Air Compressors

[~Rowdy~]

Well the woman cave is coming together and I'm buying some stuff for the garage now. I went air compressor shopping and got a slap on the wrist for getting the wrong one. Need some advice on what to get. Max budget is $500. I found these three and was thinking about them but really don't know which one to go for. Thanks for the help!

Option 1:


Option 2:


Option 3:
DEWALT | DeWALT 1.8 HP Continuous, 200 PSI, 15 Gallon Workshop Compressor | Home Depot Canada

 

[DRD]

What do you need a compressor for? That will determine sizing and how good it needs to be.

 

[~Rowdy~]

What do you need a compressor for? That will determine sizing and how good it needs to be.

I want to be able to use an impact gun, air riveter and just maybe a few other air tools. Just basic use for working on my sled. Not very often, just to have as an option instead of hand tools.

 

[Burns]

I only have experience with the Dewalt - good unit for sure. The 200psi max is nice. I have used it to run air tools as well as blow the sprinkler system out. Never had a capacity issue even while blowing out the sprinklers.

 

[Stompin Tom]

Well the woman cave is coming together and I'm buying some stuff for the garage now. I went air compressor shopping and got a slap on the wrist for getting the wrong one. Need some advice on what to get. Max budget is $500. I found these three and was thinking about them but really don't know which one to go for. Thanks for the help!

Option 1:


Option 2:


Option 3:
DEWALT | DeWALT 1.8 HP Continuous, 200 PSI, 15 Gallon Workshop Compressor | Home Depot Canada

the 1st question should be what do you have for power? 110 volt? 220? Most likely single phase.

A suggestion for you is to do the research you are doing, then check out Kijiji, there are often very good deals there, low use compressors for half price or less. Avoid the old worn out looking stuff, possibly more problems than you want.

 

[snopro]

Dewalt is excellent quality Rowdy. Princess Aout usually sells lower quality stuff as it is a discount store.

 

[~Rowdy~]

the 1st question should be what do you have for power? 110 volt? 220? Most likely single phase.

A suggestion for you is to do the research you are doing, then check out Kijiji, there are often very good deals there, low use compressors for half price or less. Avoid the old worn out looking stuff, possibly more problems than you want.

I have 110V but am getting 220V put in. I am unsure what phase is in my garage but will get my electrician buddy to confirm what I can have in there and what I can run off of my panel. Have to be able to run stereo, bar fridge, TV and tools all at once.

Dewalt is excellent quality Rowdy. Princess Aout usually sells lower quality stuff as it is a discount store.

Yeah the DeWalt one is looking like the one I will go with. Going to see if I get a contractor rate at the store in town.

 

[Stompin Tom]

I have 110V but am getting 220V put in. I am unsure what phase is in my garage but will get my electrician buddy to confirm what I can have in there and what I can run off of my panel. Have to be able to run stereo, bar fridge, TV and tools all at once.



Yeah the DeWalt one is looking like the one I will go with. Going to see if I get a contractor rate at the store in town.

If its in your home it is almost certainly single phase. The best advice I can give is to get the most CFM as you can for your budget. Usually a used compressor isnt a problem because they end up getting far less use in the home garage environment than what they are designed for.

A 220 volt compressor is usually allot stronger than a 110 volt, there is nothing worse than waiting for a compressor to build up pressure.

 

[Stompin Tom]

I have 110V but am getting 220V put in. I am unsure what phase is in my garage but will get my electrician buddy to confirm what I can have in there and what I can run off of my panel. Have to be able to run stereo, bar fridge, TV and tools all at once.



Yeah the DeWalt one is looking like the one I will go with. Going to see if I get a contractor rate at the store in town.

Took a look at your choices, yeah, your in the 110 volt range for that price level, the Dewalt looked the best of the 3. Might be a good idea for you to get a 20 amp 110 volt outlet.

 

[~Rowdy~]

Took a look at your choices, yeah, your in the 110 volt range for that price level, the Dewalt looked the best of the 3. Might be a good idea for you to get a 20 amp 110 volt outlet.

