looking for an air compressor

[terron gregg]

would like to find a decent air compressor realitivly cheap any body have any good suggestions i was looking at a 26 gallon one from sears but dont know what to look for in an air compressor? any help would be appreciated

[weasel_ugs]

May want to let us know what tools and uses it wil be needed for:drummer:. Don

[terron gregg]

uh impact grinder sander anything that will make my job working withthe jeep easier

[jperez]

Co2

[Xiled1]

I would be sure to read the online reviews of the Sears branded parts. I've read a lot of complaints with multiple returns or dying after a year.

[SavageSun4x4]

I have a Sears AC and it has been trouble free, got it on a close out for $268. It is a 33 gal, which I recommend over the 26. Bottom line the bigger the tank the more you can use it without it kicking on and running. Too small of a tank and it will run ALOT and it makes ALOT of noise.

Setting up you AC gets a little more complex: Air tools require oil, other uses you should just use clean dry air unless you have a plasma cutter which DEMANDS clean, dry air.

Here is a write up and pics of my install that might help get you thinking:

http://www.savagesun4x4.com/enter/how_to_stuff/

Topic: Plasma Cutter & Air Tools on Same Air Compressor

You will see where I built a copper manifold and attached it to the wall to pull air out of. You are welcome to stop by and view mine any time and I will be glad to come over and help you get one installed and set up to use various tools.

Let me know what direction you go in...

[ltklein]

A couple of notes about these things:

I have a Sears 30 or 33 gallon 3 1/2 HP oiless. I also bought a Harbor Freight twin-tank 2HP for $89. The oiled models run more expensive, but also tend to push more air and are quieter.

The reason I have 2 of them...the oiless compressors are high revving and noisy as all heck.

Doing my lift, I had the Sears running all the time for cutting, sanding and stuff. Wound up wearing earplugs most of the day....an it sits in a different garage across my driveway.

For filling tires, or my pneumatic grease gun, or my nail guns (I do woodwork to some extent also), I use the Harbor Freight. Quieter and slower running.

They've changed the HP ratings so I don't know what a 3 1/2 HP equivalent is...but you're mostly interested in the volume of air it can produce.

Look for the highest CFM you can get. I don't have these things memorized but my Sears runs out of air using my random orbital sander in about 45 seconds. It runs my ratchet wrench all day. After 2 tires with the impact, I need to let it catch up for about a minute or two if I need full impact strength.

Die grinders, I understand, take a ton of air also. In fact, they are the heaviest users that show up on the charts. That's why mine is electric. Didn't want to upgrade the compressor for a couple of tools.

Short version - look at the CFM of the tools you want to procure. It will ready like 6.0 CFM at 90psi. If it's a continuous use tool, get a compressor that exceeds that. If it's a quick hit tool, you can undercut it as the compressor will catch up between uses.

For the high volume uses, consider some of the cordless tools coming on the market. I actually picked up a cordless impact for $29 at Checker and it's tearing tires off faster than my pneumatic. I've seen a cordless grease gun also. IMHO an electric angle grinder is more useful.

But I wouldn't give up my compressor and the tools...

Let us know what you wind up with...

And check Craigslist...you can probably save serious $$ there. You might wind up buying the one stolen from me! You'll like it! : )