I know this technically isn’t the correct place for this post…
BUT..
I have found the views and opinions of the visitors to this corner of the far expansive Mustang forum to be the place to get the best answers to my questions.

I need advise.
I want to purchase an air compressor this weekend.
This compressor is not going to get a whole lot of use, the only reason I am considering this compressor is to work on my Mustang. The compressor must be movable, and I would rather have a 120V over a 220V.
I will be using it for light work, some light sand blasting, spot rust removal mainly.
I would like to be able to prime and paint the car with it….one day.
I see several compressors in my budget, but I have read so many different things to base my decision on…it has completely clouded the issue.
My initial thought was to get one that met all the criteria I was looking for.
3HP min
15 Gal min
10 CFM at 40psi
My problem is, to get the HP…I can only get 10gal tank in 120V
To get the tank size I can only get 1.5 HP
A 3hp 10Gal compressor only has 5cfm at 40psi
I remember when I was 18 I painted a car with a 1.5hp 10Gal compressor…but that was a old siphon type gun…and from what I have read the HVLP guns require a higher CFM.

Educate me

 

Here's a thought...

Pawn Shop

Yeup, pawn shop. If you haven't been lately, sometimes they have some fascinating stuff there. I knew I needed one about as what you’re looking for and I came across a Campbell Hausfeld 5 HP with 26 Gal capacity for a mere160 bucks.While shopping around at retailers like sears, lowes, home depot, etc... I quickly noticed the price I paid for my "used" compressor vs. a new setup was quite a bargain. Hope this helps some.

 

I own a 220 unit 7 HP, 60 gal 10.3scfm @ 90 psi and find that I still dont have enough air. I was going to buy a smaller unit but now wish that I would have gotten a bigger compressor. I use alot of air tools and have painted with mine. My neighbor has a smaller 110 compressor and does alot of painting but doesn't use the air tools as much. it all depends on your needs.

 

My advice is that you get the biggest compressor you can afford. Don't get an "oil-less" compressor because I think they suck, and they are too damn noisy. If you intend to do much sandblasting (at all)you will even find that the 7HP is insufficient. Go with the 220 V, the motors last longer.

Of course if what I propose is not in your budget, comprimise will be needed, but IMO, the money spent on a better compressor will make you happy for many years, settling for a cheap imitation will be a constant annoyance, like every time youuse it.

The size of the air tank is not important as long as the compressor will keep up with demand, if the compressor will not keep up, a big tank will provide longer periods of work, with longer periods of time to wait while the pressure recovers.

Even if you settle for a 2 1/2 HP, get one that uses oil in the compressor crankcase, you wont be sorry.

I have found that a 7HP will mostly keep up with a DA sander, but 10 is better, don't forget, oil-less sucks!!

 

The pictures show my 20 gallon oiled compressor. It cost around $450 and is 120v, 5HP. Campbell hausfeld makes this model but you can get their other models for around $350 with the same gallons/psi/cfm. I also agree with the other poster not to get an oil-less.

I'm not going to "recommend" it. I'm just going to tell you how I've used it and you can make up your mind.

I have used the Harbor Freight sandblaster pictured to sandblast the door pictured. It took 200lb of sand and 6 hours to sandblast this door with that compressor. 80% of the 6 hours was waiting for the compressor to fill back up.

I had to wait for the compressor to fill up 4 times to cut the piece of metal shown with a 3" cut off wheel.

There, now you know what a 20 gallon can do.

Please, someone pity me now.

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I'm on my third Craftsman compressor in the last 25 years and each new one was bigger than the one it replaced. I sold the old ones off and they are both still running. My latest is a 33 gallon 6 HP oil-less horizontal unit. It's portable; it's 110 V; it's enough to run my bead blaster for several hours at 70-80 psi. I've painted with it; I've taken apart 'parts' cars with it; I've filled up little kids soccor ***** with it. Noisy, sure- it's in the garage and the bead blaster is in my shed.
Jim

 

I had a twin tank Hitachi air compressor, and it lasted about 2 years before it burned up its first pressure switch assembly. I replaced it and after I burned up another one about 6 months later doing some trim work I decided it was time to give up on it. I did some researching, and I went with a Thomas air pack... info below

Model T-200ST Renegade is a high output 2 HP compressor designed for continuous multiple gun operation. Delivering 4.6 cfm @ 100 psi it can support 2 - 4 nail guns, depending on the brand. Higher tank pressure (135 psi ) allows longer runs of hose and increases available stored air. The patented "Life - Guard Dirt Deflector" extends compressor life by eliminating dirt and improving cylinder cooling. A slow turning (1700 rpm) motor reduces noise level and also helps to extend life. Drawing only 13 amps it easily runs on 15 amp circuits and also runs very well with extension cords.


http://www.thomasairpac.com/

So far I have been very happy with it, it is super quiet for an oil less compressor, and it has a reallyfast recovery time. Sandblasting is a stretch with it, I have a small spot gun, and I have to give it time to catch up periodically. One cool thing about is is that it has a 100% duty cycle, so there is no harm in running the **** out of it. Anyway, if you want something small that will last a long time I would suggest one.

 

This is the best advice I've seen in this thread. While my compressor was running, I could still hear the neighbor's oil-less compressor running. It was annoying.

I've had my Craftsman compressor since I was 16 and it has worked great. It can be converted back and forth between 110V and 220V by moving a wire between different terminals in the motor. It runs much better on 220V.

 

Does it really matter how loud an air compressor is? I mean, come on, it's out in the garage or work shed. You buy the most capacity air compressor that you can afford. If you buy a small cheap compressor, then you can't use tools as efficiently as you could with larger and more expensive compressors. That's a no-brainer.

 

I don't know what your area is like, but I'd be shot if I ran an oil-less compressor in my neighborhood after-hours ... not to mention it would keep my kids up. I live on the coast and people here tend to frown on you infringing on their serenity.

BTW, I never said to get an inadequate compressor for the job, just to getthe oil-filled, belt driven variety that is much quieter. Obviously, if money is a limiting factor then do what you have to do.