Shop Air Compressor v.2020

Caver Dave

Caver Dave

Just holdin' it down here in BFV
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Mar 10, 2005
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Hooterville (24171)
Have searched pretty thoroughly and didn't find anything recent...

My current 30+ year old 2HP/15gal piston compressor is tired... like it ran 10 hours/day, 6 days a week for 14 years in our Dad's shop. Sounds like rocks in a blender.

Figured I'd grab an IR 60-80 gal from TSC, BUT have seen way too many reports quick & horrible death/that they're junk due to being made for a price point.

For my "hobby" use, though would prefer it's the last time I purchase, looking for a happy medium between say a Quincy/"Made in the USA" $3000+ unit and the horde of mass-marketed oil-less/unitized (motor/compressor mated with bastard/proprietary configurations) units.

Might even give one of the "*ASSEMBLED* in the USA" (from 3rd world shithole manufactured parts) IRs a go, if anyone deciphered the craptastic to decent via the part numbers?
 
shawn said:
If the motor is at least 3hp, just buy a pump from Eaton and swap them out. I'd bet you can buy a 3-5hp Baldor and matching Eaton pump for less than a retail compressor.
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Not sure I'd go that route on my current comp, given it's small tank & everything else (switch/lines/etc.) being 30 y/o, but may look for a used comp and just repair as needed.
 
Ive got a TSC IR thats...8-10 years old.
Its been great despite what the internet says.
I can check the specific part number if you want but I remember there was a break point on the HP/CFM.

I added a ball valve and extender to the drain and can purge it with my boot so I do it regularly...
I even left it sitting on the shipping skid for vibration and noise dampening. Its still going strong.
 
Ron said:
Ive got a TSC IR thats...8-10 years old.
Its been great despite what the internet says.
I can check the specific part number if you want but I remember there was a break point on the HP/CFM.

I added a ball valve and extender to the drain and can purge it with my boot so I do it regularly...
I even left it sitting on the shipping skid for vibration and noise dampening. Its still going strong.
Click to expand...

My dad has a penchant for taking consumer grade items and trying to make them work in our industrial setting. We have an 80 gal 5hp IR, tsc special, compressor at one plant doing the work that a legit 5hp 3ph comp should be doing. We've replaced 3 pumps in 8 yrs, but it runs 30mins out of every hour, and sometimes more. As cheap as pumps are I suspect we'll just keep replacing them rather than buy a properly sized unit :lol:

If it were me though, Id do what @shawn said. Pumps are cheap and that motor you have is 10x higher quality than a new single phase compressor motor will be.
 
shawn said:
If the motor is at least 3hp, just buy a pump from Eaton and swap them out. I'd bet you can buy a 3-5hp Baldor and matching Eaton pump for less than a retail compressor.

Air Compressor Pumps | Bare Pumps | Replacement Pumps

Or Harbor Freight.
Click to expand...

I chose to go Harbor Freight, with a 60gal all cast iron comp. It had the the highest pressure rating compared to other consumer equipment out there. I have been using it for a few years now, with no issues.
 
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Like Ron I have a 12 year old TSC IR. Itā€™s the 5 hp. version that is really about 3 if you look at the amps. I used it a lot before I got a Saylor Beall. A few years in the start capacitor let out its magic smoke from the start winding switch hanging up. I replaced that cap and it ran about another week until the motor finally shit the bed. I replaced the motor with a leeson from Northern Tool and its still kicking along. It is in my barn now, I use it to blow the dust and grass from my lawn mowers and tractors weekly.

My Saylor Beall is a master piece of an air compressor. If you want a 100% made in the USA piece of equipment look them up. Mine is a 7.5 HP, pressure lubed, 4 cylinder work of art. It cost way too much for what I actually use it for but I have never ran out of air with it. It will hold 135 psi running a pressure pot blaster. The TSC IR would hold about 25 psi after about a minute.
 
shawn said:
Devil you know vs ...?
Click to expand...

Agreed, but my existing is a run(t)-of-the-mill portable... 15gal isn't large enough and it's likely to not even be 2HP (chiwan) motor, but will check to see what re-pumping it would take.

paradisePWoffrd said:
I chose to go Harbor Freight, with a 80gal all cast iron comp. It had the the highest pressure rating compared to other consumer equipment out there. I have been using it for a few years now, with no issues.
Click to expand...

Unless I'm missing something, aside from the 2 gasoline powered models they offer with piston pumps, everything else is oil-less?
 
Caver Dave said:
Agreed, but my existing is a run(t)-of-the-mill portable... 15gal isn't large enough and it's likely to not even be 2HP (chiwan) motor, but will check to see what re-pumping it would take.



Unless I'm missing something, aside from the 2 gasoline powered models they offer with piston pumps, everything else is oil-less?
Click to expand...

I dont see the model I got one their website. Here is the compressor that is on top of it: 5 HP 145 PSI Twin Cylinder Air Compressor Pump
 
Caver Dave said:
Agreed, but my existing is a run(t)-of-the-mill portable... 15gal isn't large enough and it's likely to not even be 2HP (chiwan) motor, but will check to see what re-pumping it would take.
Click to expand...


Ah, didn't realize it was that little. Yeah, in that case, you might get lucky watching for a 60 gallon with a bad pump or motor.
 
Check with @cass92lx50 He was asking me about some good old american machines the other day, a 2 stage compressor amongst the lot, and he's not too far down the hill in Yadkinville.
 
I put a kobalt 60 gallon in my shop several years ago. So far no issues.
 
After well over a year of watching... this popped up in @tknopp backyardšŸ¤«

Circa 1993 (by tank date and the blue isn't exactly an IR trademark?) Ingersoll Rand 242-5D T(ype)30 pump with 5HP Baldor 220V single phase on a 60 gal horizontal carrier. Everything I can find say 15+ CFM and max pressure 175psi.

The last 22 years it lived inside a gentleman's shop prior to his passing (admire him... bought it to run finish nailer for installing molding in house, well thats what he told the wife šŸ¤£), "blowing up tires and moving sawdust around the floor" according to the wife.. Belt guard removed to fit under shelving where parked. The casters proved VERY handy for loading/unloading, so think they'll stay...

Will "clean it up" (<10 minute job), check pump oil level/inlet filter (for dirt daubers), remove the plug and wire it directly to my disconnect for testing. After that, it'll get oil changed, new filters, and be good to pass onto my heirs!
 

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I dig it. But the ghetto caster blocks look like lift blocks on a front axle.
I'd have to fabricate something less.......something.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
I dig it. But the ghetto caster blocks look like lift blocks on a front axle.
I'd have to fabricate something less.......something.
Click to expand...
Agreed...
However, (despite the "looks") the 4x4's being wider that the receivers footprint added a LOT of stability and while I'm not planning to move it around once connected, the casters (urethane tread) are pretty nice!
May drop the cribbing on the concrete for stability (won't move) and recycle the casters for another "project" šŸ˜‰
 
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