Which Compressor should I buy?

[Mrsrackey]

I have a 2 bay self serve and the compressor is getting tired. I just want to get my cards lined up so I'm not scrambling to replace it. What is a good recommendation? Currently on the roof because of room and noise. Really wouldn't mind putting it in the equipment room just for ease of working on it.
Any suggestions?

 

[David Rolf]

I have a four-bay and kept buying cheap warehouse units. They would last a year and give out. I purchased a Rolair and it's been going strong for two years. Mines 115V.

10 HP TWO-STAGE - INDUSTRIAL Stationary Electric Air Compressors - Rolair Systems

10 HP, two-stage electric stationary air compressors on a variety of tank configurations.

www.rolair.com

 

[Mrsrackey]

Thanks so much!
I'll check it out.

 

[Mrsrackey]

David, What size tank do you have? I don't see a Rolair dealer in Nevada.

 

[David Rolf]

David, What size tank do you have? I don't see a Rolair dealer in Nevada.

Mine is a 20-gallon. I can get the part number when I'm at the wash next week.

 

[Randy]

For a 2 bay car wash, you don't need a big air compressor. What kind of air compressor do you have now? First thing you need to do is get it off the roof and out of the weather. For 29 years I used a 20 gallon Sanborn compressor. I saw a 20 gallon Porter Cable on sale so I bought one and keep the Sanborn as a backup. What ever you do don't buy a oil less compressor, buy a belt drive compressor they last a lot longer. If you have a Tractor Supply nearby they have a pretty decent Dewalt compressor.

 

[Waxman]

champion centurion 2.

or Fs curtis

 

[Mrsrackey]

Mine is a 20-gallon. I can get the part number when I'm at the wash next week.

Thanks!

 

[Mrsrackey]

For a 2 bay car wash, you don't need a big air compressor. What kind of air compressor do you have now? First thing you need to do is get it off the roof and out of the weather. For 29 years I used a 20 gallon Sanborn compressor. I saw a 20 gallon Porter Cable on sale so I bought one and keep the Sanborn as a backup. What ever you do don't buy a oil less compressor, buy a belt drive compressor they last a lot longer. If you have a Tractor Supply nearby they have a pretty decent Dewalt compressor.

For a 2 bay car wash, you don't need a big air compressor. What kind of air compressor do you have now? First thing you need to do is get it off the roof and out of the weather. For 29 years I used a 20 gallon Sanborn compressor. I saw a 20 gallon Porter Cable on sale so I bought one and keep the Sanborn as a backup. What ever you do don't buy a oil less compressor, buy a belt drive compressor they last a lot longer. If you have a Tractor Supply nearby they have a pretty decent Dewalt compressor.

I can't remember the brand compressor? It is a not a common one. What I can remember It was kind of pieced together by my husband, (who always told me "you better know more about the work you need done that the person doing it"!) Being on the roof I try not to go up there and have to rely on who I get to work on things. Worked great for 10 years. I was wondering about an oil less? Seems like comments are not too favorable but it would keep from having someone do oil changes. Thanks for the tip on belt drive. We just had a tractor supply open not far so I will check them out. As far as being on the roof, the equipment room is very small and there is a metal roof that spans over the 2 bays with the equipment room in the middle so it is not directly in the elments and there is a plywood box enclosing it. I am wondering how I will get a new one up there though!

 

[Mrsrackey]

I can't remember the brand compressor? It is a not a common one. What I can remember It was kind of pieced together by my husband, (who always told me "you better know more about the work you need done that the person doing it"!) Being on the roof I try not to go up there and have to rely on who I get to work on things. Worked great for 10 years. I was wondering about an oil less? Seems like comments are not too favorable but it would keep from having someone do oil changes. Thanks for the tip on belt drive. We just had a tractor supply open not far so I will check them out. As far as being on the roof, the equipment room is very small and there is a metal roof that spans over the 2 bays with the equipment room in the middle so it is not directly in the elments and there is a plywood box enclosing it. I am wondering how I will get a new one up there though!

I think the brand is PUMA

 

[Greg Pack]

Champion, Quincy, Rol-Air, Ingersoll Rand, Campbell Hausfield should all fit your needs for a two bay. Regardless of brand, I would pay extra for one with a continuous duty cycle and stay away from oil-less compressors. Belt drive is a good idea too.

I like continuous duty because occasionally you're going to have a air leak and walk in your equipment room to find a compressor that's been running twelve hours straight and is hot enough to fry an egg on it. I've had that happen several times and the compressor has survived.

 

[Mrsrackey]

Thanks so much! I have great info so now I will be on the hunt for a new compressor. I was able to get the old one back up and running but I know the days are numbered!

 

[water guy]

Bought mine from tsc 2 yrs ago it's a dewalt brand 2yrs later still doing well .

 

[Mrsrackey]

Which model?

 

[AnalyticWash]

Not Ingersoll Rand (absolute garbage imo)

+1 for Rolair

 

[edredtop]

We have used 20 gallon Harbor 'Fright' oil compressors for 15 years.
More than once we have had a situation as Greg described where the compressor has run all night and they have kept going.
So far only one has failed and it turned out to be the reed valve. $15 fix.
For only $200, my limit is 10 years. We rotate them out and give them away and put a new one in.
I always keep the newest one (a spare) in my personal garage for my own use and to break it in.

 

[soonermajic]

Polar Air
CAS (Compressed Air Systems)

 

[Stan Alan]

Bought an Emglo air compressor in 1988 still using it today. Have only done oil changes on this unit. Emglo is now known as Jenny. My other business is Equipment rentals so I am always looking to buy quality when I buy.

 

[Keno]

We have used 20 gallon Harbor 'Fright' oil compressors for 15 years.
More than once we have had a situation as Greg described where the compressor has run all night and they have kept going.
So far only one has failed and it turned out to be the reed valve. $15 fix.
For only $200, my limit is 10 years. We rotate them out and give them away and put a new one in.
I always keep the newest one (a spare) in my personal garage for my own use and to break it in.

These work fine for SS washes, will get killed on an IBA. We had to use as a backup once when our main compressor motor went down on a Friday night. Didn't even last the weekend until we could repair the main compressor.

But we use them in our SS washes as permanent replacements when the main compressor dies. We setup 2 from the beginning to have redundancy in case one dies, the other ones takes over automatically.

 

[yhannat]

I have two compressors connected as back up if one breaks down. I just use the Lowe’s brand. Stay away from Husky