air compressor questions

[funvtec]

i'm looking into buying an air compressor and am in need of some advise.

it needs to be 110v unit i'd like a high scfm @90psi

the oiless compressors are nice from a maintenance standpoint however i had one a while ago and it took a really long time to recover.

i also like a high max psi for when i'm using an air hammer or an impact on a really stubborn part.

the highest scfm at 90 i've found is a craftsman unit at 6.4 but it was an oiless 26 gallon and the price was only $250 2.0 hp 150 psi max

i have also found another one that runs at 5.5 @ 90 with an oiled compressor motor. this one was also a 26 gal that was priced at $384 1.9 hp 135 psi max this one can also be converted to 220 at any time

how much difference in recovery time is there in these 2 motor choices.

whats more important a fast recovery time or a hight scfm?

this will be used in the garage for auto repairs. not much sanding or other high consumption tools

lets hear your input

 

[87manche]

go with a belt driven oiled compressor.
i've got a maintenance free one and the noise in the garage is deafening.
I'd gladly trade a CFM for a quieter unit.
FWIW the craftsman unit is made by devilbiss, and it requires a dedicated circuit. it's the same one I've got in my garage. It performs well, but it's just so damned noisy.

 

[beakie]

for noise, what we did at my buddies was frame it into a small room. sound deadening insulation, picked up a sound deadening display door (missing fascia one corner to show insides, merely cosmetic). Door open, ya she's a howler, but close the door and its a mere hummmm. cost maybe $200 for everything, but when your in there for a while using air, its totally worth it.

sorry no help on the compressor tho.

 

[Stumpalump]

I gave up on 110v units. They are just too noisy,too slow,and they run out of air. I found a 220V 80 gallon Devilblis 2 stage on Craigslist for 400. It's over kill but it's the only compressor I have never cursed at. It's a quiet thump thump thump noise and it hardly ever comes on. I'm not saying to go buy a 220 volt unit but if you can get to your electric cloths dryer or outside AC unit then you may be closer to a 220v source than you think. If you still want 110v then get the oil bath type with a belt and buy the biggest and best one you can find.

 

[87manche]

for noise, what we did at my buddies was frame it into a small room. sound deadening insulation, picked up a sound deadening display door (missing fascia one corner to show insides, merely cosmetic). Door open, ya she's a howler, but close the door and its a mere hummmm. cost maybe $200 for everything, but when your in there for a while using air, its totally worth it.

sorry no help on the compressor tho.

I'd love to do that, but it's not possible in my garage.
it still wouldn't help with it vibrating the floor above it.

 

[funvtec]

I agree 220 is the way to go, however i'm not a home owner yet and i'm working out of my mothers detached garage. I did some research and its just to costly to have someone come out and run 220 out there. believe me i'd prefer it being a welder by trade and using a lil 110 volt welder sucks. but for the time being i've got to deal with what i have to work with.

 

[beakie]

I'd love to do that, but it's not possible in my garage.
it still wouldn't help with it vibrating the floor above it.

we drilled some hockey pucks (go figure we had a few kickin around) and bolted through them to insulate the unit to the floor. you could use a few different compounds to help keep vibes low.

 

[87manche]

we drilled some hockey pucks (go figure we had a few kickin around) and bolted through them to insulate the unit to the floor. you could use a few different compounds to help keep vibes low.

it's already rubber mounted.

the oil less compressors are just noisy bastards. When this one dies I'm going to buy a belt driven 220 job and be done with it for a long time.

 

[Stumpalump]

Go behind an appliance store and get an old refrigerator. Bring some tools so you can leave the compressor and heavy mechanical parts in their dumpster. Strip all the shelves and saw zall out the bottom of the freezer. Stick the compressor in the refrigerator. You may also be able to hot wire the internal fans to run and pull heat out. Sure you will need to monitor temp durring heavy use but you can allways open the door. If you just want some vibration controll on the feet then you can but poly bumpstops with a threaded stud in them. Or screw it down to a piece of plywood and chuck some used motercycle tires under it. Honda shops have piles of used ones.

 

[funvtec]

ok i got the whole noise thing associated with the oiless compressors. What about overall performance? how do these stack up against eachother? is 1 scfm going to be noticable?

 

[87manche]

depends on what you're running.
with an impact or ratchet, not likely.
with air sanders and such that use a high volume of air then yes, 1 scfm might be the difference between running constanly and stopping to wait for pressure to build up.
I can tell you that the craftsman won't keep up with a 3" air grinder for very long. about 10 minutes of continuous use and it will need 3 minutes to fill the tank again.

 

[Art Triggs]

I bought a belt drive oiled compressor w/ a 30 gallon tank, runs on 110 at Lowes, it is a little slow to re-charge , but it is miles ahead of the oilless compessor I had , (that eventually failed from being overrun constantly). This hardware is beefy enough it will tale the abuse, is small enough to fit in my pigsty(garage)and eventually I can upgrade the motor or rebuild the compressor if needed.