Well, it's the off-season and I'm trying to get my garage geared up to be more efficient for some of my bigger upcomming projects.

I've never bought an air compressor, or air tools for my garage. I have used them in other peoples garage and have become compeltely addicted. I know some of you guys have to have experience in this area, so hopefully I can tap some of that expertise.

I was looking at this compressor here: http://www.harborfreight.com/c...47065

Anything I should look out for? Tips on accesories that would make it easier to use or maintain?

What about tools? I am also looking at picking up this impact wrench: http://www.harborfreight.com/c...02623

Do I need a regulator/filter? I'm a total newb when it comes to this stuff so any and all suggestions will be mucho appreciated.

Thanks for your help guys.

Charles

 

I personally cant answer any of your questions, but there was a very informative thread on this topic a while back if your interested.
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=522757

 

thanks for the link! I actually already read that one though.

 

Can't comment on that particular compressor, but I suspect it will be fine for a first unit (you will want bigger one eventually). From the picture it looks like that compressor has a built in regulator. They are cheap if it doesn't (and available locally from H-F or Wal-mart, Lowes, etc). You will be working closer to 90 psi than 40 psi most of the time.

In general, more CFM and higher pressure is always a good thing in a compressor. Also, for the low budget, I might consider an oil-free unit instead.

I've been finding that you get what you pay for with impact wrenches. My cheap one will not budge things on it's highest setting, while my Ingersoll-Rand wrench ($175) will loosen the same thing on the lowest setting at a lower psi. The IR wrench has also dome similar things vs mid range Craftsman units.

That wrench you post looks too big to me. The smaller they are the better they fit into tight spaces.

Scott

 

why oil free?

What is a good CFM flow?

When you look at compressors it appears they rate them for CFM at different pressures. Is that tank pressure? what pressure are they talking about? for example.. "4.4 CFM @ 90 PSI; 11.1 CFM @ 40 PSI "
And how does this compressor rated CFM at different PSI relate to tools that just say "Air consumption: 4.7 scfm "

What is the S in SCFM?

charles - I'm so coRnfused.

 

oil free sucks. i have a craftsman oil free and its loud as hell. get one where u gotta change the oil or whatever. i see nice ones at napa.

spend money on your impact wrench, i suggest sears b/c of the warranty and decent price. look to spend atleast 150$ for the impact wrench alone.

i dunno what the S stands for i forget. but make sure your compressor supplies 4scfm for running impact wrenches. I'd reccomend that does around 7scfm tho expecially if you want to use grinders, cutting tools, any high rpm tool.

 

I had a craftsmen air tool.. The warranty wasnt applicable.. So I dont know anymore..

I like that compressor! Its quite good and probably good enough for 95% of the things you will try use it for! Unless you intend on die grinding for over 4 minutes at a time you would have all the compressor you need !!

 

CFM rating is at line pressure.

The compressor will run to keep the tank at a certain pressure - let's say 125 psi. You would set your line pressure to say 90 psi.

When you activate the tool any size compressor will perform equally well while the tank pressure is above 90 psi. A larger tank will stay above 90 longer than a small tank will - and a more efficient compressor will charge the tank back up faster.

When working with something like an impact gun, you'll hardly ever use the tool long enough to discharge the tank (below your working pressure). Tools like grinders and sanders, however require huge CFM amounts plus you're more likely to use them for more extended periods of time.

If you have a tool that required 4.4CFM at 90 psi and a compressor rated at 12 CFM at 90 psi you can run the tool continuously and never run out of 90psi air. That would be overkill though. Something else to keep in mind is that better quality tools are more efficient than cheaper ones.

My compressor is around 30gal and it's more than sufficient for any impact wrench work I've done. The cheap air griders and cutoff wheels I use give it quite a workout, however. I sometimes have to take brakes to not overheat the compressor. I'm sure it would help if these tools were a little higher quality.

 

Alternate way of thinking...

I am a fan of the electric impact wrench. I got addicted to them working on rally cars both on the shop and in the field. Obviously not the suite of tools available if you have air but most of us only use air tools for nut twisting and they can go with you if you have access to an outlet or a generator. It is true that a good air impact will pack more punch than even a good electric one, however.

K

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Alternate way of thinking...

I am a fan of the electric impact wrench. I got addicted to them working on rally cars both on the shop and in the field. Obviously not the suite of tools available if you have air but most of us only use air tools for nut twisting and they can go with you if you have access to an outlet or a generator. It is true that a good air impact will pack more punch than even a good electric one, however.

