Air Compressor

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Chief RID
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Air Compressor

Post by Chief RID »

Does anybody use the 3 gallon pancake portable electric air compressor from Sears or Porter Cable, for their shop and around home use?
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muskrat man
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Re: Air Compressor

Post by muskrat man »

Yup I got a porter cable sitting under the workbench right now
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whit107
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Re: Air Compressor

Post by whit107 »

Yessir,
Have a Craftsman version in my shop.
Life is far too short to carry a bad knife.
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orvet
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Re: Air Compressor

Post by orvet »

Those Porter Cable pancake compressors are pretty good.
I am not sure who makes the pumps for their compressors, probably DeVilbiss.
The old DeVilbiss compressors were cast iron & darn near bulletproof. I worked for a company that did warranty work on DeVilbiss equipment. I have worked on DeVilbiss compressor pumps that were older than I was by a factor of 2. They make good compressors.

I don't use many air tools, mostly I use air to blow dirt off things or to dry them off.
I have a little 10 gal tank mount 4 hp Harbor Freight cheapo.
The 5.6 SCFM is more than adequate for my needs.
It has lasted me 3 or 4 years and it only cost me $98 on sale, new.
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muskrat man
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Re: Air Compressor

Post by muskrat man »

orvet wrote:
I don't use many air tools, mostly I use air to blow dirt off things or to dry them off.
Same here
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jerryd6818
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Re: Air Compressor

Post by jerryd6818 »

I have a little Hitachi 3 gal pancake oil-less compressor that sits in the basement. 1.5 HP, 3.3 CFM @ 100 PSI. Works fine for blowing stuff up or off and if you go slow, it will run a nail gun long enough to get small jobs done. It has gone through two floods and still huffs & puffs up a storm.

Out in the garage/shop is a 5.something CFM 10(?) gal. DeVilbiss. Also been through two floods but I had to replace the regulator on it.
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orvet
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Re: Air Compressor

Post by orvet »

jerryd6818 wrote: Out in the garage/shop is a 5.something CFM 10(?) gal. DeVilbiss. Also been through two floods but I had to replace the regulator on it.
Is that DeVilbiss a cast iron pump or aluminum?
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whitebuffalo58
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Re: Air Compressor

Post by whitebuffalo58 »

I use a Porter-Cable 20 gallon, 5hp oiless for spraying finishes. Over the last 10 years, i've worked that poor little compressor to death. I've had to replace the valve assembly twice, the head once and the piston, sleeve and ring assembly three times. Still, it's more then paid for itself 10 times over. Parts are readily available and reasonably priced.
If you want a top of the line compressor, my favorite is the 10hp Quincy that I have in my main shop. It's a twin cylinder on a 60 gallon vertical tank. About 30cfm at 120psi. (gotta have that kind of output for running air sanders) I've had it 25 years or so, and the only thing i've ever done to it, was replace a couple of belts.

WB
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jerryd6818
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Re: Air Compressor

Post by jerryd6818 »

orvet wrote:
jerryd6818 wrote: Out in the garage/shop is a 5.something CFM 10(?) gal. DeVilbiss. Also been through two floods but I had to replace the regulator on it.
Is that DeVilbiss a cast iron pump or aluminum?
Aluminum.
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Joe Dirt
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Re: Air Compressor

Post by Joe Dirt »

I DO use a lot of air tools both in paint & body work and mechanics. I have a tendency to run these things to death.
Most of the time there will be 2 guys working it at the same time.

When I bought my first compressor for use around the house/shop - I could of kicked my own ars for not buying one sooner!!!!
What a time saver! What takes 1 or 2 minutes with a ratchet only takes 30 seconds or less with air!

Not real sure who made the Northstar (2 stage, single cylinder, 80 gal.) ... bought it at Northern Tool about 5 yrs ago. So far, so good. (had to replace
the motor shortly after buying the comp. They sent me a new capacitor first to see if that was the problem. Ended up getting
a whole NEW motor in the mail! No problems since.

This is the 3rd large compressor I've had. Used a Campbell Hassfield with a cast U.S.A. block for MANY years before it gave up the ghost.
The shortest lived, yet fastest recovery one was a Curtis twin cylinder.

When time comes to buy another - it will DEFENATLY be a twin cylinder!

....... Joe
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jerryd6818
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Re: Air Compressor

Post by jerryd6818 »

In my mind, if someone is building a shop, be it small or large, home or professional, wood, metal or paint, one of the top five first tools to buy should be a good air compressor. Bigger is always better.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
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This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
268bull
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Re: Air Compressor

Post by 268bull »

I have a Devilbiss pancake. It's a little workhorse! Only use it to out the insides of my knives after I soak them with Break Free CLP. Amazing, the crud coming out of those liners and springs. Have gained back a lot of snap often times. ::tu:: Bull
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