buying small air compressor.

[badwithcomputer]

I received this PA air compressor for my Birthday:

17 gallon
4.8 CFM @ 40 PSI
3.5 CFM @ 90 PSI
1.5 HP
Max pressure: 125 PSI
120V
Low maintenance, oil free, direct drive operation

www.princessauto.com/workshop/air/compressor/electric/8385189-17-gallon-air-compressor-with-accessory-kit

which i greatly appreciated for the thought. But it's one of those things you just have to pick out yourself, you know? The more i read up about air compressor's the more i realized i need something with higher HP and CFM.

I found this compressor at Kent and is made by King Canada (never heard of? any good?)

Cubic Feet Per Minute:
7.4 SCFM @ 40 PSI / 5.7 SCFM @ 90PSI
Horsepower:
5
Oil Lubricated:
Yes
PSI:
125
Running PSI:
115
Warranty:
2 Years

www.kent.ca/kbs/en/product.jsp?prdId=5772311&skuId=5772311&catalogId=1089

I plan to mainly use the general air tools, impact gun, air ratchet, die grinder, spray gun. This isn't something i would use every weekend, but just to do basic repairs. A little body work (first timer) Jeep repairs etc....

My readings have told me that 5HP rating on the Kent compressor is probably flawed since you wouldn't be able to get enough electricity out of a regular wall socket to allow for that much HP. You would need a 220 outlet. Also Tank size isn't as important as long as you have enough air flowing to power the tools you want to use. My concern is that the flawed horse power number will decrease the CFM. 5.7@90psi seems fairly decent for the price of the compressor but will that be more like 4@90 psi if the motor can only push out 2-3hp because of the lack of electricity able to power the unit?

In the end, i don't want to have make the round trip with a 112 pound compressor to return it only to pay more for something that advertised it was better and actually is only marginally better.

[Dewie]

Keep your eyes open on Kijiji... if you have the space for it get something big and ugly - Something 220 is what you want - you can't have TOO much air.

I lucked out and picked up a unit that came out of a car dealership - it ran 4 or 5 bays - the motor wouldn't start under load properly, turned out the starting capacitor was bad.

I can actually hold my impact wrench on steady, the thing will pump up and shut off while I am still holding the wrench open.

[badwithcomputer]

www.kingcanada.com/Products.htm?CD=195&ID=12058

5 PEAK HP, so it's obviously not a running HP rating.

it would need to it be fairly maneuverable as the garage at our to-be-house is fairly small. I have been keeping my eye on kijiji, but they want big dollars for old, ugly compressors. Again, space is an issue as well as electrical - there is no 220 hook up in the garage. That does sound like you have a pretty impressive setup though.

[Dewie]

no 220 hookup will certainly slow you down...

As for maneuverability don't be afraid of setting it up at a central, out of the way point, and running a manifold with pex and a few fittings various places. The less shit to roll around/be under foot the better.

Pex is rated for like 120 PSI @ some crazy high temperature for hot water. I have it run in my garage and have "outlets" in all 4 corners (and one out back where I keep my tractor) each with a short coil hose.

Just ideas Sorry to be off topic.

[badwithcomputer]

No worries I always appreciate your insight! no matter how off topic it gets.

I guess what it comes down to is whether or not this Kent compressor will be able to do what I want it to do without being a big downer.. I am use to using an 8 gallon jobby from Crappy tire, It wasn't powerful enough to remove the bolts from the shocks on my Ranger. The sticker on the top says "intermittent use: Impact Wrench and basically every other tool i wanted to use with it haha. My old man can keep the old one.

[itsakeeper]

C.Tire have a similar model on sale sometimes - don't remember the exact price - It's 26gal ? - Mine won't keep up with the impact if you are on it a long time but no sweat changing all 4 tires over or normal useage on almost any air tool except a sander/cutoff tool on continuous use. Make sure its a belt drive, not direct drive. Mine takes one belt; a better compressor will take at least two. (approx. 5hp per belt)

[badwithcomputer]

www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/1/CompressorsAirTools/Compressors/PRDOVR~0588283P/Campbell%252BHausfeld%252B20g%252BCast-iron%252BCompressor.jsp?locale=en

that's probably the fella you're talking about? looks to be belt driven. By the looks of the size of the motor and compressor on the top of the Kent compressor it appears to be Direct drive, what are the benefits between the two? there is a $200 price different with the canadian tire one running lower CFM

[jrm]

One thing to look at when buying a small compressor is the duty cycle, with the small tank and low storage capacity the compressor will run more. The Campbell Hausfeld from Canadian tire is a full cast iron compressor that will have a higher duty cycle then the aluminum compressor maybe cast cylinder one from Kent. Another thing is the belt drive units run quieter(Usually).

[Hawkes]

First find out what feeds the garage. Is it attached or separate? If it's 14 guage wire or even 12 guage on a long run none of those compressors will be happy.

I had a pretty red Craftsman 5 hp oil less 30 gallon and it lasted about 6 years with light use. When it died Dad gave me his 240V 2 hp 20 gallon cast iron oil base belt driven Craftsman compressor. It's over 25 years old, I painted my first car with it. I used the bigger tank off the oil less and connected it to the new one for 50 gallons. The oil base is less noisy and works great. I can sandblast in spurts.

The HP ratings are wonderful aren't they? I see shop vacs with huge unobtainable ratings.

As for air driven impacts I don't like them near as well as electric. I can use the electric anywhere, such as driving lag bolts for decks where there is no air. $60 bucks at Canadian tire on sale for an electric impact for the same output in air your going to spend a couple hundred.

King is a low-mid grade but affordable. They go on sale from time to time.

[badwithcomputer]

Interesting points jrm, I am not sure what the duty cycle was on the king compressor. I emailed them to find out some more technical details but have yet to hear back :\ the one thing i also like about the King compressor was that you can go to their website download the service manual and order all the replacement parts for it. it even lists the prices!

It's separate, my Grandfather wired it - I am hoping he may be able to re-wire it as the house has the old fuse style electrical which i would like to get changed as well.

interesting point on the electric impact gun, i've seen them but never really paid much attention to them. I feel they might be too big and bulky to be working with under a jeep. It would be nice to pocket $140 though haha

[Bubba]

Here's what I have, you use it. As for a compressor you only get what you pay for.....

Rick

buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=yes&tool=shop&item_ID=80017&group_ID=13098&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

[badwithcomputer]

your compressor is a mammoth beast! I cannot tame such a beast.

[itsakeeper]

the battery driven impact guns are just as good as the electric variety (275 ft.lbs.) while air drive can easily hit 5-600 ft.lbs. for $3-400