Just because a compressor can keep up with your air demand doesn't mean that it should. As a general rule, most quality 2-stage air compressors can run 100% duty cycle. Most single stage compressors are only meant to run about a 50% duty cycle, meaning that for every 5-10 minutes of run time, it needs to stop and cool off for 5-10 minutes. You can burn up an undersized compressor prematurely by over working it.
I'd stay away from the Ingersoll stuff, they have china-like production problems on the smaller store bought stuff and are not known for standing behind their products. If I had to buy a compressor for a home shop right now, it would be this.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200350475_200350475
If I only had $500-$600 to spend I would just buy this and plan on buying another one a few years down the road(maybe you won't if you take care of it and don't over work it). Northern has great customer service too.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641297_200641297
If it came down to buying a lowes/home depot compressor for $500, I'd go this route instead.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...belt-drive-air-compressor-60-gal?cm_vc=-10005
Harbor freight's air compressors are actually manufactured by the same company that manufactures Bel-Air compressors, which are good products. Don't have personal experience with them though.
I would certainly second the comment that unless you have boat loads of air, electric grinders and cutoff tools are the way to go. I have a 30HP Saylor Beall on a 200 gallon tank and I still prefer to get out the Makita when I'm cutting a lot of metal. Much quicker and more consistent.
An air compressor is definitely a "buy once, cry once" item. The Saylor Beall runs about $12k, but has run my body shop all day every day since the early 90s. One week of down time in a shop costs me about $1,000 plus whatever the compressor repair costs. Never had to worry about that in the Shops with Saylor Beall, Champion, Kellogg-American, Atlas Copco, Gardner Denver Etc. Proper maintenance is key too.
I'd stay away from the Ingersoll stuff, they have china-like production problems on the smaller store bought stuff and are not known for standing behind their products. If I had to buy a compressor for a home shop right now, it would be this.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200350475_200350475
If I only had $500-$600 to spend I would just buy this and plan on buying another one a few years down the road(maybe you won't if you take care of it and don't over work it). Northern has great customer service too.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641297_200641297
If it came down to buying a lowes/home depot compressor for $500, I'd go this route instead.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...belt-drive-air-compressor-60-gal?cm_vc=-10005
Harbor freight's air compressors are actually manufactured by the same company that manufactures Bel-Air compressors, which are good products. Don't have personal experience with them though.
I would certainly second the comment that unless you have boat loads of air, electric grinders and cutoff tools are the way to go. I have a 30HP Saylor Beall on a 200 gallon tank and I still prefer to get out the Makita when I'm cutting a lot of metal. Much quicker and more consistent.
An air compressor is definitely a "buy once, cry once" item. The Saylor Beall runs about $12k, but has run my body shop all day every day since the early 90s. One week of down time in a shop costs me about $1,000 plus whatever the compressor repair costs. Never had to worry about that in the Shops with Saylor Beall, Champion, Kellogg-American, Atlas Copco, Gardner Denver Etc. Proper maintenance is key too.
