what kind of air compressor you guys use?

May 19, 2014 2 Replies

Hey all,



I have a POS harbor freight central pneumatic 22 gallon compressor that fin ally died after 6 years of use. I am looking to get a fairly significant u pgrade. I only use small tools like impact, air ratchet, occasionally blow out the garage, small nail guns, etc. All my tools run through a 100' hos e (not sure if that's relevant.) I am also limited to 120VAC as getting 24



0 there would be a challenge. My old compressor ran 4.7cfm at 90psi and it worked well for everything except blowing out an 8 zone sprinkler system. 30 seconds of purge, 10-15 mins recovery time per zone.

So what do you at home guys use/recommend?


I used to have a two horsepower twin cylinder Sears electric aircompressor. One day the the shaft broke between the V. Belt pully and the compressor. I currently own a small Sears one cylinder Sears aircompressor(the tank isn 't large enough for painting a car) that I use for airing up tires. I bough t it for $45.00 at a pawn shop. Might help to do a Google for, Aircompresso r Reviews

120 limits you quite a bit. If you don't run it a lot you might want to opt for a gas powered portable. You get a larger compressor with higher CFM and no cords needed. Use the tank off the one you have as a booster tank.

I'm talking with one of the local Amish about building a compressor like he uses. They use compressed air for a LOT of things on the farm. As such they use a high flow head attached to a compact diesel engine and HUGE storage tanks. (He currently has 4 - 1000 gallon tanks on the roof of his compressor shed plus a 200 inside next to it...)

If you want to stay electric and your current motor is OK, find a different head to put on that unit. That or repair the one you have. Unless it was a major failure most can be repaired cheap.

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