Air Compressors

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andyk

Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2008
Messages
239
Location
Toledo, OH
What does everybody use for an air compressor? I don't have a lot of room and even less cash. I would at the least want to generate enough pressure for casting and maybe a vacuum chuck. I know a vacuum pump runs at least $400 and up.
 
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I haven't done casting but I have 2 air compressors. A 25 gallon upright and a 4 gallon pancake. The smaller pancake or hot dog style compressors are more than enough for a pressure pot. They aren't cheap, but less than the larger models. Cheaper models are oiless and loud. Check for used models but test for leaks and inspect the tanks on older models.
 
If you want cheap and only want it for casting, a hand operated bicycle pump will do. Doesn't require much space. Save up for the vacuum pump or find one at a garage sale.
 
I use a small oil less Craftsman that I bought at Sears. I have had it about 5 years and used it a lot for running an upholstery stapler, and it will generate enough pressure to do casting with a pressure pot. You can fit a pressure pot to have a vacuum gauge, as well as, a pressure gauge on it. There articles in the library.
Home Depot sells one made by Husky. It cost $99.
 
check out pawn shops or flea markets, in this economy a lot of nice things are being hawked at pawn shops and flea markets. I picked up a dovetail jig at the flea market last weekend for $5 bucks.

Compressors are very handy for many things around the house. I say get the biggest one you can get.
 
I have a big 60-gallon unit that I use for sandblasting, drawing vacuum, and running my air tools - important when working on my trucks or building the kids a new swingset. :biggrin:

My dad has on of those twin tank "hot dog" compressors, and it's actually a really good unit - plus it has wheels and you can move it around. Moving my compressor around is basically impossible, so I have to keep 150+ feet of air hose on hand to run to the driveway or into the house to run tools.
 
I bought a little 4 gallon, 2 HP, oil sump, Chinese compressor from Pep Boy's for about $90. I run it once it once or twice a week for airing up tires, blowing dust around my shop and powering a brad, pin nailer and an air brush. I've had it for several years and it is still functioning just fine. I suspect it might not stand up to regular heavy use; but that isn't going to happen in my shop.

Despite what folks say about oil-less compressors being much noisier than the ones with an oil sump, mine is quite noisy and I had to cobble up a better muffler to make it tolerable for use in a closed 2 car garage shop. Muffler may not be exactly the correct term as it is on the intake side of the compressor.

Only other issue is I have an older home with only a 15 amp circuit in the garage and the compressor would occasionally blow the breaker........when it was trying to recycle after the tanks were already pressurized. I added a 20 amp dedicated for the compressor and that problem has gone away.
 
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