Buying a new air compressor

[craveman85]

This week.I'm.net planning on buying a new air compressor to replace the dead old gas powered one I had. I've got 2 in mind and they're both available locally. They are both Quincy. One is 5 hp, 80 gallon and the other is 7.5/80. The 5 puts out 17.2 cfm@175 and the 7.5 is 22.7@175. Both are splash lubricated higher end units. The 5 is 1900$ and the 7.5 is $2400. I can currently afford to get the 5, the.extended warranty kit, wire, breaker, regulator hose and connectors. If I get the 7.5 I'll have to wait another week to get the other stuff to hook it up but I'm looking at $600 more total investment. Electrical supply won't be too much of an issue because I have to run 75'of wire for either one. I'll be sanding, painting, running impacts, air ratchets, maybe a small portable blaster or a blast cabinet. Will it really be worth it to jump up to the 7.5 over the 5hp?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

If you have room you can always plumb in a portable 10cfm unit [in the future] if you find you need more cfm.

 

[craveman85]

I don't think I'll have room for another compressor in the garae or in the breaker box. I'd need to run another wire out for another compressor. I rent and would like to buy the house sound the owners eventually decide to sell. If that happens then I'll have enough room in each. I'm not really sure I need 23 cfm@ 175 but I'm trying to justify it to myself. I think my impact is 20@90 psi under full load but they never really run long enough for me to run out. Another area I had questions is the regulator size/hose/fittings. I plan on a 1/2" 50' hose. I'm assuming a 1/2" regulator would be fine. I'd have to reduce grin the 3/4" outlet on the tank. Would you guys use 3/8".fittings and couplers or I was also thinking of the Milton v type high flow couplers. My last setup was all 1/4" but I didn't have any knowledge of pneumatic tools back then.

 

[Doofy]

My cheap ($400-500) 5 hp 60 gallon NAPA compressor does the same exact thing the spendy ones do. I decided a long time ago that I really didn't need the best of everything to get the job done. 15 years of great service with not a single problem. I've even changed the oil a few times.

 

[craveman85]

15 years ago a cheap compressor was still a decent compressor. Most manufacturers make 10 versions of the same model with varying quality of parts. It's hard to sort out what to avoid. I also want one with a lower pump rpm. I think the 5 is 960 and the 7.5 is 1060 rpm. They're pretty quiet I've seen one of each run. Motors are running 1750 rpm unlike most cheapie ones rated at peak hp or around 3450

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

If you plan on blasting get the big one. Or buy a portable gas job when you need the extra cfm. I built a compressor with used parts, 10.6 cfm with a 19 amp/5hp electric motor. I plan on swapping a 9 hp gas motor onto it in the future. IIRC cost was ~$400.00.

 

[Doofy]

Yes, You probably do have a valid point about the decline in quality over the years. Comparisons are a royal pain...can't believe half of what you read anymore and in-person inspections are not much better. Know what you want, Buy what you can afford. Don't just settle...

 

[craveman85]

I looked at some specs of the pump life on some compressors. Many were listed at 5000 or less hours. A few at 10000 hours. They have a Quincy 7.5 where my girlfriend works with over 30000 on it currently. They're also very rebuildable. They list up to 50000 hours pump life not that I'll ever get near that mark.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

 

[Doofy]

Sorry but I don't need a compressor that will last me 137 years ( figuring a run-time of 1 hour per day). Will your compressor be used commercially in a body shop, or what? If using to make a living... YES! Maybe. How long do you plan on living? How many heirs?

Just messing with you. During my work life I would buy the best, using someone else's money. Being retired, not so much. Cheap SOB now!

 

[dirtcowboy]

Get the compressor that produces the most cfm, in your budget. You will NEVER regret more capability.

 

[craveman85]

I'm 27 so I'm figuring at least 30 years. I'm starting a restoration of my 81 cj8 scrambler. I got quoted 4-5500 for a complete paint job so in theory it's paying for itself in one use. Actually working on my own vehicles saves me 50-100 an hour in labor as well. I would have fine my clutch myself and saved 400$ if I didn't have to use hand tools for the whole project. I guess I'll probably get the 7.5hp. Now I just have to decide on a regulator, fittings and such.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

 

[Doofy]

Another reason I went with a 5hp is that we pay .28 per KWH. No 3 phase power available either. Had a Miller 40 gasoline welder until gas prices went ape shit. Our gas prices are still over a dollar a gallon more than elsewhere in the US. Energy prices have put a damper on a lot of the things I do or would like to do. Hopefully, you have better energy rates.

 

[craveman85]

.29 per kilowatt. Gas is about 240 a gallon here at the moment in ny

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

 

[craveman85]

I'm not sure if the electric includes delivery or not. Can't recall. I know there is a separate charge for it

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

 

[Doofy]

HOLY CRAP! Craveman85. Sure didn't realize other parts of the country had ridiculous energy prices too. We are on Hydro Power in the summer and about now the water freezes and we are switched to diesel generation and the cost almost doubles. Whoopie!