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Air Compressor recommendation

S

soonermajic

Well-known member
I found a used SpeedAir 80 gallon compressor asking $1750, & 30 day warranty.
Used Champion compressor 120 gallon, asking $1500.

I have 4 SS bays, 1 Ryko OHD Touchless (30 cpd) & 1 SoftGloss (15 cpd).

What's your preference? I currently have an old Curtis 80 gallon compressor that's working fine. But want a top of the line compressor for that day it ever goes out...
Or, should I just wait for something to go bad, & get it repaired? Or buy an 80 gal I-R from Lowes?
 
I really like this one:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-8...Stage-Electric-Air-Compressor-C801H/203187346

It's the smallest and least expensive one I've found that's continuous-duty rated, very quiet compared to a 2-stage 7.5 HP I/R and almost as good CFM. I bought one for a backup and I'd have no problem running two of them side by side to not have to worry about air.

I/R is good except for the cheap Chinese motors they use.

I wouldn't mess with a used Speedaire for that price when you can get something more than adequate new for less.
 
You need a 2 stage 3 phase setup, I would get a Polar Air, have one myself and have turned several people on to them that’s been happy. Mom & pops company stand behind there product and made in the USA. For $1700 you can get a brand new one with warranty
 
Whatever you go with make sure you purchase some time of timed valve that opens the most bottom part of your tank to drain the water out regularly. I've put them on both of my compressors and sleep well knowing the water is being dumped out. There are multiple ways to accomplish this, but I have found the most reliable to be a valve on a timer.
 
Go with quality and reliability and never look back. The big box units might do for inexpensive emergency back up, but they aren't built for the demands of our environment. If the tank is solid, a quality
replacement compressor can be had for under a grand.
 
I have a Quincy QT 7.5 at my busiest wash. It was around 2K when I bought it several years ago, but it's been a great compressor so far and is very quiet. The 7.5 is overkill though.

I have multiple washes so I have a backup continuous duty portable compressor. I have my airline on my car wash compressor teed in between the tank and regulator with a quick connect fitting. If my compressor goes down for whatever reason I connect my portable to the tee and it fills the main tank. It runs forever to keep up, but it has managed to keep me running through some busy weekends when I couldn't get a pressure switch or similar component.
 
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I keep a spare compressor and pressure switch for my 80 gallon Campbell Hausfeld...Also keep a 5 hp 30 gallon compressor at home for a spare for when the 80 gallon craps out....The campbell hausfeld is over 20 years old...If the tank ever rots through, I like the one Mep linked to...I know a reseller that buys scratch and dents and sells them for $500.00...

I've only had one issue in 8 years. Had a pressure switch go bad...
 
Before I was a car wash operator my family had tire stores. Quincy always proved itself to be the best with a good Ingersol Rand behind them. I only have qunicy now and have never had a problem with them with 2 of them over 25 years old and one 20 and the other 18 years old.
 
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