Alabama thread!

Holy necropost batman! Welcome

 

Welcome!

 

Not yet. You want it? I can get you a hell of a deal lol

 

3.55's here, 2.80 first gear in an automatic. See why I gotta use the skinny pedal so much haha.

 

Nope, got no interest in it. Was just curious.

On a side note guys, I really could use some of your support in my bearing thread. Maybe you don't want to or need to buy any right now, but I would appreciate the support. I got jammed up earlier this past weekend and could use the supporting bumps and just a general support of me and what I have offered. If it's not too much to ask. Thanks.

 

Yeah I'm 3.55:1 first gear, and 4.11:1 final drive turning 37's that weigh something like 115 lbs per wheel/tire combo. The automatic that comes in the FJ80's was a 2.95:1 first and 4.11:1 final drive, and folks bitch about first not being low enough once they put >35's on them. However, the torque converter being able to slip lots seems to make a pretty good bit of difference. An automatic with 3.55:1 (or lower) first would be awesome if it was available.

 

Anyone have any recommendations on air compressors? I will be soon looking for one that is at least 4cfm @ 90psi, and hopefully less than 300 bucks if possible. I need it to run a nailer to start, but I'd also like to use it for a cutoff tool and impact wrench especially.

 

He is only up to page 20 or so by now. It will be a few weeks before he gets to your 'Welcome'

 

A cutoff tool EATS air. I've got a 60 gal husky, and there have been times using an angle grinder that I've thought I needed a larger one. I think it's around 10 CFM @90 IIRC.

Looking back on my purchase, I'd say two things:

1) Buy more than you think you need. I did this and I've been really happy. Only thing I think I'm going to have trouble with is my little tabletop media-blasting cabinet, and occasionally running a grinder of any type for extended periods of time.
2) Keep an eye on craigslist for a few weeks if you can afford to wait a little while. Good deals come up from time to time. Some need a motor, and given your mechanical skills I'd say replacing the motor on a compressor rates as about a 0.5-1 beer job, max.

 

I know they're hogs, but really 10CFM? I have read 4 being the minimum and 10 being ideal. On the cutoff wheel, I figured for what I'll end up using it for, too, I can always just stop and wait for the tank to recharge, no? A 10cfm compressor is a spendy item.

Hmm... Good food for thought though. I am a little leary of craiglist compressors, just because I need another project like a case of herpes. Any recommendations on brands, etc? Craftsman had a decent-looking 5.1CFM 33-gallon that I was eyeing in the 200's.

 

11.5 - 23.8 for the one I've got
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/campbell-hausfeldreg;-air-powered-cut-off-tool

They're hogs for sure.

If the tank is full, yeah, you're fine until you drop from full tank pressure to 90 psi tank pressure before you start losing power at the cutoff tool, assuming you're running 90 psi regulated pressure. Thing is, in a 30 gallon tank, that doesn't take very long. You then wait for it to top back off, which may take 5 min or so.

It's not a terribly big deal, but I can tell you, in the middle of a project you're trying to get done after work on a week night, it gets old fast. My 60 gal probably takes 5-7 minutes (gut feeling, never timed it) realistically, but it feels like an eternity. I'd expect a 30 gal probably has a lower flow compressor head on it and takes about the same amount of time to top off, but will drain more quickly. That's conjecture at best though.

Also, if you're going to be near it, try NOT to do oil-less. They're hella loud.

 

Well damn, I may just scratch a cutoff tool off the list then and go electric for that. I actually use a dremel, right now, since all I've had to cut has been pretty small stuff, but I'd like to go bigger for obvious reasons.

 

Yeah, I was in the same boat when I bought mine. Really didn't want to sink the amount of money in it that I did, but I have a co-worker with a 60 gal hard plumbed in his garage, and he was like, "Dude, just do it. It's the best thing you'll do in your garage."

I listened to him, and I've gotta say, it's one of the best things I've done in my garage. My work bench is a close second, or maybe first, but either way, I love having it. I'd definitely offer the same advice.

Funny thing is, you kinda have to get used to having it. I still think in terms of hand tools, and I'll be doing something and thing, "Durr... self... get the air ratchet."

 

Well, the other thing is that it has to be portable. My house has a shop in the crawlspace, and a garage on the other end, so I want to be able to wheel it from one to the other. Also, I need to rent a nailer to build a fence, so I'd be dragging it around the yard (although I'm going to check if they rent electric nailers that will work.)

 

Ah, well then a 60's right out, lol. Mine's bolted to the concrete floor on shock isolators. Definitely not man-portable.

I'd go for one of the 200 psi ones on wheels. They're smaller, but the higher pressure should net you longer tool run times.

Other way around that is plumbing. Mine's in the back corner of the basement, but the outlet is over by the garage door, and I've got a stub put in to run another one by the work bench. More money but food for thought.

 

Yeah, that's why I think 5 CFM, maaaaybe 6, and probably 20-30 gallons is as good as I'll get, for now anyway. But that should at least run an air impact and ratchet, yeah?

Any brand recommendations?

 

Don't rule out the 60 just yet! You could always use hard pipe and plumb from the garage to the shop. Then plumb to an area of the crawl space in the back yard and put a quick-connect fitting there. Get you a pair of 50 or 75 foot air hoses and you will have compressed air available from 100 to 150 feet from the house!

 

Yeah, it'll run them fine I would think. Mine is a Husky, and I've been fine for about 4 years on it. Everything works as new.

Honestly, if you look at the compressor cylinder on the Husky and the Campbell Hausfield one that are about the same price, I think they come out of the same factory in China.

I don't have any experience with other brands, other than my father in law has an Ingersoll Rand 80 gal that was like $2,500. That's moving in the wrong direction though.

The hose and fittings will make a difference in how hard an air tool "hits." If you're going to need to do something like take a steering arm off a saginaw, or a crank pulley bolt, where you're REALLLLLLY going to be taxing an impact, and you're specifically buying a high torque impact for it, don't skimp on your connectors and hose.

Truth. This is my end game.

 

If this were our forever house, I would strongly consider that. We'll definitely be moving in a few years, though, I'd like a portable setup. Frankly, down the road in a more-permanent house I wouldn't mind installing such a setup, and also having a portable. It never hurts to be able to throw a compressor in the truck and take it to a buddy's house.

Noted!

 

dewalts portable one is like 300 @ lowes and its the highest cfm you can get for the size. It gets its cfm cause it pumps up to 200+ psi. You know that whole pressure and volume relationship thing.

I've more or less given up on a good air system for now. The only thing I'd want it for is airing up tires and maybe an air ratchet. I've got all the impact I need with my cordless milwaukee impacts. Also have a corded grinder and a dremel for the finer stuff.

Nail gun/ stapler? meh, a cheap small one runs those well. If I were to seriously buy one, it would be that dewalt. It would run a 3/8" impact just fine too.