move them around easy. I like my older one in my MH storage area because the newer ones even rated at 135 psi want air my front tires to 130 pounds. My advice is to buy more than you will think you will need. The one Jimmy showed you is a great compressor. You will pay more for a two stage, but you will not run out of air and it max. out at 175 psi. If my Sears ever craters this is what I will buy. My Sears is horizontal also.

NAPA here in town always several compressor setting around in the store. You might check with them and also Grainger.

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RE: Size of shop air compressors - Retro - 08-13-2014

I like the schulz also, 30 cfm is lots

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RE: Size of shop air compressors - Ozarkguy - 08-13-2014

Looks like it will work..not free shipping tho.... I like the vertical because takes up less floor space and seems to have less tank rust-out problems ... sorta a apples/orange thing..I've had both..

Any dirt damage last night?

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RE: Size of shop air compressors - Trainer - 08-13-2014

Tom,

In the past, I saw a water separator in an auto repair shop made from a 6 inch pvc pipe running vertically from just below the ceiling to just above the floor. A "T" installed a few feet above the floor with reducers admitted the humid compressed air. A fitting with reducers on the bottom end allowed a water drain valve. A similar fitting on the top end allowed the out take of dry compressed air.

The theory is the rising humid compressed air in the large 6 inch pipe slows allowing the water to fall to the bottom leaving dry compressed air at the top. It ran for many years in the auto repair shop using air tools.

No personal experience with this device but thought you might find the idea interesting.

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