What Air Compressor do you have, need suggestions?

[cboy]

I'm in the market for a new air compressor. Currently using a POS 1gallon CH walmart special that was given to me.

My main uses will be, 18g Brad Nailer, Filling Air in tires, Blowing away dust.....would be nice if it would work an air ratchet but i doubt i'm going to find one in my price range....

Low Noise level would be a PLUS

looking to spend anywhere from 100-200.00 (ish I'll go a little higher if its totally worth it)

These are the ones I've looked at so far....

6 gallon 150 PSI MAX Porter-Cable C2002-WK Oil-Free UMC Pancake Compressor with 13-Piece Accessory Kit -  $170
http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-C2002-WK-Oil-Free-Compressor-Accessory/dp/B000N5UHK0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1249264068&sr=8-1

2.6 gallon 130 PSI Max Makita MAC700 Big Bore 2.0 HP Air Compressor $214.00 <- appears to be quieter but small tank??
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001Q2VK0/ref=s9_simz_gw_s0_p60_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1P567M54P0KJ9QJZSVHG&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

6 gallon 150 PSI Max Craftsman
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00915216000P?mv=aolim $159.00

[drventure]

Everyone I've ever talked to about compressors say don't get an oilfree one. They won't last near as long.

However, pretty much all the pancake compressors I've seen are oilfree so if that's what you're looking for....

I ended up getting a Brut by Briggs and straton. Not sure where it was from originally, I got it from a guy off Craigslist. It's oiled, and it's fairly large in volume but the tank sits vertically, so it doesn't take up a lot of space in the garage

But it's nowhere near portable like a pancake version.

[Dr Zero]

Check out Harbor Freight they have several from the pancake on up and I second the idea of a oiled one.

Oh! and on the main forum there is post for 20% off at HF http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=94906.0

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?catPath=All%2BProducts%252F%252F%252F%252FUserSearch%253Dcompressor&currentPage=1&lastPage=7&isNext=false&isPrevious=false&category=&attributeValue=&attributeName=&requestedPage=2&resultsPerPage=99&resultsPerPageBottom=99

[ChadTower]

Check out Harbor Freight they have several from the pancake on up and I second the idea of a oiled one.

DO NOT DO THAT.  NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT.

I bought a compressor from Harbor Freight.   Dead in the box.  Brought it back and got a second one.  Hole in the tank and I almost got hurt.

Do not buy compressor fittings from Harbor Freight.  I bought probably 15 of them at the same time.  Every one of them is loose enough that it sounds like a basket of snakes when I put them in the circuit.  Some of them just flat didn't fit and would fall off with the slightest tug.

[padstack]

oil free = loud.  For what you want, basically any compressor with a tank will work.  You can find them on craigslist cheap at just about any time.  I have a Wayne (equivalent to an ingersol rand, but older) dual-stage compressor with dual tanks - 1 30 gallon and 1 50 gallon.  It will handle anything I can throw at it and I paid 200 for it at a farm auction.  I do car work too though so I actually have a need for it.

In short - craigslist a craftsman or something.  No sense in HF since you can get a used craftsman for cheaper since home depot darn near gives them away to contractors on certain promotions.

[ChadTower]

Yeah, after I gave up on HF, I picked up a good DeWalt 5 gal for $125 off CL.  Get a good name and used won't matter all that much for a home user.

[cboy]

Hmmm this craftsman 5 gallon says its "Quiet" oil lubed, detachable dolly

I wonder how "quiet" is quiet i wish i could find the DBA for it

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00916636000P?mv=aolim

might be the just the ticket

[KissMyWookie]

Something to bear in mind if you're considering getting an oil-lubricated compressor ... unless you have a really good filter/oil-separator, the exhaust from your power tools will spray a mist of oil onto your workpieces.

For your size needs, go by the CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) of the compressor at 90 PSI. A lot of compressors will state an impressive sounding CFM, but it's only that good at 40 PSI - and most tools

Air sanding tools need the highest CFM (6-8CFM@90PSI), followed by Grinders and HVLP. Air Ratchets, Nailers and Air-brushes have fairly low CFM requirements and will usually work fine at 50-90PSI.

Tank size is important, as you don't want to be running the compressor constantly. If you're running an air-tool at close to the max CFM of the compressor, then you'll need a bigger tank. As you read about compressors, you'll come across something called "duty cycle" - this is the amount of time a compressor should be spent charging the tank and sitting idle (while the contents of the tank is used).

When I bought mine, I imagined running everything off of it, so wanted one that could put out at least 6CFM@90PSI (enough to run a random orbit sander) ... but I didn't know enough and though the compressor I bought (a Craftsman 29GAL 6.8CFM@90PSI) could run the sander, the motor would have to come on every minute or so - which runs the compressor way beyond its duty-cycle and will wear it out very quickly. (Not to mention air tools need oiling - even if the compressor is oil-free - and they spray this oil over your work surface, so they're no good for working with wood or other porous materials).

Going back, I'd look for a compressor with a 10 or 12 GAL tank and around 4CFM@90PSI - though if there was a pancake compressor with a high enough duty cycle, that would be good enough too.

Steve

[ivwshane]

I don't know if your budget will afford it but if you want quite then you may want to look into a two stage motor.

This is the one I got but I got a for a crazy price ($250 + free ship):

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-CPFC2TV3525VP-3-5-Horsepower-25-Gallon-Compressor/dp/B000051WTQ

[Shortbus]

I like my porter cable pancake compressor, does everything you need, runs smooth, well made, nailer is of good quality.

I bought the 3 gun kit for like $400 i think, but see below, they have a cheaper version with only one nailer, which you really only need, depending on what your doing, I have only used the brad nailer for the majority time I've had it.

good luck! can't go wrong with porter cable...

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5/R-100672205/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

[KissMyWookie]

I don't know if your budget will afford it but if you want quite then you may want to look into a two stage motor.

This is the one I got but I got a for a crazy price ($250 + free ship):

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-CPFC2TV3525VP-3-5-Horsepower-25-Gallon-Compressor/dp/B000051WTQ

Wow, that was a great deal you got!

Two stage compressors are definitely quieter than regular single stage ones, but you (usually) pay a huge premium for the luxury. You'll have to weigh up how much you're willing to spend against how quiet you want it to be.

Another thing I like about two stage compressors is the tank is pumped with cooler (room temperature) air, so I would imagine there would be less chance of condensation problems. (Is my thinking correct?)

Steve

[ivwshane]

I don't know if there is less problems or not but I had to install a ball valve in mine to make draining it easier. It doesn't seem to have as much water in it as my old 6 gallon single stage compressor.