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  #1  
Old 11-29-2012, 05:09 AM
10_year_plan 10_year_plan is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Sydney
Posts: 8
Default air compressor

What sort of $$$s did you spend on an air compressor. I was told about a chinese brand called cara, but I can't seem to track them down. At this point, I'm looking towards more along the lines of not painting... I do plan on priming the interior parts... would having two tanks hooked up serve the purpose in terms of being enough to do the quick jobs? I hear the biggest part would be painting say, the internals of the skins. I can pick up some tanks for cheap as chips

At this point I hope to spend about 5-600
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  #2  
Old 11-29-2012, 05:58 AM
humptybump humptybump is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 3,179
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Watch Craigslist. Good (older) compressors show up locally all the time. I scored a two stage 100 gallon compressor from a garage mechanic who was retiring. Less than $300, as i recall.

The big old units are quiet (going chug-a-chug-a-chug) and can produce endless amounts of air.
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  #3  
Old 11-29-2012, 07:04 AM
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flywithme623 flywithme623 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Somerset VA
Posts: 77
Default Home Depot 20Gal Comp.

This is the Compressor I got after reading about it here on another builders thread. I am very happy with it since it is very quiet and does everything I need it to do in my building process.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...1#.ULdqu44oZlI
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  #4  
Old 11-29-2012, 07:05 AM
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Sam Buchanan Sam Buchanan is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Alabama
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 10_year_plan View Post
What sort of $$$s did you spend on an air compressor. I was told about a chinese brand called cara, but I can't seem to track them down. At this point, I'm looking towards more along the lines of not painting... I do plan on priming the interior parts... would having two tanks hooked up serve the purpose in terms of being enough to do the quick jobs? I hear the biggest part would be painting say, the internals of the skins. I can pick up some tanks for cheap as chips

At this point I hope to spend about 5-600
This compressor is available under several brands and will fit your budget:

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardw...&storeId=10051

Mine came from Home Depot and I've been very pleased with it. I've painted two airplanes, three cars and a truck with it.
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  #5  
Old 11-29-2012, 08:58 AM
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ppilotmike ppilotmike is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 1,967
Default Harbor Freight

I got a Harbor Freight jobber because I couldn't find a decent "old good" one on Craigslist. Also, I only had 110 in my shop and would have needed another panel to install 220, which is required by the big boys. DO NOT get an oil-less compressor. They are loud and do not last well. I had a CH compressor like the one suggested above prior to getting the 29 gallon one I currently have. Basically, it was crazy loud, kicked on all the time because it had only 20 gal capacity, and I sold it as soon as I could, to fund the purchase of another one. I would love to have a better one than I currently have, but it has served me well thus far.
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-horse...sor-68127.html
P.S. plumb the drain valve outside to lower noise when draining, and drain every night if possible...
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  #6  
Old 11-29-2012, 09:38 AM
compren compren is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 78
Default I am almost embarrassed to admit it...

I never bought a compressor for the plane build...continued to use my 6Gal 1.5HP "Big Lots" compressor I originally bought 7 years ago for $59.99. It runs quite a bit when I am using the die grinder, but for drilling and riveting, it works fine. You don't need to spend a big chunk of money for a compressor unless your looking to paint with it (imo).

In all honesty, I would like to have a 15-20Gal just so to reduce the run time on my existing compressor, but have decided to just use this little one until it dies.
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  #7  
Old 12-02-2012, 06:45 PM
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kjowen kjowen is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Marietta, GA
Posts: 150
Question CFM @ 90 PSI and Volume???

Guys, from my research I am figuring I need at a minimum a 6.0 CFM @ 90 PSI compressor, and as large a capacity as affordable so the unit will not cycle every 5 mins. But to get something at 6.0 CFM, it means getting a stationary vertical compressor, then I get into having 240 power available and constructing an air piping system and or a Hose Reel(s). I found a portable unit at home depot today that was a 30 gal, 5.0 CFM unit with a two out regulated supply, but do not know if this will be satisfactory. I'm building a -14, so I'll probably be using a rivet gun often, and some minor spray gun. I'm going to out source the final paint work. I don't want to over buy, but as the compressor is going to be located in my workspace, I don't want it running all the time either.

Can anyone give me some input?
Thanks in advance!
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  #8  
Old 12-03-2012, 03:59 AM
humptybump humptybump is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: USA
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Ken, before I moved into my big shop, I used a compressor just like the one you described. It is a Craftsman 6hp 25 gallon roll-around jobby. It does everything necessary. Before I had it, it even painted a couple of cars. I still have it as backup, as a loaner, and for site work. While I enjoy having a big shop compressor "with all the fixins" it's not needed for building an airplane.
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  #9  
Old 12-03-2012, 05:58 AM
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kjowen kjowen is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Marietta, GA
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Thanks Glen!
I think I would like the big one too, but I think I'm going to try to get by with the smaller one initially. It should be fine for using a rivet gun. As I still have to buy tools, I need to be smart with my cash.....
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  #10  
Old 12-03-2012, 06:27 AM
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rleffler rleffler is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Delaware, OH (KDLZ)
Posts: 4,196
Default

I had three compressors during my build.

I started out with this one in my garage

Home Depot 60gal

When I moved the project to the airport, which 240v wasn't available, I purchased a 30 gal unit from Harbor Freight. It worked ok, but blew a gasket after a year. I didn't know that was the problem when it happened, so I purchased another 30 gal unit from Home Depot to replace it. Neither are current products, so I couldn't post links.

About six months later, HF pulled the unit off the market to due to mass gasket failures to out of warranty unit. The Internet came through with a gentleman that found the problem and published a fix. For about $5 of materials and thirty minutes of work, the unit was restored back to life.


Having the 60 gal tank was great. But with that said, the 30 gal tank is feasible for most builds. Yes, it does tend to run when using a grinder, oribtal sander, or paint gun. But mine does seem to stay up with the demand, since it will shut off quickly once I stop the device I'm using. Since you don't paint, sand, or grind often, I find it acceptable. For riveting and squeezing, there is plenty of down time between cycles.

bob
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