Posted by Tulsa Dave on February 26, 2003 at 17:59:51 from 65.67.206.239
In Reply to: slightly OT, compressor for the garage, opinions? posted by Adam Wilson on February 26, 2003 at 16:46:31:
Figure out what the air delivery requirements of your most greedy tool are (probably an impact wrench) and get a compressor that will drive that. Check them out at local tool shops. They will list the cfm of air required at a specific pressure. I think you will find a 5hp compressor with a 20 gallon tank will cover most of your needs. Mine drives the 1/2" impact with little trouble, but runs almost continuously to keep up. The good news is it handles all of my other tools with no trouble and that includes everything from paint guns to nail guns. Be warned that larger than that becomes difficult to find in anything less than 220-240VAC - unless you buy a gasoline powered one.
As to type, I can't make a specific recommendation. I used just about ever make and model imaginable when I was working as a commercial paint contractor. I never had one fail. I have a direct drive Campbell-Hausfield right now and have had no trouble with over six years of frequent use. If I had it to do again, I would have purchased a belt drive purely for noise reasons. I would have also purchased a vertical tank unit as they take up less floor space.