Advice on this Air Compressor...

[StaticCling]

My current Harbor Freight unit is giving me signs of going the way of the Dodo, my China Freight is an 8 gallon, 2 HP jobber. Regardless, last time I ran my impact it seemed to basically suck. And it has never been able to run a cutoff tool reliably. Obviously, with the small tank and stuff.

So...

Thinking about this Ingersoll Rand unit from Northern Tool:

FREE SHIPPING — Ingersoll Rand Garage Mate Air Compressor — 2 HP, 5.2 CFM, Model# P1.5IU-A9 | 2 - 9 CFM Air Compressors| Northern Tool + Equipment (http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200375221_200375221)

My Main Requirements:
110
Impacts and Cutoff Tools

Any other advice I am all ears.

[Jeff '79]

It's ugly. I don't like the color.

[StaticCling]

It's ugly. I don't like the color.

:rofl:

[StaticCling]

Oh, my budget is 500 bucks (plus or minus 100)

[kingpin]

Tools that have constant use for air will eventually kill that compressor being only 5.2 cfm at 90 psi.
Take a look at your tools and as long as they don't require more cfm then what this unit has go for it.

[Burro (He/Haw)]

I hear that model blows. :barnbabe:

[Jeff '79]

I have a 5 hp, 15 gallon Craftsman that I got off CL for $90.00, 50' hose included, and it does exactly what you say that you need one to do.
Pneumatic gun for wheel removal, nail gun, etc. I have an electric cut off wheel though, so I can't speak for that.

[mrvette]

I forget all that CFM ratings stuff, All I know is that for some 40 almost years I have run my hobby/semi commercial garage off a 30 gallon 5+ hp 220 comp for most of it....NOW.....if you have a electric clothes dryer, you take a 10 ga wire to a outlet near the compressor, and so for years now, dryer and comp have NOT BLOWN the 30 amp breaker YET....it's a Square D panel so I know the breakers are kosher.....put a little NOALOX on the dryer box, so to run copper 10 ga to the comp.....

dunnnnnn deal.....


:seasix::hurray:

[JRD77VET]

Why limit yourself to 110VAC? 220VAC is easy to wire up and runs much more efficiently :yesnod:

Check CL for local deals. Your budget will get you a much bigger compressor with funds left over.

[Jeff '79]

Why limit yourself to 110VAC? 220VAC is easy to wire up and runs much more efficiently :yesnod:

Check CL for local deals. Your budget will get you a much bigger compressor with funds left over.

:iagree: Gilligan's house must be amazing though...:ohnoes:

[Burro (He/Haw)]

I forget all that CFM ratings stuff, All I know is that for some 40 almost years I have run my hobby/semi commercial garage off a 30 gallon 5+ hp 220 comp for most of it....NOW.....if you have a electric clothes dryer, you take a 10 ga wire to a outlet near the compressor, and so for years now, dryer and comp have NOT BLOWN the 30 amp breaker YET....it's a Square D panel so I know the breakers are kosher.....put a little NOALOX on the dryer box, so to run copper 10 ga to the comp.....

dunnnnnn deal.....


:seasix::hurray:

If you decide to rewire your house based on this post, you'll need this.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/79df17abe57ed57ffe9f9b09361d75ba/tumblr_mhtrkn0hGt1rqvefao1_500.jpg

[JRD77VET]

:iagree: Gilligan's house must be amazing though...:ohnoes:

I have a breakers labeled Air compressor, welder & lathe in my house :D

[Bill]

:iagree: Gilligan's house must be amazing though...:ohnoes:

Gene: "Code approved wiring? We don't need no stinking code approved wiring!"

[ZipZap]

For 110v, I am really happy with this purchase:

Husky 30-Gal. Ultra-Quiet Portable Electric Air Compressor-C301H at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-30-Gal-Ultra-Quiet-Portable-Electric-Air-Compressor-C301H/203187352?N=c27pZrd#.UpAG-es5A40)

Quiet as a mouse and runs all of my stuff at home. When I need some heavy air for serious cutoffs and stuff, I go to my friend's auto repair shop.

[Jeff '79]

I have a breakers labeled Air compressor, welder & lathe in my house :D

Me too. I was going to post the same thing that you did, but I didn't.
It's so easy to run a wire and throw a breaker in, why fk around ?

[ZipZap]

Me too. I was going to post the same thing that you did, but I didn't.
It's so easy to run a wire and throw a breaker in, why fk around ?

