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As others will soon say, don't look at horsepower so much as look at CFM's (cubic feet per minute of delivered air). Most portable compressors, and single stage stationary units give PEAK or STARTING horsepower, while Most Two stage compressors will give their horsepower in RUNNING hp. Big difference, apples and oranges. Starting hp is really bogus, designed to make it look alot more powerful than it really is. A 5 hp STARTING hp compressor is really about 1-3/4 to 2 hp RUNNING, which is how all electric motors are really rated. Questions..... . Do you want a stationary or a portable unit? What do you intend to run with it, There is only one of you, so you can only use one air tool or air consumer at a time, so what is the highest consumption item you might run? Blast cabinets will require 16 to 19 CFM's which is basically a two stage, 5 running hp, 80 gal tank compressor. Everything else will get along on alot less. Is this almost daily, in the evening type shop use, or once a week use, or what?
Do not shortchange yourself. Buy the biggest you can afford comfortably, you will not regret it. Money spent on capacity you don't use is never a real concern, but capacity needed that you don't have because you cheaped out, will be remembered every time you go to use it.
Spray painting uses a fair abount of air but if you are doing quality spray painting nowdays, you probably should invest in a HVLP gun and turbine setup to get the best paint job. One word to the wise, buy an oil type compressor. DO NOT get an oilless or dry pump compressor. They are very noisy, generally short lived, and you will regret it till the day it blows up. Quincy make good units, both portable and stationary. Cambell-Hausfeld makes some decent oil filled units, not commerical quality but good none the less. I've named just a couple off the top of my head, there are lots more. There are several other good stationary brands such as Champion, speedaire, IR of course. I put in a $1600 (now up to $1700) stationary unit. 7-1/2 hp, two stage, 175 psi regulated down to 100 (for good steady air flow and less cycling) and an 80 gal tank. Its a Home Depot Husky, made by Cambell-Hausfeld. Decent unit, stayes powered up 24-7 and is there any time I need it. I intend to buy a blast cabinet but haven't yet. I don't regret the expense at all, I smile every time I use it, all the air I need and more. Charles
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