[AT] Air compressors?

[Greg Hass]

I second the motion on the extreme noise of an oil-less compressor.  My 
brother has a 5-hp 220 volt Sears oil-less unit
with fairly good-sized horizontal tank.  While it puts out a huge volume of 
air, the noise level is unbelievably high.  I can't attest as to the life 
expectancy of the unit.  Although he has had his for several years I would 
estimate the running time at around 3 hours per year. so at the rate he 
uses it the unit should last him many years.  I have heard of some people 
puttting their air compressors outdoors or in an unheated area to get away 
from the noise.  However, there is no way I would consider such a thing as 
I am a firm believer in having that type of equipment heated when 
possible.  For one, it is much easier on the equipment to start up in warm 
conditions and when I had my compressor in an unheated shop, in the winter 
I had all kinds of trouble with moisture freezing the compressor switch so 
that either it would not start or it would freeze in the run position and 
then blow off the safety relief valve, or it would freeze the release valve 
on the pressure switch that releases the air upon shutdown so that it can 
start up on the next cycle.  My opinion would be if it is mainly to be a 
portable unit to push around for inflating tires, go with the 
oil-less.  Otherwise, spend the bucks and get a "good" oil-type compressor.

Another thought on either one...I have 2 cousins who farm on the bigger 
side and have quite a few truck tires to inflate.  The cousin who farms the 
most acres bought a new compressor a few years ago with large capacity, 
however it shuts off at 135 lbs. and starts at 120 lbs.  The help has 
complained to me that when it comes to inflating some of the truck tires 
which requires as high as 110 psi, it is a slow, time-consuming 
project.  The other cousin asked me for suggestions.  I researched it and 
we got a 2-stage compressor which pumps 175 psi, which saves them a lot of 
time on truck tires.   So I guess the bottom line is: determine how you 
want to use it and go from there.

Greg  Hass