[SOLVED] ISO: Air Compressor

Appletax

Appletax

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Northern Michigan
I am in need of an air compressor so I can have an unlimited supply of compressed air. Buying canned air gets real old, real quick. I have a lot of dust and cat hair sticking to things so I use it a lot.

I'm looking for a quality, small air compressor with a max budget of around $150. I'd like a unit that I don't have to worry about it spraying out moisture and it has to have a regular nozzle and a tire nozzle.

I have a Menards here and not a Lowes nor a Home Depot.

Suggestions?

Edit: bought the DataVac Electric Duster ED-500
 
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My understanding is that you need a filter, and even then you should drain the tank every once in a while. For $150 it might be hard to find something with decent pressure (I guess one reason why a recommendation would be nice). I've heard quite a few good things about data vacs on the forums. That's what I plan to buy.
 
trevm999 said:
My understanding is that you need a filter, and even then you should drain the tank every once in a while. For $150 it might be hard to find something with decent pressure (I guess one reason why a recommendation would be nice). I've heard quite a few good things about data vacs on the forums. That's what I plan to buy.
Click to expand...

At that price point we can get 100-150 PSI. I'm looking at a $1300 air compressor right now that has an 80 gallon capacity and 5 HP motor. It outputs 175 PSI. The data vac is too bulky to me. I like the idea of having a thin, long hose that I can get in anywhere. Also, I'd rather have the air compressor because I can use it for other tasks.

I just discovered that cubic feet per minute of air output plays a role, too. Also, the larger tanks sizes let the tools run longer.
 
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http://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-...qid=1393217526&sr=1-1&keywords=air+compressor

This one is the #1 bestseller on Amazon, has a lot of good reviews, is within my budge, has the accessories I need, has a relatively decent sized 6 gallon tank, and outputs 150 PSI. It also has a water drain valve.

Dang:


gliderp2 years ago
The person that marketed oil-less compressors should be strung up by the balls with very small gauge piano wire. Two things I can't stand - liberals whining and oil free compressors.


gliderp1 year agoin reply to basshunter477
I suppose if your deaf, yeah. Or if you want to piss off your neighbors. Really, oiless compressors are extremely noisy and should come with a warning. I know two people that tried them because they were cheap. They don't last long and as I've said before they're very noisy. I suppose they'd make good auxiliary air tanks though.
 
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I have an air compressor that that maxes at 100psi, and is probably 5 gallons. It is pretty much useless for blowing anything out. I get 10 seconds of air with enough pressure to move dust. It will do do about 10 shots on one tank when using a brad nailer. It's ok for topping up one or two tires, but I have an 80 gallon one at the shop for that.

I know it would be nice to get something that can multitask, but I think you will probably miss the convenience/portability of compressed air. I can't wait until I get a Metro data vac :D

An air compressor is very handy to have around though, even if it is a crappy one.
 
Two comments from a novice woodworker:
1. Electrostatically charged electronic dust is no joke. It will kill you the same or faster than ultra fine wood dust below 1micron. If you all are blowing systems clean anywhere but outside or with a full on 1 micron or smaller respirator, you are hurting yourself.

2. Total air volume is important for dust evacuation. Total air velocity is most important for getting dust off of surfaces. Nozzled blowers should be able to generate way more than sufficient velocity well below 75psi, in the same way that pressure washers use about 75psi and 3 gallons of water per minute to blast way more grime than your 15gpm water hose. The blower I use for this purpose sends air through a game ball needle at about 75 psi from a cheap 6 gallon harbor freight compressor I got at auction for $7, 6 years ago. It will quite happily separate skin and muscle from bone at that aperature and pressure.
 
trevm999 said:
I have an air compressor that that maxes at 100psi, and is probably 5 gallons. It is pretty much useless for blowing anything out. I get 10 seconds of air with enough pressure to move dust. It will do do about 10 shots on one tank when using a brad nailer. It's ok for topping up one or two tires, but I have an 80 gallon one at the shop for that.

I know it would be nice to get something that can multitask, but I think you will probably miss the convenience/portability of compressed air. I can't wait until I get a Metro data vac :D

An air compressor is very handy to have around though, even if it is a crappy one.
Click to expand...

You only get 10 seconds of air with a 5 gallon tank? That is pitiful. I'm assuming that the Data Vac doesn't run out of air? I wanted the air compressor for dust removal and airing my tires, but there's free air available at many gas stations. I wonder how the pressure compares.
 
Yeah there's something wrong with that 5 gallon tank giving 10 seconds of air. The hole is too big and/or he's operating at the upper end of the pressure capacity. The tank's not empty, it's just dropping some pressure so it's kicking back on.

The datavac doesn't have the guts to sustain backpressure that you experience on something like filling tires or running air tools. It just blows a lot of air super hard. It's not going to work if you want to fill your tires with it.

I have a 100' hose on my shop compressor, which lets me take it anywhere in the shop, or all the way out to the garage where the car is. Painted my old cavalier out there this last summer with the compressor in the shop the whole time. :)
 
Appletax said:
You only get 10 seconds of air with a 5 gallon tank? That is pitiful.
Click to expand...



Only 10 seconds with good enough pressure. There is plenty air left. The motor will kick in but it can't keep up. The point is, cheap air compressors are pos for blowing stuff out. All the estimation in my previous post are with it full and unplugged. When plugged in it is okay for other tasks, but mine does appear to have a pathetic motor.
 
I'm also using the Datavac Electric Duster. Its perfect as I'm a mobiletech and its nice and small and fits into the boot of my car!

However the first one that arrived to me had a screw loose in the unit and when I turned it on it gave me a rather NASTY electric shock. :eek:
 
I just purchased the datavac over the compressor because:
- its much cheaper
- its much smaller, thus more portable
- it constantly outputs the same amount of pressure whereas a compressor does not
- there's no need to drain any moisture
- the only other reason to get the compressor at this point in my life is to air my tires, but there's free air at most gas stations and tires only need air once in a while
- I don't have to deal with choosing a compressor, which is a daunting task given the vast amount of options
 
Krynn72 said:
I bought this, and have subsequently stopped using the air compressor we have almost entirely. HIGHLY recommend it. Bought it after seeing it in another TN poster's pic about their workspace, and then watching this video (which at the time was linked to the amazon store page.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACjqKYHU_v4
Click to expand...

The Datavac is ok for portability but it only does one thing and isn't much quieter than my compressor which does multiple things. If you've got the room for a compressor (mine's out in the garage) I'd go with that every time. I got this one for £79.99 at Aldi (sorry, only video I could find and it's not very interesting :):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smrIIJUssOQ
 
CLC said:
I ordered this air compressor and a water filter for less than $60 and it works great, and it's very quiet, even comes with the attachments and a hose. I just keep it setup next to the door and walk out onto the deck to do my cleanings.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-3-Ga...-Accessory-Kit-0210384/204339561?N=5yc1vZc27p

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170979182023?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Click to expand...

At first I was having second thoughts about getting the datavac after seeing this super cheap compressor, but I shook that off when I thought about how oilless compressors aren't very good quality and the fact that the Datavac is much easier to move around. I will be using it to blow out dust all over the house and probably in my car. It's easier to move around than an air compressor and hose.
 
If you are OCD about dust, why in the devil would you blow dust in your house? It's just going to go in the air and get breathed in and then settle back in a different place...
 
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