OT - Air Compressors

[ROADMAN]

Just finished my shop and ready for equipment. Need some advice on Air Compressors. I'm looking at a Craftman 60 Gal, 150 PSI Max., 3.1 HP, 12.0 SCFM @ 42 PSI, 11.3 SCFM @ 90 PSI, Oil Lubricated. Sears has it on sale for $479.00 with regular price on $725.00. Will this compressor surfice for most applications a hobbist will do. Thanks for your advice.

Clay

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 10:10:27 12/31/13) Just finished my shop and ready for equipment. Need some advice on Air Compressors. I'm looking at a Craftman 60 Gal, 150 PSI Max., 3.1 HP, 12.0 SCFM @ 42 PSI, 11.3 SCFM @ 90 PSI, Oil Lubricated. Sears has it on sale for $479.00 with regular price on $725.00. Will this compressor surfice for most applications a hobbist will do. Thanks for your advice.

Clay

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[arnold z]

Sure should be enough. That's a real good price too. I wonder who makes them?

 

[ROADMAN]

A quick search shows that a model with a 921 prefix which is the one on this compressor is manufactured by Midwest Air Technologies.

 

[Bob Harvey]

I have a similar model Craftsman (12cfm @ 90 psi 5 hp) and it is adequate for most things. Sandblasting requires more. The best suggestion I can make is 'Bigger is Better'. I wish I had bought bigger, but the price was right at the time. HTH

 

[souNdguy]

excelent price.. good amount of air..e tc.

I have a huskie of similar setup.. jumped on it when i found it at a similar price.

have painted many machines with it. runs 3/4 and 1" air tools fine.. sand plaster too.

you CAN run it out of air on sustained air loads like air sanders.. but it will wear your arm out doing so.

I had a 30g compressor i had been using and plumbed the tanks together for 90g air.

on my big tools.. I came out of the large port on the side my tank had.. plus another dedicated port for an oil-less line for painting.. and the main port for my regular lines, using a 3 way head and oiler.. / water seperator.

 

[ScoutB]

That sounds very much like my Coleman made by Sanborn. I've had mine for 10 years or more and it's been really good. The only time I tax it is with a paint sprayer or when I blow down my underground sprinkling in the fall. 99% of the time it's plenty big. And that is a great price.

 

[Colin King]

I've done a lot of work with both my 4gal Dewalt portable (painted 1 tractor with it) and my Craftsman 20 gal. Going big gives you more flexibility, but it's not always necessary.

It does seem like a good price, though.

Colin, MN

 

[Fuddy Duddy]

Myself, I wouldn't go less than 5 HP. Tank size doesn't really matter for continuous use. When I sand blast I pipe two 5 HP compressors together. That just barely does the job. O'course how mush air you'll need will depend on your use. No way I would buy a Craftsman. While they once made good hand tools,Their power tools have been poorly made since the mid 70's.

 

[G6 at Snook, TX]

The main thing I would add to this conversation is to look to where the pump is made. I had a mid-line NAPA a few years back and it leaked oil like a sieve. It was Chinese made, but that was five years ago. The name plate types such as: Husky, NAPA, Craftsman, are all made by others.

 

[ROADMAN]

Thanks for all the advice. I ordered it this morning and it will be delivered in a few days. I also ordered an Eastman 170 MIG Welder with gas and now I have to learn to weld. I"m going out today to run two 220 V lines to my shop. I knew I was going to need them when I built it but decided to wait and now the wait is over. When I get it all set up, I will send some pictures. Got a 1950 8n to start with along with my work tractor, a 1955 860. Thanks for all the advice and I look forward to conversing with ya"ll soon.

Clay