any body seen the new craftsman 2 stage compressor.it runs on 110v and has a 20 gallon tank.they say it will contiuously run sanders and spray guns.i am in the market for a compressor.iwas considering the craftsman 6.5 horse 60 gallon that is 220v.could this new compressor compare?i have not used a 2 stage before so i don't know.also considering the devilbis pro air 6.5 horse 60 gallon ,or the husky(home depot) 6.5 horse 60 gallon.the 20 gallon tank seems pretty small to me.any body have any experience with any of these? i need to run sanders grinders and be able to paint a whole car without waiting for the compressor.also would like it to be QUIET(yeah right)

As far as two stage, I can't answer your question. As far as compressors in general, my 3.5 hp 11 gal runs a sander, D/A or palm continuously no problem. With a cheap spray gun, I have to stop maybe 20 seconds out of every minute, but I wouldn't see any problem with a HVLP gun. The only time I really run into problems is with a high-CFM item like an impact wrench or cut-off wheel, even then it's not that bad (she just runs all the time)

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I've seen the ads; they don't say what CFM it produces. Check that before you buy. If you already have your tools, check them to see what CFM is needed at what pressure, then buy a compressor that makes those numbers. By the way, most HVLP guns require a lot of CFM; HVLP means High Volume (CFM), Low Pressure. Most any compressor makes enough pressure, but it may not move enough cubic feet per minute to supply HVLP gun.

Rule of thumb when looking for a "quiet" compressor. Look for one that's belt driven. The direct drive units are short stroke and annoying to be in the same room with. My $.02

Cam

Two stage usually indicates low volume high pressure to me. The ones I know of compress partially in the first stage, then send that to the second stage for further compression to higher pressure.

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Gotta have a Chevy !In Durham N.C.
Make it look the way you like it, forget what the other guys say! :D

Stay away from the smaller 2 stage, it will run continuously also, develope lots of heat, noise, and worst water carryover, the 6.5hp models are what you want to compare!!!
Compare the cfm/psi delivery, and warranties, the larger the tank size the less the compressor will have to run so "yes" to the 60gal tanks, 220 volt (less amp draw) is also the way to go to save on those pesky home electric bills,
Also pick up a "good" coalessing/particulate
filter and regulator http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

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RicksRag
Stephen City, Va
TC # 560
ACES # 3702

the only thing that I would add to this is to make sure that the compressor is not an "oil less" compressor. For continuous use these tend to heat up and wear out the motor.

Look for a compressor that will take oil, then after many years of operation, you can buy an overhaul kit and rebuild the compressor.


Tom.

70isfine

I've been looking at compressor for awhile now. I was going to get the Devilbess (sp) 2-stage from Home Depot for around $800. But now I'm looking at the signle stage becuase of price http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif The craftmen has a 9.9 ? Scfm at 90 psi, I just looked at the Huskey (Made by Campbell Hausfeld and looks just like the 6hp Campbell Hausfeld) at H. Depot it show on the label at 10. something at 90 psi it is also oil filled and a 6.5hp motor. I'm thinking I'll be going with the huskey because it has the highest of the Scfm's of all them. Now I know some company boost number to make there unit look better I just hope they didn't boost them to much http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Tom

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Tom
Southern,IL
67SS Yellow right now:(
Member #409

Tom,
You don't know how right you are about the hp/cfm claims, the industrial air compressor
manufacturers (centrifugal/rotary screw) do not yet have a standardized test, CAGI the Compressed Air and Gas Institute is working on one "supposedly", and to beat all, the mfg's actually run their compressors into the service factors of the motors to get the best possible cfm/bhp (specific power) and industry accepts it as okay ? Go Figure !!


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RicksRag
Stephen City, Va
TC # 560
ACES # 3702

[This message has been edited by RicksRag (edited 06-08-2000).]