Because my panel is full and in the basement. If it was easy, 220v wouldn't be an issue at all...

[Jeff '79]

Because my panel is full and in the basement. If it was easy, 220v wouldn't be an issue at all...

Clearly, you need another panel.
Real men have two panels.:slap:

[JRD77VET]

Clearly, you need another panel.
Real men have two panels.:slap:

You don't run everything at the same time. Check into a sub panel :yesnod:

I have extra unused breakers on mine. We no longer have electric heat. :seasix:

[Jeff '79]

You don't run everything at the same time. Check into a sub panel :yesnod:

I have extra unused breakers on mine. We no longer have electric heat. :seasix:

It depends if he has 220 or 110 to the house too.

[StaticCling]

I know I am tapped out on my current breaker due to the bathroom remodel (jacuzzi tub) and I really can't justify spending any additional cash wiring the garage for 220 right now, as my wife would probably kill me.

Just need to replace my current compressor with something better than I have. The Harbor Freight compressor did the job for me, for the most part, outside of running cut off tools. I have no need to use paint equipment, which I know is an air hog, or working on multiple vehicles at a time. The occasional wheel removal, cutoff tool stuff, and general shade tree dude in his garage working on an old car type shit. I want to get something that will last me awhile, because the Harbor Freight shit is dying after about 3 years of moderate use.

[lspencer534]

Clearly, you need another panel.
Real men have two panels.:slap:

Ane real, real men have 3 panels...like I have.

[StaticCling]

Quincy has some stuff that might fit the bill, but it is a little more than I really want to spend...In the $750 range.

Q12126VPQ Quincy 2-HP 26-Gallon (Belt Drive) Cast-Iron Portable Air Compressor (http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Quincy-Q12126VPQ-Air-Compressor/p12333.html)

I just want something decent, that will last.

[Jeff '79]

Ane real, real men have 3 panels...like I have.

I have three too....:D

[RED-85-Z51]

I wouldnt attempt to use any kind of rotary air tool with any less than 30 gallons.

My Porter Cable Jetstream is 7hp/70gal/135psi. I can do everything but sandblast with it, and Ive sandblasted with it numerous times, but I had to stop and let it catch up every 3-4 minutes or it would dip under 90psi....

I can run an air die-grinder non stop and maintain 120psi...

Started out with a 5hp/20g/120psi oil less unit from sears, it worked, but...just impacting off 6 lugs...it could run it down quick, and it was so loud...

[RED-85-Z51]

Thisis probably about the bes deal on the market i know of...

Vertical design, takes up less room...
iron pump
Oiled pump
2hp
29 gallons

360 bucks...

2 Horsepower, 29 gal., 150 Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor (http://www.harborfreight.com/2-horsepower-29-gal-150-cast-iron-vertical-air-compressor-68127-8026.html)

[Jeff '79]

Thisis probably about the bes deal on the market i know of...

Vertical design, takes up less room...
iron pump
Oiled pump
2hp
29 gallons

360 bucks...

2 Horsepower, 29 gal., 150 Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor (http://www.harborfreight.com/2-horsepower-29-gal-150-cast-iron-vertical-air-compressor-68127-8026.html)

Harbor Freight Compressors suck.

[RED-85-Z51]

Harbor Freight Compressors suck.

Thats a poorly written generalized statement. Most HF comps are oilless units, and all oiless units suck...thats just a fact.

This one, as I posted..is the same deisgn ad industrial units...not the Cast Iron pump, Vertical design, belt driven, oil lubed...

[Jeff '79]

Thats a poorly written generalized statement. Most HF comps are oilless units, and all oiless units suck...thats just a fact.

This one, as I posted..is the same deisgn ad industrial units...not the Cast Iron pump, Vertical design, belt driven, oil lubed...

The OP wants to steer clear of HF stuff as he has had bad luck with them.
What would your next best deal out there be?

[mrvette]

30 gal, 5 hp, in the house with the ex....~25? years ago....sold it to a buddy when buying a house with +15hp? and 80 gallons in the back garage, certainly a comp to DIE for, being totally oversize and commercial to run a dealership off....but it went with the house, as it was overkill, so down here I bought my original rig 30 gallon and 5 hp....runs off the drier circuit just fine....From box to drier outlet is like 6-8 ga wire on a 30 amp breaker....with both running full bore, not tripped it once....


GOT NEWS, worked as an electrician for a while up north, was an ET 1/2 a century ago, and know my shit....

