The Compressor is dead... long live the Compressor!

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Tue May 22, 2007 4:25 pm

My cruddy little Harbor Freight air compressor died on me; it won't build beyond 40psi. It was a "3 hp" motor (no way in hell...) with a direct drive oiled pump that supposedly delivered 4.9cfm @ 90psi, and a 21 gallon tank. I paid all of $119 for it, and it fit the bill for most stuff, so long as I wasn't doing extended grinding or cutting... even my air drill was relatively taxing to it. It was also horribly loud, and of course ran far too often when I was actually working. That noise adds an awful lot of stress to work.

I decided that if I were to buy another compressor, it would have to be THE compressor: the last one I'd ever need. There was a lot of gnashing of teeth as to whether I'd need two-stage--honestly I'm not sure what I'd need 175psi for. I settled on a stout single stage unit. It's an Ingersoll Rand 60 gallon 5hp with an 18.1cfm @ 90psi pump (15.5cfm @ 135psi). It's marvelously quiet, and it filled the tank unbelievably quickly.

I also spent some time modifying my plumbing. I added a new hardline across the ceiling and plumbed in the hose reel I bought on sale from harbor freight. I think the hose reel will be very convenient for working on the plane.

Post by **Spike** » Tue May 22, 2007 4:30 pm

Does that run on a 120V or do you need 240V for that? Something that size sounds like it would need 220. Mine is a 21 gallong single stage, runs on 120V. It gets the job done but its noisy as heck.

Got a link?

Spike

Submitted via email

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue May 22, 2007 4:55 pm

Good choice. Single stage is all you need.

If it can run on 240, wire it that way. It is more efficient.

Enjoy!

CJ

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:28 am

it's 240 only. anything that says it's 5hp that runs on 120v is LYING

wiring's no big thing. I have the compressor located right next to my breaker panel, so it was a breeze. My 240V 60A welder is also very close to the panel. 8 gauge wire's a pain to work with

LooseNut · Post by **LooseNut** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:50 am

That sounds just like my experience.

I bought a cheap HarborFright compressor to start with. It sounds exaclty like the one you described. It was horribly noisy. I put it in another room with hard lines into the shop. Even with two doors between me and the compressor, it was still bad.

The compressor died 3 times. Always when I was using the die grinder. Each time some plastic part on the compressor melted. First time the plastic cooling fan got messed up and let go of the shaft so it wouldn't spin anymore. Second time the little plastic hose that decompresses the pump when it shuts off melted. The third time the controller (pressure) switch melted. That was enough for me. ... anyone want a compressor? all ya need is a switch for it ... what a piece of junk!

I replaced it with a Quincy 5hp 60gal compressor. It is sooo sweet. When it runs it makes this almost pleasent sort of chug-chugs instead of that brain rattling racket the other compressor made. And it hardly ever even runs! I'm sure this is overkill for what I need. I think the bad experience with the first compressor made me go overboard on the second.

I also bought 2 hose reels from HF. I set up one with an in-line oiler in front of it, the other is "clean". They work great. No air leaks. Helps keep the shop a little less chaotic. They do just what thier supposed to do. So you can find some things at HF that work, I'm just much more skeptical of them now.

My sage advice to other new builders would be to avoid the Harbor Frieight Chinese air compressors. You will not save any money; you will end up buying two air compressors.

++LooseNut
(in love with my air compressor

-- yea that's wierd)

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Wed May 23, 2007 1:35 pm

my big question now is: what are you guys using for regulators? I bought a FRL unit from Northern that was like $45, and was horrified to discover that the way it regulates is by dumping excess pressure. Are they all like that?

jim_geo · Post by **jim_geo** » Wed May 23, 2007 2:04 pm

I bought a FRL unit from Northern that was like $45, and was horrified to discover that the way it regulates is by dumping excess pressure. Are they all like that?

Do you mean it throws your compressed air overboard all the time or just when you change the pressure setting. I don't think it is right to lose air all the time.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Wed May 23, 2007 2:15 pm

tmbg wrote:my big question now is: what are you guys using for regulators? I bought a FRL unit from Northern that was like $45, and was horrified to discover that the way it regulates is by dumping excess pressure. Are they all like that?

It most likely only does this when you set it from a high setting to a low setting. It would dump the excess on the output line in order to lower its pressure. This is what you want and the better regulators do that, the cheap ones don't so it is hard to set them unless you bleed the air off or use a tool.