Sandblasting takes ALOT of air. I have a cabinite type in the shop and I can barely keep up with a 7-1/2 hp compressor when I use it steady I normally use the 15 hp main compressor for the shop when I use it. You can either get volume OR pressure with a limited hp compressor. It would take more hp to get both than the size uint you are looking at. A single stage comp. will give volume and a two stage comp. will give pressure. The single stage models are good for a little over 100 psi while the two stage ones can go to 175 psi without a problem. Keep your eye open for a good used commercial grade compressor which will sell for alot less than a new "homeowner" model. I paid $600 for my 15 hp unit at an auction

the CFM rating on the compressor is what it will put out at a constant rate. when you are painting something like bike parts as long as you got around a 30 gallon you should be good for painting a bike. you will not be running a constant cfm so volume would be the important part, I would go with at least a 30 gal. 110v vertical tank (takes up less room) and will do almost anything. if you plan on running a DA sander or sandblasting larger items (like cars) then I would go for the higher CFM. and like someone else said look for a used commercial unit and save massive $$$.

Thanks for all the input. I do think I will focus on the CFM ratings. Perhaps the sandblaster is more of a wish list, but a DA sander could be important.

Great feedback on the CFM of a HVLP gun. You are right, I won't be consuming "continiously" with the gun, so perhaps a lower CFM requirement would work.

Beginning to narrow the choices.

With the DA Sander, is there a comparable electric tool that will do the same?

warden wrote:
With the DA Sander, is there a comperable electric tool that will do the same?

Yes there are. That is what I ended up swapping to on most of my "air sucking" tools. I now have electric grinders and sanders and they work just fine! BTW I am just using this compressor to paint and it keeps up fine...



I am sure it would struggle doing a car since the tank is small, but for bikes it is great.

When doing the complete bike I just did it came on one time and I never noticed a difference.
Also the guy at Finishmaster advised me to use the shortest air hose possible to avoid pressure loss. So, when painting, I only use a 25' hose and pull the compressor out so it is close to where I am painting.

Shamrock, thanks! What are the specs on that compressor? There is a 20 gallon "Snap-On Tools" compressor at COSTCO for around $220 new. Would like to match up the specs with your experience as I feel we are working on the same type projects.


EDIT: Just looked up this review. I'll pass on the snap-on one. Still interested in your specs though.

Ditto on everyone that said CFM is primary. Also you can add tank such as a 100 propane tank (obviouse precautions) one in my old body shop. If you do go with the smaller CFM your right finger will be the key. The compressor keeps up with your trigger finger first and the tool second......

I prefer ingersol Rand above all else
(they do make compressors for sears, HD and lowes and I' sure there are others) Be careful so does campbell Hausfeld.

Good luck
Dearman

I just sold my IR T10 & T30 compressors on CL for about $300 each. Either one would run sandblasting or anything hooked up to them. The T30 required 3-phase power so it was commercial only, but they T10 was a single phase 220 unit & put out a pretty solid 12 CFM all day. I bought them on CL for about what I paid for them so look for clean commercial units if you need big air.

warden wrote:
Shamrock, thanks! What are the specs on that compressor? There is a 20 gallon "Snap-On Tools" compressor at COSTCO for around $220 new. Would like to match up the specs with your experience as I feel we are working on the same type projects.


EDIT: Just looked up this review. I'll pass on the snap-on one. Still interested in your specs though.

I tried to find the specs, but unfortunately it isn't made anymore. They do have a 150 PSI unit (mine is a 175 2 stage). I have had this compressor since 2000 and I just replaced the original hose and that is all I have done besides drain it periodically. Even the original hose hadn't failed yet, but was getting a little soft near the fitting so I figured I would change it before it burst at an inopportune moment. It keeps up with the paint gun doing motorcycle tins, but I am sure it wouldn't doing a car. I don't ever plan on painting an entire car so I am not worried. If and when this fails I will end up getting a larger one, but have been very happy with it. My only complaint would be the smaller tank that can't keep up with a die grinder (which I seem to use a lot), but since I bought an electric one it runs everything else I have without issue. Ideally I would want a larger one that I could mount on a slab outside. Even though this one is relatively quiet it can get annoying when it does have to run.

with these small compressors which are all recips they need to be off 1/3 of the time in a hour to cool down. also keep in mind that the higher the pressure the less cfm you get. as stated by adding extra tank and regulate the air being used you can get away with a smaller compressor, the min. rule of thumb for tanks is 2:1 so if the compressor puts out 50cfm at 100 psi you should have 100 gallon tank. just as an fyi Atlas copco makes snap-on and divilbiss comp. who is the largest manufacturer in the world.
if you are looking at sand blasting you should only look at screw compressors as they are designed to run flat out 24-7 ive been in the industrial compressed air business for over 20 years and this is just some info i've learned over the years