Recommendations for a small air compressor????

[mhorowit]

I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike

[Cy Galley]

Your request is about the same as 100 hp airplane doing 200 mph plus seating
4

"mhorowit" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
> PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike
>

[Ron Natalie]

mhorowit wrote:
> I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
> PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike
>
20 CFM @ 80? That's not a small compressor. Are you sure you have that
spec right? That's going to take some serious HP on the motor.
Unlikely at 120V.

Are you sure you have the spec's right?

[Michael Horowitz]

On Thu, 28 Sep 2006 13:07:32 GMT, "Cy Galley" >
wrote:

>Your request is about the same as 100 hp airplane doing 200 mph plus seating
>4
>
>"mhorowit" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>> I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
>> PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike
>>
>

Well, now I know it's impractical and will have to revise my
expectations - Mike

[Michael Horowitz]

On Thu, 28 Sep 2006 09:12:10 -0400, Ron Natalie >
wrote:

>mhorowit wrote:
>> I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
>> PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike
>>
>20 CFM @ 80? That's not a small compressor. Are you sure you have that
>spec right? That's going to take some serious HP on the motor.
>Unlikely at 120V.
>
>Are you sure you have the spec's right?

Ron - I got your e-mail, but replies bounced because you've munged
your return addy. I know beans about compressors so I had to ask -
Mike

[Gig 601XL Builder]

Here's one that I've been using for 4 years of building.

Doesn't meet your specs but has worked well.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Compressors+%26+Air+Tools&pid=00916732000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Air+Compressors+%26+Inflators&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article >,
"Gig 601XL Builder" <wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net> wrote:

> Here's one that I've been using for 4 years of building.
>
> Doesn't meet your specs but has worked well.
>
> http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Compressors+%26+Air+Tools&pid=00
> 916732000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Air+Compressors+%26+Inflators&BV_UseBVCookie=Ye
> s

I bought one of those a year ago and have found it to be adequate for my
hangar. My only complaint is that it is quite noisy! I chose a Sears
model because I figure that I can get parts for it, although some of the
equivalent stuff out there is less expensive, but there is no parts
support.

Things DO wear out, after all!

[Ron Natalie]

>> Are you sure you have the spec's right?
>
> Ron - I got your e-mail, but replies bounced because you've munged
> your return addy. I know beans about compressors so I had to ask -
> Mike

Small compressors typically do about 4cfm@40psi and 2cfm@80.
They work well for painting, inflating tires, etc.. but don't
have punch for a lot of rotary tools.

A 40CFM@80 will be a larger tanked model with 5HP or more for
the motor.

[Gig 601XL Builder]

"Orval Fairbairn" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "Gig 601XL Builder" <wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net> wrote:
>
>> Here's one that I've been using for 4 years of building.
>>
>> Doesn't meet your specs but has worked well.
>>
>> http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Compressors+%26+Air+Tools&pid=00
>> 916732000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Air+Compressors+%26+Inflators&BV_UseBVCookie=Ye
>> s
>
> I bought one of those a year ago and have found it to be adequate for my
> hangar. My only complaint is that it is quite noisy! I chose a Sears
> model because I figure that I can get parts for it, although some of the
> equivalent stuff out there is less expensive, but there is no parts
> support.
>
> Things DO wear out, after all!

Yes it is a noisy thing. When I was building at my house the compressor was
within feet of me at all times and I wore my I-Pod ear pods at all times.

When I moved to my hanger I had a closet sized Rubbermaid building that I
wasn't using and it is now out behind the hanger with the compressor in it.
I can still hear it but it is just a low growl.

As for the compressor it has done everything I've asked of it which include
LOTS of holes drilled and LOTS of rivets pulled as well as misc. other air
tools.

[John Kunkel]

"Michael Horowitz" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 28 Sep 2006 13:07:32 GMT, "Cy Galley" >
> wrote:
>
>>Your request is about the same as 100 hp airplane doing 200 mph plus
>>seating
>>4
>>
>>"mhorowit" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>>> I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
>>> PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike
>>>
>>
>
> Well, now I know it's impractical and will have to revise my
> expectations - Mike

My only advice would be to avoid the "oiless" compresseor, they're the noisy
ones.

[abripl[_1_]]

Maybe you meant 2 CFM at 80. 20CFM is pretty big.

Here is a medium duty compressor

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90385

and the following is about the same rating but light weight you can
move around easily:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38898

Most of these types can be found at various local stores at similar
prices.

Lot of people think they need big compressors to build a plane.

I have worn out three compressors building/maintaining my plane. and
never needed more than about 5CFM - unless you use HVLP spray gun at
about 12 CFM - then you can rent one from local rentals. My most recent
one is a less noisy compact unit running at 1800 rpm. A lot of them are
quite noisy and "shake" the house (if you start in the garage).
----------------------------------------------------------------
SQ2000 canard http://www.abri.com/sq2000

mhorowit wrote:
> I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
> PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike

[Tom Young[_2_]]

"mhorowit" <...> wrote:

> I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
> PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike

Not to pound this into the ground, but the basic issue is that a 20A 110V
circuit can only provide about 2-3HP continuous, which limits the compressor
output. If you have a 220V dryer outlet you can hijack, you can go bigger.

Just for reference, I have a two-stage compressor with a 5HP motor running
on 220V. It advertises 13.7 CFM at 90 psi and 12.5 at 175 psi. Measured, it
puts out an honest 11 CFM at 90 and maybe 9 or 10 at 175.

