With all this talk of compressors, it's serendipitous that there's a very
well-written article on this very topic in this month's This Old Truck.
It's written by Bob Adler (who I believe is on this list in digest mode).
The very first question in the article is 'How Big Should My Compressor Be?'
or something along those lines. It has lots of good technical information
such as a graph of pressure drop as a function of air hose length, etc. I
highly recommend reading the article. If This Old Truck is not on your
local news stand, try www.thisoldtruck.com.
Allen in Seattle
'50 3100
----- Original Message -----
From: <mark@noakes.com>
To: <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 2:42 PM
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] air compressor questions
> I researched this a while back and ended up buying an upright Sears
60gallon, 12 cfm, 5hp, aluminum compressor w/steel liner. . .mostly because
I had a stash of Sears gift certificates built up; otherwise I may have gone
with a Campbell-Hausfeld or Porter-Cable. Parts are easier to come by for
the Sears but you may need to buy parts more often. . .interesting
trade-off.
>
> The only real issue is to stay away from the oil-less compressors.
Besides the other issues on the list, they wear out much faster than a
regular compressor if you really use it. When I told Sears what I wanted it
for, they even said that it wasn't the right technology for the job.
Basically they have to be rebuilt every few hundred hours of operation. .
.don't remember the exact number.
>
> Otherwise, everything else is a trade-off of cost vs performance and how
much you want to put up with.
>
> Mark Noakes
> 58/56 Chevy Suburban
> 59 GMC Suburban
> Knoxville, TN
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, 12 December 2001, "Duncan M. Nickles" wrote:
>
>
>
> >
>
> > I have been reading all of the recent postings about air compressors and
shop set up. I have the impression that those of you with the large
compressors are running more that your average shade tree garage.
>
> >
>
> > I too have been contemplating a compressor but am on hold until the
funds materialize (or quit disappearing at least).
>
> >
>
> > I have been looking at the CFM displacement rather than the psi rating,
etc... but the large compressors that have been discussed lately seem to be
overkill for typical handy man activity. If I go to Sears, Home Depot, or
Lowes and but a small compressor - less than 200 psi with a relatively small
tank - less than 50 gal. - the CFM ratings are still there that I can run
impacts, wratchets, die grinders, drills, sanders, paint guns, etc... I am
not planning on running hydraulic lifts or anything of that industrial
nature, but I may look at some small scale sand blasting in the future. I
also will use the compressor for pneumatic nail guns in the shop.
>
> >
>
> > Am I missing the boat? I definately cannot afford a $750 - $1000
compressor (probably for the next 20 years). But I can afford $300 - $400
for one from Sears, Home Depot, or Lowes. Will I be disappointed? I
realize that the compressor will run when I am using high demand tools like
sanders, drills, and die grinders.
>
> >
>
> > Thanks
>
> >
>
> > Duncan Nickles
>
> > Canonsburg, PA
>
> > '59 Chevy 1-ton
>
> > '75 Jeep CJ
>
> > oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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