Within the past 10 years, I have bought 2 air compressors from Polar Air, formerly Eaton Compressor.
After research, I decided upon Polar Air because their manufacturiing facility is only about 70 miles from my place and I decided to visit. I was sufficiently satisfied upon my visit.
First one is a 7.5 HP, 4 cylinder, 80G vertical unit and second one, about 5 years later, is a 5 HP, 2 cylinder, 60G vertical unit.
Both have perfomed well, though neither has been perfect.
I did not complain about the price of either at the time of purchase, though prices have skyrocked.
After research, I decided upon Polar Air because their manufacturiing facility is only about 70 miles from my place and I decided to visit. I was sufficiently satisfied upon my visit.
First one is a 7.5 HP, 4 cylinder, 80G vertical unit and second one, about 5 years later, is a 5 HP, 2 cylinder, 60G vertical unit.
Both have perfomed well, though neither has been perfect.
I did not complain about the price of either at the time of purchase, though prices have skyrocked.
INGERSOL-RAND. If your going to do much sand blasting better get at least a 7-1/2 hp on a 2-stage 80
gallon tank. A 5 hp will never keep up with my 40# sand capacity Harbor Freight blasting pot. As the
ceramic nozzles wear the air usage goes WAY up.
My 7-1/2 hp compressor uses a duplex 30A breaker, and once the nozzle wears it runs 100% of the time.
To run a 10hp compressor you may want to talk to your power company or a trusted electrician.
There's other good brands of compressors, Quincy is good, maybe even great, as long as you buy the USA
made model. They sell a cheap import to compete on price. Same thing with I-R.
SON bought a well used Quincy #325 Quincy that was sold new to a truck stop along Interstate 80, Exit
19, it ran their tire shop and other shop tools for 15 years, then powered a 3-stall body shop's air tools
and spray guns for 10 years, then supplied air to a 5-6 man machine shop and was finally retired about
2012, 48 years old. SON'S plans are to install it on a new 80 gal tank with a 7-1/2 hp motor for another
48 years of use. It has a pressurized oil lube system, oil filters are even available for it.
gallon tank. A 5 hp will never keep up with my 40# sand capacity Harbor Freight blasting pot. As the
ceramic nozzles wear the air usage goes WAY up.
My 7-1/2 hp compressor uses a duplex 30A breaker, and once the nozzle wears it runs 100% of the time.
To run a 10hp compressor you may want to talk to your power company or a trusted electrician.
There's other good brands of compressors, Quincy is good, maybe even great, as long as you buy the USA
made model. They sell a cheap import to compete on price. Same thing with I-R.
SON bought a well used Quincy #325 Quincy that was sold new to a truck stop along Interstate 80, Exit
19, it ran their tire shop and other shop tools for 15 years, then powered a 3-stall body shop's air tools
and spray guns for 10 years, then supplied air to a 5-6 man machine shop and was finally retired about
2012, 48 years old. SON'S plans are to install it on a new 80 gal tank with a 7-1/2 hp motor for another
48 years of use. It has a pressurized oil lube system, oil filters are even available for it.
jniolon
old and in the way
air tools, blasting and painting use massive amounts of air... 9-10 cfm at 100 psi would be in the ball park and that's probably a minimum 5 hp... above that the motor draw might be restrictive for a home shop
Quincy is my favorite and I have a 310 model from the late 50s-early 60's Ingersall rand used to be top line but I think they have slid in quality some. Curtis is another brand to check...
I'd stay away from anything oil less and imported. I think most of the box store compressors regardless of logo are imports.
If I was buying again I'd buy vertical tank..smaller footprint.
I picked mine up second hand from a shop closing. Used is going to be much cheaper than new and probably a better unit.
Save all the money you can to buy, then go borrow some more money and buy one bigger... I've never heard anyone say "I wish I'd have bought a smaller compressor"
Check with some of the local air dealers and see if they have tradeins or reconditioned commercial units you might get reasonably.
my Quincy 310
Steve A W
Member
- Location
- Northwest Indiana
Check out Saylor-Beall.
They're made in St John Mi.
They were the best compressors I
worked on when I did that line of work.
Quincy runs a close second.
I/R you either get a good one or bad.
And when they're bad, they're really bad.
Stay away from box store units.
Find a business that sells and services
what they sell.
If you buy a Saylor-Beall it will be the
last compressor you will ever buy!
They're made in St John Mi.
They were the best compressors I
worked on when I did that line of work.
Quincy runs a close second.
I/R you either get a good one or bad.
And when they're bad, they're really bad.
Stay away from box store units.
Find a business that sells and services
what they sell.
If you buy a Saylor-Beall it will be the
last compressor you will ever buy!
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
When you buy one buy a larger CFM then you believe you need because in the long run you will find out it is needed
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
Is this a home shop? If so select your sand blaster first as it will be
the highest CFM demand.
If more than one tool will be used at a time, add up the CFM requirements
and add some extra just for insurance.
