Posted by Paul Masson (IP: 142.166.254.112) on August 16, 2000 at 18:35:24:
In Reply to: Air Compressors For My Garage? posted by Dave on August 13, 2000 at 21:59:16:
I was faced with the same dilema a couple of years ago. Forunately,
my smart, conscientious, incredibly beautiful girlfriend bought me a
compressor for Christmas!
I have all of the same tools that you have mentioned:
- Impact gun
- Air ratchet
- Dual Action sander
- 3" cut-off tool
- 20 lb portable sandblaster
- air hammer
- butterfly impact
- External mix paint gun
I am running a 5.5 HP (33 Gallon) portable Craftsman Compressor
and have found it to be more than adequate. It has a built-in
regulator and max of 125 PSI. I have painted my Maverick (see Photo Gallery)
and did all the body work myself. The impact even had enough "punch"
to remove the radius arm bushing nut off an '84 Ranger! BTW, all of
my tools are "on sale" items or gifts, no $500 impact gun.
The only trouble I have had with my compressor was the drain cock at
the bottom -- they break. I fixed this by installing a piece of 3/8"
tubing and running it out from underneathe the compressor and attatching
a small lever valve to drain the water.
So, all I have is a 5.5 HP (33 gal) that plugs into 110 V, but hey,
BIGGER IS BETTER :)
Look at the compressors you stuff you like and as long as the SCFM
(Standard Cubic Feet per Minute) ratings on the compressor exceed
the ones on the tools, you'll be all right.