I have the crossfire pro extended table and I am going to be cutting with the 45 razor weld.
I have been through a lot of posts with different answers but I am trying to figure out what Air compressor to buy. I am looking at a 60gal Dewalt 3.7hp 90psi
I understand this compressor will work but do I need a huge compressor or can it be smaller? If so what are the factors or reasons for a large one?
How many CFM @what psi does it put out? this is what matters!
Post the model number of the unit.
In the literature for your plasma cutter it will show a CFM@X psi required to operate that machine. Some manuals will even show how many CFM is required for mechanized cutting. If it doesn’t it’s usually 1.5 times the posted CFM requirement for hand cutting. And if it doesn’t define it assume that it’s hand cutting.
So you’re probably looking at about 9 CFM at 90 PSI. You could get away with a smaller one but that’s going to run it very hard and hot which will bring the consequences of low life and the ability for the hotter air to hold on to to more moisture and put more load onto all of your moisture removal equipment.
It depends what you’re doing if you’re just a hobbyist cutting a couple art pieces or a few brackets at a time… yeah you could probably just run the bag off of a small compressor.
If you’re serious get a real compressor.
13.4 CFM at 40 psi and 11.5 CFM at 90 psi with 1.9 RHP
You’re more than fine.
Yes, but the question is can I buy a cheaper air compressor?
No way of knowing of what you already are looking at is it cheap compressor to start with? What’s the model number? But yes you could go a smaller compressor it sounds like that one exceeds the specs needed. Going with cheaper stuff has the inherent issues with cheaper stuff.
Must be this one.
That will probably serve you well.
Just remember when buying a new compressor it usually has breaking oil in it and you want to change that out after 100 hours let’s say.
Your manual would be very clear about the break-in procedure.
Normally it involves running the compressor with the valve open for a certain period of time.
Then Running it normally for a certain period of time and then changing the oil.
Myself I went with this compressor which is sold under several different brand names.
King Canada Kc-5160V3 - High Output 6.5 Peak Hp 60 Gallon Air Compressor - 18.5 - Federated Tool Supply King Canada Kc-5160V3 - High Output 6.5 Peak Hp 60 Gallon Air Compressor - 18.5 - Federated Tool Supply
I sometimes cut at 85 amps on my machine so I’m consuming a lot of air over a long period of time so it was a good fit for my purposes.
High output 18.5 CFM @ 100 PSI
Way overkill for most people.
Well of course you can buy a cheaper compressor. As long as you under stand there will be air delivery, misfires, poor consumable life and other problems to deal with.
Like Tin said, we don’t know what you’re basing anything off of because we don’t even know what the air compressor you asked about sells for
Can’t read your mind brosef, and sorry I don’t mean to be a smartass but really you didn’t state what your budget is, how much the air compressor that you’re asking about is, nothing
Generally speaking, a 220V air compressor will suffice because I don’t think anything a big box store offers will provide less than 9-10cfm
It’s only when you tread into 110V territory that you’ll be warned about potential issues and possibly no cutting at all; fortunately it seems like 110v air compressors aren’t in the talks
I didn’t have another 220v outlet to dedicate to my small garage shop (I already had to run a 30a 220v for the plasma) so I went with the most powerful 110v I could find, the Craftsman 30gal 150psi. Been a great little unit so far, even through my intercooler modifications (and back to OEM config after getting the refrig air dryer). I picked it up on sale at lowes on a black friday deal for like $400 or something.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-30-Gallon-175-Oil-Lubricated-Portable-Air-Compressor/5000042449
For $100 more, if you have the 220v, you could go with this
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-60-Gallon-175-3-7HP-Stationary-Electric-Air-Compressor/5000045529
Deleted, I thought you were planning to buy the Dewalt
I was but it is large and I was thinking something a little smaller might work but it is hard to say bc I do not have a set number or area of production yet.
That’s pretty much the max you’ll find available for 110v since you’ll only get so much “hp” through a 110v circuit.
Those tanks and motors are used interchangeably with different labels such as Kobalt, Craftsman, DeWalt, and several more.
Even now I see the author refuses to answer basic questions but pretty much any 220v will satisfy his needs due to the fact that they’re typically attached to larger tanks (more supply), run more efficiently (220v runs cooler than 110v), and can draw more power as needed.
pay once and cry once, it’s cheaper in the long run. buy the 5hp 175 psi 80 gallon. i’ve never run out of air with it. i had a 60 like the one you mention and it was not enough for long hard cuts.
they can be found on sale for about $1200. get a refrigerated dryer as well. and put a motor guard filter directly on your power supply.
