Recommendations for air compressor (esp. Canadians)

[pentode]

I've got a few projects I need air for and I've been putting them off as I have an impending move but I can't wait any longer; I'll aim this question mainly at Canadians as that's where I am at the moment so I only have access to the typical Canadian stores and brands (we do have Home Depot here so they have Husky compressors). Otherwise there's Canadian Tire, Kent, and a couple other retailers. I guess realistically those 3 stores are my main options.
I need to do some light spraying so I figure a 20 gallon compressor will get me by for a while, and I might be able to take it with me when I go. I'd like something that's not obnoxiously loud and that might stand a chance of lasting a few years but I can't really pay Dewalt or Makita prices at the moment.
Anyone have any good ideas for a compressor in the 10-20 gallon range?

Edit: I know this will mean nothing to most American members, but Canadian Tire has a 26 gallon Mastercraft compressor on special buy here at the local store for $299, which seems like a pretty good deal. It's an oil-free unit so I expect it'll be loud and possibly not last that long, but I'm very tempted.

 

[pjtoledo]

look at the CFM ratings. tank size doesn't mean much if the compressor can't pump enough air at pressure.
most tools run at 90 psi.
"max pressure" rating is not worth much.

 

[sgtsandman]

I second the CFM rating. There should be something in the manual for the spray gun to let you know how much air it uses.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The quieter compressors will be oiled since they generally have a slower motor but similar output... but cost a touch more...

I bought a used Kobalt 20 gallon oiled compressor used for like $200 around 12 years ago and it's been a champ, hasn't been turned off for 10 years other than changing hoses to install a hose reel

Even the Harbor Freight 20 gallon compressor is a decent unit, I know you guys don't have those but my brother has abused the heck out of his...

I would look for oiled if noise is an issue but for occasional use oil less will last for many years... there's a Campbell Hausfeld or however you spell that at my moms that has been going for many years too... In my shop I'm running an old 220V 30 gallon CH compressor I found at a yard sale for $30, it's a solid unit but from the '80's...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Do you have Princess Auto? Check the surplus section. Mine recently had a California Air silent compressor head rated at 4.5 cfm for $129.00. If I needed one I would have bought it. It did need tank etc., so would have been a good candidate for replacing onto an old compresor. I've frankenstiened a few together.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/oil-free-1-hp-quiet-motor-pump/product/PA0009246653

 

[JoshT]

Even the Harbor Freight 20 gallon compressor is a decent unit, I know you guys don't have those but my brother has abused the heck out of his...

I've got one. Actually I've got two both are the older central pneumatic brand units. One red and one black. Bought the black one because IT hought the red one was dead. 6 months later I hadn't had need to use it and dad found a breaker reset switch hidden under the plastics of the red one that wasn't in manual. Years later that black one is still new in box sitting under the carport, but the box isn't very new any more. Anyhow, the 20 gal worked for inflating tires, but I was unhappy with it for anything more than light work. Not enough CFM or capacity.

Pieced together a 60 gal last year (it's got a Harbor Freight pump too) and it has been great! Still run out of air trying to do some stuff, but I think it has more to do with the ineffeciency of a cheap tool (spot sand baster).

Before spending $3-500 on a 20 gallon unit, I'd seriously recommend searching the used market for a bigger unit in the same price range. You'll be a lot happier, especially if you intend to spray with it.

 

[pentode]

look at the CFM ratings. tank size doesn't mean much if the compressor can't pump enough air at pressure.
most tools run at 90 psi.
"max pressure" rating is not worth much.

Yes, I agree with you on the CFM ratings. I'm actually suspicious of the advertised ratings as they're all nearly exactly the same, 4CFM@90, 5@40 (in that 10-20 gallon range) across pretty much every brand available in town. The oddballs are the Husky, which is also 4@90, 5@40 but it runs at 200PSI, which I imagine should give a bit more run time, until you're relying on the pump obviously, and there's a King Canada/Flex Air unit at Kent which is an oiled compressor and claims 5@90 and 7.5@40. That's the one I'm sort of leaning towards.

Some of the really small Makita compressors I've looked at claim similar CFM numbers, but of course they're also twice the price.

