Air Compressor

J

Jim in Wisconsin

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Pardeeville WI
Surgery and its aftermath have delayed setting up my shop in the new house. I'm thinking of adding an air compressor, for primarily woodworking. This would be used for light to medium work; some tools, and maybe some painting. While I know a little about a lot of things, I have no knowledge at all about these things. Like what is the business about oil less?
Any help here?
 
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My take is the oilless units would be fine for occasional use. I have one in my work shop but I don't use air tools. If you plan to use it much, get a good one, not oilless.
 
After servicing compressors for a few years , my favorite is Ingersol Rand. Even the lower priced single and two cylinder pumps are still good old cast iron. Parts , when needed (rarely) are always available. A lot of the good old American name compressors are actually imported now (surprise!).
 
I have a 40yr old Sears 220v cast iron compressor, still running fine, a good one in your service should last for ever.
A bit of advice, try to put it in the next room or outside if possible, they are noisy. It’s easy to pipe the air, hard to get rid of the racket.
 
:) From another X woodworker go with the oil type. They
run quieter and last longer. Also get the biggest tank you
can afford. When I had my shop I had air drops all around
the shop. I ran the air line using PVC 1/2 inch pipe. It's
easy to install and cheap to buy. Don
 
It is astonishing to learn at this late date in life, how *I* for one could EVER have gotten along without an air compressor for so long. They have so many uses.

Get a REAL compressor with a large enough tank to service far more than you think you'll need....sort of like the gun safe that is 'far too large'....

Read up on the variables of pressure/volume needed by whatever tools you have the wildest fantasy you'll ever be using. Then add a paint-sprayer extra volume "if you ever paint the house"....etc.

I scored one year, after looking at all the tiny to small units (oh so compact, those little pancake things) when Santa brought me a nice tool coupon...which coupled with an after-season sale on a refurbished unit, got me Sears "Level 7" dual stage (but oil less) unit that will yield 180# at high volume for far longer than I ever plan on working with it at a time.

My final out-of-pocket costs were under $30, it rolls around on pneumatic tires, and I can park it in a corner etc.
 
Last edited:
Kobat @ Lowes

They have a nice one for about $450............very nice for the money, I have one and love it
 
You will need to check the cfm required of the various tools you plan on using, and then add some for margin. Always having to wait for a compressor to pump up because it is undersized is very annoying, not to mention it shortens the life of the compressor.

In general, I would go with an oil unit, and minimum 60 gallon vertical tank. Lowes and HD have some units in this range. Mine is this size and has been in service for 15 years now with no problems other then replacing the belt one time. I built a small compressor shed outside the back wall of the shop to keep the noise down, and the shop is plumbed with copper pipe, air drops every 6' and a couple of airhose reels which have proven very handy.
 
What Wayne, 657 and others have already said.
Away from work area if possible (noise). If you plan to do paint/finish work in addition to air tools, install drop "T"'s with ball valves at the bottoms of each plumbing run to collect condensation. Put a good quality dryer on whatever line you decide to use for finishes. Draining the tank after each use prevents moisture build up. Biggest tank(s) you can fit/afford. Also as said, size the unit to be able to CFM run 1 1/2 to two times your highest consuming device.
(Hint) If your compressor "shack" is semi-climate controlled, and drawing it's air from within the work area, not the outdoors, it'll produce far less condensation. You'll never go back to hand tools!
 
Biggest tank(s) you can fit/afford.
Click to expand...

AMEN!!!

I had an old Ingersol-Rand with a 15-20 gal. tank that threw a fan blade. I call I/R to see if I could get a replacement part for it. Turns out that it was on recall (even though I'd owned it for 15-20 years) due to a tank problem. Their offer was $100 cash or $200 discount on a new unit. Plus they would come pick it up, no charge.
I went out and looked at new I-R's and their prices have gone up considerably over the years. (Even with the $200 discount!) I decided to look around to see what else was available. I had been a little unhappy with moving it around for off-site jobs (It was too big) so I decided on one of the 7 gallon "pancake" units. Nice compressor but no capacity.
Actually I need one of each, one for off-site and one that doesn't constantly run trying to keep up with me in the shop. I'm trying to figure out how to afford a vertical tank 2 stage oil filled without having to sell a couple of my guns.:D
 
Die grinders are one of the handiest air tools made, but they use more air than any other tool.

If your system will handle 1 or 2 die grinders in continuous use, it should have plenty of capacity.
 
can't get one too big

I have a 4 cylinder 7 1/2 horse 80 gallon vertical. I put it in my shed and ran a line under ground. I can work in the garage and I don't have to listen to it. My wife complained when I bought it and demanded to know what I'd use it for. I told her there isn't much I can't do with it. I made a sand blaster from a 250 gallon fuel oil tank. I use it constantly.
 
HAWKEYE10 said:
:) From another X woodworker go with the oil type. They
run quieter and last longer. Also get the biggest tank you
can afford. When I had my shop I had air drops all around
the shop. I ran the air line using PVC 1/2 inch pipe. It's
easy to install and cheap to buy. Don
Click to expand...

PVC is not rated for use with compressed air. If broken it can shatter and the fragments are dangerous. There are polypropylene piping systems which are rated for compressed air if you don't want to use copper or iron.
 
m1gunner said:
Die grinders are one of the handiest air tools made, but they use more air than any other tool.

If your system will handle 1 or 2 die grinders in continuous use, it should have plenty of capacity.
Click to expand...

For me, it was an air file. Figure out what tool will use the most air, then get a compressor that will do 30+% more. ;)
 
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