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A Shop Upgrade Done Under Pressure, but Not Duress
Working on cars sometimes falls in a strange realm, where it is simultaneously possible to fix just about anything with a few tools and only a few things with a lot of tools. As the owner of a seemingly ever-expanding tool collection based on the projects I undertake, it’s always interesting to be told which tools I “need” to accomplish tasks and projects I’ve already done. I’ve restored and built a handful of motorcycles, plus done lots of maintenance, without one tool that most die-hard wrenchers would say is absolutely critical: compressed air. And I might finally be changing my tune.
It’s not as though I’ve never lusted after an on-command 90-psi blast of a well blended mix of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide. I just learned to live without and instead find small solutions when there was no replacement, even resorting to using electronics duster for carb cleaning, because I was working out of storage units, basements, or rental house garages, where I was simply happy to have a concrete floor. Five years ago I was lucky enough to buy a home and steadily have been building the garage into a flexible and fun home shop. Recently, I’ve been thinking about adding a compressor to my tool collection.
If I sound reluctant, that’s because I am. Shop air is a decent investment that really only makes sense if I intend to continue even further down the DIY path I’m currently walking. After building a handful of engines and doing major restoration work to all of my vehicles without having shop air, I’ve effectively convinced myself that having compressed air handy in my shop would be a luxury but not a necessity. One I could live without it, thanks to the arms race between battery-tool manufacturers, a race which we as consumers have been winning in recent history as more and more battery tools not only become equals with their pneumatic counterparts, but do so with relatively affordable price tags. Add in that I have access to other facilities that are equipped to a professional level, and it’s curious that I’m considering getting a compressor for my home shop at all.
And yet … this winter I finally decided that my next big investment would be in a steel tank, a motor, and at least one piston. Which means I hit the internet, determined to figure out the best setup for my needs.
And that’s when I got analysis paralysis. I’m lucky enough to have just under 700 square feet of shop space, which is room enough to be dangerous but also small enough to fill up really fast. And though I don’t have Rob Siegel–level storage problems when it comes to keeping my junk out of the weather while working, that is likely only the case due to sheer luck and some restraint in not buying every project car I daydream about rescuing. Still, I have too much stuff. A medium-sized compressor has a diminutive footprint, but physical size is only part of the equation. Even with a two-foot square on the wall to put the thing, I would need to sort out powering it and dealing with the noise. Thus for the last couple months I’ve been clicking around on the internet and asking friends for their opinion on which compressor I should get.
I decided that a 25–30-gallon tank with 5–7 cfm at 40 psi should cover my current needs. But I would likely want more later, and being the person I am, I was all but resigned to waiting until I could “do it right” and buy the setup that would solve every problem imaginable in my shop. Do I need a sandblaster at home? No, but it would be nice to have the option without forcing a compressor upgrade. Right now, shooting paint or Cerakote on small projects, plus the ability to use air to dry and clean parts, is the bare minimum. That’s actually a decent amount of air demand. The price tag was starting to creep up when I considered that compressors to support this would require electrical work to the garage that I’m not able to do. So, left to think about the gap between a huge project to “do it right” and the easier option that would likely leave me underwhelmed, I sat and did nothing.
But the interesting thing about analysis paralysis is that there are a whole host of ways to break out of it, and one tends to work pretty well for me: Just do … something. So rather than continue my spiral into accomplishing nothing, I bought the first thing that came across my screen which fit my current needs: an older 33-gallon Craftsman unit that I snagged for $120 off Facebook Marketplace.
Is it the perfect solution? Not even close. It’s an oil-less model so it’s loud when running, has all the problems that come with buying used, and leaves little room for growth. But considering I’ve never had shop air before, maybe I was wildly overestimating what I might need. For the price, it cost a fraction of the future-proof setup I was planning and starting to save for. It’s not much of a risk for me to try things out and get a better feel for my actual needs and wants, not hypotheticals. With compressed air in the building, it’s possible to figure out if investing in a nicer unit and all the trimmings of integrating it into my shop will actually be worth it. Before I can do that though, I’ve got to get this thing running. You didn’t think I bought something that runs and works perfectly, did you?
I was a former mechanic, so I had shop air at my disposal if I ever needed to get the ‘big gun’ out. Around the house I never had much more than the Harry Homeowner tire pump compressor… then I changed careers and have been progressively moving up in home air compressor size. I’m about where you are at except mine is a horizontal model. Does everything I need it to do.
Interesting. Do you expect to size up again at some point?
I’m on the fence. If/when it dies I’ll probably go bigger but it keeps up with what I do for the most par.
If you plan on using it for painting anything, a desiccant dryer and filter can be added and only use a clean air line that has never been used with an inline oiler for air tools to avoid fish eyes.
Absolutely agree. There are plenty of ancillary things required for pretty much any task using pneumatic tooling, thanks for the reminder!
