I’m investing a lot in getting this table set up and it’s squeezing my budget down to the bone, but I can’t afford to end up with an inferior setup. After reading everything I can find I’ve decided that the minimum for an air compressor is something in the 60 gal, vertical style. With money being tight it’s been hard to submit to the fact I’m looking at the $700 plus range but as stated I need it to work properly. So in the range of $700-$1000 my list has come down to a few choices.
Dewalt - Not a fan, past experience is overpriced and mediocre quality, but never had a Dewalt compressor.
Ingersoll Rand - Had a portable compressor years ago, was good quality.
Campbell Hausfeld - Same as IR.
Kobalt, Husky, Crafstman, Porter Cable, HF - All seem like there build just good enough, parts from China and not built to last.
Quincy - Never heard of them until this comparison. Seems they have been around 100 years and make a good product. Also the only one that openly advertises the the pump life, 10,000 hours on the lower end and 50,000 hours on their industrial units. Leaning toward this brand.
Some of the compressors are only rated at a max of 135psi. As long as the cfm is adequate is there any issue there? Working in auto shops I’ve always seen the supply closer to 150 but I think with decent size supply lines 135 is fine even for air tools.
So are there any brands I’m overlooking in this price range? Have I gone wrong with my opinions on the above brands? I stress over these decisions only because I don’t want to look back with regret.
If you haven’t already - read up on single stage and 2 stage - that’s where the PSI range diffs come from. The 2 stage compressors will run at the higher PSI ranges - 160-175+. Single stage tend to be lower. I ended up with a Quincy QT54 (5hp/230v/60gal/2stage) from Northern Tool - been very happy with it so far. Was more than I was planning to spend, but hopefully the last compressor I buy.
You could always start off cheaper and upgrade as needed. I’m not sure you’ll see that much difference between a $500 60gal and a $1200 60 gal - at least in the first few years when it’s under warranty. The more expensive one ‘should’ last longer but that’s often debatable.
I also spoke with a Napa Auto Parts sales rep and they have something in the same spec/price range but I can’t get an answer about who makes their house brand. I do know a couple people who are happy with them though. They have a 2 year warranty.
Once you’ve got that squared away - don’t forget about the most important part - dry air. You need to make sure the plasma is fed with clean / dry air. Lots of good posts on the forum about that. I use a motorgard filter and it seems to work well - but there are lots of solutions out there.
My 2 cents bud…find yourself a good American made used compressor, I bought a Curtis at auction for $350, 20 something cfm, 5 hp 100 gallon tank (new retail $1700). Change the belts, change the oil, clean the filter and it will last the rest of your life.
There are many of them out there, you just have to find them.
I know a few guys including my brother that are having good luck with the IR compressors from Tractor Supply despite the Chinese parts they are using to build them but none of them are built the way they used to be. Go used and spend more on a dryer and filters.
I 2nd that, find a used 2 stage. I picked up a 2 stage 80 gal Porter Cable for $350 from a shop that was upgrading. 18scfm, it’s a beast. It took a few weeks watching the classifieds and craigslist but it was worth it.
FWIW, I was in a similar position. I looked for a decent used compressor in the weeks before my table shipped, everything I found was either a train wreck or too expensive. I figured I needed ~12 CFM @90PSI, (1.5x - 2x the requirements of my plasma cutter - HT 45XP) and settled on the DeWalt 60 gallon 230v single stage. Got it on sale delivered from TSC for ~$510 +tax. I don’t have a lot of time on my machine yet, but the compressor has been fine, although loud. So far I;m satisfied with it. I’m somewhat casually working on some quieting methods. If I hadn’t gone > 1500 over budget elsewhere I would have bought a Quincy.
Equipment or farm auctions usually have the better used compressors.
The bigger equipment auctions around here are durring the week, most of these you can bid on-line and proxy bid so you don’t have to take a day off in “hopes” that you win the bid. You just have to find the time to inspect them before the auction. My Curtis came from a state equipment auction, it was in a state garage where they repaired heavy equipment.
I went through the same process a few months ago, it was tough, but knowing I was going to spend a lot on the rest of the air system I went with the IR from tractor supply for $699. When I picked it up, it had a dent in the belt guard fence so they gave me $50 off. I’ve been really happy with it and added a harbor freight refrigerated dryer, Maxline air lines and an IR air regulator filter. There is also a lot of cost with wiring everything, automatic drain valve and various plumbing fittings and valves, everything adds up. So after a handful of cuts so far, on a 5-6 minute cut the compressor only kicks in once and it doesn’t run long, my plasma is rated at 6cfm and it’s currently been at 60psi. I’m easily at $1400-$1500 for the air system thus far. If I budgeted an extra $1000 I would go with the ~$1400 Quincy. And just for reference, 8000 hours is roughly 13 months of solid operation.
Edit: like to add that the IR is 100% duty cycle and the Quincy is like 50%, that was my final decision maker, I’m running a sandblaster too, amongst other things.
Step up to the two stage 80 gallon ingersol at tsc.Thats the one I got and I have been very pleased.I know it’s more than you want to pay but if you can finance it for 6 months same as cash and sell some of the stuff you make and it should pay for itself.Tsc will price match too.I got mine for under a grand I believe.
Another option is the North Star 3.7HP/60 gallon sold by Northern Tool. I have one at my ranch and It is a nice unit. Output is similar to all the lower HP 60 ga units at around 11.5 cfm @ 90psi. Assembled in US with decent parts and build quality. The kicker for me is the 4 year consumer warranty. “Normal” price is $699, but it’s also normally on sale.
This is becoming one of the toughest choices of this entire setup and I’m ready to purchase one.
By the reviews ALL of these Chinese compressors have some pretty terrible reviews mixed in with the good ones, including very poor customer service when the need arises to get a repair, companies like IR, Northern Tool are said to drag there feet. I no anything can fail but dealing with multiple failures and down time is making either want to buy a Husky and get the extended protection so if something happens the store is right down the street. The other option is to by a true USA made unit which I doubt is anywhere near the $1000 mark.
I was ready to go to Tractor Supply and buy an IR but after reading so ridiculous customer service stories I’m hesitant.