In the middle of my kitchen rehab project, a storm came across and knocked down a stupid overgrown OAK tree, taking out the pole transformer across the street....about 3rd day into the outage, I found out it was going to be another 3 days to get the thing fixed/out power online again....WE got lucky to bum power from Chuck next door......kept the refridge and TV going....

BUT in that break time, since I was redoing the kitchen, I decided to buy a 30 circuit Square D panel....and change out the panel, so as the kitchen had room for mucho more wiring....

been fine since....200 amp 30 circuits....problem IS....I still have piggyback breakers in there, nothing major, but good GOD it's amazing how much a household can suck up....

circuit this, circuit that, wiring this and that, light bulb here and there, friggin house got much wiring as my CAR already.....

:issues:

Had to help a buddy wire his insta hot water heater yesterday, no biggie, more an issue with the breaker panel than the wiring, figgered it out ok....it werks, and don't even blow the main sub panel breaker with the insta hot and the HOT TUB on full bore...at same time....might be riding it's ass a bit, but no blow so far.....of course, it's a sq D panel....60 amp feed....

[Jeff '79]

I have;
42 circuit main panel
24 circuit sub panel in the barn
12 circuit sub panel in the far part of the house.
I don't have much space left in any of them, but I'm pretty much all wired in.
The barn has 13 spaces left, which is more than what I need to finish.

[RED-85-Z51]

The OP wants to steer clear of HF stuff as he has had bad luck with them.
What would your next best deal out there be?

Meh, where I used to work, their Ingersoll unit melted down right after ivan in 04..and in a pinch, they put in a HF unit, 60g/6hp/Cast pump, etc...and it runs 6 days a week, normally 2 hours a day, sometimes longer, year round....a few times it was run out of oil and the pump seized...a prybar freed it up, and it went bac kto work. They just replaced it, maybe 6 months ago with an ingersol with a larger capacity...but the HF unit was still going strong...

Next best value, is this Porter Cable unit...its not high on power is the only drawback, but it IS a 240v setup..which is leaps and bounds over a 120v...

Porter-Cable 60-Gal. Vertical Stationary Air Compressor-PXCMLC3706056 at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Porter-Cable-60-Gal-Vertical-Stationary-Air-Compressor-PXCMLC3706056/203653366?N=c27pZ68y#.UpAqJCfhdXY)

[StaticCling]

This Chicago Pneumatic looks pretty good...

RCP-226VP Chicago Pneumatic 2-HP 26-Gallon (Belt Drive) Dual-Voltage Cast-Iron Air Compressor (http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Chicago-Pneumatic-RCP-226VP-Air-Compressor/p2041.html)


2 Horsepower, 26 gallon. Ability to run on 110 or 220. 8 cfm at 40 psi and 7 cfm at 90 psi.

This appears to be the exact same compressor that MAC tools sells for over 900 dollars.

Hmmm.

[Jeff '79]

For $700 stones, it better be good.

[m and t's77]

This Chicago Pneumatic looks pretty good...

RCP-226VP Chicago Pneumatic 2-HP 26-Gallon (Belt Drive) Dual-Voltage Cast-Iron Air Compressor (http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Chicago-Pneumatic-RCP-226VP-Air-Compressor/p2041.html)


2 Horsepower, 26 gallon. Ability to run on 110 or 220. 8 cfm at 40 psi and 7 cfm at 90 psi.

This appears to be the exact same compressor that MAC tools sells for over 900 dollars.

Hmmm.

I wouldn't be bragging about it being a revised Mac tool,they have gone downhill ever since being bought out by Stanley.

[StaticCling]

I wouldn't be bragging about it being a revised Mac tool,they have gone downhill ever since being bought out by Stanley.

:iagree:

But again, most of the truck brands don't manufacture their shop equipment (and even some hard line tools) anyway. For example, Snap On's torque wrenches are made by CDI I believe, and prior to that they were definitely Precision Instruments (PI), at least on their split beam jobbers.

[RED-85-Z51]

Isnt Chicago Oneumatic what HF sells?

Pittsburgh, Chicago Electric, Chicago Pneumatic, etc..

[StaticCling]

Isnt Chicago Oneumatic what HF sells?

Pittsburgh, Chicago Electric, Chicago Pneumatic, etc..

HF is Central Pneumatic. Chicago Pneumatic is an old air tool company from the USA, although I would imagine the motor on that thing is overseas.

[RED-85-Z51]

Count on the pump and motor and valving being China sourced...

