What compressor do I need? I have wanted one for months but can not decide on what size I need. My main concern is that my compressor does not come on every 5 minutes., and not be ridiculously loud. I often work on my truck/ car late (1am, 2am, 3am) and I do not want my neighbors knocking at my door to shut it off.

I will be using it for all you basic automotive needs. I also plan on doing a lot of sanding and grinding with it(going to sand/smooth/paint my entire interior and eventually polish my supercharger and intake. Eventually try my skills at auto body and paint my bronco.

Outside of the garage also use it for power washing and painting the house (I realize a portable one would be best for this but not a concern, I will just buy longer hoses).

I am leaning towards a 60 gal or 80 gal one, but if you all think a 30 gallon will be fine I might just do that.





Ingersol rand:

60 gal, 5hp twin cylinder, oil lube

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...+%26+Inflators



Craftsman

80 gal, 5.5hp, 2 stage with splash lubrication

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00916780000



1.6hp, 30 gal, 2 stage OIL FREE

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...+%26+Inflators



3hp, 30 gal oil lube

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...+%26+Inflators

2hp, 33 gal vertical

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00916732000

 

Make sure to buy a air hammer with a few chisels.

 

Tampa what do you use. I plan on doing many of the mods you have done over the next few years.

 

My advice - buy the biggest compressor you can afford. There's a huge difference between a $300 one and a $800 one, and it's worth every penny for the bigger one.

I have a Husky 80 gallon two stage oil-lubed compressor that can run anything known to man. It's about $800 from Home Depot. Compared to my buddy's 60 gallon oilless single stage, mine is the bomb. Two stage oiled is MUCH quieter, and the reserve capacity is unbelievable. I can turn on the compressor and let it reach full capacity, turn it off, and wrench on my race jetski all afternoon and barely lose any psi.

Don't go cheapie on a compressor.

 

Fullboogie pretty much covered my answer! Those hi-rpm rotary tools eat air like no tommorrow! Definitely get as biiigggg as you can. This is my next purchase also as the compressor kicks on after a few minutes of use.

 

Tom, Home Depot sells a Husky (their in house brand) 60 gallon, iron head, for $399. I use that same unit to run my entire shop.

Whatever you do, do NOT get a oil-free compressor!!

 

The sanding and grinding separated you from the average. I have a little 26gal 5hp from husky, just for the basic mechanical needs, but I know I have tried grinding and it is an absolute waste.

Good advice above.



D-Day

 

SCUBA tanks!

OK, not really a valid answer for anyone who doesn't have 10 tanks and a shop to fill them for free at, but you cna't get any quieter than zero noise.

(and for the curious, each tank holds 100 cubic feet, unless you're doing a LOT of work, they last for a fairly long while with the advantage or being portable as well)

Coldie

 

Or a Craftsman (crapsman) mine lasted 2 years and 1 month....guess how long the warranty was good for!
Mike

 

that sounds like a winner.. the price is right too.

 

Sal do you know the model number, all the 80 gallons I see are about $800-$900

 

Husky 7HP 60 gallon model # VT6314
Price $429

or buy it on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.ca/Husky-Cast-Iron-O...QQcmdZViewItem

Note: I believe it runs on 240 volts.

 

thanks