I do not have a shop or even a paved drive for that matter. I need a compresser powerful enough to primer my truck, yet small enough to move inside. I just want to be able to primer fenders/doors as they get done. Can you tell what you prefer?

Get at least a 6hp on a 30 gal. tank or bigger. Thats what I got, shot the interior and the primer now. Works good, got it at Sears for $279 on sale Oh, get a good gun got a $25 cheapie at Harbor Freight done shot!! My .02!!!!!!!!!:bowtie: :bowtie:

Beware, HP does not mean anything in home air compressors. If you are looking at a commercial unit it may be accurate. Look at the cfm at different pressures and compare to the tool you want to use. My Devilbiss 4 hp - 30 gallon puts out 8.8 cfm @ 40 psi and 6.9 @ 90 psi. It runs all of my shop tools, grinders, and sprayer just fine. It won't run two tools at once however so I got a much larger commercial unit.

Devilbiss is for sale (excellent condition) $125 plus shipping in original box on Greyhound.

NEVER go by the HP ratings on the label!

Have you ever seen a 5hp electric motor in a industrial setting?
These real 5hp motors cost several thousand $ and are ten times bigger than the Sears "5hp"motors.

Mike, My new (used) industrial compressor came with a spare 5 hp, 230v., single phase motor...almost too big to lift...it is a monster! The motor namplate says 5 hp.

The Huskey vertical compressor at Home Depot is 7 hp rated(?). It has a 1 HP motor that is puny!!!!!! You do the math...that qualifies as a PERPETUAL MOTION MACHINE!!!!!! DO NOT BE FOOLED BY HP RATINGS!

These phony HP ratings are one of my new pet peeves too. HP is a real measurement, if you calculate the electrical energy it takes to make one mechanical horsepower, you just can't run a 5 HP electric motor on a 15 amp, 115 volt circuit, it's plain math.

745.7 watts / 1 HP -> 5 HP = 3728.5 Watts

For an AC circuit: Power = Current * Voltage * Power Factor or rearrange to get Current = Power /(Voltage * PF)
-> Current = 3728.5 W / (120V * .8) = 38.8 Amps.

The motors they are advertising as 5 HP just can't be. A real 5 HP motor will be on at least a 220 volt circuit and will draw about 20 amps. Don't fall for gimmick ratings!

Here (http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catalog/item/504747/206949.htm) is some pretty good info on compressors. This is the unit that I have. Seems to work really well. The write-up tells all about CFM and horsepower.

1972c10,

I have been looking at that same unit. Did you get the 60 or 80 gallon tank. Also do you think it is worth the $$$.

Thanks

Originally posted by rumbac
1972c10,

I have been looking at that same unit. Did you get the 60 or 80 gallon tank. Also do you think it is worth the $$$.

Thanks
Mine is a 60.
I've only had it for a year or so. I like it so far. It makes lots of air and does so quickly and it's quiet.
I think it was worth the money.

When you look at a compressor all you need to know is SCFM rating. If you want to paint your truck, and get a nice paint job out of it, it isnt going to be cheap. Yes, some compressors will work until they run out of air and there are some paint guns for cheapo that so ok. If you want a good paint job, then you need a bigger compressor and a HVLP paint gun. One option you might consider is a HVLP turbine system. It provides its own DRY air so no compressor is needed. If you do want to go the other way, then I would suggest at LEAST 9.0 SCFM@40 PSI. That is about 6 hp 30 gallon. You should be able to get that, plus a middle of the raod paint gun for about 400 bucks. Porter cable makes a HVLP gravity for 100 bucks. It is made by devilbiss. Hope this helps.