IR vs CH Compressor

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I am planning to buy a 7.5 hp 80 gal 2 stage compressor and have narrowed it down to either the Ingersol Rand or Cambel Hausfeld.  The IR is several hundred dollars more. From what  I can tell they seem to be very similar units. Does anyone know if there is a difference? Is the IR worth the extra money?Any other suggestions? Thanks !  - John
Reply:An IR that big is usually an industrial unit.  Designed with some absurd amount of mean time between overhaul, they typically do things like run 90% duty cycle for a decade or more on end.  They would be a choice, for example, to run controls on a 3-shift assembly-line.  If you are in your mid 20s, and and planning to work in your basic fab shop for 8-12 hours a day, 6 days a week until you are 65, the IR would still be running when you retire.  That's why they're so expensive.It's probalby 2 or 3 times the machine the CH is, not that the CH is in any way a bad unit.Got links to the units you want to buy?
Reply:Here are the links to the two:http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...ctId=526&R=526http://www.grizzly.com/products/item...emnumber=G2815
Reply:IR no doubt about it ...
Reply:If I have the prices right, $1550 vs $1699 for the IR, then it's the IR all the way.
Reply:What's that SquareD box on the CH tho, a service disconnect?  Still not worth it though.
Reply:Originally posted by rusted What's that SquareD box on the CH tho, a service disconnect?  Still not worth it though.
Reply:I plan to have a dedicated 220 50 amp circuit for the unit. Will that make a difference on which I should choose?
Reply:Originally posted by tubeman I plan to have a dedicated 220 50 amp circuit for the unit. Will that make a difference on which I should choose?
Reply:I just ran across the spec for Eaton compressors.  Sounds good. Anyone know about them?http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catal...747/172459.htm
Reply:A buddy has an Eaton, and if my compressor ever goes out I'll be purchasing one. Go to their home page, it has alot of interesting info. I also like the 100% duty cycle for sand blasting and the head unloader valves for easier starts on the motor.
Reply:You should check out the Craftsman 80 gal 7hp 2-stage for $899 seams like a good deal and I feel is better than the CH. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00916780000
Reply:Its a good price but not in the same league performance wise. The others put out 24 cfm at 175 psi.  The Craftsman is 10 cfm at 100 psi.
Reply:According to the web link the craftsman unit puts out 17.4 cfm at 100 psi and 16.9 cfm at 175 psi. If you calculate price/cfm you see that the craftsman is about $50/cfm and based on previous posts the IR is about $75/cfm. So it seems that the craftsman would be the better buy. However if you truely need the higher cfm then the decision is made.
Reply:sdoneckerYou are right! I miss read it somehow.  It really is a better deal. I wonder if they use Chinese motors? I can get by with the lower cfm for the money.  Thanks for the comparo - John
Reply:Try this:Belaire
Reply:Thanks for the link. It looks like most of the compressors in that performance range (2 stage, 175 psi, 30 amp motors, etc.) are all close in price (between $1500 and $2000)  I assume that they are pretty similar and may even use the same parts (motor, pump, etc)  There are probably no super bargains out there without sacrificing performance.  Thanks again...
Reply:Who cares about the tank pressure? - you should be talking CFM @ what pressure for your needs.$1089 for a 2 stage delivering 15.3 CFM @ 100 PSI is probably enough for most hobby type needs as far as painting and sanding - maybe not sandblasting chassis, but for 95% it should cover you. Belaire Compressor Model 218V Two Stage (MSRP $1598) Click Here For Large PictureCode:BEL218VwPrice: $1,089.00Quantity in Basket: none • Model T29 2-stage compressor pump - Solid cast iron cylinders, balanced iron crankshaft, ball bearing crank support, stainless steel valves• Model T29 2-stage compressor pump - Solid cast iron cylinders, balanced iron crankshaft, ball bearing crank support, stainless steel valves • Pre wired motor - No magnetic starter required• Thermally protected motor• Stop/Start pressure switch with pressure unloader and tank pressure gauge included• 80 gallon vertical tank built to ASME code, includes bottom drain and side outlet valve.• Fully enclosed belt guard • 2 year "Bumper to Bumper" warranty • Made in the USA Truck Freight DeliverySpecifications:ACFM @ 100 PSI: 15.33 CFMCFM Displacement: 18.59 CFMMax PSI: 175Motor: 208-230V/1Ph. - 22 AMP I guess we need to know what you're gonna be doing with it - if you're just HVLP and sanding don't go too big...