Compressor ratings can be pretty "optimistic," but nothing compared to tool
ratings. My drill was advertised at 4 CFM but uses almost 19 if I run it
continuously. That's fine, duty cycle on a drill is low. Where you really
need to be sure the compressor matches your tool ratings is if you plan to
run continuous-duty (or nearly so) tools, like sanders, polishers, spray
guns, bead blasters, etc.

In general, a bigger compressor is better, if you can afford the money and
space. You can do more with it, and a big tank means it cycles less often,
which means less wear and tear on your ears and on the motor and pump.

Tom Young

[stol]

Good luck finding one of those......


mhorowit wrote:
> I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
> PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike

[BobR]

I have been looking into the small, portable compressors and the best I
have been able to find was the Porter/Cable from Northern Tool which
specs at PSI: 7.7 CFM @ 40 PSI; 5.3 CFM @ 90 PSI. If you are looking
for something bigger, you will have to go with a larger tank and a bit
more hp. Even then, a 20CFM at 80 PSI is going to be hard to find for
110v power.



mhorowit wrote:
> I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
> PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike

[Dan[_2_]]

abripl wrote:
> Maybe you meant 2 CFM at 80. 20CFM is pretty big.
>
> Here is a medium duty compressor
>
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90385
>
> and the following is about the same rating but light weight you can
> move around easily:
>
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38898
>
> Most of these types can be found at various local stores at similar
> prices.
>
> Lot of people think they need big compressors to build a plane.
>
> I have worn out three compressors building/maintaining my plane. and
> never needed more than about 5CFM - unless you use HVLP spray gun at
> about 12 CFM - then you can rent one from local rentals. My most recent
> one is a less noisy compact unit running at 1800 rpm. A lot of them are
> quite noisy and "shake" the house (if you start in the garage).
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> SQ2000 canard http://www.abri.com/sq2000
>
> mhorowit wrote:
>> I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
>> PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike
>

I have had extremely bad experiences with Harbor Freight tech help
and parts. Just my 2 cents.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article om>,
"BobR" > wrote:

> I have been looking into the small, portable compressors and the best I
> have been able to find was the Porter/Cable from Northern Tool which
> specs at PSI: 7.7 CFM @ 40 PSI; 5.3 CFM @ 90 PSI. If you are looking
> for something bigger, you will have to go with a larger tank and a bit
> more hp. Even then, a 20CFM at 80 PSI is going to be hard to find for
> 110v power.
>
>
>
> mhorowit wrote:
> > I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
> > PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike

Another recommendation:

Be sure to drain the accumulated water from the tank weekly!

A few years ago the EAA Vintage magazine had an article on exploding
compressors. The water corrodes the inside of the tank on cheap ones and
works on the welds on the dome. I had one that I operated at 125 PSI and
talked to the author of the article at Oshkosh. He shuddered when I told
him I was operating at 125 PSI and advised me against it.

Later that month I fired up the compressor and noticed that it was
taking an awful amount of time to reach shutoff pressure -- in fact it
never did! I then noticed the sound of air escaping, unplugged it and
left the hangar.

After the air had escaped, I examined the tank and saw about a 1-inch
crack in the weld at the bottom of the dome. It had corroded from the
inside out, but, fortunately, the crack did not propagate further.

I now prefer the upright compressors, as their failure mode would be at
the bottom, rather than blowing the end dome off.

[flybynightkarmarepair]

You can read about my experiences buying, and silencing, a TINY
compressor to drive my rivet tools here, in order:

http://users.lmi.net/~ryoung/2006/08/silencing-air-compressor.html
http://users.lmi.net/~ryoung/2006/08/wrestling-with-infrastructure.html
http://users.lmi.net/~ryoung/2006/09/e-bay-aint-necessarily-cheaper.html

I don't recommend going this small, or this cheap, but it's working so
far. Drives my air pop riveter, and rivet gun, SO FAR.

abripl wrote:
> Maybe you meant 2 CFM at 80. 20CFM is pretty big.
>
> Here is a medium duty compressor
>
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90385
>
> and the following is about the same rating but light weight you can
> move around easily:
>
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38898
>
> Most of these types can be found at various local stores at similar
> prices.
>
> Lot of people think they need big compressors to build a plane.
>
> I have worn out three compressors building/maintaining my plane. and
> never needed more than about 5CFM - unless you use HVLP spray gun at
> about 12 CFM - then you can rent one from local rentals. My most recent
> one is a less noisy compact unit running at 1800 rpm. A lot of them are
> quite noisy and "shake" the house (if you start in the garage).
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> SQ2000 canard http://www.abri.com/sq2000
>
> mhorowit wrote:
> > I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
> > PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike

[trg-s338]

mhorowit wrote:
> I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
> PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike

If you truly want small and 20 cfm flow, the only reasonable answer is
a conversion called Volksair. The size of a VW engine, converted such
that the front cylinders are the compressor pistons and the back
cylinders runs the compressor front cylinders. Conversion kit costs
roughly $450.00. This set up is a monster. Check it out, Google it!

[guynoir]

mhorowit wrote:
> I'm looking for a small compressor, running on 110v, min 20 CFM at 80
> PSI. Anyone got a recommendation? - Mike

How about 200cfm at 100psi?

http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q222120ED