Need Air Compressor Advice

[Krooser]

Try to find one with a 1750 rpm motor... it will be a lot quieter than ine with a 3450 motor.

I bought my C-Aire in '94 for $1030 from my NAPA store. 80 gallon tank. About 19cfm @ 90 psi. Barely adequate for my sandblaster okay for my blast cabinet.

Id buy a good used HD comptessor in a heart best. I mean an industrial unit not a home HD unit. Bigger the better.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

Check grainger. They have a lot of good stuff

 

[JC Boatguy]

I have this one, it's a rock star for the price, Made in USA, and 11.5 CFM @90

 

[RR Fan Dan]

So time to revive an old thread. My car is at the shop getting restored. We are getting ready to sandblast and my shop guy wants me to rent him an air compressor because he said his air compressor won’t keep up with continuous blasting. He is using a 3/16" nozzle & 1/8" orifice. This is his blast unit he is using.

He is telling me that I should rent an air compressor that’s at least 200 psi because his air compressor is running 200 psi and his blast unit can’t stay blasting. First I have a hard time believing his compressor is running at a continuous 200 psi, but let’s say that it is. I told him that it’s not the PSI so much that matters but the CFM. An air compressor like this should be way more than sufficient.

Air compressors at 200 PSI are 400 CFM and twice as more expensive and not readily available for rent.

Am I correct in assuming that he doesn’t need 200psi but plenty of cfm? Do you think the 185cfm 125 psi rental will be sufficient? I think it will me more than adequate probably overkill. The grit we are using is Northern Tool

Clean Bite Premium Glass Abrasive Blast Media, (24) 50-Lb. Bags, Medium, Model# MEDIUM-1200​

 

[493 Mike]

No, you shouldn't require 200 psi. Like you suspect, it's the volume that does the work. I would be very afraid of warpage with high pressures. My Quincy is rated at 17.5 cfm @ 175 psi and it keeps up with my cabinet blaster and my sand blaster. If I have larger projects to blast, I find it to my advantage to take them to my local guy.
Mike

 

[YY1]

It's not so much the psi, it's the CFM.

CFM.

CFM.

400 CFM (if at 200psi) should do it, though.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I would be concerned about warpage even running at 90 psi...
I have no problem using the blaster for jambs, engine compartment & undercarriage.. The main body panels I use either chemical stripper or a 8" mud hog... While blasting you can come back over the striped panels but stay back and hit them at an angle, not straight...You can do a lot of damage to sheet metal with a sand blaster....

All that said yes, it's volume not pressure that you need... 80-90 psi....

 

[eldubb440]

this X10 ^^^^^^^^

 

[RR Fan Dan]

I would think the 185cfm/125psi would work. That’s the max cfm and pressure under ideal conditions. We know that not to be the case ERGO it’s probably running at optimal pressure and cfm. 120cfm/100psi would be my guess. Do y’all agree that this compressor would be just fine.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I would think the 185cfm/125psi would work. That’s the max cfm and pressure under ideal conditions. We know that not to be the case ERGO it’s probably running at optimal pressure and cfm. 120cfm/100psi would be my guess. Do y’all agree that this compressor would be just fine.

View attachment 1946949

The compressor is fine... Make sure you read & understand post #27... Your guy not knowing what pressure he should be running scares me, things like that can easily turn viable projects into forgotten junk...