What size is good for a Compressor?

Chappyd · #1 03-19-2006, 08:04 AM

I've been organizing the workshop over the last couple of days. My tail kit should be here on Tuesday. I was messing around with my compressor, and I don't think it is going to be up to continious use for rivetting and marginal with an air squeezer as well, especially if I'm moving quickly. The one in the shop is a 1-1/2 hp, 12 gallon. I have another in the garage that's 3 hp and 20 gallon. I've looked a little around the web but can't seem to get an idea about what would be right for building an RV. My Dad is coming over to help me rewire the shop today ( been needing this done for a while now) and now would be a good time to decide if I need a 230V hookup. The Compressor in the garage is a 230V. What are you folks using for compressors?

Any input would be appreciacted

Thanks

scard · #2 03-19-2006, 08:19 AM

I use a 5HP 60gal upright Ingersol. Some might say it is overkill, but it is super quiet when it never runs during a whole rivet session

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Hawkeye7A · #3 03-19-2006, 08:20 AM

I've been using one I've had in my garage for longer than I've been flying. It's a 5 hp/ 60 gal. It's really more than you need. What's more important than hp or tank size is: How many cubic feet per minute will it deliver? I feel that 6 cfm is the minimum I would consider. Your air drill and any grinders (die- or angle-types) will use the largest amounts. A bigger tank will take longer to bleed down to where the compressor motor kicks in (usually about 85 psi) but then again, it'll run a bit longer to bring the tank back up to the cut-off pressure (usually about 120 psi). If the compressor motor is/can be wired for 230 volt I'd definitely go with that. It'll draw less current set up that way. Check Harbor Freight or Northern Hydraulic for some good prices. I got mine at Costco. Hope this helps.

Captain_John · #4 03-19-2006, 09:00 AM

I second the big compressor theory... or is that a third?

I too have a 60 galln unit and it rarely runs unless I am using high volume equipment.

Here is a link... to a thread I wrote on the subject.

Hope it helps.

CJ

jcoloccia · #5 03-19-2006, 09:01 AM

Just whatever you get, do NOT get an oiless compressor. If you're never heard one before, you would not believe the racket they make.

I have a Lowes (Kobalt brand) 60 gal compressor.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...HFV&lpage=none

Cost $500, or something like that. It runs on 220 so I'm going to have to get another compressor for the hanger. All I can say is that this thing ROCKS. I can run my die grinder, drills, air nibbler, etc all day long, and the compressor just plugs and chugs away no problem. Also, being 60 gallons means that it runs much less frequently than a much smaller compressor. It's really nice to build in silence. Really, this particular compressor wasn't my first choice, but the guy I bought my house from happened to already have 220 in the garage for HIS compressor. Way cheaper to just buy a nice, 220V compressor than pay an electrician to change my 220 outlet to 115.

I'd go ahead and get the biggest compressor that will fit your budget up to 60 gallons. Anymore than that, you're just throwing money away, but while 60 gallons might be a "luxury", it is definately NOT overkill. Also, the most important thing, really, is the SCFM. > 10 scfm @ 90psi works well. Mine happens to do 13, I think. It just so happens that by the time you get a compressor with decent capacity, you're typically in the 60 gallon range. I think Ingersol Rand makes a 30 gallon 12CFM compressor, or something like that, but it's ridiculously expensive.

Good luck.

mikegraycmg · #6 03-19-2006, 09:11 AM

I looked at the air tools I would use to find the pressures (PSI) they would use and the amount of air delivery they require (CFM). Most appear to require less than 6 CFM at 90 PSI. I just ran across a Schulz heavy duty compressor that delivers 5.9 CFM at 90 PSI with a 30 gallon tank, and got that for $400. It seemed to me that 30 gallon is about the minimum I would need.

My guess is that you could make do with less, but I did not want to be frustrated by a lack of compressor capacity. I also didn't want to have my garage rewired for 220v; and, I wanted the piston driven type, because they seem to me to be quieter.

rv9aviator · #7 03-19-2006, 09:38 AM

I bought a Sears piston type that is 25 gallon, 6.8 CFM @90 lbs. 120 volt compressor. I have been very satisfied with it. I have used it for all my air tools, paint spraying and it does a great job. I saw it in a current Sears catalog for $379.00 the other day. I like the 120 volt horizontal tank type because it is easier to move around from the shop to the hanger. The vertical types are too top heavy to throw in the truck and haul to the airport for me. It is pretty quiet but I set it outside under a carport and run the main airline into the shop to a regulator and water trap. Bigger is always better but this compressor is doing the job fine and is really handy. The model number is 919.195411 or 0919541N.

robertahegy · #8 03-19-2006, 10:09 AM

I agree that most oilless compressors are really noisey, but my Porter Cable compressor is very quiet and very adequate. It has a 25 gallon tank, is upright and very portable, and runs at 175 psi. I can easily talk over it and it has a very rapid recovery. My last compressor was also oilless, but would wake up the dead. I was really glad when it died, but I liked the oilless for spraying water base primers like UV smooth prime. I had the store plug this one in before I bought it. It really is not much louder than smaller piston types and much faster with more volume than comparable sizes.

JMHO

Roberta

KTM520guy · #9 03-19-2006, 11:01 AM

440 volt, screw compressor?

Chappyd · #10 03-19-2006, 11:01 AM

I went out to the garage and found that one is rated at 7.5 cfm at 90 psi. Even though the tank is kinda small, I think I'll start out with it and see how it goes. What the heck, it's here. And it'll give me an excuse to wire a 230V line into the shop area.