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Buying an air compressor, basic questions.

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#21 ·
Ya, I agree, Jim. I dont normally have moisture problems...(Im the one that recommended you to move your seperator further away from your compressor, you DID do that didnt you? lol). And I have one that does OK at my gun also, but its kinda bulky, and its a PITA when trying to spray in tight areas. Actually, its not bulky but its long, so its like the handle of my gun is a foot long lol. That short one may help some ;)
 
#22 ·
Ok, I just caught this thread, sorry to hijack it. What is the advantage of single vs dual stage compressor and since these are 230v single phase, what amperage should I look for when I wire my garage for it? Is 230v and 220v the same?
 
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#23 ·
That compressor comes EMPTY - NO OIL IN THE PUMP BODY. BE SURE TO FILL IT BEFORE USE !!!. The oil was included with mine, in a small bag attached to the compressor, along with the manual & other misc. stuff.
Click to expand...

Oil comes with the compressor in a bag attached. If it's missing, ask questions. When you pick up your compressor pick up two more spare containers of compressor oil so you can do an oil change after it gets a few hours on it. Just like a new engine, the rings and holes need to wear in and oil needs to be changed early on.

The book suggests a break-in period. So open the book and read what they say about that. I think they recommended a period of time running with the compressor with the outlet wide open and no pressure building.

It will take some time for the rings to seat nice and tight. Until then it may pump a bit of oil. Oil doesn't get along with painting or sand blasting, so don't use any hoses or connect an air line system that you'll use for painting later before it's broken in and not pumping oil. I think mine settled down to zero oil in the output after several hours of operation.

Buy some fittings, a ball valve and some copper pipe to plumb a drain out to where it's easily reached. That wing nut drain underneath is a PITA to get at and the water goes all over the place while draining water that collects in the tank. I wish I had plumbed mine. Now that it's bolted down and I never seem to get around to doing that.
 
#24 ·
CDJr said:
(Im the one that recommended you to move your seperator further away from your compressor, you DID do that didnt you? lol).;)
Click to expand...
Yes, as a matter of fact I did try that when I was shooting primer, put a lil glass bulb separator right at the gun. Didn't help at all tho. Most of what I get is condensing out of the air when the pressure is released, right at the tool. It's mostly because my compressor is too small (115v, 6hp, 20 gal tank, cfm@90= TOO small!) and the air gets super hot when I'm using it continuously.

The tennis balls worked fabulous, and they're small enuf to be un-noticeable.

and sorry to hijack the post.... guess the moral of the story is buy a big compressor... and use the tennis ball filters.
 
#25 ·
Hey Ray.......I received a 10% coupon for Tractor Supply today in the mail. It's good for up to $50. PM me an address if you want it and i'll drop it in the mail.

sean
 
#26 ·
So, I've been on the hunt for a compressor for over a month now... I even posted a thread on TC --- wrong area (Bench Racing). Man, life would be easy if I just followed the "Rules of Engagement" on TC :)

So, I looked up the Tractor Supply and they have a branch about 15 miles from here. I'm going there Saturday to pick one up. My question is in regards to the single stage vs. two stage as well:

I'm going to hook this up to a blast cabinet, and there it be used for 3 to 4 hour spans at a time. I will "rest" the compressor periodically because I was told that this allows the compressor to cool off and will make the motor / compressor last longer.

The single stage version has 18.1 CFM @ 90 PSI, with a max 135 PSI
Two Stage is 15.8 CFM @ 90 PSI, with a max of 175 PSI

I don't mind spending the extra $250.00, even if the only benefit is extended life. The question I have is whether or not the lower CFM on the two stage is adequate for the purpose? Any help would be appreciated.

Also, if there's any additional 10% discount coupons floating around out there let me know.
 
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Discussion starter · #27 ·
Hi dreamweaver

Have you picked up your compressor yet?, Which one if you did and do you like it? Did you find an answer to the 2 stage question. I am going to pick mine up today and will still be trying to convince myself to pay the extra for the 2 stage version.

Thanks
Ray
 
#28 ·
Ray,

Haven' picked it up yet, but probably this Saturday. This thread was great timing for me. After I was reading through it I went online and found out that there is a Tractor Supply about 15 miles from my house :). For the extra $250.00 I'm going to ge the 2 stage. I did some reading online about the benefits and I think it will pay for itself in the long run. Plus, if you look at the warranty difference between the single vs. two stage, it's three times as long. So, IMHO, it's worth it.

Sean.... how cool. He sent me a coupon too. What a great site, mostly because of all the great people. Let me know if I can reciprocate.

Steve
 
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Discussion starter · #29 ·
Hi dreamweaver

sean is fantastic, I received my coupon from him today in the mail also.

THANK YOU SEAN!!!

I went down to Tractor supply to buy the single stage, looked at both compressors side by side,
went home , did not buy yet, I want the darn 2 stage but am procrastinating until I can convince myself., I'm going back tomorrow and will try again.

Ray
 
#30 ·
A lot of two stage compressors, 80 gallon tank, sell for around $750.00.

If you're going to do any bead or sand blasting, these compressors will handle it.

As a rule they pump up to 175 lbs where a single stage is around 125lbs.

I use two different sandblasters, a siphon feed, and a pressurized, and a large beadblaster.

