RR

"RimaNeas"

16/07/2011 2:55 PM

New Compressor?

I need a new compressor, one that I can roll around from time to time and
than can power my 6cfm (@ 40psi) spray gun.

The best deal/CFM seems to be the 60gallon/3hp/220v Husky Pros from HD
followed by their 30gallon/2hp/120v brethren. The former is somewhat
top-heavy (perhaps even more so than a drill press) and rather averse to
motion but has plenty of output for my needs. The latter is downright agile
for my mobility needs but is a rating of 6.6cfm (40 psi) sufficient? (I
know my twin-tank Makita compressor is definitely not.)

Any relevant experience/problems with either of these options? Does anyone
keep a 60gallon compressor on a mobile base?

Cheers, Shawn

PS: The HD variants load the tank only up to 135psi, while the Lowe's
models go up to 155. I suspect the latter will cause more noise and heat
than I want to deal with, but I have no real experience on that matter.


This topic has 4 replies

nn

in reply to "RimaNeas" on 16/07/2011 2:55 PM

19/07/2011 8:53 AM

On Jul 17, 9:18=A0pm, "Mike Marlow" <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Don't get suckered into the psi rating. =A0Look at the SCFM rating - that=
's
> what matters. =A0Why would you need 155 psi? =A0What you need is the air =
volume
> delivery. =A0Absent that, all of the psi in the world is just a great big=
old
> bottle neck in your compressor.

Amen, brother. This is obviously coming from a guy with high pressure
spray experience, eh? ;^)

Most of the time, the higher pressure is just wasted, and is only
provided by changing out the regulator unit on the machine.

But true high CFM takes a higher capacity compressor head and usually
a better motor. Higher CFM provides constant high pressure with less
drop off than a high pressure unit with few CFM.

If it were me, I would go about this differently. I would take a look
at the components I am trying to power with compressed air, then match
the compressor up to my most air hungry tool.

Robert

MM

"Mike Marlow"

in reply to "RimaNeas" on 16/07/2011 2:55 PM

19/07/2011 12:59 PM

[email protected] wrote:
> On Jul 17, 9:18 pm, "Mike Marlow" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> Don't get suckered into the psi rating. Look at the SCFM rating -
>> that's what matters. Why would you need 155 psi? What you need is
>> the air volume delivery. Absent that, all of the psi in the world is
>> just a great big old bottle neck in your compressor.
>
> Amen, brother. This is obviously coming from a guy with high pressure
> spray experience, eh? ;^)
>
> Most of the time, the higher pressure is just wasted, and is only
> provided by changing out the regulator unit on the machine.
>
> But true high CFM takes a higher capacity compressor head and usually
> a better motor. Higher CFM provides constant high pressure with less
> drop off than a high pressure unit with few CFM.
>

Very true. I did not mean to mislead on that point - I got (get...) carried
away by encouraging people to look at SCFM rather than pressure, as the real
measure. Almost every compressor buyer looks at pressure...


> If it were me, I would go about this differently. I would take a look
> at the components I am trying to power with compressed air, then match
> the compressor up to my most air hungry tool.
>

Absolutely. I have said this many times in past posts, and maybe I was
errant in not specifically stating it in this response. Good cover Robert -
thanks for adding that.

--

-Mike-
[email protected]

MM

"Mike Marlow"

in reply to "RimaNeas" on 16/07/2011 2:55 PM

17/07/2011 10:18 PM

RimaNeas wrote:
> I need a new compressor, one that I can roll around from time to time
> and than can power my 6cfm (@ 40psi) spray gun.
>
> The best deal/CFM seems to be the 60gallon/3hp/220v Husky Pros from HD
> followed by their 30gallon/2hp/120v brethren. The former is somewhat
> top-heavy (perhaps even more so than a drill press) and rather averse
> to motion but has plenty of output for my needs. The latter is
> downright agile for my mobility needs but is a rating of 6.6cfm (40
> psi) sufficient? (I know my twin-tank Makita compressor is
> definitely not.)
> Any relevant experience/problems with either of these options? Does
> anyone keep a 60gallon compressor on a mobile base?

Hell no. Think about it - as you said - quite top heavy. Stationary is
exactly that - not mobile.


>
> Cheers, Shawn
>
> PS: The HD variants load the tank only up to 135psi, while the Lowe's
> models go up to 155. I suspect the latter will cause more noise and
> heat than I want to deal with, but I have no real experience on that
> matter.

Don't get suckered into the psi rating. Look at the SCFM rating - that's
what matters. Why would you need 155 psi? What you need is the air volume
delivery. Absent that, all of the psi in the world is just a great big old
bottle neck in your compressor.

--

-Mike-
[email protected]

Ll

Leon

in reply to "RimaNeas" on 16/07/2011 2:55 PM

17/07/2011 5:24 PM

On 7/16/2011 5:55 PM, RimaNeas wrote:
> I need a new compressor, one that I can roll around from time to time and
> than can power my 6cfm (@ 40psi) spray gun.
>
> The best deal/CFM seems to be the 60gallon/3hp/220v Husky Pros from HD
> followed by their 30gallon/2hp/120v brethren. The former is somewhat
> top-heavy (perhaps even more so than a drill press) and rather averse to
> motion but has plenty of output for my needs. The latter is downright agile
> for my mobility needs but is a rating of 6.6cfm (40 psi) sufficient? (I
> know my twin-tank Makita compressor is definitely not.)

By you figures, the 30 gallon has 10% more capacity than your stated
need.

If you are torn between the two go with the "stationary" up right 60
gallon compressor. Then buy a $79 cheap Harbor Freight compressor for
those odd times you need the portability.




> Any relevant experience/problems with either of these options? Does anyone
> keep a 60gallon compressor on a mobile base?
>
> Cheers, Shawn
>
> PS: The HD variants load the tank only up to 135psi, while the Lowe's
> models go up to 155. I suspect the latter will cause more noise and heat
> than I want to deal with, but I have no real experience on that matter.
>
>


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