Good morning. I will be shopping for a new air compressor for my garage and wanted to get your input on the specs. It will be used mostly for suspension and brake work. I am sure it will also do some painting (not car but household) at some point as the Mrs always changing something in the house. What should I go for? is 4.3 scfi at 40 psi enough? Probably something with over a 10 gallon tank right?
Cheers
Cenk

 

Get an oiled Campbell Hausfeld or CH rebadge (Husky). I like the 60 gallon verticals because they aren't much more than the next smaller size. Obviously they aren't very portable and require 220. My next choice would be a ~30 gallon wheeled unit. I din't like the models that Sears offers. If there is a Harbor Freight near you that carries CH you may be able to find a good deal there.

Also, this reel goes on sale all the time for $40 and is a great deal:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46104

HF is a great place to get air tools and fittings on the cheap. Buy them on sale. Don't buy their impact guns, they suck. I got an IR impact gun and the rest of my air tools are from HF.

 

If you are going to be running serious air tools, then you'll need to check
them for their SCFM requirements. Air ratchets and impact guns don't have very high requirements, but stuff like die grinders and spray guns need a **** -load of air. Match your compressor to the highest requirement you'll be using on a regular basis, and step it down with a regulator for the rest.
I would say 40 gallon minimum on the tank size.

 

^^^ +1

Things like grinders and cutoff wheels need a *lot* of air, partly because you have them on for longer stretches than things like ratchets and impact guns.

But I think the biggest drain on your compressor is going to be a paint gun, especially if you use an HVLP gun. I have an HVLP Devilbiss paint gun, and it requires 8.5 SCFM at 40psig. I'm getting by with it on a Sears compressor that's rated for 6.3 SCFM @ 40psig, but that's only because I'm usually painting motorcycles or individual body panels, so my duty cycle isn't as high as if I were using it to paint a fence or a house.

Another thing to consider is where you'll be using it most often. If the compressor is going in your garage, and you'll be working in the garage, keep in mind that single-stage compressors are *loud*. If my garage were wired for 220V, I'd have probably gone with a 60-80 gallon two-stage vertical unit, since that seems to be the "sweet spot", price-wise.

 

What SCFM would you need for a impact gun and ratchet? I'm getting a compressor for the garage and was looking at a 26 gallon with a 6.4 scfm rating at 90psi. I think it's like 8.3 at 40psi or something. I'm only going to be using it for airing up tires and impact guns and ratchets for when I'm working on the cars. Possibly a nail gun later if there is a project, but not likely.

 

Harbor Freight has great deals on compressors. They are not name brand but I have a 21 gallon 4.5 HP compressor that is working great. One thing I wish it did have was the ability to adjust the ON/OFF PSI setting. It turns on at about 80 PSI and stops at 120PSI. I got it for under $130 onsale from $200. Great place to start looking...

 

My recommendation for a garage compressor for multipurpose garage usage is one with at least a 30 gallon tank, and at least 10scfm at 40 PSI. I also recommend a belt driven, oil-type setup rather than the typical oilless direct drive type. The direct drive types are very loud due to the motor running the pump at almost 3600rpm. Such machines tend to sound like leaf blowers at full throttle. The oilless nature of the pump, being run at that speed also means a shorter lifetime and a great deal more heat produced by the pump. A portable (horizontal tank on wheels) of about 30 gallons is a nice, flexible setup. If you plan on using more air tools or doing a lot more painting, a vertical, 60 gallon stationary compressor will take most things you would ever connect to it. Again, avoid the direct drive oilless versions for the longest life, least noise and most efficiency.

The direct drive units are best if you plan on transporting the unit a lot or very limited usage.

 

Nothing against Harbor Freight. I get some stuff there myself. But in tools, especially power tools and mechanics tools, you largely get what you pay for. If you don't plan to use it much, or to get too pissed when it dies, Harbor Freight may be the way to go. Quality tools from reputable manufacturers tend to last a lot longer and give better service. I have a Porter Cable 30 gallon upright two stage model that will even run a smallish sand blaster.

 

#1

 

if you are near Costco, they have a twin cylinder Cooper Tools model on wheels. It's red....very nice and not pricey ($150 I think). I have the blue, non-mobile version and it's a world better than the typical Porter-Cable pancake everybody uses.

 

Don't forget to get an air nozzle for helping dry the cars. I use one every week and it's great for getting all those little places water hides that your hands can't go.