
Help me choose an air compressor for sandblasting and shop.
#1
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Posted January 23, 2011 - 09:20 PM
I have always been a fan of Ingersoll Rand air tools but it has been a long time since I really bought any air tools. I don't know if their quality has changed or not. The sandblaster we have says it uses between 6 cfm and 25 cfm at 90 psi. Well that is a big variance. I am guessing you can pull off the lower cfm number with a small tip and using a lot of sand?
I seen an Ingersoll Rand 3hp 230v 60 air compressor for around $550 and I think it was rated for: 11.3 cfm at 90 psi
The 5hp one which is around $850 is rated for 18.1 cfm at 90 psi.
I really don't want to spend that much but I also don't want to have to replace it in 5 years either. I would like it to be the last air compressor that I buy.
#2
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Posted January 23, 2011 - 09:41 PM
#3
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Posted January 23, 2011 - 09:44 PM
- superaben said thank you
#4
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Posted January 23, 2011 - 09:55 PM
#5
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Posted January 24, 2011 - 08:48 PM
#6
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Posted January 24, 2011 - 10:16 PM
P.S. IMHO, if it says oil-less...walk away!
#7
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Posted January 25, 2011 - 08:45 AM
#8
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Posted January 26, 2011 - 03:37 PM
I use a Campbell-Hausfeld 30 gallon piston-type one that's good for my air nailers, but when it comes to running an impact...well, let's just say that there's plenty of time to sip beer. It's not a great compressor, but the price was right and it's never let me down.
There was an old farmer back home who had figured something out using one way valves and a bunch of old propane tanks so he never ran short of air. I'm not sure of the details, but basically he created a lot of volume in smaller segments and kept it under pressure so he always had air. His compressor ran almost constantly, but he never had to wait.
#9
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Posted January 26, 2011 - 08:07 PM
I am all for a used one too. If you happen to come across another one with those specs at a decent price let me know. I would drive over there and pick it up, it isn't that far. I seen one on ebay in Indiana that was tempting but that is a pretty good hike.
Now that I think of it, It was one of a pair. My BIL bought the other one. I think he sold it to his buddy, but I'll see if it's for sale and get back to you.
#10
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Posted January 27, 2011 - 03:27 AM
A buddy of mine got the 3 hp IR probably 3-4 years ago, last year I got the 5 hp. I wish I could have got the 2 stage that was a few hundred more, but I have not been dissapointed! We both got them from northern tool, could not find a better price and free shipping, check on freight for a 300 lb home delivery lol. I'm a little more hardcore than my buddy but both of us are metal workers and demand(have been spoiled at work) a lot from the air supply.
I should probably mention now you should take air tool ratings with a grain of salt. They usualy are given with duty cycles but they don't tell you that...eg. a die grinder might be rated at 6 cfm, but if they expect a 10% duty cycle that's 60 cfm used for 1 min. every 10 min!
I got the single stage 5 hp rated for 18.1 cfm. I brought home my big cleco grinder from work and it was able to keep up with me, the only trouble I had was the demand overwhelmed my design to keep condensate out of the lines. This is a 0.8 hp grinder that is rated for 27 cfm, when I use it at work if anyone else is plugged in on the same manifold there tools slow down when I start it up, tried to use it once with my neighbors 30 gal. crapman and it took about 15 sec. to drain it to 0 psi.
Well, without knowing what your needs truely are, or your budget, I guess I've done all the babbling I can do. This does fall into the how I make my living catagory, so if you wanna pick my brain it more it might be easier to give me your number and a time and I'll give you a call.
almost forgot, my sandblaster put less demand than my grinder on the compressor...
Edited by WQDL753, January 27, 2011 - 03:31 AM.
forgot to mention
#11
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Posted January 27, 2011 - 07:22 AM
I think if I can get a compressor rated for 17cfm or a little more that it would be good. I have been thinking about doing a sandblasting cabinet to do medium to small size parts and then it gives me the option of using the regular sandblaster for the big stuff like frames and hoods or I can take them down to the local guy. We did find out the local guy charges $95 an hour. I can't see it taking longer then a half hour to do a frame if you have the right tools.
#12
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Posted January 27, 2011 - 05:08 PM
I wanted to ask about the single phase or 3 phase. I keep seeing a lot of used 3 phase compressors for sale although they seem to all be a good distance away. I definitely want to make sure I make a good choice as I don't want to regret it later. How hard is it to do a phase converter? I don't know anything about wiring outside of standard household current.
It's fairly easy to hook up a phase converter. They even come with instructions if you buy them new, but they cost about $250 last time I checked! The one thing that you need to know about a phase converter is that you're feeding it 2 phases (both legs of a single phase service) and it's mimicking a third leg. The third leg is a "ghost" leg, i.e. there is a voltage potential present, but there is no current flowing through it! What this means is that whatever the rated HP of the motor is, you reduce that by 1/3, and that's what you'll actually get out of it! Just wanted you to know that so you can make an informed decision.
#13
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Posted January 27, 2011 - 05:16 PM
I called my BIL's friend. He said he uses it at his business, so he's not interested in selling it. It was worth a shot!
It's fairly easy to hook up a phase converter. They even come with instructions if you buy them new, but they cost about $250 last time I checked! The one thing that you need to know about a phase converter is that you're feeding it 2 phases (both legs of a single phase service) and it's mimicking a third leg. The third leg is a "ghost" leg, i.e. there is a voltage potential present, but there is no current flowing through it! What this means is that whatever the rated HP of the motor is, you reduce that by 1/3, and that's what you'll actually get out of it! Just wanted you to know that so you can make an informed decision.
Thanks for asking your BIL.
I think I will try and stick with single phase. I know 3 phase provides more power with less energy if you have industrial voltage coming in but since we don't have that I don't think spending money on a phase converter on top of the compressor would be worth it unless I came across one heck of a deal.
The other idea that has been crossing my mind is building my own compressor considering there really isn't that much to them. I could use an old propane tank for the tank.
#14
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Posted January 27, 2011 - 07:59 PM
#15
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Posted January 27, 2011 - 10:58 PM