K</TD></TR></TABLE>

i agree.. and electric die grinders DOMINATE pneumatics~!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Alternate way of thinking...

I am a fan of the electric impact wrench. I got addicted to them working on rally cars both on the shop and in the field. Obviously not the suite of tools available if you have air but most of us only use air tools for nut twisting and they can go with you if you have access to an outlet or a generator. It is true that a good air impact will pack more punch than even a good electric one, however.

K</TD></TR></TABLE>

Unfortunately (for my budget) I am coming around to this conclusion as well. As the owner of the smallest two-car garage on the planet, I'm very space limited. Even after buying the compressor and some decent tools I am still considering buying an electric impact wrench. I just don't have the space to leave the compressor/tools/hose in an easily accessible location. For small jobs it's not even worth dragging out.

 

Spend the money on a good quality Compressor, Sometimes you can find them refurbished from a Air compressor Shop, look in the phone book. Go for quality, it should last you many years of service. Same for the air tools, Name brand is better, ask your local Air compressor sales about tools, you can find them refurbished also. I bought my Ingersol Rand compressor re-furbished 4 years ago, used every day in the shop for Cut off tools and die grinders. No problems yet. Bought it for $350, Sold for $650 new. My local Mac Tool Dealer had a slightly used IR Gun for half price ($90), now it is 3 years old, great condition. Air tools sold at local store are made for part time use, not the same ratings or Horse Power! If you are only using part time, May work fine for you. My experience with Air Tools is the cheaper the tool, the weaker it is.

 

That size tank will barely be adequate. Mine is similarly sized, and runs out of air when grinding or sanding for long periods.

Mine is also oil-free. Oil free = annoyingly loud.

If your really only using it for impact wrenching, consider a cordless from SnapOn or another reputable company. The newest generation have great battery life and torque ratings as good as all but the best pneumatic wrenches. There are also tons of other cordless tools coming to market these days (grinders, sawz-alls, etc).

IIRC, the SnapOn cordless stuff is price similarly to their pneumatic stuff ($300 give or take).

 

I actually already have the cordless 19.2v impact from HF. It isn't quite adequate for some of the things I work on..

tools I'll likely use.. impact wrench, air ratchet, chisel, grinder.. it will most definately be a multipurpose tool. I'd love to be able to do some sand blasting, and painting with it too.. My tools and garage space get used for any multitude of projects on almost a weekly basis by myself and friends and family.

thanks for the info guys! I was thinking I could check out the Flea market too for some possible good deals on pneumatic tools?

What about auto-oilers, and air filters to trap water, etc.. do you find that these items would be helpful?

Are the auto-recoiling air hose reel's worth the money? or are the cheap coil-hoses ok?

 

A water trap is a must, especially if you are in a humid area. Auto oilers are nice also. Get a really good tangle proof hose. Nothing more annoying than a hose that curls up everytime you put air to it.

 

Okay, here's my 2cents.

1. Oil free types are okay, but they are too damn noisy!
2. Compressor HP rating are lies, lies, lies!!! Go by CFM @ XXlbs air delivered.
3. You get what you pay for.
4. A bigger tank is always nice.
5. A two-stage is very very very nice, if you can afford it.
6. My advice, build an shed attached to the garage to house it (noise/space.)
7. An auto-winder is very very nice to have. I got mine from HF on sale.

 

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr...55000

i just picked up one of these (like a few hours ago) and so far so good. it is loud, but with the door to the house closed its not noisy in the house, which is what i had to worry about. it came with an impact gun, air ratchet, air hammer and a hose. i figure with the 30 gal tank, it shouldnt run too much with the work ill be doing.

-spenc

 

I have the compressor that Lo-Buck has. It works fine for the impact gun.

It sucks for the the sander or plasma cutter. If I had to do over again, I would buy @ least a single stage IR or similar 60 gal. Sure, they are 2 - 2 1/2 times more but with a 100% duty cycle, they will last forever. I keep expecting the Craftsman to die...any day.

Electric guns are either too big or not strong enough. Cordless guns are either bigger or weaker. I just sold my craftsman electric. It struggled or couldn't do what my IR 1/2" gun does. It didn't fit where the 3/8" gun does.

Where I do like the cordless (milwaukee) is for a quick wheel change.

Comes down to what you plan on doing.