What air compressor for basic garage work?

[GeforceXtreme]

Me and my buddy are going to split an air compressor for his home garage. We pretty much would use it to take stubborn bolts off instead of trying to break them loose with a massive breaker bar. Air compressors make things so much easier.

Well I been researching what CFM and size to go with and I am just not exactly sure how big to go? We are not looking for some massive unit that takes up the entire garage. Just something large enough to do the job, yet not too small where the thing is pumping itself to death just to keep up with simple tasks.

We are only using this on our own cars and its not like its being used in a workplace setting.

We found a unit that is seemed to be priced right

3 HP, 10 Gallon, 115 PSI Air Compressor 5.6 CFM @ 90 PSI; 7.2 CFM @ 40 PSI

We pretty much would use it to fill up tires, impact gun to take lug nuts off, and ratchet wrench to take off bolts.

Are those spec's good enough?

[Renegade_]

How much are you looking to spend?

In my garage there is one of these
http://www.google.com/products/catal...wBA#ps-sellers

Overkill for average stuff, but if your getting serious this will blast almost anything off. We had a craftsman impact and it kind of sucked so we replaced it with an IR impact This is it. The craftsman impact lasted 1 year of 240 wrenching, which means 10 months of DSM wrenching and 1.5 years of suby wrenching.

It really doesn't take up as much space as you think, but if you dont want the thing pumping all the time, that little thing isnt gonna cut it for you. While Im working on the car (exhaust, engine mounts, trans bolts, so far this week) it keeps switching on fairly regularly and gets annoying when Im listening to music. If you only want to use it for lug nuts, that little guy will be fine. If you want to blast off rusty downpipe bolts, manifold bolts, etc... you might want to get something bigger because that thing will be working overtime.

[GeforceXtreme]

Originally Posted by Renegade_

How much are you looking to spend?

In my garage there is one of these
http://www.google.com/products/catal...wBA#ps-sellers

Overkill for average stuff, but if your getting serious this will blast almost anything off. We had a craftsman impact and it kind of sucked so we replaced it with an IR impact This is it. The craftsman impact lasted 1 year of 240 wrenching, which means 10 months of DSM wrenching and 1.5 years of suby wrenching.

It really doesn't take up as much space as you think, but if you dont want the thing pumping all the time, that little thing isnt gonna cut it for you. While Im working on the car (exhaust, engine mounts, trans bolts, so far this week) it keeps switching on fairly regularly and gets annoying when Im listening to music. If you only want to use it for lug nuts, that little guy will be fine. If you want to blast off rusty downpipe bolts, manifold bolts, etc... you might want to get something bigger because that thing will be working overtime.

Yeah we weren't looking to spend an arm/leg on one being I bet we would use the air compressor like once in awhile over the spring/summer just on our cars. It would just come in handy having one vs not having anything lol.

The unit looked alright minus only being a 10 gallon which worries me. Originally I was looking for something in the 20-30 gallon range just to play it safe. However the ones I find for a reasonable price in that size have a low CFM rating at 90psi. However I thought being this unit is 5.6CFM at 90PSI would be enough to get it by on only 10 gallons. The only tool I could see us using which may max it out and be pumping away all the time is a impact gun.

[FocusDude]

I'm no mechanic, but I have a smaller unit running a impact gun whenever it's needed.

[russiankid]

I have a 28 gallon, 5hp compressor. Gets the job done without any problems.

[grimm]

I have that one i believe. Comes with an impact gun and air ratchet, hose, fittings, and is oil-less. it works pretty well for my needs.

[CANNIBALOFDOOM]

complety off subject but someone i know just bought a 60 gallon for doing basic stuff around the garage... think overkill to the max.

[inteva6184]

I would stay away from craftsman. Had a 60 gallon and it was the loudest slowest piece of garbage ive ever had the misfortune of using. Honestly we had ear plugs for when wed run it it could not run a cut off wheel it was just junk. Husky is ok stuff I would look for something that builds the most pressure and fills the fastest for the money youre willing to spend. I can tell you we have a 80 gallon quincy that builds up to 180 and I can tell you if you cant break a bolt loose with that you better get the torch out.

