Can anyone help with Air Compressor CFM and tool selection based on it?

[TROLL]

I have a 26 gallon 2 hp 6.4 cfm @ 90psi compressor, works great for impact gun, etc.
I am looking at picking up a mini orbital sander which says it uses a whopping 21 cfm. Is it going to be pretty much useless with my compressor?
I have a die grinder that used 6.5 cfm at 90 psi but i usually run it at like 60 psi so it doesnt work quite that hard.
Is buying this sander going to be a complete waste? I'm looking for a 3" orbital and the only thing I can find at a reasonable price is this Chicago Pneumatic one... argh.

[LPC]

Wow 21cfm for that sander? and at what psi? thats going to over kill your compressor, i have a 90 gallon compressor at 17 cfm and use a 5 inch sander at 90 psi @12 cfm and works pretty good, you might want to look at other sander's Troll

[RyanG]

dude, I'll tell you right now that little isnt gonna cut it. Your gonna need something bigger. 60 gallon with 6hp in ours and sometimes I wish I had more lol. I have no idea what the cfm is tho

[Cardriverx]

yeah, troll, your air compressor is alittle small. Some of the nicer impact guns need 7+ CFM even. I say sell your compressor, and get one that flows around 12+ cfm...

[RyanG]

I wouldnt sell it. I have a 30 gallon as well to use for some things.. its nice to have an extra :)

[Cardriverx]

I wouldnt sell it. I have a 30 gallon as well to use for some things.. its nice to have an extra :)

Im just saying it would help releive some of the finacial shock of buying a 80 gallon compressor :bigeek:

[RyanG]

true true lol. I know mine cost me a pretty penny (damn Matco salesman)

[poolmike]

Until you get a larger facility to work in, use what you have and maybe don't use the big air suckers for now.

[yellow2000S/R]

I've got a 25 gal, 2 hp, 5.8 SCFM @ 90 Craftsman pro series compressor and hate it. Takes forever to fill, blows the 20 amp breaker I have it on every time I start it when its cool out, blows the breaker when it has pressure already and cycles back on to fill up. It is rated at 15 amps... and on its own outlet that I wired directly to its on breaker.

I wish I would have gotten something bigger b/c it cost nearly $400...


Does anybody know how the compressors at Harbor Freight hold up? I'm looking at this one which is rated at 14.5 CFM @ 90 PSI: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92504

Its 220v tho... but I already have a standard style outlet for the air conditioner ran, along with an outlet for my welder ran which are both 220v and have spare larger wire left that it would be nothing to run another 220v.

[wgknestrick]

Air tools are only for shops. It just isn't worth the money for most people in their home garage. The $$ you have in electric alone to run something like that will shock you. Best just to get an electric tool and be done with it. You are easily into a 220v industrial compressor to run that