Do you have Princess Auto? Check the surplus section. Mine recently had a California Air silent compressor head rated at 4.5 cfm for $129.00. If I needed one I would have bought it. It did need tank etc., so would have been a good candidate for replacing onto an old compresor. I've frankenstiened a few together.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/oil-free-1-hp-quiet-motor-pump/product/PA0009246653

We do have a Princess Auto here in town, and I'm still kicking myself because last fall there was a 60 gallon Sanborn belt-driven unit that had a ding in the tank and was marked down from $2000 to $500. For some reason I decided to think for a few minutes about whether that ding was going to be a safety risk or not, and when I went back 30 minutes later to buy it, it was sold.
I think that same surplus compressor was available here a couple weeks ago- when I checked online, they had one listed as "last one" and I think it was 80 bucks. Missed that one too.


I also totally agree with all the advice about maybe getting something bigger, and the only reason I'm avoiding that is because I've got a move coming up and it's unrealistic that I could take a big compressor with me.

 

[19Walt93]

I'm not Canadian but my grandparents were, close enough? I like the Carlisle compressor I bought from Napa way better than the oil less POS I had before. I want to say it was about $500 three years ago. If you buy too good a compressor you'll never know, if you buy less than you need you'll hate it.

 

[pentode]

I'm not Canadian but my grandparents were, close enough? I like the Carlisle compressor I bought from Napa way better than the oil less POS I had before. I want to say it was about $500 three years ago. If you buy too good a compressor you'll never know, if you buy less than you need you'll hate it.

Hahaha I didn’t mean to imply I wasn’t interested in the advice of Americans- I just meant that we’re really short on brands and stores up here and if you haven’t spent much time north of the border you might not realize how limited the options are. I’d shop in the USA more often but I’m 3 hours from the border. I used to shop at Lowes sometimes when I was near upstate New York.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

If you're going to move soon, I'll second the recommendation of used. Do some research on how to figure out cfm and then you can tell how worn the compressor is by timing from total empty to full and some fairly simple math.

 

[pentode]

I have been keeping an eye on the used market. The market for decent used tools around here is pretty sparse. One did pop up today but it‘s broken and I probably shouldn’t be starting any new projects. Might have to hit pause for a little while. I’m waiting to hear back from another guy but I suspect his is sold already.

 

[19Walt93]

I have been keeping an eye on the used market. The market for decent used tools around here is pretty sparse. One did pop up today but it‘s broken and I probably shouldn’t be starting any new projects. Might have to hit pause for a little while. I’m waiting to hear back from another guy but I suspect his is sold already.

I usually see all kinds of tools and equipment at swap meets, are there any near you?

 

[19Walt93]

Hahaha I didn’t mean to imply I wasn’t interested in the advice of Americans- I just meant that we’re really short on brands and stores up here and if you haven’t spent much time north of the border you might not realize how limited the options are. I’d shop in the USA more often but I’m 3 hours from the border. I used to shop at Lowes sometimes when I was near upstate New York.

Actually, only my grandmother was Canadian. My grandfather was born in a bedroom in Canada but the front door of the house was in the U.S. so he was American. I still have relatives in Canada but don't know them.

 

[pentode]

I usually see all kinds of tools and equipment at swap meets, are there any near you?

That's a good idea. I'll have to look into that.

Actually, only my grandmother was Canadian. My grandfather was born in a bedroom in Canada but the front door of the house was in the U.S. so he was American. I still have relatives in Canada but don't know them.

I'm curious, do you happen to know where that was? I know of a couple places like that in the east. We used to live in Stanstead QC which borders Derby VT - there were several buildings including the library and a few private houses that were split by the border (and Canusa Street where the yellow line in the middle of the road was the border). There's also Estcourt ME/Pohenegamook QC where there's a whole street of houses that have the border running down the middle- backyards in the USA and front door in Canada. There was a big deal several years back where US Customs and Border Patrol was starting to make noises about requiring residents to get customs clearance to use their back yards.

I seem to recall there might be a few other spots like those, maybe UP of Michigan and possibly out on the Washington/BC border.

 

[19Walt93]

He was born in 1882 in Norton Mills, Vt and later moved to Wilder,Vt where my father was born in 1918. Sometime after that they moved to Lebanon,NH- about 5 miles from Wilder.