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  #1  
Old 06-02-2006, 02:29 PM
Aggie98 Aggie98 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 28
Default Looking for an air compressor

Does anyone know anything about the following models wrt to noise, performance and reliability? Or does someone have a recommendation for best value?

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w..._207226_207226

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...1703_200311703

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...1705_200311705

I also saw a recommendation for a craftsman compressor in another thread somewhere, how would that would compare to these?

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ead.php?t=6453

I do not have 220 in the garage, but with a dad who is a cert. electrician, it wouldn't be a problem. I like to have one of the 60 gal tanks, but space and money are at a premium.
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  #2  
Old 06-02-2006, 02:34 PM
RV_7A RV_7A is offline
 
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Location: Round Rock, TX
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Default

Mickey do a search on air compressors here and you'll get all you need.

Heres one thread...

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ght=compressor

-Jeff
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Last edited by RV_7A : 06-02-2006 at 02:36 PM.
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  #3  
Old 06-02-2006, 03:42 PM
jany77 jany77 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: monterey ,ca
Posts: 105
Default compressor

i bought mine at cragen for 150$ its 20 gal tank and 6 hp engine its quiet and good you can look first there then spend 500 $ for something you can buy cheaper
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  #4  
Old 06-03-2006, 08:32 PM
TSwezey TSwezey is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Savannah, GA
Posts: 1,849
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I bought mine at Home Depot. It's a HuskyPro 5HP 26 Gallon Oil-lubricated and made of cast-iron. I have wasted many compressors before but this one has held up for a couple of years now. It's a little bit quieter than the oil-free ones and it runs on 110. It cost about $369 when I bought it. I would go to HD or Sears and get one that has a three year warranty, that way you know you will have a compressor to finish building the plane.
Aggie86
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N110TD
RV-10 Vesta V8 LS2/BMA EFIS/One formerly flying at 3J1 Hobbs stopped at 150 hours
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  #5  
Old 06-03-2006, 08:55 PM
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kevinh kevinh is offline
 
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Location: San Mateo, CA
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I wouldn't worry about a huge tank. I used a 5HP 26 gal oiled compressor with no problem. Sure it will kick on more often, but 90% of the time you are drilling or rivetting - neither of which use much air. Sure the die grinder or cut off wheel would burn through air, but I rarely needed to pause work because of the compressor.
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  #6  
Old 06-04-2006, 05:34 AM
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rzbill rzbill is offline
 
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Location: Asheville, NC
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Default Depends own you particular situation

Compressor size matters....

I have a 6hp with a 60 gallon tank. 220V

If you frequently have 2 airtools running at the same time, (or just one dual action sander or sandblaster for other hobbies) you will need a bigger tank and more HP.

If only one rivet gun is being used, I can sometimes get through a work session with one pump-up.

I think the nuisance value goes up as the compressor size goes down. I HATE being stopped from working to wait for a compressor to pump up.

And don't we all prefer the lilting tone of a constantly running airless over the raucious noise coming out of the shop stereo speakers? NOT
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Bill Pendergrass
ME/AE '82
RV-7A: Flying since April 15, 2012. 850 hrs
YIO-360-M1B, mags, CS, GRT EX and WS H1s & A/P, Navworx
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  #7  
Old 06-04-2006, 06:22 AM
Highflight Highflight is offline
 
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Location: Houston, TX
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I have to agree that size matters, for one thing, and the other thing is to NEVER consider one of the "oilless" compressors. Whatever size you get, you want to look for it being a cast iron, oil lubricated type, and it's best if it's a two-stage compressor.

Good compressors have gotten a whole lot less expensive than they used to be, and here's one for just $500 that will keep up and last a lifetime if you take care of it. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...HFV&lpage=none

While not shown on their website, I ended up biting the bullet and buying the next larger Kobalt model that cost $800 and comes with a larger capacity compressor plus an 80 gallon tank.
The compressor itself is made by Coleman (that's a good thing), and the whole thing is made in the US if that means anything to anybody (it sort of does to me )

Yes, you really can get by with a 3hp size compressor, but for only a few dollars more, you can spend $500 and get something that you'll never have to wonder if it will keep up.
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  #8  
Old 06-04-2006, 06:44 AM
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Mel Mel is online now
 
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Location: Dallas area
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First of all, don't even consider buying a compressor by hp! The hp ratings are an enormous bogus selling act. A good example of this is the 5 hp compressors that will run on 110V. If you will look at "real" hp specs, you'll find that you can only run about 1 hp max on 110V. You want CFM, that's what matters. I have a 5hp, 2-stage, 80 gallon vertical tank, 18CFM@175# that I have been running for about 15 years. And I use it every day in my shop. The only maintenance is to keep the filter clean, drain the water daily and change the oil yearly.
Yes, you can get by with less, but a 2-stage compressor runs slower and quieter, and a larger tank runs less. Once you have owned a 2-stage, you will never go back to a single stage.
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USAF Vet, High School E-LSA Project Mentor.
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<rvmel(at)icloud.com>
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  #9  
Old 06-04-2006, 08:35 AM
jcoloccia jcoloccia is offline
 
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Posts: 1,110
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I also have the 60gal Lowes compressor (they have 2 models...I have the higher CFM model). I couldn't be happier. The thing's build like a tank, is quiet and can keep up with whatever tool I throw at it no sweat.
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Last edited by jcoloccia : 06-04-2006 at 08:39 AM.
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  #10  
Old 06-04-2006, 09:59 AM
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N713R N713R is offline
 
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Location: Flanagan, IL
Posts: 194
Default Big displacement, low RPM

It has been my experience that getting a bigger displacement compressor that operates at lower RPM will last longer than most of the smaller high rpm compressors. This is not always true, but it seems as if I see alot of the little oilless compressor fail long before the big oil filled slow running compressors. If you really want a compressor that will last the duration, look into a Quincy brand compressor. They are more expensive, but like anything else in life, you get what you pay for. Guess ultimately it depends on what you are looking for. If you are going to use it to build the airplane, then it won't get used much once the plane is complete, then a smaller less expensive model would do the job. If you want to have a compressor that will still be running strong when your son decideds to build, get a Quincy or something of that caliber.

Any advice contained in the above post, worth exactly what you paid for it.
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