ok guys i did a quick search but couldn’t find an answer. id like to know what kind of air compressor and how many gallons/hp would be needed to do general stuff such as painting and air tools and i would also like to use it for the leak down test. also any brands of air compressors preferred? thanks
-Chad-
someones gotta have an answer… :bored:
I have a Craftsman
2HP motor
15 gallon tank
160 psi. max
Cost $170 from Sears
It’s been great, i’ve used it when i did my clutch and when i lowered both mine and my brother’s cars and countless other things, it’s taken off every bolt in my way.
When you are looking, most compressors will have a sticker that lists what they are good for…mine is rated at 4…if you’re painting, you’ll probably want a 5…according to the sticker.
well first of all… air tools and painting are two totally… totally different needs.
With air tools you can probably squeeze by with a 1.5 hp 8 gallon tank. This should produce ample torque to take off most screws. Because remember impact guns work with vibration and torque to loosen those hard on screws.
Now for painting you have to think about the spray gun you will be using… there are two types mainly. Conventional high volume high pressure i believe. These guns suffer from low transfer rates (more paint material in air then on surface). It atomizes the paint by forcing large volumes of air at a high rate. Thus to paint you will probably need a large tank we’re talking 30-40 gallon tank. The motor mounted on those tanks are usually quite large in hp so you shouldn’t have a problem with that setup.
The other type is called hvlp. This stands for high volume low pressure, it has a turbine that is spun inside the nozzle that atomizes the paint. These have outstanding transfer rates and you’ll save shitloads in paint. But here is the kicker you will need at least a 5 hp motor to atomize any kind of thick substance (i.e. paint).
So the jist of it is… you are fubar’d any which way lol… if you want to do serious painting and mechanic work by all means get a large capacity high hp compressor and you can do it all (but $$$$), if not get a smaller compressor for mechanic work and maybe buy a stand alone hvlp system (these are electric and run for a grand or so).
UUuuHHhhhhh…what that guy said ^. 
ok thx… im not too worried about paint but more for the tight bolts and for the leak down test.
-Chad-
just went and got one today… had to go to a few different sears cuz the ones i went to didn’t have any in stock :hmm: i ended up gettin this one. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00916870000 this one should suit all my needs pretty well hopefully. 
Let us know how it works out. I have been thinking about getting the same setup.
Particulary interested in how that impact gun does.
i just got the same compressor, planning on getting some impact sockets this weekend hopefully, will try it out soon.
husky makes some good compressors… craftsman is cambell hausfield
update: I got some impact sockets, played around for a while and couldnt be happier.
The impact gun has worked with no problems whatesoever. It removed the crankshaft pulley bolt without too much work. Had to hit the trigger a few times, but worked like a charm.
Tank holds air perfectly, once again, couldn’t be happier.
I bought the 33 gallon with the tools. All I can say is that I must have the worst luck. The IMpact gun broke (stopped working) 5 minutes after I started playing with it. Wouldnt even take off my lug nuts (although it could have been defective at the time)…
The impact wratchet works, ok…but like the gun it spits out oil at me all the time (until the gun failed) so im thinking this thing is gonna go quickly too 
so did they replace the impact gun?
that sucks, like i said, i havent had a problem yet and hopefully i wont. Good luck with whatever happens…
what brand was this stuff?
Its all Craftsman, and I havent had a chance to take it back. Im sure they’ll replace it, but Im not sure as to how. Its part of a ‘kit’ — I better not have to exchange the whole thing…
crapsman… makes anything CRAP
kits always come with junk
personaly if u could return the kit and get just the compressor… goto harbor freight… get the goodyear hose… professional series rachet… and just pick a impact… we got the pro rachet and have been using it for over 3 years alot and it hasnt had any problems (the cheaper rachet dont last)
and the cheapo $10 impact works great for your basic stuff… it just dont have the power for really stuck on axle nuts… which is why we bought some earthquake thing or something like that (which is actualy made by cambell hausfield for harbor freight)
i have a 5 hp, 15 gallon air compressor by nikota and my airtools are northern tool. i would suggest getting the gravity feed spray gun it works a little better. the only bolt that my air tools could not remove was the axle nut which i had to get a breaker bar to get it off. air tools save so much time i don’t know how i lived without them.
Fuck Sears and FUCK Craftsman…
I go to return the busted Impact…
“Oh we cant exchange that…its included free with the kit so it doesnt have a warranty”
WTF, I mean seriously GHEY…Craftsman got a letter and if they dont make it right, I am returning everything and going to Harbor Freight
get a cambell hausfield compressor… and central pneumatic professional tools… they are all cambell hausefield made but half the price
harbor freight compressors suck… atleast the oil ones do… oilless ones are good
Links would be helpful…if you would be so kind.