I know this may not relate to paint and body, but I'm interested in getting into doing my own paint/body work at home, for those who do already do it and use a compressor, how many gallons would you recommend? I'd be doing sanding and painting, any help would be appreciated

 

If your serious about doing a lot of work and never running out of air power, get the biggest, highest CFM rating compressor you can afford.

Most likely its going to be a 220 volt range, 2 stage,oiled w/ some sort of cooler.

 

People say bigger is not always better, but in this case Bigger is better. If you can afford it a twin rotary screw compressor is quiet and produces high CFM

 

He didn't say he was going to run an autobody shop. They'd consider a 10HP to be the minimum.

"Biggest one you can afford" doesn't really help nail that down for the home enthusiast.

First- determine what CFM your spray gun will need. If you can't get a compressor that meets or exceeds that CFM, then you'll have to make sure you have a BIG tank to go with it. Wait until the entire tank is pressurized before you start, and pick stopping points while you wait for the depleted reserve of air in the tank to build back up.


Modified by RiskEverything at 10:08 AM 4/2/2008

 

Well we can't tell him specifics if he doesn't provide details. A budget at least would be needed. Some of my friends have pretty big compressors for home use.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by powerflow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If your serious about doing a lot of work and never running out of air power, get the biggest, highest CFM rating compressor you can afford.

Most likely its going to be a 220 volt range, 2 stage,oiled w/ some sort of cooler.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Got a 2 stage 80 gal from home depot. 11.5 cfm @ 90 psi. Served me well
these 8 years.

Details of your tool usage was not given, therefore expect more money spent
on a system to have clean air for spraying, piping if your going that route, and so forth.

Good luck from Hawaii.

 

60 2 stage about 5 hp range would be the a good starter compressor for paint.

of course there's always some tool in the middle of no where painted his whole car with a 1 gallon compressor and end up with a show car finish but most would agree 60-80 would be a good garage set up

don't go so cheap to a point it slows you down and cause you to buy a bigger one(and hating yourself for it)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rbeharry &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know this may not relate to paint and body, but I'm interested in getting into doing my own paint/body work at home, for those who do already do it and use a compressor, how many gallons would you recommend? I'd be doing sanding and painting, any help would be appreciated </TD></TR></TABLE>

Did mine with a 30gal
I don't think it is nessesary for such a big high cfm output comperessor
Remember you turn air preasure down at the reg and at the gun...

 

I utilize a 4hp 25 gallon Sears Craftsman oiless compressor. It pushes out 7 scfm @ 90 psi which is more than enough for my palm DA sander (4.5 cfm) and my Accuspray gun (6cfm). I got it of craigslist for only $75.... best $75 i ever spent!

I wouldn't worry about the size... I'd be concerned with the CFM rating @ 90 PSI....get something 7 cfm or better.

 

it depends what your going to paint. if its only small panels you dont need a big compressor, but if your going to spray the whole car i will go with at least a 60 gal.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boost’d_crx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but if your going to spray the whole car i will go with at least a 60 gal. </TD></TR></TABLE>
My car was sprayed inside and out, and my 33gal kept up just fine

 

did my car with a 25gal devilbiss 6hp... came out great, whole car no panels removed

just make sure your CFMs match up and you will be golden

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 88ED8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
My car was sprayed inside and out, and my 33gal kept up just fine </TD></TR></TABLE>

I would.

you can paint your car with an airbush compressor but i did mine on a 60gal and I think it's a good size. My pos sata are air hogs and so is my pos d/a, should've gotten a HF guns instead huh?

whatever works for you =