PureCRXtasy

I'm in the market for an air compressor and I'm having trouble deciding what size tank/hp rating will fit my needs best. There is a decent compressor on sale at harbor freight that I'm considering. It's 4.5 hp with a 21 gallon tank. I want to do body work and paint my car over the winter. Will this be big enough? I'd like to hear some opinions from those that have been there.

bmaca455

What really matters is the SCFM rating. That seems like a pretty big compressor so i bet the SCFM rating is fine, but for painting with an HVLP or using some air tools like a cutoff wheel or DA sander you really want something that can put out mabey 12-15 SCFM.

PureCRXtasy

Hmm. It doesn't meet those specs. Here are the CFM ratings for it: 125 PSI max; 4.0 CFM @ 115 PSI; 3.5 CFM @ 90 PSI; 8.8 CFM @ 40 PSI Although, I also checked the 7 hp 60 gallon compressor and it barely makes it. 10.8 @ 40 psi What is the minimum size compressor that can be used to paint effectively? That big one says it's meant for running 2 air tools at once.

Smaller one

Big *** one

ssl2k

if you got the money to dropon the $450 one do it, but if you don't then i would just hit up the smaller one

I painted my entire car without problem with a 2hp / 4 gallon air compressor.

HVLP = high volume low pressure. You don't need a big ------ air compressor to use that.

But on the other hand, a DA sander/air grinder / high speed buffer will suckup a ---- LOAD of air.

The $160 air compressor will work fine for either, the only problem with that one is that if you go to use a DA sander, it will wrok good for a few mins, then you'll need to stop and allow the tank to refill (w/ that same 2hp / 4gal one i have, i could get about a good 30 seconds out of my DA sander, then i'd have ot wait a min for it to refill, very shitty process but it wroked.) the 21 gallonm tank will allow for 2-3 mins of work, and then you'll beable to step back and look at it and see what you need to do while you wait for it to refill.

but like i said, if you got the cash, get the 60gallon, you'll like it farther down the road and ---- like that is worht the investment (you can then get a ---- load of big air tools and have pletny of power to use them) (forget electric drills and anything eletric pretty much you can just go all air tools.

btw, is that 60gal 220volt? if it is, you need to wire that ---- into yer garage.

bmaca455

I know when I painted my car I had to rent a compressor cause mine coulnd't quite keep up. I was running a husky HVLP and my compressor is good for mabey 8.5 or so SCFM. A bigger compressor though you will have less to worry about. My compressor has a smaller tank (5 gal) so there wasn't really much room for it to store air. I bet if you were to get a bigger compressor and let the tank fill up it would have plenty of air to paint. The 21 gallon one is probley plenty big. I would get someone elses opinion also though, or ask the people your buying from. All i can really say is what I know from my experience from painting my car. Thats the only thing though that I have found that really needs that high SCFM though. I run tons of tools like impact hammers and stuff off of out cheepo compressors in the garage all the time.

bmaca455

If you do decide to get big one this craftsman one is a little more expensive, but can supply a little bit more air and is a better quality piece. Its what I will be getting once my HMT project complete.

Edit: I geuss the link dosn't work. Try this its the 3rd one down.

fork

Get the big one you will thank your self later. If you get the small one you will be able to sand (DA) for two minutes, then pick your *** for three minutes while the compressor fills. I've done some body work with a 6 horse 30 gallon craftsman and it sucks, get the big one.