I need a new air compressor and was wondering if anyone has some good suggestions on features (no maintenance vs the kind you have to oil etc.), brands or size suggestions.

Besides just filling tires, I also recently picked up a box of nice air tools at a garage sale (pneu... socket, impact, drill, buffer, etc.) An old body shop guy had them for $5 each which I couldn't pass up. They won't get a ton of use but I want a compressor that will at least run them when I want to. I will occasionaly be borrowing my dad's air framing and roofing nailers if that matters in the suggestion.

Although I'm not looking for the most expensive, largest unit out there, I wan't a good quality compressor.

One of my biggest things I want is one that is not so loud you can't stand to be in the garage when it is running. The quieter the better.

I've looked at fleet farm, menards etc and I just get confused and don't trust the advice there.

Thanks for any help.

ccarlson

If thats the case stay away from the oiless ones, they are way noisy!
My compressor is about 28 years old and I use it DAILY. I change the oil once a year, clean the intake filter, and replaced the belt and reed valves only once in that time. To run air tools, you should get the maximum CFM and largest air tank you can afford/fit. 30 gallon tank is about the bare minimum I would say. Make sure it can put out at the very least least 125 or more lbs air pressure. More is better because you can regulate it down easily. Air tools need a certain amount of pressure and volume to perform correctly, so if you buy big enough to power the tool that requires the most, you'll be all set. I do have a couple air grinders and such that I don't use much that use more air volumn than mine can keep up with, but just waiting a bit and letting it catch up works ok for that.
Also something to think about is buying big enough to blow out a sprinkler system if you have it. I have done mine for 19 years with my compressor, so its pretty much paid for itself just doing that.

call or google compressors plus. They are down by flying cloud airport. We needed one for house air at work and they put together a pretty good one for us for a reasonable rate.

I do have a sprinkler system but I rent a diesel compressor on wheels to blow that out. You really think a home use model can do it? I currently blow it back up the slight hill and out the heads. I have 3 zones with the largest zone having about 8 or 9 heads. If so, that would be worth spending the extra money as I spend about $50 a year to split the rental with a friend.

thanks for the tip, euro, on the place to check also.

anyone else?

ccarlson

Yes I do, as I said, I have done mine for 19 years with my compressor. Its not quite as quick as a big one but I've never done mine any other way and I havent had a problem yet.

I'll second Macgyver55's comment related to the noise. The oiless ones are LOUD. I have one, and when I fire it up to fill I generally leave the garage until it's done.

Bigger the better. The compressor must have enough cfm to keep up with the tools. You can only get out what you put in. Oiless ones are very loud especially when they get into the larger sizes. I have a two stage, two cylinder with an 80 gal tank that runs smooth and quite like an old Buick.

They are all loud! I use one every day.

The oil-less may be louder, but the main concern is that they don't last for more than a few months if you use them alot. Get one that has oil for sure.

As for size, I agree with the others for the tools you will be using.

I would buy the one with oil. The direct drive compressers are very noisy. If you arn't going to move it out on a job, I would buy one with at least a 20 or 30 gallon tank. One way to gain volume, is to use a portable air tank hooked in line to get a bigger volume. I have one I use everyday in the shop for running my Plasma cutter. Havn't had any trouble with it. A good inline water filter will help your tools a lot. The filter I have takes a filter the size of a roll of toilet paper. I don't use the high priced filters. Just buy the cheapest toilet paper and run off enough paper so it fits in the cqase.

I Hate my oiless because of the noise! My parents have an oil one and it is much nicer in the garage vs my noisy thing. Yes, they both make noise, but the oiless ones are painful and dangerous for hearing IMO.

I also use my average sized compressor from the average hardware store for blowing my sprinkler system. I have been doing so for the last 8 years without any issues. I do wish I had a slightly larger tank, but this one does the job.

It sounds like you and I use a compressor for the same things. I'm sorry I can't remember my specific sizes or specs on my compressor. It is one of the larger tanks (20-25 gallons??) that lie horizontal and have wheels. I wished I had one of the larger tanks that are upright and semi portable. I think the upright version would give me more floorspace in my garage and it would have a larger tank (30-40 gal). I can lift my current compressor and put in a pickup, but the one I want would be a strain to lift in a pickup box. I hope this gives you an idea of how big my compressor is. Sorry for not knowing the numbers.

To size a compressor you need to look at the CFM requirements of the tools you plan on using and then choose a compressor that will meet those requirements. Unfortunately, body shop tools are air hogs if you use them as intended, sanders are the worst. For blowing up tires and running framing nailers pretty much any compressor will do (a cheap portable pancake compressor works well but is loud). A real 3HP (i.e. 220V, 3HP) single stage would be the minimum, a 5HP 2 stage would be more appropriate. Figure on spending $500-$600 on the low end and $1K for a resonable 5HP 2stage. Tank size is up to you.