[mrvette]

I have a Blue Point/Snap 1/4 drive air ratshit, and so got over enthusiastic one day and broke the square off the driver,

Called Snap and they could not guarantee the 35 buck part they had would fit my unit, due to age....

Gave up, went HF, and of course their ratshit didn't work for long, or well,

so screw IT, took the drive heads apart next to each other on the counter and sure enuff, IDENTICAL, so the 15 bux HF ratshit lost it's output head to the Snap/Blue Point unit, and so back in action....:D:dance:

[RED-85-Z51]

I bought a HF 1/4" ratchet and a 3/8" buttefly impact on sale 4 years ago, I used them daily for over 2 years in a high volume shop setting, then when left, I still use them weekly...so fa,r both are working fine. Only thing ive had to do was, the ratchet kept coming loose in the middle...little locker fixt it.

[Dave]

Harbor Freight ___________ suck.

Fixd it for ya


Do you want it cheap or good?

[DropTheTop]

Thisis probably about the bes deal on the market i know of...

Vertical design, takes up less room...
iron pump
Oiled pump
2hp
29 gallons

360 bucks...

2 Horsepower, 29 gal., 150 Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor (http://www.harborfreight.com/2-horsepower-29-gal-150-cast-iron-vertical-air-compressor-68127-8026.html)

Not too shabby:

Running Horsepower ................................................... 2 HP
Air Tank Capacity ...................................................... 29 gal.
Air Pressure ....................................................150 PSI max.
Air Delivery ......................................... 7.3 SCFM @ 40 PSI
............................................................ 5.9 SCFM @ 90 PSI
Lubrication .......................................................................Oil
Gauges ....................................................... 1.5 in. diameter
Input.................................. 120 V, 60 Hz, AC only, 15 Amps
Net Weight ............................................................177.7 lbs.

This looks like an affordable replacement for my Craftsman that has a nice leaky hole in the tank. :seasix:

[RED-85-Z51]

A buddy of mine owns a tire shop and they run tire machines (3) all day, plus impacts, blow guns, and other things like small lifts...the 60 gallon tank is adequate..but the motor let go a month after he bought the shop. He, in a hurry, picked up what he "thought" was the right motor at HF, I think it was a 3hp motor..he hooked it up, and it worked...but..6 months later, burned out. So he put on another one...and about 6 months later..cooked it too.

He had me come check his stuff out and I looked at it and the motor was physically a little puny, so I looked for the decal on the tank and sure enough, it needed a 6hp motor. He picked up a 6hp motor and it has worked fine since.

HF stuff aint bad...but it gets a bad rap because people abuse it...

[ZipZap]

This Chicago Pneumatic looks pretty good...

RCP-226VP Chicago Pneumatic 2-HP 26-Gallon (Belt Drive) Dual-Voltage Cast-Iron Air Compressor (http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Chicago-Pneumatic-RCP-226VP-Air-Compressor/p2041.html)


2 Horsepower, 26 gallon. Ability to run on 110 or 220. 8 cfm at 40 psi and 7 cfm at 90 psi.

This appears to be the exact same compressor that MAC tools sells for over 900 dollars.

Hmmm.

I was looking at that one prior to buying the Husky. One thing that worried me was the airflow at 90 psi, and whether that could be achieved at 110v. The other was the construction of the axle/wheels. Looks flimsy.

[StaticCling]

A lot of threads over on Garage Journal claim that HF embellishes with their numbers also.

[RED-85-Z51]

150psi is 150psi, and flow rate is flow rate...either it does it ,or it doesnt....

In general, the ones lined up to bitch about stuff are the ones who cheaped out and bought not enough to machine to do the work they desire...in the end, you get what you pay for. If you buy a 200 dollar HF unit and expect to be able to run it, porting intakes all day to make a living..prepare to be disappointed.

[StaticCling]

150psi is 150psi, and flow rate is flow rate...either it does it ,or it doesnt....

In general, the ones lined up to bitch about stuff are the ones who cheaped out and bought not enough to machine to do the work they desire...in the end, you get what you pay for. If you buy a 200 dollar HF unit and expect to be able to run it, porting intakes all day to make a living..prepare to be disappointed.

Well, yes there is that. When I bought mine, I had a coupon and was on a budget. Well, I am always on a budget. Regardless, I out grew it and need something new.

Secondly, I noticed oil all over the top of the tank when I was in the garage yesterday. So it's definitely time to replace the thing. I got about 5 years of light service out of it. So for 80 bucks, I really can't complain.

I still haven't decided on the replacement...