Well, the compressor is a 5HP w/20 gallon torpedo tank. I just don't know enough about it to know if I need a larger-than-1/4" outlet going into a 1/2" hose (I keep thinking that air pressure is like water pressure.) Then there are those comments I see from folks who claim to have put 1/2" fittings on tools set up for 3/8" and experiencing an improvement, but if they gotta use a 1/2"<>3/8" reducer, I don't see the benefit. Regarding your shipping costs: I guess the benefits of being where you live gotta have some offset somewhere, huh? I was shopping for wood stove parts a week or two ago, and their inflated $65 USPS charges that should have been $10 drove me to look elsewhere, and I got a much better overall deal from a sorta-local brick & mortar. I'm still blown away at how consumer stuff moves around, having been in materials management since the 70s and air freight was only available if you took the package to the airport yourself and checked it in for Next Flight Out, only to be picked up in-person by a coworker on the other end. DHL was the only commercial air freight option, and they just did documents. These days I get a Fed Ex truck coming down my right-of-way to deliver my coffee...
@Bruce Andrew There are times I swear I have A.D.D. because I cannot think straight when there is loud music, especially when it's a genre I find to be grating when played at any volume. My tolerance level is very low. I can't believe it makes people spend more money or stay in the store longer. Regarding the compressor: I see specs regarding using a 1/2" hose no longer than 25' when driving a high-CFM air gun, but there's no data on what I would call "choke points" along the way, specifically the compressor outlet. My compressor puts out 6.9 SCFM @ 90 PSI
That is why I was suggesting changing the manifold. You can adapt the fittings by messing with fittings, but you won't get the same airflow. If your compressor will provide the air, then a 1/2" manifold will get it to the tools through the hose. If your compressor can't meet the needs, then removing the choke points won't help.
John, I've always hated loud music since I was a teen, even riding around with a bunch of kids and the driver would have the music cranked way up. And bars? -- wow. There used to be a bar nearby that I went to quite often and sometimes they had a "band" on the weekend. If you were sitting at the bar, the only way you could communicate to the person next to you was to scream in their ear. One night I asked the owner (who I knew) if they could turn the volume down. Well no, of course not. I said I bet if you did, nobody would walk out because the music wasn't loud enough. But I told him I *am* leaving because it's too loud. What are you using your compressor for? If you need a specific CFM for auto painting or something, then I guess it matters. Otherwise, I don't think it does. I used my 2 h.p. in my machine shop and it ran A LOT. But only for things that a continuous supply of a minimum volume wasn't necessary. Here's about the only thing I remember learning in "Fluid Power," which I took as part of my apprenticeship program. It was around '70 or maybe '71 that I took this course, and I don't think physics has changed since then ("fluid" means air or liquid). A system is only as efficient as its smallest diameter. FWIW, a 1/4" quick disconnect has a smaller diameter than most any other 1/4" fitting/valve/etc. in the system. So for max efficiency, don't use QDs.
@Don Alaska @Bruce Andrew I am thinking of getting a 3/4" air impact wrench. They consume 9CFM @ 90PSI. My compressor is rated at 6.9CFM @ 90PSI. According to what I'm reading, since I won't be using the wrench in a continuous-duty assembly environment, I will not need 9CFM continuously. The issue then becomes the Duty Cycle of the compressor (I have no idea) and the capacity of the tank (mine is 20 gallons or 2.67 ft³) which would drive the maximum minutes-per-hour I could use a given wrench at its required flow rate. This is another reason why I need to talk to someone in the industry. I do not have a need for the wrench that's so burning I would drop the money for a new compressor.
I would think someone in the tire business would know a bunch about impact wrenches and what it takes to maximize their use. I do know that when one of them changes a tire they tighten up the nuts so tight they can’t be removed by anything less than another impact tool or a sissy bar on the lug wrench.
Yeh, I've thought of going to one of those businesses. They may be able to help. Or they may have just had a commercial system installed without doing a grounds-up spec. I like the idea of Grainger's. I was also gonna see if Northern Tool has in-house professional support. I was online last night looking for a manual and one of the sites had a pic of a similar Porter Cable unit. I'm thinking if I find a current model of the one I have (the company was bought out in 2004), their info should tell me what I can do with it. Or perhaps the acquiring business might be able to help. (I did not find a manual but I did find parts diagrams.) I appreciate the suggestions. I "should" be able to get an answer from a current manufacturer of a current equivalent model, or from the current owner of the DeVilbiss line. I'll gladly take other suggestions, and will circle back if I get any data.
Thanks, buddy. I don't want to go too far off-topic here, so I'll sprinkle some rants/complaints in here. I look at product descriptions and the closest to using an air impact gun I find is an application called "bolting/wrenching." Here's an example of the stuff a similar compressor can do: "Air Brushing, Blow Cleaning, Bolting/Wrenching, Brad Nailing/Stapling, Finish Nailing, Framing Nailing, Hobby Nailing, Hobby Painting, and Roof Nailing." I have no idea what that is, but I see it on more than one website. And I've seen another list of specs that has an "X" by Bolting for a similar compressor. I found a DeWalt compressor with the statement "6.2 SCFM at 90 PSI provides the ability to operate a larger selection of air tools." That's pretty much the exact spec of my compressor (and mine is 5HP vs their 2HP), but "a larger selection of air tools" is an inexact statement...and that's pulled directly from DeWalt's website. I posted a question to Northern Tool's website asking if this DeWalt compressor they sell will drive a specific air impact wrench that requires [continuous] 8.5 CFM at 90 PSI. I'll make some other calls tomorrow when commercial businesses are open. I could always just step down to a 1/2" drive gun. Those require CFMs well within the specs of my compressor. But I've got a heavy duty need to replace the front end loader mounts on my tractor (which is what put me on this path), and I doubt that a 1/2" gun is gonna cut it. I figured I could save money by doing it myself, and add another tool to my arsenal. If I got a quote to replace the mounts, I find it might be enough to justify upgrading the compressor
Hummmmm, I thought someone would want to rant here, or on the "virus" thread, about all of the cancellations, postponed and rescheduled things that are taking place now concerning the Covid 19 and/or the Omicron virus. Broadway shows are shutting down for the holidays and NFL games are rescheduling.
Since you're leaving bait all over the place, I replied to your other post about this in the Vaccine News thread.
We happily live in a Red State, so we are not seeing any of these lockdown issues here, @Cody Fousnaugh . I could care less about what happens with Broadway shows or NFL games, especially since they no longer even respect America and our beautiful American Flag. I do feel bad for all of the sports figures who have been deceived into taking the vaccine and are now dropping over and dying after doing that. This was always something that rarely happened before the vaccine, and very few were even sick with the virus before taking the vaccine.
To piggy back on Yvonne’s post, what’s there to rant about? It’s just another addition to the other addition that was added to whatever spin the pharm companies, D.C. and celebrities were trying to sell us from the beginning of this whole fiasco. Nothing new here. Just live your own life the best ya can. Frankly, I’m all ranted out on the subject as in…….there’s no rant left. I’m even somewhat apathetic about it as in……so what?
You always rent a big compressor to meet your needs if the front end loader project is the only thing you need it for. Perhaps a 3/4" or 1" ratchet set with a breaker bar would solve the problem. Add a little penetrating oil and that solves most problems for me.