Official Luthiers Forum!

I am probably going to take a trip south of the 49th this month to pick up a thickness sander and am thinking about getting a compressor while I am down as well. I know pretty much nothing about compressors though, other than I want 50-60 gallons. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what look into? My budget is under $1000.
I am planning on using it for spraying finishes, vacuum clamping with a venturi, and other misc stuff like brad nailing and whatnot.

Thanks

Get as much CFM capacity as you can afford. You are going to use it for some high capacity things especially the vacuum. Any air tools require quite a bit of air so if you contemplate getting air sanders etc you will need the capacity.

Fred

_________________
Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Yup.

Also, if you are going to put the compressor in your work space, check on the noise level, if possible. Nothing like a noisy compressor kicking on to ruin the concentration just as you are doing something tricky on your prize project!
BTW, check around for prices before heading south. There's not the same price differential across the border as there used to be, on some (Made in China?) items. The usual suspects: HD, Costco, Princess Auto, etc etc...
Cheers
John

Ingersol Rand are pretty good but you will want to look at a 2 stage compressor head 5hp or so. Also grab a water oil separator while you are there . Look for 160 lb 2 .5 cu/ft/min and you can pretty much do all you need. As a side note , for finishing I went to a turbine for the HVLP guns and like the result and have not water issues . Just a thought.
Good luck and strap the unit down , you don't want to get any scratches on this till you get it home , and please be a gentleman and hold the door open for your wife as she carries this into the shop.

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

So far I have only looked at Porter Cable models. Are there any North American made brands within my price range? Specifically a NA motor if nothing else? And do I want oilless? What is that about?
John, is this separator something you put on the line?

Ed,

If you are looking in the range of $1K look for a good used one. I have a 5hp Denver-Gardner (Canadian I believe) with like a 60 gallon tank. This a real deal compressor, 2 stage and never any air issues. I have two other smaller ones as well. Anyway, this compressor was given to me with a 5hp 3 phase motor which I switched out with a single phase motor. Look at repo places in the US and you will get a very good deal on a real compressor. Don't go oilless, they are typically hi pitched noisy (not that any compressor is that quiet!). Anyway, that is my 2 cents, used industrial model from a repo place or craigs list or something like that.

Shane

_________________
Canada

Shame we are about a weeks drive apart Shane. Yeah, craigslist and repo places are a good idea, I just dont want to get a lemon. I will take a look.

the water oil separator is an on line add on but this can save your air tools . They are about $30

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I'll second the " Don't Go Oilless". They are too loud.

Actually found a newer I-R 5HP single stage 60 gallon in my area for sale. Apparently they run 18 CFM @ 90PSI.
What is the advantage to two stage, just that at it works faster? Would this unit do with those specs?

For Porter Cable. I have a fairly new 60 gallon( I forget the model). Seems pretty well made. I do a few kitchens a year and it doesn't cycle a lot during a spray of 30 doors. It may not cycle at all when shooting a guitar. The price was pretty reasonable also. I was using a 20 gallon ad when I switches the quality of finishes went up.

Good Luck,
Danny

Actually a single stage compressor will "refill" faster as it compresses air to the required psi in one stroke where a two stage will pump to an intermediate psi in the first stroke and then run that air through a cooler and complete the psi in the second stage. So they are more efficient at higher psi's and tend to just last longer......but one like you have found will likely never were out building guitars and the odd woodworking project! Ingersoll Rand is a quality brand, at least North American made stuff is and I am unsure if they have stuff made overseas under their brand now but I wouldn't be surprised!

Shane

_________________
Canada