Harbor Freight tools thread.

Yes, it works. It's not quiet though. Actually, it's loud...very loud.

 

Air compressors are not quite...quiet. Especially the oil-less ones.

 

Well done. The only welding I've done is oxy/acetylene back in high school. I was pretty good at it. I've been meaning to pick up a decent mig welder and, after a lot of practice, try my hand at making my own sliders. I think of all the armor, those are the most attainable for DIYers.

 

Not HF but this looks worth it.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Porter-C...7AsV0VImwn__afEquH-sMaAhmL8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

He likely needs a 20/30 gallon.

He wants to run air tools for automotive use, namely an air ratchet, also. Asked the same question in 3 threads at least.

Told him to find what tool he has that demands the most air, and buy accordingly, and oil less will be the loudest.

 

This one for air tools.

 

Correct. Engine=noise.

 

Looks like a tiny tank. I wouldn't want anything less than 60 gallons for automotive use.

My 20 gallon Craftsman exceeded the demands of my cutoff tool but wasn't up to the task, anyway.

 

For shop use maybe not. For garage use there's plenty of good reviews. I'll buy it this summer and post the outcome.
29 gal. 2 HP 150 PSI Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor

 

Thanks for all the info. Dcsbftmfw you are correct that I did ask in multiple threads. I did this because where I work I don't use harbor freight tools. I use snap on and matco and I use an air compressor that is 80 gallons. That being said, I have "some" snap on at home but don't need that at the house. I also don't need a 80 gallon $2000 air compressor at the house. I don't need help matching or reading reviews. I placed it in multiple places because a. Harbor freight sells some cheap crap and some stuff that works for basic use. B. I asked the home improvement thread because people will use them at home. Trying to get as many people that do have compressors and willing to have an input of what they like or dislike.

 

I'm sure it's a good unit.

Not familiar with the appetite of an air ratchet, but small air tools can be very hungry. I would want more capacity, especially if noise is a concern. Smaller tank = more engine noise.

Something to consider. Especially if you might possibly utilize more air tools that will be more used for longer periods or need more air than your current setup will easily allow.

 

Like I said, my Craftsman was identical to the same style setup from HF and Campbell Hausfeld.

On that note, CH is a nice brand for the price, and used to be sold at Harbor Freight. A rolling 30 gallon would be my suggestion in whatever brand mets your budget constraints.

 

I have a Husky twin-cylinder 1.6 HP (the most you can really get from a 15 A 120 VAC supply) belt-driven that sits on a 30-gallon tank. It's 155 max psi and rated for 6.2 cfm @ 40 psi and 5.3 cfm @ 90--i.e. plenty for anything a happy-homeowner/shade tree mechanic might do.

It is also very quiet as it is belt driven and sits on 10" pneumatic tires; just 74 dBA at 1 meter.

Home Depot sells it for $445 however I picked up it last spring for $150 from a recently widowed woman. At that time it was just a bit over a year old, and hardly ever used that I could tell (Craigslist ad, her son helped her value things--who am I to tell others how to run their lives).



The same compressor is sold branded otherwise--$445 in red as a Powermate, $606 (also red) as a Porter-Cable and $635 if it is yellow and says DeWalt on it. I have seen it with other brand names too.

It was a bit sluggish starting up on 120, drawing almost the circuit's full 15 A, so I rewired the motor and fed it from a 20A 240 VAC circuit--spins right up immediately on 240...

 

Does it come prewired at 120? I have 240 in the garage. Could you elaborate on what you needed to do to the motor?
Thanks for everyone's comments and taking the time to read

 

Got it... thanks

 

California Air Tools make some nice and quiet oil-less ones. I have their 10gal 2.0hp one. Can honestly say its pretty dang quiet. Cant hear it inside (its in the garage) when it kicks on, and dont have to turn music up or anything to hear over it.

As tank size....biggest you can get! 10gal is pushing it for most things other than a nail gun and air ratchet. I can use a die grinder for deburring but much more than a small area Im waiting for the tank. The air ratchet (a HF 3/8) i can run more or less constantly. I get ~4-6 bolts (depends on length) before it kicks on. But the motor keeps up just fine so i can keep going. Now the IR 2235ti impact gun....yeah the compressor and tank cant run it to full potential. Its good for 2-3 "hits" then starts slowing down due to air. But the impact guns are air hogs.

I do want to get a bigger compressor though. BUt ive grown a bit out of the "home use" and want to use it for painting and sand blasting. But the smaller guy will stay around for when i want ot use the air ratchet and fill tires up type stuff

 

Explain double positives? Do you mean 2 hots no neutral (240v)?

2 120v plugs resulting in 240v is only possible using 2 different hots which is what you are doing wiring things direct to 240. I would suggest learning a little more before just assuming and using terminology that you make up as you go.

Many motors are multi tap / multi voltage. Depending on how you "tap" or wire the motor it can run different voltages which is why it may be able to run either 120 or 240. This doesn't mean you are running 2 sources at 120v it actually means you are combining 2 sources for 240 and not utilizing the neutral. This can be done with 2 different legs from your panel but won't work if you use 2 sources from the same leg which is still just 120v.

 

HF tools thread btw

 

I worked with a millwright who used this as a way to supply his suitcase welder with 240. He basically took two separate 120v receptacles that drew from different legs to get his 240. Had a cord made up to combine those separate legs into a 240v 50a welder receptacle. It was easier to run it this way then have someone run a new line for a temporary feed. He just had to test to ensure he had 2 separate legs and ensure he was working with the hots and not assume the person wiring the receptacles had done it correctly.

I have no issues with his use to achieve his needs on a temporary basis. But other than temporary use it isn't really proper and I can pretty much guarantee it isn't legal anywhere even temporary. Doesn't always mean we don't cheat to get a temporary service but we all know how we end up with temporary permanent.

 

Cheap HF shit doing the work for less money.