air compressor recommendation

[snakeoil24]

I have been using blast cabinets for over 20 years.
Oil less, junk.
2 stage, not enough volume. 2 cylinders but only one is drawing in air, the other cylinder is compressing it more. Not enough volume for constant blast cabinet use.
Air tools only, 2 stage is good.
Need lots of volume? 2 cylinder single stage is the way to go. Both cylinders draw air each stroke.
7.5 hp, 80 gallon.

I use two stage long time for cabinet plenty of air what gun do you use?

 

[OKDart]

When I was in your situation 20 years ago, I bought this one's ancestor:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Campbell-Hausfeld-20-Gal-Electric-Air-Compressor-VT6290/203002182

It was a lot less back then, thinking $250ish maybe. If I had to pay $690 for it today, I would probably choose differently though.

Anyway, 20 years later, I'm still using it for everything, even my blast cabinet. The reason is, every time I decide I finally want to get that 80 gallon 2 stage for $$$$, I always make the decision that the money could be better spent (or invested) elsewhere and the 20 gallon CH has been adequate so far.

As far as using it for the blast cabinet, I have about a minute or 2 of trigger time, and then I let it catch up for a couple of minutes. It's really no trouble when you have multiple projects going on.

Quick note about my Campbell Hausfeld compressor. The pressure relief valve would sometimes blow when it got to the upper pressure switch limit and kicked off. Me being me, kept putting off replacing the relief valve and would just switch it off when I wasn't using it. Fast forward to one day I forget and after a few days of not being in my shop, I open the door to the compressor constantly running with the relief valve wide open. I'm not sure how long it was running, but probably a day and a half judging by my electric bill. The motor is not rated for continuous operation, but it didn't hurt it. I bring this up because something similar happened to my tire machine, I had something too close to the foot pedal that operated the turn table and some how it was spinning overnight and ended up burning out that motor (Italian made motor).

Last point is even if you do get a big/powerful compressor, you'll still need a portable one too.

 

[OKDart]

110 will use more amps and will cost you more to run.

Power company charges by watts (volts x amps), not amps so it won't cost more to run.

 

[66Satellite47]

I had a 3 HP 30 Gal single stage Sears portable for many years, it had a fairly high CFM rating(13??). But in those days I was using a die grinder for head porting. The compressor had a hard time keeping up, it would run constant. I'd stop for a while to let it cool down. Rebuilt the pump several times. Just too small for what I was doing. Just fine for filling tires but even an impact was marginal, sanders and grinders, no way.
My twin cylinder single stage, 60 gallon, 135 PSI, I-Rand is great.

 

[Demonic]

https://www.championpneumatic.com/en-us

 

[joe smith]

I have found some good pricing at my local Rural King on Quincies and Dewalts... I did notice the other day that they had some less expensive models in stock with the Bidenomics inflation gone crazy...
If the electric motor has a 1 1/8" shaft, you know your talking better quality compressor

 

[joe smith]

I did some research on Emax compressors and they seem really impressive, if not really expensive

 

[pwDave]

If you're starting from scratch and you want a small blast cabinet then definitely put in the 220 line
and get a 7.5hp/80Gal. compressor. Either a Champion, Quincy, Speedaire, Ingersoll, or something
quality. You will do this ONCE! You will never regret it! Don't skimp, and it will last you for the rest
of your life. Look at local auctions and Estate sales or buy new.

agree with post 7, I have 19 cfm champion, 7.5 hp , 220 v, blast cabinets are hard for a compresser to deal with. my champion will catch up and kick off while I am using the blast cabinet, 100% duty cycle. makes it VERY nice to not having to stop and wait for air. kicks off at 175. one of the best investments I have ever made. Dave.

 

[OKDart]

When I was in your situation 20 years ago, I bought this one's ancestor:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Campbell-Hausfeld-20-Gal-Electric-Air-Compressor-VT6290/203002182

It was a lot less back then, thinking $250ish maybe. If I had to pay $690 for it today, I would probably choose differently though.

Anyway, 20 years later, I'm still using it for everything, even my blast cabinet. The reason is, every time I decide I finally want to get that 80 gallon 2 stage for $$$$, I always make the decision that the money could be better spent (or invested) elsewhere and the 20 gallon CH has been adequate so far.

As far as using it for the blast cabinet, I have about a minute or 2 of trigger time, and then I let it catch up for a couple of minutes. It's really no trouble when you have multiple projects going on.

