dualblade

im looking to buy a compressor and was just wondering some of your guys opinions on a decent compressor maybe somewhat smaller (easier to carry and cheaper) for just basic auto mechanics.

dualblade

ok, i found one that i think might be good. specs are:

oil free
5.5hp
22 gallon tank
150psi max
scfm at 40psi: 8.4cfm
scfm at 90psi: 6.2cfm

$259

sound reasonable?

brrt50cal

Who is the manufacturer? Sounds like good specs to me.

dualblade

it's a craftsman. i'd want to pick it up locally because i bet shipping on a 135lb compressor would be a bitch

adrial

Going the air tools route eh?

dualblade

heh, they're just so nice. i completely didn't take your advice on the flywheel bolts and used an impact gun to get them off. fortunately, they didn't strip and now i'm addicted to using it. i was just borrowing my neighbor's compressor and i figured that'd be good for a while but something else just sort of came up. my friend (the one who's turbo sentra i've posted on here before) had a person on his nissan forum ask him to do a clutch job. we're not sure if it's going to happen yet, but if it does we'll make $250 on it. we could split it, but we do work on both our cars in my garage and we've thought about air tools before. so instead of just keeping $125 each, we'll buy a compressor for the garage.

marky522

The only thing i have to add is the samller the tank the more its gonna run, I currently have a 6.5 HP 70 gallon 220Volt compressor and next spring i am gettting a new one cause if i am using air tools for any time at all that thing is running. I borrowed one about the size your talking before and it was a pain cause using a DA you would have to stop every few minutes and let it catch up. I only paid $399 for the one i currently have. Just keep that in mind.

dualblade

well for me, i wouldn't even think about going bigger than ~20gal. i'm looking to be able to bring this around with me if i need to - it won't be a permanent fixture in the garage. i was actually considering getting a really small one but the specs were poor and it wasn't much cheaper

adrial

I'm gonna have to agree with Marky...you're gonna be using the tools for a little and then waiting for the compressor to catch up. I dont recall the size of the tank of mine, its one of the biggest craftsmans that you can still wheel around.

brrt50cal

The Craftsman air compressors are wonderful. They hold up well and you can't beat the guarantee. Go for it!

PeteL

I have a 33 gal Craftsman, and it rocks...

Steve in New Hampshire

I'm running the 30 gallon 6 hp Craftsman upright. Works fine unless I'm dealing with a particularly nasty bolt...then I too have to wait for it to catch up. The last nasty bolt I had was when I was adjusting the rear ride height...that pivot bolt was REALLY on there. I have a half inch impact with 400 ft/lbs and it took half an hour with tons of wd-40 to loosen it!!

So, expect some delays if you're doing something heavy duty with a small tank compressor!

Steve

marky522

If you are going to get a small tank compressor what you can do is get an old tank any size put a female quick connect on it and run an extra hose to it when you are home this will dramatically reduce the time it runs. I am getting a new compressor in the spring when i build my NEW GARAGE I now have eperience with compressors so i know what to get, i am getting a compressor with the two stage pump and like the 80 Gal tank. Its also getting its own room built on the bck of the garage withh all the darn soundproofing i can find. Airtools are nice, having to live in my house with no garage makes me regret whining about only having a 1.5 car garage at my old house...

MARk

Mark

Mike S

Yep...that's not a bad deal. I have a 60 gal campbell hausfield that I got for around $400 new. It's the cheapest brand out there but after 2 years of service(still haven't changed the oil...he hee) it has never let me down. I definitely 2nd or 3rd what people have said about tank size. You can never have too big of a tank really.

SoCal Driver

Get an air ratchet. Break the bolts by hand (no stripping) then run them out with the air.

But I do like a 3/8" drive butterfly!