Time for a compressor.

[William1]

Getting ready to buy a new compressor. I want quiet, hi psi, reasonable volume - looking at a Quincy or a Puma. I think....

https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Quincy-Q13160VQ-Air-Compressor/p12330.html

https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Puma-TE-3040V-Air-Compressor/p13940.html?msclkid=7e80f78b7e5e1463ea0790724c5f7086&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=[Audience Network] Feed Based Ads - All Products&utm_term=2331445687558825&utm_content=All Products

I have an big azz air to air heat exchanger gifted to me (massive brass radiator and fan) for cooling and condensing compressed air, Will be adding a few auto drains.
Just me, big rattle gun and using the air to blow things clean and dry (extended time - like over a hour)
Worthwhile opinions?

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Hi William,

my 1/2 cent regarding compressors: it depends what you want to do. Just for a puff of air every now and then any compressor will do. Go for a quiet one if this is important to you.

I use mine for spray painting and sand blasting too. What matters there is how much air it feeds through. I have two compressors with 350l/min intake each. For spray painting half of 350l/min is enough but for sand blasting 700l/min (running both) is not sufficient, so I have to wait in between.

The tank size only determines how often the compressor switches on and off and how long it will run, not more, not less. If you take out air continuously your pressure will be too low at some stage if the air intake is too low, does not matter how big your tank is.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Spend the extra money and get a cast iron compressor and preferably one with with disk valves.

MEGA Compressor MP-6560VB MEGA 5-HP 60-Gallon Single-Stage Air Compressor 208/230V 1-Phase - 150 PSI

Buy MEGA Compressor MP-6560VB Direct. Free Shipping. Check the MEGA 5-HP 60-Gallon Single-Stage Air Compressor (208/230V 1-Phase - 150 PSI) ratings before checking out.

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[William1]

Spend the extra money and get a cast iron compressor with disk valves.

MEGA Compressor MP-6560VB MEGA 5-HP 60-Gallon Single-Stage Air Compressor 208/230V 1-Phase - 150 PSI

Buy MEGA Compressor MP-6560VB Direct. Free Shipping. Check the MEGA 5-HP 60-Gallon Single-Stage Air Compressor (208/230V 1-Phase - 150 PSI) ratings before checking out.

www.aircompressorsdirect.com

That's in my price range ($1,200) but I think a 5 Hp is bit more than I need, how about the 3 Hp?
Also why does the single stage have three cylinders?I'm pretty ignorant.... Think about what I am stepping up from.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

What kind of power and amperage do you have to feed it easily?
How many CFM do you want?
What high pressure limit do you want?

2 main compressor types, yes there are many more:
Single stage, can be any number of cylinders.
Dual stage, again can be a combination of multiple cylinders.
The higher number of cylinders the quicker the recovery or CFM output.
The larger the cylinder the nosier they are, so many smaller cylinders is better than one big one.

Single stage usually means more CFM quicker.
Dual stage usually means less CFM more PSI.

Bigger is almost always better!

I have a 60 gallon 3 cylinder 5HP, High continuous CFM that runs air sanders, spray equipment and high CFM uses.

 

[William1]

What kind of power and amperage do you have to feed it easily?
How many CFM do you want?
What high pressure limit do you want?

2 main compressor types, yes there are many more:
Single stage, can be any number of cylinders.
Dual stage, again can be a combination of multiple cylinders.
The higher number of cylinders the quicker the recovery or CFM output.
The larger the cylinder the nosier they are, so many smaller cylinders is better than one big one.

Single stage usually means more CFM quicker.
Dual stage usually means less CFM more PSI.

Bigger is almost always better!

I have a 60 gallon 3 cylinder 5HP, High continuous CFM that runs air sanders, spray equipment and high CFM uses.

I was thinking ... 240V/20 amp circuit (12/3)but I can up that if needed.
I've been using a 135 psi but would like more for the rattle gun. I cheat it with a few drops of oil but, more power would be nice. so a 175 PSI is a big bump up
I'd like move volume than my old Craftsman, most new ones seem to have about double the CFM, there are times when I use the blow gun (cleaning house air filters) and the Craftsman runs continuously. This, in August means a lot of water and heat, and after a hour or so, I'm blowing fog. So I'm hoping the air to air radiator and more compressor will drop the wet air (and auto drain it).
I hear you on bigger. But it is just me.
So the three cylinders is still single stage, just more and smaller 'puffs'? Reasonably quiet? I wonder when they do not publish dBa readings. Pocka-poka and not BRAAAAAAAA

 

[WFM]

I have had a Quincy now for several years.
Works fantastic.
I thought made in Quincy Mass.
Nope Quincy Illinois.

