Tomarrow I am purchasing a air compressor. After 2 weeks of searching the best one I have found in my price range (400.00) is a 2H.P. 30 gallon vertical husky compressor. The model number is VT6315. Its rated 5.5 scfm @ 90psi. The main reason I keep going back to this one is becouse it is not a oilless direct drive unit. I looked at Lowes at the Kobalts and at sears but everything they offer in what I have to spend is the direct drive. I will be using the compressor mainly for body work. I realize the the 5.5 scfm will not run a DA sander without taking short breaks but I am willing to sacrafice this to save on the cost. Does anyone have one of these compressors they have used who can give me some feed back on their experiance with it? Any input will be appreciated. Thanks

I have that exact compressor, I bought it a couple of months ago, and have been using it to run a DA for wetsanding my camaro. It runs the DA just fine, although it does come on frequently, and you do need to stop periodically to let it catch up. I need to stop and inspect what I've done periodically anyway, and it catches up while I'm doing that. It's not a problem at all. Also, I have the regulator set at 60 psi and it is a short throw DA, so might be less taxing than a more aggressive DA for actual bodywork. I chose that one over a 60 gallon because of the portability, I just don't have the space to dedicate to a large compressor that's not portable. Even though it's a bit on the small side, I'm quite happy with it, it seems to do anything I'd want it to quite well. Lowes does have an equivalent Kobalt oil lubricated compressor, at least they do around here. It's not on their website, though, this is all I can find on it: http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/kobalt-30-gallon-vertical-cast-iron-air-compressor

It's rated at 155 psi instead of 135, and may have a higher CFM. It's also slightly cheaper around here. I didn't realize this until after I'd bought the Husky, though.

i have a similar sec pair compressor (it is a husky oil less one though) and i really wish i would have got a better one, it is horrible for using sanders

it took me about 5-6 hours to sand a hood down because i had to keep waiting for it to fill up, then i had to give the compressor a break so it didnt overheat, etc.

I have a 6 CFM sears oilless that I have been struggleing with for a couple of years. I do a bunch of glassbeading and sand blasting. I finally gave up with the 1 min working 10 minute recharge BS. I found a new CH 14 CFM 2 stage oiled clearance on ebay for $575 (pickup). I would recommend getting the biggest one you can afford, because the smaller ones will disappoint eventually :)

Anyone want a craftsman compressor :)

I have a similar Husky I have had for about 3 years but it wouldn't run the DA very consistantly and sand blasting was out of the question. It is a 5hp 26 gallon with 5.8 @90 psi. I had local guy build me one for about $1200. Kept the Husky to take on jobs and for airing up tires around the shop.

Having had a bad experience with buying too small of a compressor I did a little research. The problem with deciding on a compressor is that air tool cfm ratings are based on a 25% duty cycle (run 15 sec, rest 45 sec). If the tool says it requires 5 cfm it actually will use 20 cfm if you run it non stop. I bought a 3hp 60gal single stage that made 12cfm at 90psi and it wouldn't keep up with any air tool I had.

I ended up selling it and buying a 2 stage comp, now that is the way to go, it kicks on at 140 psi, so you always have air pressure above the regulator if you have it set say to 90psi. If you have a single stage you are always running the comp down to 90 psi before it kicks on.

Buy what you can afford, but even if you go in debt you will still save money by doing the work yourself! Trust me you'll never have enough air!

Schnide

Thanks for all the help. Since I posted this I found a Campbell Hausfield 60 gal. 3HP that is rated 10.2cfm @ 90 psi at Tractor supply Co. They have it for 399.00 and comes with a 3 year warrenty. I do not see how I could go wrong with this at that price. Thats less than Harbor Freight. Thanks again.

Thanks for all the help. Since I posted this I found a Campbell Hausfield 60 gal. 3HP that is rated 10.2cfm @ 90 psi at Tractor supply Co. They have it for 399.00 and comes with a 3 year warrenty. I do not see how I could go wrong with this at that price. Thats less than Harbor Freight. Thanks again.


Good find. Whatever you get, don't let anyone talk you into going oilless. Ingersoll Rand makes some good synthetic compressor oil.

That was one of my main concerns,I once had a direct drive oilless and it was noisey and took forever for the air to build up. I bought the 60 gal. campbell hausfield at tractor supply yesterday and it was working yesterday afternoon. I have plenty of air. After wet sanding my roof and 1 quater panel I blew the water from the window channels and from around the quater and then primed them. I never once ran short of air. I am very happy with my purchase. The 399.00 is their regular price for this compressor. I would recomend this one to anybody. Thanks again for all the feed back.

Please don't waste your money on a compressor that is too small! Anything less than a true 5hp [not the ones from homedepot that say they are 5hp] will not really run your DA's, spray guns or inpacts to their full potential. If you have plans to do any kind of bodywork minus small dings then you are just spinning your wheels [very slowly i might add] with these small compressors.

If you are close to Lakeland, FL I would call B&B compressor in Mulberry, FL The Guy's name is Laman. He will hook you up with a compressor that will get the job done. He also deals in used ones with pretty good prices

i agree. dont waste your time on a small compressor because you will just want a bigger one. if you have no choice but to go with a small one, then a small one is better than nothing. i used to have a small 30 gal sears compressor that was portble. it ran loud and all the time. i bought a big 60 gal 7 hp IR. its not portable but i just bought longer lines.

How big of a compressor would you recommend for a blast cabinet or sand blasting? Just curious.