What is the smallest size air compressor I can get away with if I was spraying small items (at biggest a motorbike frame) and doing a little sand blasting?
What is the smallest size air compressor I can get away with if I was spraying small items (at biggest a motorbike frame) and doing a little sand blasting?
How much "little sand blasting"?
Blasting is the thing that most overwhelms my little oilless Campbell Hausfeld...
It's rated at 6.3 SCFM at 90psi.
It was always "blast for fifteen seconds, wait for... a while."
In reply to ransom:
Like smaller parts. A-arms and the like not frames or anything.
In reply to 93EXCivic:
I was just trying to do some wheels initially...
It's possible that there were issues which I don't recall at this point as was too dumb to sort at the time; maybe my sand wasn't dry enough, maybe the paint was really tough where it wasn't flaking off...
Basically it seemed like I was working about as quickly as using the eraser on the back of a pencil, and had to stop and wait frequently, and spent much more time waiting than blasting...
I was using a Campbell Hausfeld box-of-sand-on-a-shoulder-strap blaster. I also had sand in places I didn't know I had places, but that's another issue...
Actually, the thing I initially bought it for was the undercoating-doused engine bay of a 2002, but it was the wrong tool for that job. Rubberized undercoating isn't sand blastable in my experience.
It was like blowing on a droplet on a waxed car; it just moved over.
The limited usefulness on the wheels was just the insult added to the injury of having blown money on a compressor and ending up doing the whole engine bay with a razor blade, shop towels, and sand paper.
when it comes to compressors, the answer is the biggest you can afford. A 5hp oilless can go maybe a minute at a time with a siphon feed sand gun - trying to blast with mine just tortured that compressor. Keep your eyes peeled on CL or equipment auctions. For close to what you would pay for that 5hp oilless you can come up with a decent 2-stage 3-5 hp compressor.
I looked at a lot of different options a while back when I got my compressor and I wound up with a 30 gallon Crafstman job that was on sale as a "last year's model" deal. Before I bought that, I knew I wanted to do a little HVLP work, some bead blasting, but mostly use a small air hammer, impact wrench, palm sander, grinder, and regular socket wrench. The compressor that had the CFMs and duty cycle numbers to be able to do any serious amount of blasting or painting was a lot more expensive than the compressor I needed for the other stuff, and since I wasn't going to be doing that much of it, I decided on just renting a gasoline-powered model for the rare occasion that I need it. If I pick it up first thing on Saturday morning, I can get the compressor for $35 and don't have to return it until Monday morning, so I can have a full weekend.
For bead blasting, I was using the Harbor Freight media blasting cabinet, and it needs a lot of air. I wasn't doing anything huge, either, just nuts and bolts and little bracket-ey things, but it was overheating a "regular" compressor in a hurry.
THIS!!
ransom wrote: How much "little sand blasting"?
you can NEVER have too much cfm/capacity.
look on CL for a mid size pulley driven compressor. they are quieter, can run almost continous, and can be rebuilt.
http://huntsville.craigslist.org/tls/3337403462.html
http://gadsden.craigslist.org/tls/3303653794.html
Spraying paint is one thing and you can get by with a pretty small compressor, but add the sand blasting and you'll overwhelm most small compressors. Blasting is pretty much a wide open air flow with a little blasting media thrown in occassionally.
sand blasting will kill you. my 30 gallon couldn't hang so I ended up with an 80 2 stage...no more problems blasting
oldtin wrote: when it comes to compressors, the answer is the biggest you can afford.
This is the correct response.
I have a 2 stage, 2hp compressor that does 80% of what I need, and want a bigger one often. Like every time I fire off the blast cabinet. I've been keeping an eye on CL, but so far no luck. Everyone around here seems to think used compressors should sell at new prices.
Keep looking on craigslist and searchtempest which aggregates regional craigslists. Check out rasmus/dovebid/government auctions.
It took me a year but I got a like-new 60 gallon/5hp/220V/2-stage/quad-cylinder/cast iron/American made Speedaire for $350 in like new condition.
It's awesome. I never run out of air. It just takes time an a willingness to drop everything and make a deal happen when you find the one.
Are most of the big compressors 220V?
Edit: Cause of right now I have no ability to easily use 220V?
In reply to 93EXCivic:
Nope, they're 460V/3ph.
RossD wrote: In reply to 93EXCivic: Nope, they're 460V/3ph.
Ok I forgot about the 3 phase ones...
Also let's say I drop the sand blasting requirement what can I get away with? I have access to a couple big ones where I could do sand blasting and have capability. They are a bit of a drive though so this would be for during the week to do small projects.
Take out the sandblasting, and a decent 2 or 3 hp will do most of what you need. My 2hp will run a impact or die grinder without much trouble. It just runs alot. Get one that will handle continuous duty.
Make sure you get an oiled belt drive one. The oiless ones are loud.
Toyman01 wrote: Make sure you get an oiled belt drive one. The oiless ones are loud.
No, they're VERY LOUD!!!
An HVLP spray gun requires a lot of CFM even though it doesn't require a lot of pressure. The standard guns can get by with a 3-5 HP compressor.
Truer words have never been spoken when you were told to get the biggest you can afford. I have a 5 HP CH compressor from the 1980s and it isn't big enough for sand blasting. I did a lot, but burned up the first motor. One key to sandblasting is to get the smallest diamater nozzle and replace it when it gets a little worn.
Turboeric wrote:Toyman01 wrote: Make sure you get an oiled belt drive one. The oiless ones are loud.No, they're VERY LOUD!!!
WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!
carguy123 wrote:Turboeric wrote:WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!Toyman01 wrote: Make sure you get an oiled belt drive one. The oiless ones are loud.No, they're VERY LOUD!!!
That's because you have an oilless compressor!
what a timely thread. I've been looking to finally step up to air tools & shopping for a compressor. opinions on these two?
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200347527_200347527
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200481743_200481743
they look the same except for color...
Quincy has an excellent reputation, but they do look the same. The price seems high to me for a 2HP compressor.
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