I'm looking at two Ingersole-Rand air compressors -- both are 80 gallon.
One is single stage 18 CFM at 90 PSI with 135 PSI max and rated for
5,000 hrs (whatever that means). The other is dual stage 24 CFM at 90
PSI with 175 PSI max and rated for 10,000 hrs.
The single stage is $700 and the dual stage is $1600.
This will be for occasional home use, small sand blasting, glass bead
blasting, body work, primer etc. I'm restoring some LBCs.
I think the single stage is adequate to overkill, and the dual stage is
beyond my needs, The dual stage is over twice the price. The only
advantage is higher PSI as far as I can see. But everyone says buy a big
one, so I'm asking.
One other thought. If I bought the single stage at 18 CFM, and I later
decided I need more volume, what would be wrong with connecting a second
single stage compressor into common output line with the first
compressor. Seems I could hook them together into a common line at a
point beyond their pressure regulator valves. The common line could have
a pressure relief set to a little lower than the two pressure regulators
on each compressor. Something I'm overlooking? Is there a problem if the
pressure on the common line was accidentally set higher than the
regulators on each compressor, or maybe one compressor had a lower
regulator setting than the other? I guess the question is, is there a
problem if the pressure beyond a pressure regulator valve is higher than
it is on the side towards the air compressor? Maybe it's a question no
one is sure of????
The obvious motivation is two single stages would cost $1400 and give 36
CFM, while the dual stage would cost $1600 at only 25 CFM.
"Only 25 CFM"....Hmmm...sounds like the discussion on the number of
nuclear warheads required. How high can I make the rocks bounce?
Thanks,
Don Malling
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