Are Ingersoll Rand good air compressors?

[LT7A]

Congrats! Looks/sounds like a good unit. Put a coat of wax on that thing and then get busy with your blasting cabinet.

[Gregski]

so taday was a good day

[Gregski]

oh wow check out the price difference on this Air Filter and Pressure Regulator between Home Depot and AMAZON and yes I checked and it is the exact same part number PA207803AV

not to mention HD shipping would take 2 weeks and AMAZON is next day

[Gregski]

finally got the air compressor fired up for the first time, you need to run it without presurizing the tank for 30 minutes to let the pump burn in

Air Compressor First Run

[Gregski]

and though I can't see through the seeing glass on my FREE Craigslist media blasting cabinet and I think the light is burned out, so I am using a portable flashlight I managed to get a few pieces done last night

[Gregski]

INITIAL REACTION

This two stage 60 gallon air compressor is doing exactly what I bought it for: media blasting

I am using white stuff that came with the free media blasting cabinet so I am guessing it is soda

I heard that I should run 1/2" hoses but to start I am just using the dime a dozen 3/8ths for now with what they call 1/4" NPT (National Pipe Thread) fittings (finding all the right fittings and adapters was total and complete hell, they could not have made it any more difficult)

• the tank hole is 3/4"
• the hose ends are 1/4" MPT (Male Pipe Thread) but the hose itself is 3/8ths to confuse you
• the air pressure regulator thingie is 3/8" but FPT (Female Pipe Thread)

anything in the Pipe Thread family is not even close to the actual human size, for example 1/4" NPT is not 1/4" though I'm sure someone on here will try to explain it, like maybe the hole inside the threads is 1/4" I don't know, all I know it's dumb and confusing

[Gregski]

strong language but fantastic info on air compressor ratings (funny too)


Why are CFM ratings BS?

[dsraven]

you might try garnet in the blaster. it was recommended to me from the guy who sells sand blaster sand. he said the garnet doesn't powderize right away so it lasts longer and so less fine particulate in the air inside the blaster which ,akes it easier to see.
my cabinet blaster like that one now has a vacuum connected to the outlet port with a cyclone affair that helps drop out the particulate before it gets to the vacuum. works great. i also modded the pick up tube and lowered the screen floor inside the blaster so a larger piece could be put inside. the vacuum also helps you get the gloves on if you turn the vac on with the door closed the gloves get sucked inside and fully open for you to easily slip your hand in.
there are a few mods on the net to show how to make the blaster better. I am thinking about the mod that puts the sand and air mixing below the chute at the bottom, in the little door to empty the sand, and then have a foot pedal to supply the air. that seems to work well by the news on the net, lol.
I was so excited to get a big compressor as well. mine is an IR 5 hp 2 stage.

[Accelo]

The group covered most everything.
A few comments;
Compressor companies lie on the HP and CFM ratings. Caveat emptor.

Plastic for air lines usually is only approved for underground usage. Otherwise it is typically illegal for the reasons listed. It can blow up if damaged.

Blast cabinets use a lot of air. If you use it much, to be happy, you will need a 5hp two stage inter-cooled compressor.

This means the motor will require roughly 26A at 220V running. Manufactures love to rate the motor amp draw as SP. (Special Duty) You will have no reference as to the real hp of the motor.

Get the largest tank you can afford. Used Horizontal compressors are less money as they take up more room.

All tanks are dated by law. Avoid the ones over 20 years if you can. Hit the bottom with a welding hammer, with no air in the tank, before purchasing.

Big and heavy are your friend. The slower the pump rotates the longer they last. Never purchase an oil-less compressor. Just junk and noisy as heck as the piston is open to the air. They are a giant speaker that just happens to pump air for a short time. None will last in blasting cabinet usage.
Cheers.

[Rickysnickers]

Here you go air compressor gurus, what do you think of this one? I tried searching for info on it, but it's not even showing up in the manufacturer's website. It must be fairly old. https://boise.craigslist.org/tls/d/g...532775522.html

[Dead Parrot]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

Here you go air compressor gurus, what do you think of this one? I tried searching for info on it, but it's not even showing up in the manufacturer's website. It must be fairly old. https://boise.craigslist.org/tls/d/g...532775522.html

Assume the tank is a rusty bomb until you prove otherwise. They are selling it for a reason.

2nd what Accelo said about buying compressors. I had one of those oil-less compressors. Very noisy and couldn't keep a small angle grinder running for more then a minute.

[Accelo]

I vote for a pass.
Only because parts for this style compressor are impossible to find.
That said it is fairly reliable.
Looks like the 80 gallon tanks and two stage.

Be patience and the right one will come along.

[Gregski]

I can't believe it's already been 18 months since I bought that beauty

anyway thought I would share the latest mod I made to my Master Blaster cabinet in hopes of preventing the plastic window from getting beat up by ricochets so much

I wanted to use 2 x 6s but I didn't feel like taking out a loan to buy one, so I just used what I had from a left over palette

[dsraven]

a couple of small LED flood lights in the upper rear corners really help to see things too. I have a cheap princess auto metal version, princess auto is Canadian version of harbor freight, I lowered the grill in the floor and modified the pick up tube for better suction. added the lights and it is twice as good as before. the size of the nozzle is important, mine came with a fairly small nozzle so a larger one was installed and that works better. I also added a blow gun to the inside on a coiled hose so the parts and the door area can be blown off prior to opening the door. I have a vacuum connected to mine so I leave that on until after the door is open after blasting, then the sand particles get sucked into the cabinet instead of falling out on the floor. I have a dust deputy cyclone style seperator inline on the vacuum and that catches most of the dust so the vacuum, a residential built in style I got for free, doesn't get plugged so fast. there are plastic sheets you can install on the inside that protect the glass, or whatever you are using for a window.

[dsraven]

your blaster looks great. is it a purchases el cheapo dekuxe like mine that you built a new box for? looks like you have a bunch of the parts from a retailed version but your own design for the box part.