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I’d like to fire my compressor….

Mark Durrenberger

Mark Durrenberger

Joined
Jun 4, 2021
Messages
19
Likes
149
Location
Hudson, MA
Website
www.instagram.com
It’s just over three years old and the regulator started leaking (kobalt “quiet” 26 gallon) I use to blow off dust, and more importantly, run a 2” sander. (The compressor can barely keep up with the sander.). I have been unable to find a 2” electric (high speed, random orbit) sander.

Am I stuck with the compressor if I want 2” sanding (meanwhile Metabo makes a great 3” electric random orbit sander. I’ve had one for about 4 years. But there are times that 3” is just too big. Yes I can put 2” Velcro pads on it but the head is pretty large so access to tight spots on small pieces would be a challenge)

The blowing off dust problem can be solved with any number of battery powered blowers.
 
I think you're stuck with air tools for small random orbit sanders. You're right, (clean, dry) compressed air is expensive. Low rpm pumps are less noisy, but cheap compressors are always going to be high rpm and loud. A lot of cabinet shops have moved to Mirka and Festool for larger work, but I'm not aware of any 2" electric models.

I use a compact cordless Milwaukee sander-polisher for initial sanding. For the final grit I use a corded Festool ROS for exterior surfaces and a Grex air powered ROS for inside bowls. That cuts the air use way down.

Air tools are simple and reliable, and relatively cheap. If you need a compressor anyway, air sanders can be a good choice for some tasks.

Milwaukee
Festool
Grex
 
When we built our shop a few years ago, it came with enough room in the crawlspace below to move the cheap compressor that has always been an irritant. Building didn’t leave enough in the budget to replace it, so it found a home down below. With the fully insulated floors it’s now almost totally silent - and all piping is run below the floors. If at all possible, look into building a separate room to house your noisier equipment - it’s well worth the effort.
A good friend was so impressed with the change in shop ‘noise’ that he added a small 4’x6’ insulated closet/room off the deck behind his shop to house both his compressor and dust collector. A return air arrangement keeps heat in in the winter.
I’ll be moving the dust collector down there this spring and running ductwork under floors.
 
About 10 or 15 years ago, I found a 60 gallon, 2 cylinder upright compressor for about $600. It maintains about 150psi and isn't horribly noisy. I ended up buying one for my shop and another one for at home.
 
JeffSmith said:
When we built our shop a few years ago, it came with enough room in the crawlspace below to move the cheap compressor that has always been an irritant. Building didn’t leave enough in the budget to replace it, so it found a home down below. With the fully insulated floors it’s now almost totally silent - and all piping is run below the floors. If at all possible, look into building a separate room to house your noisier equipment - it’s well worth the effort.
A good friend was so impressed with the change in shop ‘noise’ that he added a small 4’x6’ insulated closet/room off the deck behind his shop to house both his compressor and dust collector. A return air arrangement keeps heat in in the winter.
I’ll be moving the dust collector down there this spring and running ductwork under floors.
Click to expand...
In my current shop, the compressor and dust collector are in a separate closet. Yes the noise reduction is substantial and welcomed.
 
 
I wonder how effective those electric units with the long barrel at right angles to the pad would be in the bottom of a bowl. Short, angled handles seem to work better for me.
 
I own one of these Surfprep : https://totalfinishingsupplies.com/collections/surfprep-electric/products/3x4electric
Over five hundred hurt the pocketbook but I love the sander.
Your other option is a Festool : https://www.festoolusa.com/products...-rotex/576263---ro-90-dx-feq-plus-us#Overview
Also over five hundred.
When I was building guitars I went through the same dilemma! Bought the bullet and never looked back. Not many option in that size category.
Good luck and let us know what you end up with.
 
Mark Durrenberger said:
It’s just over three years old and the regulator started leaking (kobalt “quiet” 26 gallon) I use to blow off dust, and more importantly, run a 2” sander. (The compressor can barely keep up with the sander.). I have been unable to find a 2” electric (high speed, random orbit) sander.

Am I stuck with the compressor if I want 2” sanding (meanwhile Metabo makes a great 3” electric random orbit sander. I’ve had one for about 4 years. But there are times that 3” is just too big. Yes I can put 2” Velcro pads on it but the head is pretty large so access to tight spots on small pieces would be a challenge)

The blowing off dust problem can be solved with any number of battery powered blowers.
Click to expand...
First of all WOW! Hudson Massachusetts, I grew up next door in Marlboro. Just had my 50th Highschool Reunion last year. What I am about to tell you you need to be sitting down. I bought an

Ekasand E-Series 3 Inch Electric Sander Central Vacuum Hook & Loop - Low Profile - 3 / 32 Orbit​


They are pricey ($589, Buy once and cry once) but I have worn out a couple of 90 degree drills with 3" sanding pads. With a 2" adapter pad I have used it also for that and occasionally a 90 degree variable speed drill for the small 2" pads (Not random but it works). The Ekasand is Random Orbit and and can be attached to a shop vac or dust collector. I have abused my to no end and it holds up magnificently.

