Air Compressor CFM

ambrola · #1 02-26-2017, 01:50 PM

Is there a good high CFM Compressor that doesn't cost a fortune? I need one around 8 to 12 CFM?

J-Mech · #2 02-26-2017, 02:52 PM

What are you running that you need that many CFM Ronnie??
Even if you want to paint with it, you don't need one that puts out that much if your just painting Cub stuff. You may have to wait every now and again for it to catch up, but that's NBD. I used to paint quite a bit with a smaller compressor. I just put another tank inline to the spray gun for volume. Other thing doing that helped with was moisture..... but I'll discuss that more if that's your plan. As a hobby compressor, I'm doubting you really "need" that big of one. Unless you just don't mind spending the cash, then that's fine!

What is your idea of "expensive"? That's a pretty relative term.

Jet makes good compressors:
https://www.ohiopowertool.com/p-1584...FQ65wAodYK4COw

Northern Tool has several choices:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...FcK1wAodSHAArQ

Both the Jet and several of the NT ones are under $800. That's pretty good for a compressor of that size.

Mike McKown · #3 02-26-2017, 02:53 PM

There is some good reading here.

http://www.truetex.com/aircompressors.htm

john hall · #4 02-26-2017, 02:56 PM

What type of tools are you wanting to run and do you care to share your budget? Also, do you have 220 available?

As long as you are not running air grinders, sanders, or sandblasters, you don't need a huge compressor. We have a smaller rotary at work and if we get 3-4 guys running air grinders hard, we will get low on air. You'll never have enough big stuck bolts on passenger vehicles and Cadets to run low air with an air wrench.

Personally, I prefer a piston compressor (for home/farm use) over any oiless unit. Those are a joke. If you go with a bigger unit consider vertical--they take up a lot less space. The drawback is they are top heavy to load/unload/transport and set in place.

J-Mech · #5 02-26-2017, 03:06 PM

I wouldn't say oil-less compressors are all bad. I have two Craftsman oil-less compressors. I was lucky and bought a vertical "Professional" one when they offered it with 175PSI max. I have literally ran the dog crap out of it for about 15 years and it's still going. It was my main compressor in the shop when I started out before I bought a "big" one. It was then moved over to the service truck where it was ran off a generator on service calls. It has literally sat and run for hours at a time when I was painting, running air sanders, or taking apart big things (tractors and such) and running my impact constantly. I do have another 150PSI professional horizontal. It hasn't seen nearly the use of the other, but still runs great. Only thing I don't like about them is they are so damn noisy!!! I do think it makes a difference that they were the Professional series. I think that extra $200 was worth it.

john hall · #6 02-26-2017, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Mech

I wouldn't say oil-less compressors are all bad. I have two Craftsman oil-less compressors. I was lucky and bought a vertical "Professional" one when they offered it with 175PSI max. I have literally ran the dog crap out of it for about 15 years and it's still going. It was my main compressor in the shop when I started out before I bought a "big" one. It was then moved over to the service truck where it was ran off a generator on service calls. It has literally sat and run for hours at a time when I was painting, running air sanders, or taking apart big things (tractors and such) and running my impact constantly. I do have another 150PSI professional horizontal. It hasn't seen nearly the use of the other, but still runs great. Only thing I don't like about them is they are so damn noisy!!! I do think it makes a difference that they were the Professional series. I think that extra $200 was worth it.

Didn't think those were very durable, must have been wrong. I imagine you bought a higher end unit also. The couple I have been around were very noisy also, I've heard others say the same thing.

ambrola · #7 02-26-2017, 05:18 PM

It's not that I need a high CFM compressor, just that I am ready to buy a new one and would like to use a blast cabinet and angle grinder without it running constantly. I know that the CFM is the number you want to be as high as you can, without costing a fortune. That North Star looks like a steal if it has a good rep, and it's only 550.00?

I looked at Sears and some of the other name brands, but they run 3k and up. I have been watching CL for a bargin but the only one I found was an old one that would run a body shop.

J-Mech · #8 02-26-2017, 05:38 PM

If your willing to spend the money, Jet tools are very good. I'd buy one. Ingersol Rand is one of the best.

On that Northern Tool, North Star, you should be able to read reviews on.

CADplans · #9 02-26-2017, 07:11 PM

I have two real nice Grainger compressors,, both belt drive.
The larger one (30 gallon horizontal tank) ran my plasma torch 4 hours a day for a decade,,
it is still perfect.
The smaller one,, probably 3HP,, has been used for all of my painting and general shop duties for 15 years.
If I needed another (I doubt I will ever need another) it would be a Grainger.

My "trick" to success with the plasma torch was that I had a extra 30 gallon tank at the end of a 100 foot hose.
That second tank fed the torch.
I could run for weeks, literally, on one set of electrode parts,,, no moisture.

DeltaCub · #10 02-26-2017, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ambrola

It's not that I need a high CFM compressor, just that I am ready to buy a new one and would like to use a blast cabinet and angle grinder without it running constantly. I know that the CFM is the number you want to be as high as you can, without costing a fortune. That North Star looks like a steal if it has a good rep, and it's only 550.00?

I looked at Sears and some of the other name brands, but they run 3k and up. I have been watching CL for a bargin but the only one I found was an old one that would run a body shop.

Blast cabinets can require copious amounts of air! I bought a Skat Blast 960T and a new Sanborn compressor last December. The compressor does handle the load but runs continuously. Big compressors need plenty of power too! Fortunately, I had the 50amp circuit available in the breaker box. Spend the money ONCE and get a quality compressor. Otherwise, you know the old adage...pay me now...or pay me later.