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Choosing Air Compressor

6/16/15       
Chris Frank  Member

Website: http://www.seatonfrank.com

My small shop is looking to get a new air compressor, and we want to be able to run 2 DA’s at the same time. The DA’s use 17 CFM at 90psi Does that mean that I need a compressor that provides 34 CFM at 90 psi? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Chris

6/16/15       #2: Choosing Air Compressor ...
Andrew J. Coholic  Member

Website: http://www.joecoholiccustomfurniture.com

Chris,
I upgraded our shop in 2010 to an Ingersoll Rand 10HP dual stage compressor with a 120 gallon tank. I have three of us using air (including sanders, spray booth, WBS etc) tools and it is a great size for the smaller shops like mine.

I keep the tank pressure at about 150 PSI, and regulate that down to about 95 in the lines. The compressor is rated at 35 CFM at 175 PSI, so at the lower regulated pressure it is a higher CFM that is can supply, and should work for you as well.

I cant say enough how much I love that compressor. it replaced two 5 HP units I was using (with 60 gallon and 80 gallon tanks) that seemed to run all the time. The new one runs much less frequently. I think air sanders still use the most air out of the tools I run.. that and if I am spraying for a few hours at a time. Im on the 5th year so far of daily use and it is awesome. It will still run often with two sanders going, but it is rated for 100% duty cycle. I keep mine in a separate room from the shop to keep the noise down, and it gets pretty warm when running a lot during a hard days use, but you can still put your hand on the motor comfortably.

Hope that helps..

6/16/15       #3: Choosing Air Compressor ...
Andrew J. Coholic  Member

Website: http://www.joecoholiccustomfurniture.com

PS forgot to mention I looked at your website. I love your work.. nice stuff!

6/16/15       #4: Choosing Air Compressor ...
Dale Seaton  Member

Website: http://www.seatonfrank.com

Thank you very much!

6/17/15       #5: Choosing Air Compressor ...
TomB

If you can find one/afford a new one, look into a screw style compressor. We bought one and like it so much we bought another for our finishing building. Clean, dry air all day long. And they are much quieter than a piston style.

6/17/15       #6: Choosing Air Compressor ...
dustin orth

Website: http://customwoodmontrose.com

Chris,
I second what Andrew said, you need at least a 10 HP compressor for what you are running. I recently added a 10 HP to our shop and kept the old 7 1/2 in the system and I now have plenty of air to run just about anything and if one compressor breaks down, the backup is already on line! The only thing I did going this route was make sure that both compressors don't kick on at the same time by adjusting the pressure switches for start and stop.

6/17/15       #7: Choosing Air Compressor ...
Rusty L Member

Buy a Quincy Qt 10 . I would never buy any other brand air compressor. We have 2 25hp compressors in a big shop.

Thanks,

RL

6/18/15       #8: Choosing Air Compressor ...
Gary

Piston pumps are not rated for 100% duty cycle. You need to buy a bigger compressor so it can shut down and cool down intermitantly or go with a screw compressor which does have a 100% duty cycle.

6/18/15       #9: Choosing Air Compressor ...
Andrew J. Coholic  Member

Website: http://www.joecoholiccustomfurniture.com

Sorry, I meant the motor is continuous duty rated. I know you dont want the compressor to run all the time, hence the search for a larger one that wont have to.

When looking for compressors, I was at one point looking for a rotary screw, but they are not designed to be turned on and off and I didnt want to have it running all day every day. Some days we might be using a lot of air, and some days not. All depends upon what's happening in the shop/spray booth etc.

I forgot to mention we had one older Devilbiss 10Hp compressor in our first shop that was very good too. Easier for me this time to deal with IR. I also worked in a shop earlier in my career that had a 15Hp DeVilbiss. Also no issues.

Probably any name brand will serve you well. I'd be more careful to choose a dealer that will give you good service if you need it.

6/18/15       #10: Choosing Air Compressor ...
Mark V.

So when a air compressor manufacturer, such as Quincy, advertises "100% duty cycle rated" they are talking about the motor and not the pump?

Mark

7/10/15       #11: Choosing Air Compressor ...
Gary

Typically they mean the pump. If it's 100% it is probably a screw compressor.

I have what is called a duplex compressor. It has a 10hp piston pump and a completely separate 10 hp screw comp. both mounted on the same air tank. We run on the piston pump but turn the screw on when we need more air. I could have bought two separate units but this takes up less space and was neatly pre-plumbed with an attached air drier.


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