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MEDIK418 · 12-02-2002, 11:06 PM

Buying an air compressor is a lot like buying a boat. I told my wife the boat was all I ever wanted. Yeah right! Did you know there are 2.2 million accessories for the compressed mechanic?
I'm sure there are many more posts to come but here's what I've learned about compressors over the last 8 years and three compressors.
Unless you just like a lot of noise. . . all the time, don't buy an oilless compressor. They will drive you nuts in about 18 minutes, especially in a closed garage. If it's a 5 horse then do your self a favor and have 220 wired in and rewire the motor for the higher voltage. (most 5 horse motors are capable of being wired for 220) I burned up my first 120 vac motor in less than a year. The lower voltage just doesn't pack enough whallop for the big compressor pump and after a while it will begin to just sit there and hum when it tries to start. This is especially prevalent when it's cold and there's already pressure on the tank. It will also use less electricity due to less load on the motor. Yes you can get by with a 120 vac unit but going to 220 is like putting gears in a Mustang. Once you do it you'll wonder how you got by without it.

The biggest single improvement after that is find the largest tank you can scrounge. It will give you more reserve air and you can work longer on smaller jobs without making the thing run all the time. Gebo's sells a receiver tank just for this very thing. I think it's something like 20-30 gallons (about the size of a large shop vac) and all you do is plumb it into your compressor tank hose fitting and you're of to the races. Also, look at the actual air flow at 100 psi. I'd like to see higher than 10 cfm but that's me. It just means that the compressor will be able to keep up easier with the higher demand air tools you'll be using. The higher the better.
Anyway, my two cents worth.

The short of it? Get the compressor if it's one that will do the job for you. If you can do all the other things I mentioned (and I'm sure there's some folks on here that know a lot more than I do about the subject) and incorporate any other suggestions into your game plan you'll be that much further ahead of the game.

12-02-2002, 11:06 PM	#2
MEDIK418 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Amarillo, Texas, USA Posts: 780	Buying an air compressor is a lot like buying a boat. I told my wife the boat was all I ever wanted. Yeah right! Did you know there are 2.2 million accessories for the compressed mechanic? I'm sure there are many more posts to come but here's what I've learned about compressors over the last 8 years and three compressors. Unless you just like a lot of noise. . . all the time, don't buy an oilless compressor. They will drive you nuts in about 18 minutes, especially in a closed garage. If it's a 5 horse then do your self a favor and have 220 wired in and rewire the motor for the higher voltage. (most 5 horse motors are capable of being wired for 220) I burned up my first 120 vac motor in less than a year. The lower voltage just doesn't pack enough whallop for the big compressor pump and after a while it will begin to just sit there and hum when it tries to start. This is especially prevalent when it's cold and there's already pressure on the tank. It will also use less electricity due to less load on the motor. Yes you can get by with a 120 vac unit but going to 220 is like putting gears in a Mustang. Once you do it you'll wonder how you got by without it. The biggest single improvement after that is find the largest tank you can scrounge. It will give you more reserve air and you can work longer on smaller jobs without making the thing run all the time. Gebo's sells a receiver tank just for this very thing. I think it's something like 20-30 gallons (about the size of a large shop vac) and all you do is plumb it into your compressor tank hose fitting and you're of to the races. Also, look at the actual air flow at 100 psi. I'd like to see higher than 10 cfm but that's me. It just means that the compressor will be able to keep up easier with the higher demand air tools you'll be using. The higher the better. Anyway, my two cents worth. The short of it? Get the compressor if it's one that will do the job for you. If you can do all the other things I mentioned (and I'm sure there's some folks on here that know a lot more than I do about the subject) and incorporate any other suggestions into your game plan you'll be that much further ahead of the game. __________________ 1986 four-eyed LX coupe, 358 Cleveland, Tremec TKO600/centerforce clutch, dish cut Probe forged pistons, comp cams hyd.roller cam, .579/.588@224/230, Edel.performer, 670 holley street avenger, CPR custom built long tubes, ported and polished 4bbl heads, manley valves, beehive springs, MSD peo-billet dist/MSD6AL, fluidamper, 5 lug conv. with 17x8 bullits there's more but it's still not finished yet. Oh, and the oldest boy is turning his 89 GT into a FFR cobra this next summer.