Can we talk air compressors and air tools?

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lseguy

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Im FINALLY going for it. After all these years I MUST have air tools for car work. Looking to get this:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Already ordered this for the garage ceiling:

http://www.epinions.com/prices/Cyclone_Pneumatic_CP3688_50_X_3_8_Retractable_Air_Hose_Reel_46270166

Looking to get this for my first tool:

Amazon.com: AirCat 3/8'' Super Duty Silent Air Ratchet Tool ACR802G: Home Improvement


Any input? My usage will be 90% car repair/maintenance. No car sanding, no car painting, maybe a nail gun for the house. But mostly for the car.
 
Buy quality tools and a large compressor. Size matters with compressors used for cars. Not so much for woodworking. Car air tools use alot of air.
 
I run a similar... 32gallon, 5.5hp (1.7hp running)

compressor.jpg
 
Thanks for the input. I have a one car garage, so space is at a premium. Any drawbacks of mounting the reel in the ceiling, then running the supply line about..15 feet or so along the ceiling, down the back wall to where I plan to have the compressor?
 
Id rather get a Porter Cable compressor IMO.

I don't know a lot about them , but I only hear good things about Porter Cable anything.
 
This is gunna be cool. Im getting one soon for paint.
 
Any comments on the $99 Aircat brand ratchet link I posted? Pricey, but 90 ft/lbs of torque sounds better than $17 for a Harborfeight air ratchet at 45 ft/lbs.
 
Are you planning on using a paint gun or anything big? If you are look into a 2 stage compressor. Other than that the Husky seems like a good deal.
 
No plans for paint guns or sanders...90% will be impact gun/ ratchets that require in the 4.5 to 5.0 SCFM at 90psi range
 
Many of the Craftsman are made by Ingersol.

Get a compressor with an oiled cylinder. Our experience is that they wll last longer and are less prone to surprise failures.

We had a 60G Craftsman oil less twin cylinder "Professional" compressor. The pistons failed suddenly after a couple months and tore up the rods. Sears replaced the compressor no questions asked but interestingly replaced it with an oiled twin cylinder model. I am guessing they had problems with the oil less model for commercial use.

I inherited the broken one since Sears didn't want it. I learned Craftsman is made by ingersoll when I bought parts. The parts to fix that problem were something like $150. So now I have a nice almost new compressor in my garage. Now my problem is hooking up 240V to it.

We also had an older 100G compressor that has lasted us well over 15 years. It also has an oiled cylinder type compressor.

Our experience is to always drain the tank to repent rust and change oil and filters yearly. If and when the compressor makes knocking noises, that is the time to replace parts, usually rods, before they break and eat stuff up. If you do this, the compressor should last a long time.

For my personal garage use, I have an el cheapo china special 20g compressor, oiled cylinder. It works OK. But it is barely enough to keep up if I use my cutoff /grinder tool. Impact and other tools seem to do OK. I get maybe a minute or two of really fast screaming speed then it slows down and eventually sputters to a stop until the compressor catches up. The China special appears on paper to have enough cfm, but I suspect most china specials are overrated on paper and under in real life.

Soooo, buy a compressor that is rated well above the tool you have that eats the most cfm. I expect the Sears in my garage will keep up, if I ever get around to wiring it up.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson
 
I have the 26 gallon version of that compressor. Same motor and slightly better tires which have an inflation valve. I kinda wish I went for the 30 but I figured the 26 will be slightly more mobile and that's what I needed.
 
thanks for the input and detailed writeup especially, jim. I've read that oiled and cast iron pump are key items to look for. The husky has both, so I think I'll be good to go. Think I will go with that model and try the aircat tools
 
Got the compressor I listed above, and all is well. Instruction book is pretty much useless. Question. Am I supposed to keep it stored empty/with no air? I know about draining it regularly..but cant seem to figure out the proper way to let all of the air out? When i pulled the ring on the safety valve, it was a fairly startling affair. I pushed it back in..and take it that is not the way to relieve a 30 gallon tank filled with 125psi?
 
you are correct. Using that drain screw I can slowly release the air from the tank in a safe manner..and let water out. Thanks
 
Yes, all the tanks I have ever seen have a drain petcock, usually a thumb screw on the botton to drain the tank. You would be amazed at how much water can accumulate in a day of commercial use with a big tank. I have seen water shoot out of the main hose like a garden hose for several seconds.

If you don't drain the tank it will rust and you will have water in the air you spray which could rust your tools or mess up paint or splatter whatever.

If you need pure dry air, consider buying a water trap and perhaps an oil trap. Not cheap but if you mess up a paint job...

We usually bought from McMaster&Carr or Grainger...
http://www.mcmaster.com/#
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/start.shtml

They supply commercial grade products so they are not as cheap as the china specials etc.

They also sell automatic oilers for powertools that need a controlled oil supply. Use these with dedicated hoses to prevent contamination of the pure air supply.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson
 
Next question. What specific tools do you guys suggest as being most helpful for auto repair? So far I have the 1/2 Aircat Impact (1000 lb/ft of reverse torque), 3/8th Aircat air Ratchet, bought the palm sized 3/8th butterfly impact from Harbor Freight, got an air chuck for the tires and and attachment to direct compressed air (good for cleaning out leaves and crevices from various parts of the dash and cowling) and eyeing a 1/4 or 3/8th stubbby air ratchet (5.5 inches long) to add to the collection. I've seen the same stubby witha built in wobble head for a few bucks more than the non wobble.

Any tips?
 
air chisel and a handfull of bits...come in handy for tearing stuff apart
 
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