You will find there is a big jump in price from the consumer grade to the
commercial grade compressors. If this is a home shop you can get by with
a consumer grade, 2 stage. When shopping, check the FLA rating on the
motor. That will tell you the true horsepower of the motor. You can't
believe what they advertise them for.
A new commercial/industrial grade will probably be cost prohibitive. You
might find a good used one, but chances are a used one will need some TLC
and will most likely have a 3 phase motor. Shop carefully!
the highest CFM demand.
If more than one tool will be used at a time, add up the CFM requirements
and add some extra just for insurance.
You will find there is a big jump in price from the consumer grade to the
commercial grade compressors. If this is a home shop you can get by with
a consumer grade, 2 stage. When shopping, check the FLA rating on the
motor. That will tell you the true horsepower of the motor. You can't
believe what they advertise them for.
A new commercial/industrial grade will probably be cost prohibitive. You
might find a good used one, but chances are a used one will need some TLC
and will most likely have a 3 phase motor. Shop carefully!
Oregon Tractor Jack
Member
I bought a Quincy about 10 years ago when I retired. It is a 80 gal 5 hp twin cylinder. It is rated at 17.7 cfm@100 psi. It will keep up with my sand blast cabinet and all of my air tools. I have been very happy with it.
OTJ
OTJ
farmersamm
Member
We run a Champion two stage 80gal, with a Baldor 5hp motor.
Keeps up with a regular high pressure paint gun, all pneumatic tools, and does fine with a 60amp plasma cutter.
It wasn't cheap back when I bought it 14yrs ago, and the price is worse nowdays.
I don't know if they still come with a Baldor,, but I'd really recommend finding a compressor with a Baldor.
Compressors are like anything else I guess. You get what you pay for. Tough thing is........if you don't have the spare money, you have to buy the lesser brands, and you generally wind up buying another one within a shorter period of time.
Keeps up with a regular high pressure paint gun, all pneumatic tools, and does fine with a 60amp plasma cutter.
It wasn't cheap back when I bought it 14yrs ago, and the price is worse nowdays.
I don't know if they still come with a Baldor,, but I'd really recommend finding a compressor with a Baldor.
Compressors are like anything else I guess. You get what you pay for. Tough thing is........if you don't have the spare money, you have to buy the lesser brands, and you generally wind up buying another one within a shorter period of time.
buickanddeere
Well-known Member
Sandblasting ? Start thinking 10HP .
There is a company here that sells and services 'Schulz' brand of commercial duty air compressors. They are built in Brazil and use 'WEG' brand motors, also built in South America. They seem to have a good reputation. A friend has had one in his shop for over 15 years and it has performed well with commercial blast cabinet etc.
It's not single/2 stage, but rather, motor/pump RPM.
A 4 pole motor, running at 1,800 RPM, driving a larger displacement pump at lower pump RPM, is much less noisy than any 2 pole, 3,600 RPM motor driving a small pump at higher RPM so as to produce marketable CFM.
FWIW, current model Polar Air compressors (no doubt others) operate at variable speed and are even less noisy. A corresponding benefit of such is standard equipment pressure lubrication to the rod (as well as main) bearings, as splash lubrication is not effective at low RPMs.
A 4 pole motor, running at 1,800 RPM, driving a larger displacement pump at lower pump RPM, is much less noisy than any 2 pole, 3,600 RPM motor driving a small pump at higher RPM so as to produce marketable CFM.
FWIW, current model Polar Air compressors (no doubt others) operate at variable speed and are even less noisy. A corresponding benefit of such is standard equipment pressure lubrication to the rod (as well as main) bearings, as splash lubrication is not effective at low RPMs.
Destroked 450
Well-known Member
- Location
- Harned, Ky
If you can find a decent used Quincy 325 grab it, the last compressor you'll need
325 normally has a 5 hp motor but can be run a little faster with a 7.5 hp motor, the pump is completely rebuildable like a tractor engine, rod bearings are available in std and under size if the crank needs to be ground, over size pistons and rings are available if the cylinders need bored, head has valve disc and springs instead of reed plates found on newer pumps, oil pressure lubed with a gauge and some have oil filters
Mine is a 72 model still with std bore and std crank
The pump itself weighs over 250 lbs.
A new 325 pump with tank and motor cost over $6k but I've seen used ones from $800 - $2000
Pete in Holland MI
Member
Don't guess. Engineer. Figure out what the CFM requirements are for all of the tools you are wanting to use. Determine the
biggest air user, then set you goals on a compressor of at least that CFM output. Guessing can lead to an undersized air
system, or way over-kill.......thus more cost.
biggest air user, then set you goals on a compressor of at least that CFM output. Guessing can lead to an undersized air
system, or way over-kill.......thus more cost.
caterpillar guy
Well-known Member
I had been looking for one for many years. I had a requirement of 175 PSI for truck tires. I finally found a Saylor-Beall. I bought it used with tank and all. It is a 2 stage with about 15-17 SCFM. It runs about 700RPM or there about. I didn't measure the pulleys though that is about the speed they run theirs from Factory. Air compressors are like tractors I've never heard anybody say they bought one to big. So the bigger you can run the better. For the cost to operate unless you are using it everyday day in and day out will be negligible You do find a few Saylor-Beall's on the used line occasionally. I have seen a couple on Market place in MI for sale. Dad has an old Quincy in one shed for an Air compressor. when I called the company to find some parts they could not find anything on it or didn't want to not sure which but they didn't help and I gave them the model ,serial,and bore stroke info off the tag on the air pump. No parts and could not even find any information on it. Said it was to old or some such reason. Been a few years since that. Saylor-Beall When I talked to them they told me mine was an old model and some parts were not available for it also but could at least tell me about the model. From the part numbers or casting numbers I gave him.
