I am looking into buying a air compressor to Paint with and other work on my mav. What do you all suggest? I know that the more $ I spend the better one I can get but what do I realy need to Paint a car operate a sander etc?
Good question, I am curious about this myself. I saw a good deal on a small compressor at Home Depot, thought about asking here, but now that you did I can just "lurk".
Craftsman 30 gal here My 5.5hp 30 gal 130 psi runs air tools ok allthough it runs constant just to keep my zizwheel cutting so I'm sure I dont even need to try a D/A sander. I have a paint gun but never used it so I am not sure of how well it would spray. I was told to use a D/A sander which from what I understand is the focal point of early prep work you really need a two stag compressor with min 150 psi output but biggest difference in discussions has been tank size min you could get away with. I personally have not seen to many two stage small tank sizes so $$ in Cheap 2 stage has been$450 -$500. I would like to know some specifics from some of the painting pros (or semi pros ) here also so when I decide to hardwire in a new compressor what I could get away with.
Since almost all air tools run at 100 psi or lower, The extra cost of a 2 stage compressor is not really needed. The hp of the motor and size of the storage tank should be as big as you can get. 240 volt motor is more effecient than a 120 volt motor.
Buy an oil type if you can. I bought a 6hp 60 gallon oil-less several years ago when I started on my 71 F100. It does the job but it's very loud. It'll run everything I have and recovers fast but I have already rebuilt it once. It cracked a piston but the rebuild kit was $30 and took less than an hour. There are pros and cons of both. An oil-less runs hotter so you have to be very carefull of moisture but don't have to worry about having any oil in the line. Plus it's way cheaper than the oil type. The oil type costs more but will last many many years usually. I still use mine to spray my cabinets and it still keeps on pumping so I guess for the money it's OK. Take the air tool with the biggest consumtion of air that you'll be using and make sure the compressor you buy can handle it with ease. clint
I would think, and someone check me if I am wrong. but it would also depend on what type of spray gun you use. I am thinking the HVLP guns would use a lot less air then the standard spray guns. I have a Porter Cable oil-less compressor and what Cdeal said is true they run hotter and moisture is more of a problem my moisture trap at the compressor does almost nothing since the air is still to hot. When I spray the car I will move it out to a joint in the hoses and put it in an ice chest and coil a couple feet of hose in there as well. In my mind that will work but not sure about reality yet. I've been there but rarely stay with reality.
6 HP 60 gallon tank oil type with a pressure regulator and moisture trap/filter. This should work for home use or a small shop.
If you're near one these locations, Harbor Freight might have the best prices on the larger volume tanks. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS,IL 940 WEST DUNDEE ROAD 847-392-1400 AURORA,IL 904 N LAKE ST, (HWY 31) 630-966-9008 BURBANK, IL 7602 S. LA CROSSE AVE 708-423-1000 PEORIA,IL 107 N. MAIN ST. 309-698-6004 ROCKFORD,IL 5902 N. SECOND ST 815-282-4300 SPRINGFIELD,IL 711 W. JEFFERSON ST. 217-523-0740 link to compressors: http://order.harborfreight.com/EasyAsk/harborfreight/results.jsp