Quick note about my Campbell Hausfeld compressor. The pressure relief valve would sometimes blow when it got to the upper pressure switch limit and kicked off. Me being me, kept putting off replacing the relief valve and would just switch it off when I wasn't using it. Fast forward to one day I forget and after a few days of not being in my shop, I open the door to the compressor constantly running with the relief valve wide open. I'm not sure how long it was running, but probably a day and a half judging by my electric bill. The motor is not rated for continuous operation, but it didn't hurt it. I bring this up because something similar happened to my tire machine, I had something too close to the foot pedal that operated the turn table and some how it was spinning overnight and ended up burning out that motor (Italian made motor).

Last point is even if you do get a big/powerful compressor, you'll still need a portable one too.

Wow!! I just clicked on that link and the price has already gone up from $690 to $863 in a little over a month. I wonder what their excuse is? Supply chain, blah, blah, blah. I'm sure it's not greed (sarcasm).

 

[YY1]

If you have enough CFM, the tank size is irrelevant.

Actually running a blast cabinet will likely expend an 80 gallon tank in less than 3 minutes.

240 will indeed be more efficient.

2 stage, again with enough CFM will be fine.

3600 RPM, again with enough CFM will be fine.

Notice a recurring theme?

CFM, CFM, CFM.

Get the most CFM @90 psi that you can afford.

 

[zyzzyx]

Just remember, a single stage two cylinder compressor head will recover faster when sandblasting
but is only good to about 110 psi. More CFM. A two stage compressor will go to 175 psi., but the
recovery will be slower. The one large cylinder feeds the small cylinder, and then pushes the air
into the tank. I would rather have alot of 110 psi air that recovers faster because there is no air
tool or blast cabinet that operates at more than 100 psi.

 

[moparedtn]

Power company charges by watts (volts x amps), not amps so it won't cost more to run.

The part of the equation you're leaving out is how much/often the machine will be running...
in Kwh (kilowatt hours).

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Look at TP tools also for equipment. There blast cabinets are hard to beat.

Most Popular Skat Blast® Cabinets - TP Tools & Equipment

 

[Mackman]

A 7.5 hp two stage will run sandblast cabinets or pot blaster very well. 5 hp two stage won’t keep up.

 

[moparedtn]

Echoing others here - do not get an oilless compressor.
Waste of money...
Get the 220 run out there, then find an older, USA-made twin cylinder unit from say a failed business
or a factory that's upgraded or some such if you don't want to spend a bunch right now.

In my line of work (fire protection), we only use compressors that are U/L listed for use on fire protection
systems, which means those that are specifically built to run for long periods of time at a shot and do so
for years and years.
Very few companies out there build such animals...and these units stay in service, neglected and worked hard,
sometimes for 30 years or more.
Those companies include C-Aire (Dresser, WI) and Jenny (Somerset, PA) (the former Emglo, back before all
of Emglo except for the fire protection division sold out to DeWalt and got cheapened).
You buy a new compressor from either of them and you've bought one for life.

 

[YY1]

A 7.5 hp two stage will run sandblast cabinets or pot blaster very well. 5 hp two stage won’t keep up.

I'll spare the red X but I vehemently disagree.

My 32 CFM 5 HP (true 5 HP) two stage keeps up just fine.

The 80 gallon tank is exhausted almost immediately but the high CFM "throughput" is plenty for continuous blasting until I stop.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

In his first post Ksurfer states "The shop is wired with 110, there is no 220 service" He's just bought the house... You think the first project is gonna be running a new 220V service to the shop? Some how I'm betting NO.... He asked about a 110V compressor to give him air for small projects till at a later date he might upgrade to a 220V service in the shop....

So a 7.5 HP two stage or even a 5 HP two stage isn't gonna fill the bill...

 

[toolmanmike]

Rewire your garage with 220 power. Compressor wise I always recommended: 220 volt and a minimum of 5 horse/60 gallon, 2 cylinder, 2 stage, with a cast iron compressor. The CFM delivered is what you need to look at. I sold dozens of Quincy compressors in my 28 years on the truck.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Rewire your garage with 220 power. Compressor wise I always recommended: 220 volt and a minimum of 5 horse/60 gallon, 2 cylinder, 2 stage, with a cast iron compressor. The CFM delivered is what you need to look at. I sold dozens of Quincy compressors in my 28 years on the truck.

While I 100% agree this would be my goal long term in the short term I'd pick up a 110V compressor off Craigslist/Offer up/FB Marketplace to provide air for now...

 

[YY1]

Thanks for getting us back on track, but-

Because the OP said "maybe a sand blaster", that throws us down the wormhole of "how big a compressor do I need to sand bast?"

The answer is- at least approaching 25-30 CFM, and a 110V compressor is not going to do that.