Air Compressor / Welder questions

JNYMO · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 6:14 pm Post subject: Air Compressor / Welder questions

I am starting a rebuild on a 72 El Camino as well as getting my shop together. I have been researching Air Compressors and Mig Welders and am open to any suggestions or advice from anyone who has Been There, and Done That.

1. Is there a small 110v air compressor that I can purchase for my shop that will operate my air tools as well as lay on a good coat of paint. From. It seems that the SCFM for higher end guns needs to be a lot higher than what the smaller compressors put out. My grandpa taught us how to paint cars back in the day and all he had was a small portable unit. Is it the HVLP gun that requires the extra SCFM?

2. Any advice on a 110v Mig welder will also be appreciated.

Space in my garage is limited as is the case for most. I just want to buy equipment that is good quality and usable by a novice as well as a pro.

Thanks,
John

CoyoteOn2 · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

Compressor at Home Depot, 26Gal, Stand up, on wheels, 2hp, 6.5 cfm @ 40psi Husky, Good for the Home Shop, and max on the HVLP Spray Gun is 40 psi at the gun.
Great Welder for the Home Shop is the Miller DVI, Wire Feed, opperates on 115 as well as 220 simply by changing the screw on plug, No wireing to change, just change the plug, welder is supplied with both screw on plugs.
I use both the above items in my own personal at home Garage an have
had NO ISSUES with either one.
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JNYMO · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 6:49 pm Post subject:

CoyoteOn2,
Thanks for the information. I was actually looking at the Husky Compressors this weekend. I appreciate you taking the time to get back to me.
Thanks again,
John

CoyoteOn2 · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 7:04 pm Post subject:

Your very welcome John!
As I stated, I have had no Probs with mine. I have shot 3 cars with mine in the last year an a half, and I use aprox. 30 psi at the gun most of the time. As far as the DVI goes, I went with that as I wanted to be able to get good penitration on Frame work, (220) and also be able to use it on the thin Body Panels (115). It was a little on the pricey side, at about a grand, But alot cheaper than two units, and WELL WORTH THE COST.
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theelcaminofactory · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:28 am Post subject:

Do you have a Harbor Freight in your area? Check their website out for a vertical compressor with a cast iron twin cylinder pump...on wheels I had a Campbell Hausfield horizontil single cylinder aluminum pump, didn't quite last 3 years. The vertical compressor with cast iron pump, saves room and so far the one I have has lasted longer then the one with the aluminum pump. www.harborfreight.com
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JNYMO · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject:

theelcaminofactory,
Thanks for the info. Yes we have a HF store in town. I went there to look for a few odds and ends for the garage and wasn't too impressed or sure of the quality of some of their stuff, especially mechanical things. That is good to know about the Cast Iron as opposed to Aluminum as well. I will keep that in mind. Thanks again
John

Caveman49 · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:33 pm Post subject:

Yo Larry, what kind of filtering system to you use when spraying? I like the idea of spraying with 110, but the one I use (Sears) builds up too much moisture.
It's almost impossible to sandblast with it because of the moisture. I was considering one of SAM's 220 compressors for around 900 dollars.

I use a Lincoln Electric ProCore100, nice little mig welder for light stuff, but hope to be getting a larger unit soon.
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CoyoteOn2 · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:53 pm Post subject:

My Compressor is a stand up type, and I fabricated a water/moisture trap of sorts out the Air out let. It consists of a 3" dia. pipe 18"s long, mounted off a "T" , pointing down, with a cap and pet cock on the bottom
for draining, then on the outlet side of the "T" my set of three water trap / desicant filters, and quick connect for my 3/8" air hose. The 3" pipe gets aprox. 85% of the moisture, and the filters catch the rest. On real humid days, of which we have few of here in Vegas, I drain the 3" about once an hour just to stay on top of it while spraying, about every other cup of spray material. Seem's to work very well, and have had no
moistue issues to this point.
OH -- Proubly don't have to tell you this, but will just in case ~~~
DON'T USE ANY TYPE OF OILER SYSTEM ON THE LINE YOU SPRAY WITH>
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Caveman49 · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject:

Sounds interesting, would love to see a pic of that setup.

A friend of mine has a pretty neat PVC setup. He's run several lengths of 3/4" (or 1" I'm not sure) X 8' up and down his wall with a drain valve on the bottom of each U turn, seems to work real good for him. I'll shoot a pic of it next time at his shop, it's very cost effective for sure.
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CoyoteOn2 · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject:

SAME Idea, Same results, just need to catch the water, and keep this in mind also, the colder the airline gets, the more water you'll get.
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Elky 83 · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject:

I'd definately be interested in seeing some pics of the moisture catch systems!!
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Al87Olathe · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:49 pm Post subject: Air Compressor Sizing

Bear in mind that HP and PSI means nothing if you can't get enough volume of air to run tools like impact wrenches, DA sanders, etc. I have a 5hp Craftsman oilless portable compressor that's nearing 10 years in age that will handle a paint gun, but when it comes to a DA - forget it!

Try to get the most SCFM you can for the money. Air tools like DAs and impact wrenches will require at least 9 SCFM, and you should be able to run most any air-powered tool with 16 SCFM. Personally, in my area I am considering going to Tractor Supply Company (TSC) and get a good quality Ingersoll-Rand stand-up 2-cylinder cast-iron compressor for less than $1K if I remember correctly that will push close to 16 SCFM, meaning I could DA, grind, wrench, blast and cut to my heart's content.

I purchased a 5hp cast-iron I-R portable compressor direct from Ingersoll-Rand with a motor wired for 110/220v back in 1982 that I let my father use now. I was able to run a DA and a small pressure blaster with it, but I don't remember what SCFM it put out. It sure isn't as much as that POS Craftsman my wife got me. In all those years I only had to replace a pressure switch in the late '80s.
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464elky · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 6:53 am Post subject:

I've got an I-R model 2340 L5. It is an upright 5 horse, cast iron that runs anything I want including a large sand blaster. There is just one BIG problem. I am on my third motor in 18 months of very light intermittent use. The emerson motors they are using are junk. I just lost the second motor last week that literally went up in flames about a minute into a run cycle. They are still warranting them but they gave me a hard time on this last one.
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JNYMO · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject:

My main concern is that I'm going to buy a compressor or welder and they are not going to do what I want them to once I get into the meat and potatos of the build. I have been trying to find a way around wiring a 220v drop into my garage but after researching and listening to reason, it's looking more and more like that is really the way to go. Thanks again guys.

CoyoteOn2 · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 2:55 pm Post subject:

That's a very simple upgrade, and if the Panel is close to the Garage / or in it, can be done in no time at all. You'll be glad you did it, Not to mention the power bill savings by useing the 220 equipment. That alone will pay for the up=grade in no time at all.
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http://elcaminocentral.com/gallery-album_CoyoteOn2s77Cage.html

Keep the Shiney Side Up
The Rubber Side Down !!
aka Larry