[Willdue]

Originally Posted by grimm

I have that one i believe. Comes with an impact gun and air ratchet, hose, fittings, and is oil-less. it works pretty well for my needs.

i have that one as a 2nd compressor at my shop, thing works great. Quite to.

[tr4c3]

We use a craftsman 33 gal as well. Never let us down. To the guy saying stay away from craftsman, I don't know about the one you bought but I use craftsman products everyday (I work at sears) and I have never had any issues like that. Could have just been the one you bought. Our store rarely gets compressors back, and they are usually just the little 3 gal ones.

The 60 gal is a craftsman prof right? We had the 80 gal on sale for $950 through craftsman club, and that thing is a beast. Had a few sell. I've never seen a craftsman professional compressor get returned to our store.

[GeforceXtreme]

Yeah thanks for the input guys. Most likely a high 20's or 30's gallon be MORE then good enough for what we will use the unit for. We aren't a body shop or mech shop so I bet the 30 gallon be overkill for what we be using it for.

Just going to keep an eye out for one on sale.. and I guess go for the kill.

What impact tool brands do you guys recommend? Also how much ft torque should I try to keep it over for impact gun and wrenches?

[Willdue]

What are you tryna run off of it? And how much?

I have snap on guns (overpriced), craftsman guns (pretty damn decent), and a Harbor Freight Impact that is just a beast

[tr4c3]

Depending on how much you are looking to spend I'd recommend craftsman. Mac, matco, snap on, are all great of course, if you have the money for them, go for it.. We have mac/snap on at my dads, my bro and I use craftsman here. Harbor freight does have some cheap ones that are great too.

[GeforceXtreme]

What do you guys think of Harbor freight for their air tools? I wasn't too sure if it be wise to get one of there air compressors.. however their guns for the price maybe worth it for light use?

Ideally I know what I wanna use the air compressor first is to get my buddies rear trailing arm bolts off. I used a 240 ft lbs electric impact gun.. and before those bolts.. I was able to get just about everything off with that! Then I used a large breaking bar.. and nothing. They just won't budge!

This was the air compressor I was going to buy with my buddy: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90234

Its on sale for $139.99 + my buddy had a 20% discount coupon on one item. So pretty much it would have cost us around $50 bucks a piece for that air compressor lol. But being only 10 gallon I didn't think that suffice.

We don't mind spending more on an air compressor.. its just we are not trying to break the bank here on something that we are not going to use everyday or maybe not even every month.

[tr4c3]

Keep an eye on sears and look at craftsman club and craftsman.com. Craftsman club specials run month long every month. They've had some decent prices on compressors and some offered a free 1/2" impact gun and 3/8" impact wrench. You can get a decent 20 gal for a nice price if you keep an eye on sales. Too bad you aren't around here or I'd be able to get you a discount haha.

[poolmike]

Put the money toward the biggest compressor you can pay for. It will allow for more air consuming tools in the future. Also, do not waste your resources on cheap air tools. Stick with a decent brand like Ingersol Rand and you will be happy with the results.

[inteva6184]

Originally Posted by tr4c3

We use a craftsman 33 gal as well. Never let us down. To the guy saying stay away from craftsman, I don't know about the one you bought but I use craftsman products everyday (I work at sears) and I have never had any issues like that. Could have just been the one you bought. Our store rarely gets compressors back, and they are usually just the little 3 gal ones.

The 60 gal is a craftsman prof right? We had the 80 gal on sale for $950 through craftsman club, and that thing is a beast. Had a few sell. I've never seen a craftsman professional compressor get returned to our store.

I dont remember the model it was quite sometime ago. It had some flapper in the compressor part that broke a few times. Cheap part but it was annoying. My friend has a 30 gallon craftsman that works well but is very very loud I may just be used to the quincy which you can actually hold a conversation next to it.