I also use a Dewalt XR 20V multitool attaching a triangular sanding attachment. I attend S.W.A.T. (Southwest Area Turners) Symposium each August. There are a lot of good vendors that attend. One is Vince's Wood Turning Wonders. He carries a lot of various sanders. My favorite source for sandpaper is turningwood.com which is owned by Steve Wooster. Great guy and he also handles a variety of sanding pads which can be attached to a drill or 90 degree drill.

For larger flat work I use a 6" Dewalt vs random orbital sander. I chose the Dewalt because it has the 8 holes in the pad as opposed to 5 and with a dust collector or shop vac it seems to keep the sandpaper cleaner than the 5 hole models with better ability for dust extraction.

I hope this helps. Best f luck on your endeavors.
 
Gabriel Hoff said:
How about this one? It seems to fit your needs....

Click to expand...
Gabriel, do you have this sander? If so what compressor do you use with it? The Amazon link you posted says it uses 2.2 cfm of air, Grex website and everywhere else I have looked list it at 8 cfm @90 psi. I really like this sander but if 8 cfm is the actual consumption it's too much for my compressor which I think is rated at 6 or 7 cfm output at 90 psi. Thanks.
 
Vincent Vogel said:
Gabriel, do you have this sander? If so what compressor do you use with it? The Amazon link you posted says it uses 2.2 cfm of air, Grex website and everywhere else I have looked list it at 8 cfm @90 psi. I really like this sander but if 8 cfm is the actual consumption it's too much for my compressor which I think is rated at 6 or 7 cfm output at 90 psi. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I have that Grex sander. It's a nice little finishing sander, but not at all powerful despite its appetite for air, which is at least 8cfm. I reserve it for the final grit in the sequence and use a faster rotary sander for coarser grits. The Amazon listing actually says "AC adapter 2.2 amps", which isn't even wrong.
 
Mark Durrenberger said:
It’s just over three years old and the regulator started leaking (kobalt “quiet” 26 gallon) I use to blow off dust, and more importantly, run a 2” sander. (The compressor can barely keep up with the sander.). I have been unable to find a 2” electric (high speed, random orbit) sander.

Am I stuck with the compressor if I want 2” sanding (meanwhile Metabo makes a great 3” electric random orbit sander. I’ve had one for about 4 years. But there are times that 3” is just too big. Yes I can put 2” Velcro pads on it but the head is pretty large so access to tight spots on small pieces would be a challenge)

The blowing off dust problem can be solved with any number of battery powered blowers.
Click to expand...

I had that Kobalt compressor. It stopped compressing, and because I didn't like it anyway, I opted to get a better compressor. I went with an Ingersol-Rand for about $900. Here is what I have discovered:

1. While the Kobalt was rated at 61db and the IR at 70db, the IR is much quieter. Kobalt is obviously playing fast and loose with the noise specs. If the Kobalt kicked on when I was in the house, I could hear it quite plainly. With the IR, I barley hear it when I'm in the house.
2. The IR is an oiled unit. I could get oilless, but I think the oiled is superior technology.
3. I could easily run the Kobalt out of air, and then I'd have to wait for it to recharge. That could take 10 minutes.
4. The IR doesn't run out of air as fast, and recharges much faster. When it kicks on, it only runs for a couple of minutes before the tank is full again.

In short, my takeaway is that I got what I paid for in both cases.
 
Gabriel Hoff said:
How fast do you need to sand? Sanding is done slowly, so that the maximum amount of wood is removed without heating the wood up.
Click to expand...
I Compared it to the palm sander from Woodturners Wonders (mine is leaking hence the reason I bought it) it’s also heavier and noisier.

It is probably the CFM my compressor can provide that limits the speed. And the WW version needs less air.

in fact, the GREX needs 8cfm and my WW sander needs 3cfm. That's why the Grex was so slow. At most my compressor can handle about 3-4cfm
 
Last edited:
Kent Reisdorph said:
I had that Kobalt compressor. It stopped compressing, and because I didn't like it anyway, I opted to get a better compressor. I went with an Ingersol-Rand for about $900. Here is what I have discovered:

1. While the Kobalt was rated at 61db and the IR at 70db, the IR is much quieter. Kobalt is obviously playing fast and loose with the noise specs. If the Kobalt kicked on when I was in the house, I could hear it quite plainly. With the IR, I barley hear it when I'm in the house.
2. The IR is an oiled unit. I could get oilless, but I think the oiled is superior technology.
3. I could easily run the Kobalt out of air, and then I'd have to wait for it to recharge. That could take 10 minutes.
4. The IR doesn't run out of air as fast, and recharges much faster. When it kicks on, it only runs for a couple of minutes before the tank is full again.

In short, my takeaway is that I got what I paid for in both cases.
Click to expand...
This is really good info. I could fix the regulator on the Kobalt but I hate throwing good
Money after bad… thanks
 
For me, an air compressor is one of those things where you buy quality and buy once. I use a 5hp 60gal IR in a sound-insulated closet for inside the shop and working on vehicles and big equipment outside.
If it were me, I'd dump the compressor and get a good 2-stage, oil.

