Gonna Buy a new portable gasoline air compressor

Old unit is really too small for what I use it for and I'd really like the option of 1/2in hose . I mostly will use the new portable in the field for running a blow gun for daily maintenance and occasional impact gun for repairs. Air tool charts list min. 12cfm for blow gun for continuous use. I'm wondering if I should go ahead and get a 2 stage compressor. I'm really not concerned with the price difference between 2 stage or single. Anybody care to weigh in? All comments and experiences welcome.

thanks

I've been really happy with my Rolair compressors.

I've had one of their 2 stage 20cfm gas jobbers units for 15 years now without any issue. I've never regretted having more air than I needed, but have certainly been frustrated when I didn't have enough.

After owning electric single stages all my life, I’ll never buy another one. If money isn’t an option buy a 2 stage. You will be sorry if you don’t.

If air blow is your primary usage for your compressor get the single stage. You will get more cfm per horsepower.

terex herder said:

If air blow is your primary usage for your compressor get the single stage. You will get more cfm per horsepower.

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I’m not picking a fight, but I do not think you are correct. I personally wouldn’t buy either of these but this is the quickest and easiest comparison of why I disagree.



5HP single stage 14.1 CFM at 90psi

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...CH94573dDyeDbfxnw7We8ZtCaEUTwURMaAszCEALw_wcB



5HP two stage 15.8 CFM at 90psi

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...h647QCsgoyvgGMDB0t2C0FhEBgPQKLTgaAkGMEALw_wcB



HP is misleading. You need to pay attention to the pump and stage of the compressor. I’ve seen 5HP compressors be over 20CFM because of the pump.

Thanks for all the responses. I'm probably going to over do it, but I'm going to go with a two-stage, electric start (because why not), diesel (it's going to set on the front of my fuel trailer and 1000 gals of diesel is only 2' away so why haul gas cans cans). I also have a 80 gal auxiliary air tank on the front of the trailer that I'll plumb into. The auxiliary tank is actually a converted water pressure tank and was convenient when using the small compressor. That poor old compressor ran forever when I had the blow gun running.

What kind of pressure will be that water pressure tank withstand? I worked as a fireman for 28 years I’ve seen some bad decisions.

moosefd said:

What kind of pressure will be that water pressure tank withstand? I worked as a fireman for 28 years I’ve seen some bad decisions.

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The tag on it says 250psi max. Max bladder pressure is 80psi. I have 11 water wells on the ranch and most of them have a battery of 4 to six pressure tanks so I've got a graveyard of old pressure tanks (bladders failed) . They're good for bbq's, smokers, burn barrels, feed troughs, dock floats, fuel cells, etc...The steel tanks themselves are of very good quality welded construction and they have great corrosion/weather coatings. I have never measured, but they are probably thicker and more robust than the tank on the compressor.

When my pump tank failed I tossed it in the iron bin, I was sad as I couldn't think of anything to use it for, and it would leak water forever.

I would like to see a test done on adding more air tanks to a system . I dont think you should. The amish use air to pump water and run air tools they have diesel compressers and most have 500 gallon and over air tanks. they start it early in the morning and let it run. They dont need alot of psi they need volume . But running a shop you need high steady psi.

Old Doug said:

I would like to see a test done on adding more air tanks to a system . I dont think you should. The amish use air to pump water and run air tools they have diesel compressers and most have 500 gallon and over air tanks. they start it early in the morning and let it run. They dont need alot of psi they need volume . But running a shop you need high steady psi.

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Well, in my case I only had 20 gals air capacity on a woefully undersized compressor so it didn't take me very long to go from 120psi down to about 50psi with a blow gun and then I'd have to find something else to do like grab a grease gun or check the stiching on my boots until the compressor caught up in a couple of minutes. However, with 100 gal capacity I could use the blow gun for much longer before I got down to 50 or 60psi and likely finish the task at hand. Also, once the task was finished I just left the compressor running to fill the 80 gal. tank so when I shut down I isolated the tank with ball valve and had 80 gal of air at 120psi waiting on me whenever I needed it. I could air up a tire, blow out my clothes, or some other small task without firing up the compressor.

One thing some of the amish have now is windmill air compressers . That would be great then have a very big air tank but i bet the cost would make it not add up.