The 20 gal 2 stage sounds like a marketing toy. Advertise as cheap but good to suck the consumer in. A compressor that plugs into a 120VAC outlet can't realistically be much over 1hp and still start on the available power.

A dual action sander (or any sander) will work at 70 psi where the compressor can keep up, but it works way better at around 100 psi.

Tom, no they don't boost the ratings much. Only up to 3 or 4 times. My compressor (Campell Hausfeld 6hp single stage) is supposed to be 6hp. It runs on 240VAC with 15A fuses. Do the math and this gives a HP or around 2 for it to work this way. I think the motor is listed as 1200 watts or something like that (less than 2hp). I knew this though when I bought it so it didn't bother me.

Basically, I don't think any of the numbers the compressor manufacturers publish these days mean a thing. There are no tests the compressor has to pass so it is all marketing hype (much like the 400 watt car amp that is the size of a pocket calculator).

I think most single stage compressors will give a maximum of about 7 CFM @ 90psi. A dual stage will easily double this and most likely triple it. At work they got this new big 3 cylinder compressor that is supposed to produce 18 CFM @ 90 psi. I don't think it does much better than my compressor (it will hardly pump-up the tank with only an air gun operating). Especially when considering it cost about $400 more than mine and $300 less than a dual stage (In Canada, single stage runs about $600, dual about $1300).

The 60 gallon tank makes a huge difference. I wouldn't buy a 20 gal one. Dad's compressor, with the same basic pump but a 20 gal tank runs any time he uses air. Mine has a fair bit of reserve before it comes on.

Rick, changing to 220VAC will not save on hydro. Power used is watts, which is volts times amps. For the same power, if you double the voltage, you 1/2 the amperage. The product is still the same.

283V8, True that a 2-stage means a higher pressure, but 2-stage compressors are almost always present in garages and body shops. That is because a 2-stages can pump a lot more air volume. The second stage compresses air that is already compressed, meaning more CFM can be pumped into the tank. Sandblast with even only a 5hp 2-stage and you'll know how much more air they can move.

Peter

Peter
How does your single stage (Campbell Hausfeld) keep up when your DA'ing or using a paint gun (something that needs the scfm's)? Like I said above the two stage is out of my price range right now, so I figured I would go after something with about a 60 gal tank and as much HP that I can get. The bad thing is down the road I'll be wanting something that is big and badder. Just need to use what extra money I've for the car http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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Tom
Southern,IL
67SS Yellow right now:(
Member #409

Tom;

It does keep up with a d/A sander fairly well. I do notice that it hits a steady-state pressure of about 75psi. There is a definate speed difference between this pressure and a pressure of 90psi or more, maybe about 20%.

I sanded an outside wall of my garage (long side to repaint it) and kept the compressor going for about 2-hrs straight. Everything was so hot that I could only touch the bottom 1/4 of the tank. At any rate, the D/A sanded the wood siding better than anything else I have tried.

I don't have a HVLP gun, so I don't know about using one. It has no trouble with the gun I have though.

As for other air tools, a die grinder is about the next worst. The compressor runs all the time but it does keep the pressure up enough that the ginder works well.

Peter

I feel your pain!
After my Craftsman single stage oilless finally died I started looking for a new one. GOTTA HAVE AIR! I was looking at some of the lower-end well known two stage units. (ingersal-rand) Well I found a two stage, 80 gal. older devilbis in the local paper for $800. It puts out enough air to run a grinder, sander, blaster etc... And it's quiet enough to hold a conversation next to it with it running! I love this thing. What I'm trying to say is stay away from the small( cheap) compressors no one could possibly be happy with if they had the chance to run a bigger unit. Look for oil not oil less it is MUCH quieter. Two stage is Great it has a higher pressure and never gets low enough to feel on your work. Belt driven for reliability and ease of maintenance. Single phase is a must for most home shops like mine. You can find some good used units priced resonably with good maintenance histories. Check online, ebay, newspapers and some local shop equipt. resale places.good luck and keep us posted on what you find.

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