Need Recommendation For Air Compressor

[ChiefWebb]

Purchase the best Quincy you can afford, change the oil and filters, keep it drained and it will outlast you.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I have a LaPlante compressor (Now Kellogg-American).
It's the "go big or go home" model.
Three cylinder single stage, 60 gallon, 7.5HP, 155PSI, 35CFM
Multiple filters and dryers.
It will run an air sander, impact gun or HVLP gun just about constantly.

I also have another old Air force rotary compressor on a trailer.
These were fight line compressors, to start planes.
250CFM @ 150PSI if I remember right.

My big portable is a twin cylinder construction style compressor
My small portable is a Milwaukee, works great and is battery powered.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

The length of the handle on my Dewalt cordless is enormous - it's bigger than the handle on my full-size corded Dewalt hammer drill. They clearly think it has enough torque to need it. Yet to find out whether it'll break my wrist when it binds up.

My son bought me a Milwaukee 18v 1/4" impact. I thought, "Yeah, right. Good for driving a few screws, but that's about it."

I was WAY wrong. I use it on lug nuts on my Sienna. No problem. Puts them back on, too, with plenty of torque. One. Quarter. Inch. Can't believe it, but it works.

On another forum I used to see people claim to work on big equipment (large tractors, semi-trucks) with their Milwaukee 1/2" impact. I didn't believe them.

I do now.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

My son bought me a Milwaukee 18v 1/4" impact. I thought, "Yeah, right. Good for driving a few screws, but that's about it."

I was WAY wrong. I use it on lug nuts on my Sienna. No problem. Puts them back on, too, with plenty of torque. One. Quarter. Inch. Can't believe it, but it works.

On another forum I used to see people claim to work on big equipment (large tractors, semi-trucks) with their Milwaukee 1/2" impact. I didn't believe them.

I do now.

I have the 1/4 the 3/8 and the 1/2 they are all excellent.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

My son bought me a Milwaukee 18v 1/4" impact. I thought, "Yeah, right. Good for driving a few screws, but that's about it."

I was WAY wrong. I use it on lug nuts on my Sienna. No problem. Puts them back on, too, with plenty of torque. One. Quarter. Inch. Can't believe it, but it works.

On another forum I used to see people claim to work on big equipment (large tractors, semi-trucks) with their Milwaukee 1/2" impact. I didn't believe them.

I do now.

Funny that you should bring this up.

Last week I bought a 1/2 inch drive “Chi-Com” knock off impact cause it uses Dewalt batteries.

Although it removed my wifes minivan lug nuts, it did so “just barely"

So here it is, ready for the “return voyage” home……..

900 FT-LBS. my a$$…………….Their Torqu-O-Meter was WAY OFF on that.

I wonder if a “real Dewalt” would perform better?

 

[Sidekick]

Funny that you should bring this up.

Last week I bought a 1/2 inch drive “Chi-Com” knock off impact cause it uses Dewalt batteries.

Although it removed my wifes minivan lug nuts, it did so “just barely"

So here it is, ready for the “return voyage” home……..

View attachment 165472


900 FT-LBS. my a$$…………….Their Torqu-O-Meter was WAY OFF on that.

I wonder if a “real Dewalt” would perform better?

YES. Mine isn't bad.

I bought one of those quiet California Air Compressors for my woodworking shop several years ago and no real problems yet. Very quiet oiless pump because it's in my basement. Only thing it's kick in is 90 psi and top pressure 125 psi so it wouldn't be good for a garage. Also have the Makita super quiet 2 gallon portable oiless for nail guns that is quiet with low startup draw and has been very reliable. In my barn I have a 5 horse ingersol that's 30 years old without a problem but it takes a 60 amp 220 breaker to run. They all have their uses.

 

[SDT]

I have a LaPlante compressor (Now Kellogg-American).
It's the "go big or go home" model.
Three cylinder single stage, 60 gallon, 7.5HP, 155PSI, 35CFM
Multiple filters and dryers.
It will run an air sander, impact gun or HVLP gun just about constantly.

I also have another old Air force rotary compressor on a trailer.
These were fight line compressors, to start planes.
250CFM @ 150PSI if I remember right.

My big portable is a twin cylinder construction style compressor
My small portable is a Milwaukee, works great and is battery powered.

Before moving 1,750 miles I had two Polar Air (formerly Eaton Compressor) compressors, one in each out building. The large barn had an 80 gallon tank with a 7.5 HP (running) TEFC motor with magnetic starter that would operate from a 50 amp breaker. The pump was V4, dual stage with both interstage and after coolers. With 4 pole, 1,800 RPM motor and pump speed aroung 650 RPM it was quite quiet. Excellent compressor.

The small barn had a 60 gallon Polar Air 5 HP (running) OFDP motor driving a 2 cylinder two stage pump which was one bank of the V4 pump. It did not have a magnetic starter and, IIRC, operated on a 40 Amp breaker. The motor was 4 pole, 1,800 RPM and the pump speed was about 750 RPM. It too was quiet quiet.

Having sold the farm, all my equipment, and built a new house with attached RV Garage/shop, I had planned to buy another 60 gallon, 5 HP Polar Air unit like I had in the small barn but have learned that Polar Air no longer makes a 60 gallon, 5 HP compressor with a 4 pole 1,800 RPM motor. Worse, I have not been able to find a 60 gallon compressor with 1,800 RPM 5 HP motor from any manufacturer. I do not have room in the new shop for an 80 gallon unit and will not buy any compressor with a 3,600 RPM motor due to excessive noise.

FWIW, the Dayton, Ohio manufacturer that sells Polar Air compressors now manufactures compressors for multiple other sellers, including Northern Tool, etc. Before buying my two Polar Air compressors I visited their plant and established relationships with sales, service, manufaacturing and parts folks but this was nearly 15 years ago and I am not over 1,700 miles away.

Compressor prices, like everything else have skyrocketed post Biden and I cannot justify the current cost of an 80 gallon, 1,800 RPM unit, even if I had space for one.

Decisions, decisions....