There is another thread here about the small random orbital sanders. I love them (for their intended purpose). Those who expect something else may be disappointed.

What ever you do, remember to turn off the power when leaving the shop! A friend's shop burned to the ground when he didn't.
I put the power switch plus the driers/regulator/valves in the main shop outside the insulated closet so I can easily see and manage things. (I also do that for the cyclone dust collector I installed in the same closet)

Air controls outside the closet:
air_comp_ctrls_IMG_20150124.jpg

Power and control inside the closet:
DC_electrical_closet.jpg

Multiple air outlets inside and outside the shop (RapidAir):
Air_line_fitting.jpg

Dust collector electronics in the main shop:
DC_electrical_shop_s.jpg
JKJ
 
Thanks

My dust collector and compressor are in a separate closet now and in the new shop, they will be outside the work area in some sort of sound reducing structure. I just learned about the oil compressors and will likely switch. My palm sander runs on 3cfm and the ingersol rand 20 gallon seems to be able to hand this (5.2cfm at 90PSI 4.2cfm at 135psi - but I typically run at 90-100psi). The new shop will have 1 or 2 main disconnects to disable the 120 and 240. They will be near the door. So when I arrive or leave, I can quickly turn off everything.
 
Kent Reisdorph said:
I had that Kobalt compressor. It stopped compressing, and because I didn't like it anyway, I opted to get a better compressor. I went with an Ingersol-Rand for about $900. Here is what I have discovered:

1. While the Kobalt was rated at 61db and the IR at 70db, the IR is much quieter. Kobalt is obviously playing fast and loose with the noise specs. If the Kobalt kicked on when I was in the house, I could hear it quite plainly. With the IR, I barley hear it when I'm in the house.
2. The IR is an oiled unit. I could get oilless, but I think the oiled is superior technology.
3. I could easily run the Kobalt out of air, and then I'd have to wait for it to recharge. That could take 10 minutes.
4. The IR doesn't run out of air as fast, and recharges much faster. When it kicks on, it only runs for a couple of minutes before the tank is full again.

In short, my takeaway is that I got what I paid for in both cases.
Click to expand...
This is great info. I hate fixing the Kobalt (throwing good money after bad) and I did some reading on the ingersoll rand. It's 5.2 cfm at 90psi. My woodworkers wonders palm sander needs 3cfm. And yes, when I forget to turn off the compressor and it starts up (one of my tools leaks and if I forget to disconnect it....) you can hear it everywhere in the house- even 2 floors up. I'll probably sell it for $50 or $100 and order the IR.... I really appreciate your post about the oil compressors. Thanks. (and you saved me from having to get an 80 gallon 240V monster ;-) )
 
Mark Durrenberger said:
This is great info. I hate fixing the Kobalt (throwing good money after bad) and I did some reading on the ingersoll rand. It's 5.2 cfm at 90psi. My woodworkers wonders palm sander needs 3cfm. And yes, when I forget to turn off the compressor and it starts up (one of my tools leaks and if I forget to disconnect it....) you can hear it everywhere in the house- even 2 floors up. I'll probably sell it for $50 or $100 and order the IR.... I really appreciate your post about the oil compressors. Thanks. (and you saved me from having to get an 80 gallon 240V monster ;-) )
Click to expand...

I made my decision based on feedback from the group here. 👍
 
Mark Durrenberger said:
Thanks. (and you saved me from having to get an 80 gallon 240V monster ;-) )
Click to expand...
8 years ago I got a 60 gallon Quincey from northern tool. It 240v
It was $900 with free shipping then. It’s doubled in price in 8 years.
I never have to stop working it recharges just fine while I’m sandblasting and it delivers 15 cfm if I need that.

If the IR works for your needs it’s a good choice. If you think you might want more air later a 60 gallon could be a good choice.

One piece of advice I got then - no one ever complains about having a compressor that’s too big.
 
hockenbery said:
8 years ago I got a 60 gallon Quincey from northern tool. It 240v
It was $900 with free shipping then. It’s doubled in price in 8 years.
I never have to stop working it recharges just fine while I’m sandblasting and it delivers 15 cfm if I need that.

If the IR works for your needs it’s a good choice. If you think you might want more air later a 60 gallon could be a good choice.

One piece of advice I got then - no one ever complains about having a compressor that’s too big.
Click to expand...
Based on your experience and advice I bought the same model last year for about $1200 on sale. It's one of the smartest tool investments I've made! It handles everything I need it for without fuss, including my blast cabinet, pneumatic sanders, etc. It's made well enough that I expect my grandson will be using it years after I'm gone.
 
Ric Williams said:
Based on your experience and advice I bought the same model last year for about $1200 on sale. It's one of the smartest tool investments I've made! It handles everything I need it for without fuss, including my blast cabinet, pneumatic sanders, etc. It's made well enough that I expect my grandson will be using it years after I'm gone.
Click to expand...
I found a Quincy from the 80s on Craigslist for $100. I think I dropped $200 in bearings, gaskets and misc parts, but it's quite and moves a massive amount of air. I presume my kids will probably fight over it too.
 
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