[vintagecar]

Tractor supply company has an air compressor that is $399. Specs: 3HP, 60gal, 135Max psi, [email protected] 40psi and 10.2 [email protected], 230V...Capbell Hausfield brand.
This is the SCFM I'm needing to be in to run my DA sanders and HVLP paint gun, I think...
The HP seems low for such high SCFM, what am I missing here? Price seems really good, so that is what is making me scratch my head.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/campbell-hausfeld-reg-60-gallon-cast-iron-air-compressor-3310006

 

[302 Z28]

That's because Campbell Hausfled lies about compressor performance. I have serious doubts about that compressor producing those numbers.

Vince

 

[vintagecar]

how about craftsman or morgan? the have a pro series for about double the money, but still the same hp rating. I guess it is the HP that is hanging me up mostly. I assumed it needed more HP for higher SCFM, apparently that is not the case. Will a 3HP keep up on DA sanders and HVLP paint guns for continuous use?

 

[oldred]

The HP seems low for such high SCFM, what am I missing here? Price seems really good, so that is what is making me scratch my head.

The HP numbers seem low because they lied about them for so long, 35 years ago 3 HP sounded like a lot. That is the same compressor that is sold under a bunch of different brand names from a bunch of different stores and it was for years sold with different HP numbers for the SAME motor! That same 15 AMP motor (the AMP rating is the important thing to look for not the HP because the AMPs determine the true output) has been sold with ratings as high as 7 HP although the actual power output never changed! The bottom line is by the time a law suit a couple of years ago forced them to be more truthful about the real power ratings we had been exposed to so much nonsense and outright lies about HP that when we see the real HP numbers they seem weak when in fact they are not. Don't worry about the power rating, there are thousands and thousands of those compressors out there and I guess for the price they do a decent job and they seem to hold up OK. If you have a buddy who has, or just know of, an otherwise identical but older compressor with a 6 1/2 HP motor (that's what most of them had) be assured that their 6 1/2 "PEAK" HP motor is not making even a tiny bit more power than your "3" HP and the ONLY difference is the label on the tank, yours is closer to the truth while theirs is 100% USDA certified BS! Look at the motor data plate and you will find those 6 1/2 "peak" HP motors and your 3 HP motor both pull the same 15 AMPs at 220 volts, proof that they both make the SAME power and don't let a salesman or anybody else tell you any different!

 

[vintagecar]

thanks for the calrification on the HP and the AMPs (oldred). So now for brands, are there junk brands to stay away from, or what other stats can I use to make an intelligent decision on an air compressor that will keep up with my "shade tree" work. Basically running a DA sander for auto work, HVLP to paint a car, and then smaller stuff under that... I don;t want to buy the "to good to be true" priced one, but don't want to spend gobs more for a different sticker on the front...

 

[oldred]

That compressor you are looking at is very common and will work for what you are describing but it will be marginal at best. I don't know what your budget would allow but you would be much better off with a two stage 5 HP if you can afford one but if not that one has done the job for a lot of people, CH sure has sold a bunch of them under their own name and several others. There are a lot of compressors out there but misinformation and outright nonsense from the manufacturers has made it all but impossible to make an informed choice if you have to rely on the sales info and even the specs on the machine itself.

I see you are new here, welcome aboard! If you go to the search function and search "compressor" in the garage-tools section you will find a lot of info on what to look for and what to avoid, unfortunately like 302 said you will also find that the manufacturers all too often simply lie so you will need to know what's fact and what's not. Do that search and if there is anything else you need to ask about the compressor itself or setting up a complete air system then someone will always be willing to provide an answer.

 

[vintagecar]

I've got about 600 to spend, but didn;t find any in that range, that spec wise was any different the CH...yet getting a compressor that is "marginal at best" to do my work doesn;t leave me warm and fuzzy. I want one that will keep up with painting a whole car and using a DA sander on car projects without having to stop all the time to wait for psi to rise again. The one I have is a craftsmen 1.6HP, 33gal with 5.4SCFM @ 90psi and I can paint a panel at a time and wait. I can DA for about 5 minutes and then the sander is just slow...it turns and sands...but not a 10th of its potential.

 

[302 Z28]

DA sanders are one of the biggest air hogs. Any compressor smaller than a 5hp two stage will run continuously using a DA for an extended time.