Quincy... two stage, 4 cyl-balanced compressor. Two primary cyls off set and two secondary cyls offset. So its completely balanced, rated at twice the hours of a normal unbalanced compressors, and oddly extremely quiet because of this design. About 50 bucks more than the ingersol rand systems that came before it. AND still made in good ole 'Merica is another nice plus. This one will probably out last me.
Guys, I really appreciate all your comments and advice! A lot of good information here from obviously knowledgeable folks!
A lot of thinking and planning to be done on my part.
The structure of my 40X30 shop has just been completed and electrical service is still to be done. I m really glad to get all this information before running the electricity to the shop because I m sure mistakes would have been made.
Thanks again!
A lot of thinking and planning to be done on my part.
The structure of my 40X30 shop has just been completed and electrical service is still to be done. I m really glad to get all this information before running the electricity to the shop because I m sure mistakes would have been made.
Thanks again!
Tony in SD
Well-known Member
Quincy X2. Had a head gasket blow and their parts department was very helpful. Parts were available on line .
Stephen Newell
Well-known Member
I can only recommend what not to get. I've used Campbell Hausfeld compressors for more than 30 years and when it got to a point where I was constantly working on it I bought another. It
turned out to be very cumbersome to use, they put the pressure regulator where you can't adjust the pressure without channel lock pliers. Then there has been a sea of rust draining out
of the tank from day one. It's obvious they never coated the inside of the tank with anything.
turned out to be very cumbersome to use, they put the pressure regulator where you can't adjust the pressure without channel lock pliers. Then there has been a sea of rust draining out
of the tank from day one. It's obvious they never coated the inside of the tank with anything.
I owned a tire shop for 22 years. Ingersoll Rand is the only
compressor that worked for us. We had many different brands but
as I said the Ingersol Rand is the only one that worked for us.
It sometimes ran as much as 6-7 hours a day. The same way with
Air Guns. Ingersol Rand is the only ones that lasted for us.
Keep the oil changed in the compressors. The off brands I would
change every month, the Ingersols I would change every 3 months.
Still the off brands would lock up, toss a rod, blow head
gaskets, etc.
compressor that worked for us. We had many different brands but
as I said the Ingersol Rand is the only one that worked for us.
It sometimes ran as much as 6-7 hours a day. The same way with
Air Guns. Ingersol Rand is the only ones that lasted for us.
Keep the oil changed in the compressors. The off brands I would
change every month, the Ingersols I would change every 3 months.
Still the off brands would lock up, toss a rod, blow head
gaskets, etc.
560Dennis
560Dennis
- Location
- Madison,Ohio
I had a 5 hp IR , 11 cfm , was nt big enough for sand blasting, burn the motor up ( new motor more than compressor from I R )short small
jobs , ok but who does that when they get going a a project . Any longer than 3 to five minutes cant handle it. Look at how long it can run
continuously, I overlooked that important specs
I got ride of sandblast cabinet with filters made the garage to dusty , only used it outside , put wheels on it to roll it.
My story
Got any sand blasting people near you ? Id use them
jobs , ok but who does that when they get going a a project . Any longer than 3 to five minutes cant handle it. Look at how long it can run
continuously, I overlooked that important specs
I got ride of sandblast cabinet with filters made the garage to dusty , only used it outside , put wheels on it to roll it.
My story
Got any sand blasting people near you ? Id use them
You can just build a system. You'll need a motor, pump, and storage system. If you're installing a stationary system you can have a motor/pump in one location and a storage tank in another. Off the top of my head I'd think that a couple tanks would work and a 3-5hp motor and then spec your pump. I really like champion pumps (used on quincy and other high end compressors). Magnetic start, three phase motor if you have three phase service. You could easily build a very nice system for pennies on the dollar using garage sale large tanks and a pump. I have a singe stage 3-cylinder champion pump and another 3 cylinder two stage pump to swap if I need high pressure. If you have the motor, one could gear the motor and run 2x 3 cylinder single stage pumps, should be good for over 20cfm@90 psig which should run a lot of sandblasting. The storage tanks allow you to use a smaller capacity pump, and turning down the pressure on air tools/sandblasters allow you to get away with running a smaller system.
To run my sandblaster I had 2x 9.9cfm@90psig compressors running in parallel with a blaster setting of 40psig, I was buying old compressors and rebuilding them at that time.
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