 

[Donystoy]

I have a 5hp 3 cylinder in a smaller shop that I use to paint cars and machinery in as well as blowing water out of our irrigation lines in the fall. In a larger shop I have a portable 2 hp used for air tools etc. A third smaller compressor is used primarily for brad nailers. As previously stated it all depends on what you plan on doing with the air.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I was thinking ... 240V/20 amp circuit (12/3)but I can up that if needed.
I've been using a 135 psi but would like more for the rattle gun. I cheat it with a few drops of oil but, more power would be nice. so a 175 PSI is a big bump up
I'd like move volume than my old Craftsman, most new ones seem to have about double the CFM, there are times when I use the blow gun (cleaning house air filters) and the Craftsman runs continuously. This, in August means a lot of water and heat, and after a hour or so, I'm blowing fog. So I'm hoping the air to air radiator and more compressor will drop the wet air (and auto drain it).
I hear you on bigger. But it is just me.
So the three cylinders is still single stage, just more and smaller 'puffs'? Reasonably quiet? I wonder when they do not publish dBa readings. Pocka-poka and not BRAAAAAAAA

I personally think a 3 cylinder single stage 5HP would do you really well.

But yes you could drop to a 3.5hp 2 cylinder model.

MEGA Compressor MP-6060VU MEGA 3-HP 60-Gallon Single-Stage Air Compressor 208/230V 1-Phase - 150 PSI

Buy MEGA Compressor MP-6060VU Direct. Free Shipping. Check the MEGA 3-HP 60-Gallon Single-Stage Air Compressor (208/230V 1-Phase - 150 PSI) ratings before checking out.

www.aircompressorsdirect.com

 

[dlsmith]

I have a Quincy QT-5, 5 HP 2 cylinder that I bought 30 years ago, and other than changing the oil, tightening the belt and new intake filter it has been trouble free. I also put an automatic drain valve on the bottom that purges every time the compressor runs.
I agree with Wolfman, get a cast iron compressor, they are way more durable.

 

[Spam Bot]

Another vote for a Made in America Quincy Compressor.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I have the “little brother” to the Quincy posted on the original post, and I was very impressed with how quiet it is.

I was able to compare it directly with the old Craftsman it replace, and it was “noticeably” quieter.

Been running it for a few years now, as a “weekend warrior” mechanic, and it has performed admirably.

If I were to replace it for a bigger model, I would buy a Quincy again.

As with tractors, there are times I wish I had gone with a bigger one, but for my uses, this one work well.

I don’t have a “blast cabinet” or “air sanders” though…..Just air ratchets and impacts and the occasional 3 or 4 minute run with the CNC plasma cutter.

Good luck and let use know which one you go with.

 

[Yooper]

I have never heard anybody say I bought too much compressor. However, I hear ‘I wish I had a bigger compressor’ from just about everyone I know that has one. That includes me!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Whatever you buy, you should plumb in the 'heat exchanger' BETWEEN the compressor head and the tank. That way only cool ,dry air goes into the tank. You'll also want to ad a 'dryer' to the line going to the paint gun. You'll also want to wire up the cooling fan to run when the compressor's running.

3 cylinder head give more volume of air than a single big one, are cheaper to make,smoother running. You don't see any 24HP, single cylinder engines but LOTS of 24HP, 3 cylinder ones.

 

[L35]

Check out Saylor-Beall, another made in the USA option.

 

[William1]

Whatever you buy, you should plumb in the 'heat exchanger' BETWEEN the compressor head and the tank. That way only cool ,dry air goes into the tank. You'll also want to ad a 'dryer' to the line going to the paint gun. You'll also want to wire up the cooling fan to run when the compressor's running.

3 cylinder head give more volume of air than a single big one, are cheaper to make,smoother running. You don't see any 24HP, single cylinder engines but LOTS of 24HP, 3 cylinder ones.

Pretty much my plan.
I'm beginning to lean to the 5 Hp, 3 cyl........ Prices are nearly the same. Just have to buy big wire and breaker, really not a issue.
No painting that I know of, what little I do is a rattle can, brush or roller.
Big rattle gun and blowing moisture off of washed parts is 90% of what I need air for. No longer use an air ratchet, too cumbersome.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I wired compressor with 'welding receptacle', that way I can power welder from back of garage and the front.Came in real handy when greenhouse needed some work done on it !

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

I personally think a 3 cylinder single stage 5HP would do you really well.

But yes you could drop to a 3.5hp 2 cylinder model.

MEGA Compressor MP-6060VU MEGA 3-HP 60-Gallon Single-Stage Air Compressor 208/230V 1-Phase - 150 PSI

Buy MEGA Compressor MP-6060VU Direct. Free Shipping. Check the MEGA 3-HP 60-Gallon Single-Stage Air Compressor (208/230V 1-Phase - 150 PSI) ratings before checking out.

www.aircompressorsdirect.com

Why Mega instead of Ingersol Rand?

I agree, cast iron oil is better than oil
When I last looked, quiet compressors generally run lower RPM and have less CFM output, but for intermittent tasks like a rattle gun or blowing off parts the quiet is very welcome. At work we run two dual-screw compressors and they're "quite quiet," although quite spendy and not as efficient as piston. At our second location we need incredible volume and 175+PSI so run a two-stage three-piston compressor and it's actually pretty quiet (though huge). In both cases we run an industrial air dryer which really extends tool life.

At home I run an American cast-iron 100% duty rate compressor with a buffer tank and small industrial air dryer, so I have air volume for high-volume low pressure painting. If you want it quiet build a sound-proof enclosure with plenty of cooling.