I am in the market for a new shop air compressor. I want it portable, around 25 - 30 gallons, belt drive, and quiet! I also want a quality unit that will be basically trouble-free. What is your experience?

Good luck with the quiet part. Most compressor mfg now days spin the pumps fast to get more output, when you spin them fast they make more noise

Although my compressor is bigger then what you want, i have had good luck with my Quincy so far

J R, I have noticed the Quincy and am interested in it. Where did you buy it? I am not 100% set on the portable, but since I don't need a large compressor, it would be convenient.

I got it along time ago thru dads work… don’t remember the guy anymore…

quote:

Originally posted by seabass:
Although my compressor is bigger then what you want, i have had good luck with my Quincy so far

When I was in the air compressor biz way back in the 80s Quincy was considered the Rolls Royce of reciprocating compressors because they had a pressurized lubrication system instead of splash

Look into the Eastwood 100% duty cycle and very quiet think Honda generator

Eastwood scroll compressor small tank super quiet little unit

2006 model Quincy 20 gal 5 hp that resides in my basement. Feeds the attached garage and basement. I think it’s perty quiet given the size.

A friend has one of these from Harbor Freight and it is really quiet.
https://www.harborfreight.com/...ompressor-64596.html

This larger model may be what you need, it is quiet and 175 PSI.
https://www.harborfreight.com/...ompressor-57336.html

I still have a Speed Aire 20 gallon compressor that I bought 60 years ago for about $125. It's like the old Timex Watch sales pitch, it's still "Tickin' after takin' a 60 year lickin"! I've had it longer than I've had my wife.

I figured that it was going to lay down and die so two years ago I bought a "Back Up" up-right 60 from a neighbor who moved to Missouri for $200. I seldom run the up-right because it makes a lot more noise.

Bob

About Harbor Freight. For a long time, I considered Harbor Freight tools cheap junk. Lately, I need a new floor jack, and a friend says I should check out Harbor Freight since it will be for limited usage. He said I have been buying from them, and the tools are holding up just fine. And much to my pleasant surprise, he was correct. I have now bought several items, and all are working as expected. The tools look good. The local store is clean and well organized, the employees are helpful, and it's all good. I had not considered an air compressor, but Curly's link looks like what I want.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Woodfin:About Harbor Freight. For a long time, I considered Harbor Freight tools cheap junk. Lately, I need a new floor jack, and a friend says I should check out Harbor Freight since it will be for limited usage. He said I have been buying from them, and the tools are holding up just fine. And much to my pleasant surprise, he was correct. I have now bought several items, and all are working as expected. The tools look good. The local store is clean and well organized, the employees are helpful, and it's all good. I had not considered an air compressor, but Curly's link looks like what I want.

Agreed! That $400 upright that Curly linked looks perfect Larry. I’m at a point in my life where much of what I’m purchasing will probably outlast me. And if it don’t, so what. I’m getting good at throwing/ giving stuff away.

If you have a Northern Tool and Equipement near you, I'd check it out. They have a large selection of quincy, ingersol rand, and other compressors. I got a big quincy two stage, 175 psi, 60 gallon tank, and tons of volume. It's actually pretty quiet despite being a piston compressor, you can actually have a talk with someone next to it while it's running.

One of the best things I ever did was to put a small Rubbermaid shed behind my garage and put the compressor in there. When I did the electric, I put a dedicated outlet outside the back of the garage for this plan. Now I just walk in the garage & flip the breaker on - I have to lower the radio a bit to hear if the compressor is running.

At my old shop I built an insulated room to keep the noise of compressor down. Worked great. Only problem out of sight out of mind and you do not check and maintain it like you do if it right in front of you. Also you do not hear when it starts making noise and sounding different.

Now my new shop I have a $15,000 high pressure (6000 PSI) compressor that is very quiet and I will be using it. I have 3 of the large 6000 PSI storage bottles and then it gets regulated down to a large stand up tank at 150 PSI or so and then all of the lines run through the shop with four hose reels so I can reach any where in the shop with clean dry air. Main reason I am doing this is because I have this compressor from my business and this one has some minor issues and so I will not sell it. But this machine removes all the moisture and smell and moves a lot of air at high pressure. Would never spend that kind of money on a shop air system but since I have it might as well put it to use. I also put in several shut offs so I can block off sections if there is a leak or something. Have not finished this system yet as I have some other higher priorities. Building a shop and house and 4 race cars and one tow truck is a lot in addition to maintaining my farm here. Do what I can, when I can.

As for quality, we have become a disposable society.
For instance big TVs would cost thousands of dollars and we spend hundreds to fix them. Now you can get bigger, better and cheaper new than you can repair the old one. Walmart right now has 65" 4k HD Tv for $298. I spent more than that years ago to repair my rear screen projector TV and I did the work. And the 298 TV at Walmart has much better picture and it is a Smart TV. I think I paid about $600 for my 75" TV I have now. Hard to beat that and they are getting cheaper while quality is getting better.

You could spend $4,000 on a compressor and it would surely be a good one but will the cheap one last 10 years and the expensive one last 11 years? And is it worth it? We all agree the more expensive one is probably better, but how much better? Personally I do not see the one 10 times more expensive as being 10 times better.

quote:

Originally posted by Curly1:
A friend has one of these from Harbor Freight and it is really quiet.

(This larger model may be what you need, it is quiet and 175 PSI}
.
[url=https://www.harborfreight.com/26-gallon-175-psi-ultra-quiet-oil-free-vertical-shopauto-air-
compressor-57336.html]https://www.harborfreight.com/...ompressor-57336.html[/url]

I have this exact 26 gallon Harbor freight unit in my shop across from my house .. Im an old guy and have had SEVERAL air compressors over the years , from 60 gallon down , Quincy , Ingersal Rand , Campbell Hausfeld etc .. and have NEVER had a compressor so loud and annoying in my life as this one ..Its horrible . you cant even stand to be in there when its runnning ..

TIP : listen to any compressor run before purchasing ...

My friend Ron has that exact CALIFORNIA AIR TOOLS compressor in his shop that SSTRACER recommended and I can attest to the fact that it is extremely quiet.

If I was going to build another work shop I would pour a 10 X 10 concrete slab with a small block wall shed on top, set back 10 (or more) feet from the main building. That shed would contain the air compressor, the race fuel and all of the other flammable chemicals.

Storing any of these items in your primary work shop/garage is both dangerous and noisy. One fire can ruin your entire day, maybe your life.

Bob