Kyle, the old adage about “buy once, cry once” is applicable in this situation. I don’t know your financial condition (although the fact that a Corvair owns you speaks volumes) but here’s some ‘sperience talking: If you have to finance a 60 gallon, vertical two-stage 240 volt unit, do so. And here’s another little bit of info that might have gone unnoticed: it will cost you less to run than a single stage 120 volt unit will. The 240 volt motor should only require about 7 to 9 amps to start and will run at about three amps. The 120 volt one will use double those numbers. In the foreseeable future, the higher initial cost will be amortized in half the time of ownership.
One question: With all of the rolling stock you have, how do put air in tires without a compressor? Are you buying Fix-a-Flat by the case?
You just recommended a compressor that would be 10x the purchase price of what I just bought and require (at least) another $1000 in electrical upgrades to do DIY work in a 2.5-car home garage. That’s a huge investment into a tool I’ve never had before that just plain does not make sense. If I find this $120 purchase does not fit my needs, then I can plan that investment. It makes no sense to sink all that money (opportunity cost is a thing) when I don’t even really know my needs and wants. Paying interest on a huge compressor when I’m not sure if that’s what I need? Foolish.
For inflating tires, there is an 18v inflator in the photos of a few of my battery tools. It was $50 for the bare tool and uses the same batteries as my drills and impacts. Filled every tire of mine and more over the last 4 years I’ve owned it, including traveling with me to racetracks and to pick up project cars–something a home compressor would be useless for.
Not sure what you mean by “the fact that a Corvair owns you speaks volumes.”
I bought a new Craftsman new years ago. I had plan to upgrade but never did.
It runs and does all I need to be done. The Electric impacts has replaced my air as choice and often I just air up tires and use the compressed air to clean areas on an engine.
I don’t paint and just spray oil on a rare occasion.
I have come to realize even back in my gas station days the prime need was air for the old lifts. They are even gone today.
I have planned for a blast cabinet and never have gotten it yet. I expect I will at some point and it will run that.
I bought a 60 gallon Husky compressor from Home Depot years ago to paint my car in my 2 car garage. I don’t have 220 in my garage so I made an extension cord that runs downstairs to my dryer outlet in the house. I only plug it in when I need it and it’s worked out fine so far. Do I absolutely need it? No, I bought it for a specific task. I’d say your logic is spot on Kyle.
I considered a solution like yours with a plug-in that replaces another appliance, but the only 220 in my detached garage is for the well pump that feeds our entire property so… I backed away from the idea. Seems like the perfect fit for you though!
I own the Craftsman Professional version (175 psi max) of your air compressor. I purchased it new in 2002. At the time I worked at a truck outfitting business, so I have a decent arsenal of air tools to use with it. It can run just about all my tools but will simply run out of air when using any kind of air sander, cut off wheel, sand blaster, or angle grinder, which can be a little frustrating constantly waiting for it to catch up. I have used the hell out of it through the years. It has provided air to paint cars and trucks, run an air nailer for a framing and roofing project, literally hundreds of tire rotations, suspension R&R’s and everything in between. It has literally run for 14 hours straight multiple times. That being said, I feel it’s getting a little worn out now (takes forever to fill and doesn’t keep up with demand) so I have been dreaming about a larger, more robust air compressor, even though I don’t wrench like I used to. I think for your needs, that compressor will be fine, especially since you have managed without one all these years. Keep us updated!
Deciding on a new/used air compressor is tough for me too. I bought a Craftsman 2 stage 120/240 volt, 30 gallon horizontal unit back around 1976 or so. i still have it and use it. I’m starting to get concerned that the tank might blow out at some point due to many years of internal rust. If it does, I hope it does non violently. I used to paint and body work with it and mostly general automotive and household work. I may replace it soon.
I hit a sweet spot with my compressor.
I bought it in 2019, the year after I bought my house. I’ll save you the long tale and sum it up with this, due to a SKU error on Princess Auto’s part, I snagged a refurb 80 gallon compressor for $499 CAD.
It is more than I’ll ever need and will support any upgrade I do short of opening a commercial shop.
I also have the distinct advantage of a 100A service panel in my garage, and friends who are licensed electricians, so it all worked in my favour to set me up for life.
I wish you luck with you new machine. My only advice is stay away from tools like die grinders, they chew through air in a way that few other air tools do. It puts my 80 gallon to work when extended grinding/cutting is required.
I was renting a house when I bought the same model/size used (although mine’s horizontal), and after replacing a bad regulator and adding a water separator, I lugged that think out in the driveway every weekend to make life easier. That was well over a decade ago. It lives in the corner of my garage, attached to a wall-mounted hose reel. I use it 2-3x a week, everything from blowing dust off parts to fastening trim inside the house, or maybe cleaning up an old cast iron pan. And tires, of course. Probably the 2nd most used single tool in my garage (the first being a craftsman ratchet from the same early-2000’s era).