I'm calling around for the DeWalt one for sure. I couldn't find in the stats what voltage it is however. Thanks for the info, you seem to have a pretty good knowledge of air compressors. Much better than the guy at crappy tire I was listening to... :s.

I will chat with my electrician friend about the outlets. I have a rough in for a 220V I know that. But a 20 amp 110 volt shouldn't be hard to do either. But then again...what do I know about electrical, haha. I'll get him over for some burgs and beers and get him to take a peek.

 

[~Rowdy~]

On another note...anyone know a finishing carpenter? One of the few trades I don't have in my black book.

Just need 2 window casings, door casing and build a box around the electrical panel. I don't have the proper tools to do that otherwise I would attempt it myself/ I want it to look good, haha.

 

[Stompin Tom]

I'm calling around for the DeWalt one for sure. I couldn't find in the stats what voltage it is however. Thanks for the info, you seem to have a pretty good knowledge of air compressors. Much better than the guy at crappy tire I was listening to... :s.

I will chat with my electrician friend about the outlets. I have a rough in for a 220V I know that. But a 20 amp 110 volt shouldn't be hard to do either. But then again...what do I know about electrical, haha. I'll get him over for some burgs and beers and get him to take a peek.

the 2 biggest mistakes people make when buying a compressor are 1, buying one to small for the job they want to do, and 2, not having the proper electrical outlet for the machine they buy. A 110 volt compressor more work well for you, but if it has a 17 amp draw and you put it on a 15 amp breaker service, you will always be blowing your breaker. Nothing worse than having to run to the breaker box everytime it kicks in.

 

[~Rowdy~]

the 2 biggest mistakes people make when buying a compressor are 1, buying one to small for the job they want to do, and 2, not having the proper electrical outlet for the machine they buy. A 110 volt compressor more work well for you, but if it has a 17 amp draw and you put it on a 15 amp breaker service, you will always be blowing your breaker. Nothing worse than having to run to the breaker box everytime it kicks in.

Yeah I for sure don't want that to happen. Would be a pain!

 

[ferniesnow]

Rowdy, I tried to help you out but failed! I can't find the amperage. That is important as Stompin Tom has pointed out.

I run all the tools that you mentioned on a 3 gallon portable! Yes, it does kick in often but it does the job and has done the job for 12 years of house building.

Saying that, that unit looks nice and the capacity would be awesome if the amperage works for you. I found this review that makes for a good read:


Not what it seems...,

March 22, 2012​

ByMariuszfromHamilton, ON
(read all my reviews)




"Has anyone tested this compressor with proper equipment? If not, here are the facts. Compressor was bought in 2012 March,
1. The specs are wrong, it's not 1.8 Hp, but 1.6 Hp.
2. CFM flow is not 5.4, but 5.0
3. Regulator is horrefic. It massively restricts air.
For example; on 3/8 hose, 50 foot lenght, psi drop, as tested, was 40 PSI !!!
Running a IR 1/2 inch impact (5 cfm running) , regulator had to be set at 130 PSI to see 90 PSI under load at the gun. Only connectors are at the compressor and gun, and 3/8 - 50 foot lenght hose will only see 0.4 drop in cfm.
I also tested this on 3/8 IR air ratched (uses 3 cfm) and it was about the same, less than 4 psi difference.
Hose is brand new and I have absolute minimum connectors (2).
Gun is in top condition, air ratchet is brand new. Tested with brand new oil filled pressure gauge (0-200 psi). Absolutely no air leaks in the system, checked using soap method.
This only points to very restrictive regulator. Usually very cheap unit.
This compressor might be 5 SCFM, but unfortunately can't flow to deliver.
It's ok for pumping up tires, running small caulking gun, maybe small nailer, but that's all it's good for."

 

[whoDEANie]

The Dewalt is the only option you listed that has enough CFM to run an impact gun. In fact, it is probably about the minimum you can get away with (for the imact set I have anyway). I bought the same one in December and it's working great for me so far.

However, some food for thought might be the cordless impact tools. You may want to ask around a bit, but I have a couple mechanic buddies that say they never use their air tools anymore. Personally, I find the air hose annoying at times, but the air tools work just fine for me.