Vince

 

[oldred]

No doubt about that, the compressor being discussed here will run out of air even with the best DA available and waiting for the compressor to catch up will still be a problem on large jobs. A good 2 stage compressor with at least 5 HP (21 AMPs or more) is about the smallest that will continuously keep up with a DA.

 

[vintagecar]

all of u have been very helpful in responses to my thread. I think I have located my air compressor... a 7HP Husky 2 stage, 80Gal, 15.1 SCFM @ 90psi, 175psi. Surely this will do it...

 

[vintagecar]

one more question

Alright...one more question... got a neighbor and we were talking about this stuff. He has a 10yr old "charge air" made by devbliss (sp?) it is a single stage, 60 gallon, 15Amp, 6.5HP compressor. puts out 10.2SCFM @90psi and he siad he ran his DA sander just fine on his car projects without issue. The one thing he said it keeps up with, but barely is his high dollar HVLP gun. So...the amps on the $400-500 compressors are the same, 14-15 amps, and the SCFM is about the same, and they are single stage, but the HP of what I've been looking at is half of what his is. I can't find any that are in his HP realm that aren;t 2 stage and almost 1000 bucks?

 

[oldred]

. So...the amps on the $400-500 compressors are the same, 14-15 amps, and the SCFM is about the same, and they are single stage, but the HP of what I've been looking at is half of what his is. I can't find any that are in his HP realm that aren;t 2 stage and almost 1000 bucks?

Go back and read what we told you about HP! :spank:

His 6 1/2 HP is PURE BULL$#%%!

He has a 3 HP motor on that thing no matter what it says it is on the tank. That is the same compressor you were looking at before, maybe a few cosmetic changes over the years but still the same 15 AMP THREE HP motor as the one you were considering. A real 6 1/2 HP motor running on 220 volts would be rated at least 30 AMPs.

As far as keeping up with the DA I seriously doubt he can run for more than just a very few minutes before having to wait on a recharge. Certainly it will run it OK and thousands of people do BUT they still have to give the thing time to catch up regularly and even more important than that, time to cool down.

 

[NEW INTERIORS]

DA sanders are one of the biggest air hogs. Any compressor smaller than a 5hp two stage will run continuously using a DA for an extended time.

Vince

Very true... :thumbup:

 

[NEW INTERIORS]

Alright...one more question... got a neighbor and we were talking about this stuff. He has a 10yr old "charge air" made by devbliss (sp?) it is a single stage, 60 gallon, 15Amp, 6.5HP compressor. puts out 10.2SCFM @90psi and he siad he ran his DA sander just fine on his car projects without issue. The one thing he said it keeps up with, but barely is his high dollar HVLP gun. So...the amps on the $400-500 compressors are the same, 14-15 amps, and the SCFM is about the same, and they are single stage, but the HP of what I've been looking at is half of what his is. I can't find any that are in his HP realm that aren;t 2 stage and almost 1000 bucks?

I have that same Compressor.. Mine is 15 yrs old.. A DA Sander will give it he** !!! Believe me.. If you try to use it a lot it ''WILL'' start to pump water.. :sweat:

 

[302 Z28]

Alright...one more question... got a neighbor and we were talking about this stuff. He has a 10yr old "charge air" made by devbliss (sp?) it is a single stage, 60 gallon, 15Amp, 6.5HP compressor.

No way, not possible, a 6.5hp motor is rated at 15 amps .

A 5 hp motor on 230v single phase pulls 28 amps
A 7.5hp motor on 230v single phase pulls 40 amps

This is prime example of the lies compressor manufactures try to pull on us.

Vince

 

[NEW INTERIORS]

Just walked to my shop in mine say's 15 amps..

 

[vintagecar]

I'm such a noob and sorry for upsetting the hotrodders gang and not doing as I was told... (my bad oldred)
I will continue my research and find a properly powered air compressor. how do you figure the HP to Amp ratio to find out what the true HP is

 

[vintagecar]

Just walked to my shop in mine say's 15 amps..

so what is the HP stated and actual?

 

[NEW INTERIORS]

so what is the HP stated and actual?

Mine say's 6hp..

 

[302 Z28]

That is probably 6 hp rated peak, which is a totally bogus rating.

Vince