Tool Tak Time!


So I bought a new farm this fall and went to use my old, worn out and grossly undersized Craftsman compressor that I bought in a farm auction 5 years ago for $20 only to discover that it has "given up the ghost".


I use the compressor periodically for Impact Gun, Die Grinder, Paint Gun and tire inflation use primarily.


Just taking on my first mortgage and starting a new job, etc etc I'm not flush with cash and being a "moderate" user and not running a full time professional shop I don't want to spend a ton of cash on the item.

Seen some good prices on this compressor.

It's a 60 gallon Coleman "powermate"

Anybody ever had one?

Worth buying?

Or complete junk?

 

I'd go with a Dewalt if you can find one, they bought out Emglo and the few I have used worked and ran good.

I have a Rol-air now that's been used weekly for the past ten years and its been good. I think the Coleman's are all MIC now.

 

yup, and not even alloy anymore. you get a better unit from northern tools.

worth it to try name brands for an investment for about 12 hassle free years/ 18 if you maintain the oil and condensation annually.

Lowe's will sell you re order/display dewalts for about 150 bucks off, no wheels or stuff like that. ask.

tool rental companies too

 

I use a 30gl upright twin piston "6" hp PUMA, i bought it new i use all the air body tools inpact guns, air up tractors regularly, never never had a problem with it and i have hade it 14 yrs, it was $385.00 then now maybe $425 but a great compressor.

If you buy one make shure it's a belt drive and the motor needs to be a 1750 -1800 rpm, the 3500 rpm motors are not as reliable, "i know because this is what i do for a living" is work on electric motors ( 21 years now )

try to get one with a century or A.O.smith or baldor motor they are pretty good, the no name motors not so much.

I will be glad to help in any way

Darwin

 

PS: Whatever you get, replace the oil with Amsoil synthetic compressor oil, it pays off.

 

I'm with Sixslug, give it a good break in and then give it a good oil like Amsoil.

One of the big things with just about any small compressor is that the oil isn't filtered and most people don't take the time to ever change it. The first change is the most important!

Do that and change the oil on schedule and you'll get great service out of just about any compressor.

 

What part failed? The motor or the compressor? I just had my 35 year old to me 5 horse motor rebuilt for 100$ The compressor I rebuilt 20 years ago and it is still going strong. It seeps a little oil that I wipe up on it about every five years, but I check the oil every year. They use to sell rebuild kit and replacement compressors for a lot less than a new one. The oiless ones seem to be junk! If the tank ever goes I will by a nice duel stage with a small 30 upright tank.

 

The motor runs but it makes no pressure. IE zip, zero, zilch...

Also makes a lot of noise.

This was a cheap craftsman oiless, direct drive with about a 15 gallon tank. It was never big enough for what I was doing and it would run nearly constantly when I was painting etc.

That said I more than got the $20 I paid for it in use.

I did replace the pressure switch once as well as the steel line from the compressor to the tank.

I have never seen a Dewalt machine of substantial size. I've only seen smaller portable sizes that were 110 and on wheels.

 

I saw a 60 gallon Campbell Hausfield at Tractor supply this weekend that was pretty inexspensive.

Not sure if it's any good or not?

 

I've got a Cambell Hausfield 30 gal upright, have only had it for 18 months, but so far for the price it performs pretty good. I wish I got the 50-60 gal, the 30 is too small for sandblasting. Great for any air tool I've come across yet though. It was labeled "115 Volt" but the thermal o/load kept tripping out at 110, only 20 feet from the main panel too. Rewired it to 240, much better.