Reply:This is the compressor that I got last year.  My uncle has been selling compressors based on these pumps for years.  They used to be Industrial Air and before then they were originally made for Salier Beal sp?The one I ended up with is basically the 120 gal 10hp with a 7.5 hp motor.  She runs really slow.  It was a custom build of new replacement parts he had in stock.Their site is dead tonight but here is a dist.Industrial Gold Compressor Most of the compressors people have mentioned should be pretty decent.  Disk valves are supposed to be better than the reed valve plates.  I know they are easier to replace - just screw them out of the top of the head.  I believe the industrial duty IR pumps have them, the industrial gold ones do.  The others I do not know.  I do know that some of the IR pumps do not, at least some of the old ones didn't. Cast iron pump is a better deal than aluminum pump.  Aluminum disapates heat faster but the cast iron will wear longer, and run quieter.  Another place to look for a decent compressor is your local farm store.  Several of them around here carry Quincy compressors for the higher end stuff.  No shipping that way but will have to pay sales tax.When you get it have fun.  At least you bypassed all of the phony hp single stage compressors and are looking at commercial / industrial type units.  Don S
Reply:I plan on using the air for mostly grinding, sanding and sandblasting. Some painting too. I don't want to make the mistake of going too small like Don said. Then it just ends up being a boat anchor.  I rather err on the side of too large. That being said, I am limited to single phase power. So I can get a 7.5 hp motor, 80 gallon tank 2 stage compressor. I plan on keeping it forever so don't want to save a few bucks up front just to wish I had done it right the first time ... A lot of good input here!  Thanks again!
Reply:tubeman,I know I suggested the craftsman 17 cfm model for $849, but for the same price of the IR you could purchase two and end up with quite a bit more cfm. I haven't paralleled two compressors before but I know it is done. Maybe you could purchase a single unit and buy another if you need more flow. Just an idea. -Stephen
Reply:That's a great idea on parallelling the two together should I need to. Has anyone done this? Does it work. Would I really get twice the CFM for the money?It makes alot of sense to save the money if I don't need to spend it as long as I can upgrade if needed...
Reply:Yes it's been done and is actually quite common when you get into the bigger reciprocating compressors.When I bought my compressor, the first time I talked to my uncle he had a 2 x 5Hp duplex compressor which is two motors and pumps with a controller to have them alternate which compressor tuned on under low loads.  Under high loads, when the pressure dropped below a certain threshold the second pump would turn on (two pumps running) giving you an effective 10hp compressor that had a current draw of a 5hp when not stressing it hard. (only one pump running at a time on low loads)If you want to run both compressors on the same system you can reset the start pressure of one of them to a lower value so it only comes on when you are stressing the system.  Futher if you want to even out the wear between the pumps you could wire a multipole switch box between the pressure switches and the starters to alternate which one comes on first.  This does require that the tanks be interconnected at all times to balance the pressure between them and you have some interlocking concerns if you want to take one compressor off line for maintenence.  So yes you can lash up multiple compressors in the same system you just want to adjust the pressure switches on them so they do not come on at exactly the same pressure.  You don't want to dim the lights in the shop/house/neighborhood any more than you have too when they start up.I hope I haven't confused anyone.  Good luck with your compressor purchase.Don S
Reply:I was going to go for a Husky 60 gallon at home depot that i thought would have met my needs.  However, after doing extensive research on other boards i found that I would be better off buying a more top of the line compressor than a Husky, CH, coleman or craftsman.  CH makes the Husky as well as a lot of the other compressors out there.  I believe they are more cheaply made than the compressor I bought and didn't put out the cfm I needed to run my DA.  Which under load needs 14 cfm at 90 psi.  I couldn't get a compressor below 700 bucks that could do that.  I finally bought an IR which has a true 5 hp running not start up motor on an 80 gallon tank.  It puts out 18 cfm at 90 psi.  I tested it with my DA and it ran it for quite a while without a problem.  The eaton compressor are more industrial grade and may have slightly better parts but the IR from what I could tell has all the top components the eaton's had in the same price range.  Here is the link to the tractor supply company site where I found it.  I don't think they are making it anymore after this year so you might pick one up on the cheap.  http://www.mytscstore.com/detail.asp...productID=9181
Reply:ranger,that is the compressor that i am going to buy. they were out and had to order one in. i looked at a lot of them i i think it is the best bang for the buck...but then again... the one from sears looks pretty good also... i just do not like craftsmans powere tools. that is just me..Gimpy Robb, Tubeman,Thanks for posting the info regarding Eaton.One VERY interesting thing I saw on the Eaton site is thier bare pumps. $279 for a 5HP 2 stage pump with unloaders is a screaming deal.
Reply:Quincy compressors are top flight kit. Definitely worth a look.
Reply:Ingersoll Rand makes a nice, quiet compressor called the UPR Quiet Enclosed...http://air.irco.com/IS/product.asp/id/50,188,52,83,45The noise level of the smaller, tank mounted unit (UP6RM-5-175: 68 gal, 5 HP, 175 psi) is only 74 dBA...http://air.irco.com/IS/modelComp.asp/id/50,188,52,83,45Here's a photo... Attached Images