 

[X-it]

Yes a small portable would work just fine

 

[~Rowdy~]

Rowdy, I tried to help you out but failed! I can't find the amperage. That is important as Stompin Tom has pointed out.

I run all the tools that you mentioned on a 3 gallon portable! Yes, it does kick in often but it does the job and has done the job for 12 years of house building.

Saying that, that unit looks nice and the capacity would be awesome if the amperage works for you. I found this review that makes for a good read:


Not what it seems...,

March 22, 2012​

ByMariuszfromHamilton, ON
(read all my reviews)




"Has anyone tested this compressor with proper equipment? If not, here are the facts. Compressor was bought in 2012 March,
1. The specs are wrong, it's not 1.8 Hp, but 1.6 Hp.
2. CFM flow is not 5.4, but 5.0
3. Regulator is horrefic. It massively restricts air.
For example; on 3/8 hose, 50 foot lenght, psi drop, as tested, was 40 PSI !!!
Running a IR 1/2 inch impact (5 cfm running) , regulator had to be set at 130 PSI to see 90 PSI under load at the gun. Only connectors are at the compressor and gun, and 3/8 - 50 foot lenght hose will only see 0.4 drop in cfm.
I also tested this on 3/8 IR air ratched (uses 3 cfm) and it was about the same, less than 4 psi difference.
Hose is brand new and I have absolute minimum connectors (2).
Gun is in top condition, air ratchet is brand new. Tested with brand new oil filled pressure gauge (0-200 psi). Absolutely no air leaks in the system, checked using soap method.
This only points to very restrictive regulator. Usually very cheap unit.
This compressor might be 5 SCFM, but unfortunately can't flow to deliver.
It's ok for pumping up tires, running small caulking gun, maybe small nailer, but that's all it's good for."

I am on hold to find out amperage etc. I like all the positive reviews better. Plus for the amount of use it will see at my place I'm sure it will be ok. 3 year warranty as well so I'm sure that if it starts to run like poop they would exchange it.

The Dewalt is the only option you listed that has enough CFM to run an impact gun. In fact, it is probably about the minimum you can get away with (for the imact set I have anyway). I bought the same one in December and it's working great for me so far.

However, some food for thought might be the cordless impact tools. You may want to ask around a bit, but I have a couple mechanic buddies that say they never use their air tools anymore. Personally, I find the air hose annoying at times, but the air tools work just fine for me.

I just heard about the electric impacts and stuff. Some guy was raving to me about them in crappy tire. I might try that as an option one time, but I think the air compressor is going to be good for the use I want and the size of my garage. Getting a retractable hose reel as well so that will be nice.

 

[~Rowdy~]

the 2 biggest mistakes people make when buying a compressor are 1, buying one to small for the job they want to do, and 2, not having the proper electrical outlet for the machine they buy. A 110 volt compressor more work well for you, but if it has a 17 amp draw and you put it on a 15 amp breaker service, you will always be blowing your breaker. Nothing worse than having to run to the breaker box everytime it kicks in.

So the DeWalt one it 15Amp, 120 Volt, 60 Hurtz (sp?). Still need the 20 amp, 110 volt plug?

 

[ponyboy]

hello rowdy.... i have had several compressors over the years..... and i am thinking that all three of these will be noisy as hell .... go on kijji and look for an older belt driven model with a piston pump... i have one , ( 5 gallon )and it wont make you spill your drink when it kicks in .... get your electrician to install 1 thirty amp breaker in your boobie cave...i mean breaker box. you will only need one , the rest of your plug-ins can stay 15 amp .....i run a 140 amp plasma cutter and the compressor at the same time with no problems .

 

[whoDEANie]

...that's "Hertz".

It depends on how that circuit is loaded up whether or not the 15amp will do. I don't have the max draw of that Dewalt unit readily available, but I run it on a circuit that also has roughly 300W (approx 3Amp) of lights on it and haven't trippped the breaker yet. Give it a try on your 15A circuit and if it starts tripping breakers, put it on another circuit.