They recommend around 90 lbs at a blaster, so that usually figures close to 100 at the compressor, so your single stage kicks in under 125, so it's hard to keep the volume up with a single stage.

I run my air from the compressor into 3/4'' black pipe, about 60'. then into a 50' 3/8 common air hose. To make the bead blaster work really good, I set my pressure at the tank at 125 lbs, it will cut a whole lot better and faster at the higher pressure.

So if you run a single stage, you don't have the air capacity to get it done as good.

Another thing on most compressors in the $750 price range, is they have a duty cycle, and you need to pay attention to that, I know, I'm on my third $750 compressor in the last ten years.

You can usually run them a half hour out of every hour, of which I used to run mine beyond this time limit, and thats probably what happened to them, but I can't recall ever running them for over an hour at a time.

I have some pictures on my website on how to run your filters or filter.

A single stage compressor will work fine for us hobbist, but i'm just pointing out the sand blast capabilities.

Another benefit of 175 lbs pump up pressure on a two stage, is cleaning out your shop, I turn the regulator up to 145 or 150 lbs, and the air close will clean that shop floor right off, also if you sandblasted anything on your car body, you will need that extra air pressure to blow out your rocker panels.

Whatever compressor you use, try and have at least one regulated filter coming off from it, something you can drain the water out of it everyday.

The reason why, is I drain mine every day, one day I turn the little wing nut, let the water out, and the tips of my fingers feel a little slippery.

So I turn the air back on to the filter and take a white clean rag and blowit out again through this rag, and I can see some discolor on the rag, smell it and its oil from the compressor.

I have a bank of three filters, take them all apart and the first filter stone is really dark colored, the second one is half as dard as the first, and the third one is just slightly doscolored, but almost completely white, so I go into my booth and check the last filter, that one is white, so I caught it in time, so check those filters at the end of the day.

Don't mean to be long winded, I usually am, but just trying to help out here.

Rob
 
#31 ·
Glad you guys can use the coupons. I always check TSC when looking for equiptment now. (love their TV commercials, too)
I'll be sure to post if I get anymore coupons in the future in case anyone needs them.

sean
 
#32 ·
1969ss said:
A lot of two stage compressors, 80 gallon tank, sell for around $750.00.
Click to expand...
Rob,

Checked out your pics of your "garage" --- I think I have the solution to my dilemma:

Just ask your neighbors if any of them want to sell. Ill sell my house, move in next door and just mooch off of you:) -- I can contrubute a forklift to the cause.

But, seriously, thank's for the information. What you said makes sense and clarifies what reaseach I have done. I definately will get the 2-stage. If Ray keeps dragging his feet I will have mine before he gets his. As soon as my coupon comes in the mail I'm headed off to the Tractor Sstore. I haven't found any 2 stage / 80 gal / 15+ SCFM compressors for less than the $999 one offered by Tractor Supply. If you know of anything I might want to get instead, let me know,
Steve
 
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#33 ·
It's a race to the finish... just called Tractor supply - They have one in stock. He's holding it for me until tomorrow. (Looking for coupon in the mail).
 
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#34 ·
Steve, buy the $999.00 one, the pump is all cast iron, I didn't know they had something like that, plus its continuous duty cycle, my $750.00 dollar one isn't have the compressor that one is.

Rob
 
#35 ·
ray moore said:
...I want the darn 2 stage but am procrastinating until I can convince myself....Ray
Click to expand...
I strongly believe in the old addage,

"Never buy something you DON'T want just 'cause it's cheap..."

.........works for me,

DW
 
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#36 ·
buzzworth said:
Glad you guys can use the coupons. I always check TSC when looking for equiptment now. (love their TV commercials, too)
I'll be sure to post if I get anymore coupons in the future in case anyone needs them.

sean
Click to expand...
What a great and timely thread. I need/want to upgrade my compressor too.

Sean if you ever get another coupon you don't need pls keep me in mind! Thanks much.
 
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Discussion starter · #38 ·
Well I finally bought the compressor yesterday, I settled for the single stage, I don't think I will be doing any sandblasting so I think it will do anything I want. I do like the 18 CFM it offers though. They are delivering it Monday.

Thanks everyone for the help, Now just to plumb it in!

Thanks
Ray
 
#39 ·
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#40 ·
I guess it's a tie. :) You bought yours first, but I got mine first. I went down and picked mine up today. Got the $50.00 off coupon, and I needed it. By the time I was done I ended up spending about $1465.00. I bought the extended warranty, the dryer, hose, fittings, extra oil, etc.

Brought it home, set it in place, and getting it wired as we speak. Spent the whole rest of the day reorganizing that section of the shop and trying to figure out how to configure it.
Ray: I would recommend that you hook up the the "permanent" drain to it by like others have suggested. I just removed the petcock, screwed in an adaptor and an elbow, and ran the drain line out one of the little "hoops" on th ebottom. I tried to see how hard it would be to unscrew the petcock and it's a PITA, so I just plumbed it. Only cost about $8.00. I put a ball valve on the end of it, and then a threaded to barbed adaptor so that I can just hook up a piece of vinal tubing to the barb and open the valve.

Hopefully I will have it running by the end of this weekend. Need to start blasting some of that 35 year-old rust away.
 
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tired68
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