In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Opinions on air compressors.
Fatstrat
Member Posts: 9,147
Well my Harbor Frieght 10 gal. compressor died on me after only 3 years of VERY light use. So I'm in the market for a new one.
Going w/a bigger one this time. 10gal just wasn't big enough anyway.
Looking at 2 in my price range.
The Sears Craftsman 26 gal standup model. And the Lowes Kobalt 26 gal standup.
Both are within $50. of one another in price.
The Sears one is on sale now for $299.
The Kobalt is $328. and comes w/some air tools.
Any opinions?
Going w/a bigger one this time. 10gal just wasn't big enough anyway.
Looking at 2 in my price range.
The Sears Craftsman 26 gal standup model. And the Lowes Kobalt 26 gal standup.
Both are within $50. of one another in price.
The Sears one is on sale now for $299.
The Kobalt is $328. and comes w/some air tools.
Any opinions?
Comments
What voltage are these taking.
i have a cambell now and it's great, but kinda pricey.
the verticle tank units are harder to move around (top heavy) so my next one will be a horizontal tank. (sears has them)
just my 2c
Sears(Note they have a horizontal also)
90 PSI at 4.9 CFM
Lowes (Kobalt)
90 PSI at 3.5 CFM
But what I picked up is a
Sears
25 Gal Professional
90 PSI 5.8 CFM and a Max of 150 PSI Great for the Air guns to break loose stubborn nuts. Build up pressure fast and does not seem to lose pressure as fast as my old one.
Which was the 26 Gal one.
just my .02
b
Cubic feet per minute.
I kinda figured that. But I guess I should've asked how it relates to compressors. I assume more is better? How does one determine air recovery rate? (IE: how fast it recharges w/air).
How the CFM relates is. Look at your tools, they will have a CFM rating that is required to run them.
Stuff like 1/4 and 3/8 air tools do not take much. But and Air sander will even make mine work to hard and I will be waiting for the Air Compressor to catch up.
If you plan on Blasting with sand or some other Media you will need to rent a big Compressor cause they really eat the air.
See if I can find a table of common CFM ratings for tools.
Check this page.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/air-consumption-tools-d_847.html
Then go to the home page and read whatthe terms mean. Good site for picking you compressor.
All things being equal on the two you checked, I would buy the Sears one on sale. Personally I would not buy one of those oilless compressors because the ones I have been around are quite noisy.
Not really worried about noise. I keep and use my compressor in an outside shed. Light use, mainly cleaning the (nearby) A/C unit, blowing grass off mower deck, filling portable air tank for airing up tires.
Mainly interested in which one is likely the most durable. I don't want to buy one every few years.
quote:Originally posted by MT357
Cubic feet per minute.
I kinda figured that. But I guess I should've asked how it relates to compressors. I assume more is better? How does one determine air recovery rate? (IE: how fast it recharges w/air).
Somewhyere in the specs for the compressor it will say how many CFM it will pump at 90psi(or some pressure rating). The more the better of course.
If you have a TSC anywhere nearby I would go with the Campbell Hausfield, that is what we have in our shop right now. 60 gal upright tank, and 135PSI and they have them for $399 here is a link http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_48803_-1______14151%7C14152%7C14169%7C48803?listingPage=true&Special=false
Save your old 10 gallon tank and add it inline as extra reserve. I never discard the tanks of old compressors. You never have enough storage.
Figure with all of my lines running in the Garage I have at least another 10 Gal.[:o)]
Made one of these and a cooling tower.
I have very little Moisuture in my Air. And this is in Oregon.
Save your old 10 gallon tank and add it inline as extra reserve. I never discard the tanks of old compressors. You never have enough storage.
I do plan on keeping it. Plan to try to make it into a larger portable for airing up car tires.
My personal opinion, screw Kobalt-I have one and if you need parts be prepared to pay out the butt for them. Sears, use to make good compressers and if no othe roptions I would go with them. As said before , I would avoid the oilless ones, they are noisey and I have not had good luck with them.
If you have a TSC anywhere nearby I would go with the Campbell Hausfield, that is what we have in our shop right now. 60 gal upright tank, and 135PSI and they have them for $399 here is a link http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_48803_-1______14151%7C14152%7C14169%7C48803?listingPage=true&Special=false
I like the Campbell Hausfield 26 Gal. upright model. Any other opinions on C-H quality/durabilty?
All things being equal on the two you checked, I would buy the Sears one on sale. Personally I would not buy one of those oilless compressors because the ones I have been around are quite noisy.
Stay away from Sears oilless compressors. They're nothing but junk. I just replaced mine with an Ingersoll Rand with an 80gal tank. I talked to a Sears service man who worked for Sears for 13yrs and he told me the oilless compressors were the biggest problems they had. Some only lasted 3 months and the pumps burned out. Sears warranties aren't worth the paper there printed on.
If you can, get the best you can afford because you won't regret it. Don't waste your money junk.
quote:Originally posted by MT357
All things being equal on the two you checked, I would buy the Sears one on sale. Personally I would not buy one of those oilless compressors because the ones I have been around are quite noisy.
Stay away from Sears oilless compressors. They're nothing but junk. I just replaced mine with an Ingersoll Rand with an 80gal tank. I talked to a Sears service man who worked for Sears for 13yrs and he told me the oilless compressors were the biggest problems they had. Some only lasted 3 months and the pumps burned out. Sears warranties aren't worth the paper there printed on.
If you can, get the best you can afford because you won't regret it. Don't waste your money junk.
+1 the oilless ones are throw aways Grainger has some in the 500.00 dollar range that are decent plus good parts support
Well my Harbor Frieght 10 gal. compressor died on me after only 3 years of VERY light use. So I'm in the market for a new one.
Going w/a bigger one this time. 10gal just wasn't big enough anyway.
Looking at 2 in my price range.
The Sears Craftsman 26 gal standup model. And the Lowes Kobalt 26 gal standup.
Both are within $50. of one another in price.
The Sears one is on sale now for $299.
The Kobalt is $328. and comes w/some air tools.
Any opinions?
I have the Kobalt 80 gallon twin cylinder two stage. I have had it for 4 years and have never had a problem. I put compressors in a separate room (so I don't have to listen to them) and put an electric remote control valve so I don't have to go in there but once a week to drain the tank.
The eighty gallon tank is supplemented by twin 3" copper supply lines that run the length of the 50 foot shop. My guess is that the plummer that built this shop had them left over from a job.
Just a tad bit overkill would be my guess.
Margaret Thatcher
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Mark Twain
quote:Originally posted by countryfarmer
My personal opinion, screw Kobalt-I have one and if you need parts be prepared to pay out the butt for them. Sears, use to make good compressers and if no othe roptions I would go with them. As said before , I would avoid the oilless ones, they are noisey and I have not had good luck with them.
If you have a TSC anywhere nearby I would go with the Campbell Hausfield, that is what we have in our shop right now. 60 gal upright tank, and 135PSI and they have them for $399 here is a link http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_48803_-1______14151%7C14152%7C14169%7C48803?listingPage=true&Special=false
I like the Campbell Hausfield 26 Gal. upright model. Any other opinions on C-H quality/durabilty?
I've got a 6 horse 26 gallon horizontal tank I've run the snott out of in the past twelve years. No issues yet. But then, I take care of it also.
The guy who GAVE it to me got 15 yrs. of service from it.
IMO get a good older one, the new ones are mostly junk, unless you get in over $1200.
[^]barto[^]
Oh, I'm also chief of a fire dept.