Which brand compressor?

[Rockers]

I like the Chicago Pneumatic (basically an Atlas-Copco) a lot and pricing is around $5500 delivered for a 7.5hp screw/dryer combo Rockers, you pricing sounds way better, am I missing something or is that not a screw that you bought?

Other option is to swoop up a 80gal, 5hp, Curtis piston/recip for under 1k, tune it up, add the chiller and just deal with the noise. But it's just at the recommended 5hp, 19cfm from the '91 Gauntlet manual.  Also have to deal with a used compressor being a potential troublemaker.

I do plan on finding a rental co. that has a sufficient compressor and then running my hookups for a quick swap out when ours goes down.

It`s a screw indeed. I actually have no idea why it was so cheap. Came straight from the factory, brand new.

[ZooCity]

Head's up for anyone looking for a rotary screw, compressorworld.com has a bunch of new Chicago Pneumatic units that they are taking offers on.  Yeah, offers.  I'm not compensated for posting this link, just wanted to put it out there that if you don't have the $5-6 in the budget but need/want a screw/chiller combo throw a number out on the web form.  Looks like I'm picking up a 7.5 hp today. 

[GraphicDisorder]

Kaeser here, love it!

[Screened Gear]

Head's up for anyone looking for a rotary screw, compressorworld.com has a bunch of new Chicago Pneumatic units that they are taking offers on.  Yeah, offers.  I'm not compensated for posting this link, just wanted to put it out there that if you don't have the $5-6 in the budget but need/want a screw/chiller combo throw a number out on the web form.  Looks like I'm picking up a 7.5 hp today.

How cheap? I would like a screw but right now is not the best time. 7.5 is what $5000 so your getting it for?

[ScreenPrinter123]

We have the Chicaco Pneumatic QRS 7.5hp with dryer and really like it.  Have had it for 4 years now without any problems.

[Screened Gear]

This is why I hate buying stuff I don't really want. I bought a regular compressor (piston not super loud). I got it because when installing the auto money was flying out my pocket faster then could believe. So I wanted to save on a few items and the compressor was one of them. Instead of the $5000 screw i wanted I got a piston one for about $1000. That thing is doing great. I now can't justify buying a Screw to replace something that has worked fine and the upgrade would not do anything different. Quieter is not a selling point when it only turns on about 1 to 2 times a hour when the press is running. I have even run 100 shirt orders and never had the thing turn on.

[Ryan]

Kaeser here. 7.5hp with seperate tank. Barely know its running. My dryer is louder than this thing. set-up was about 7k, all new pieces.

[ZooCity]

I looked at doing it with a piston/recip but it costs more than it appears when you add the chiller in.  You're looking at a used recip at 1-2k + about another 1-2k for a new chiller.  New recip would come it higher, around 3-4k, all in, depending. 

They accepted an offer for 3500 on this unit, 360 to ship, 5 year factory warranty, chiller on board and there is a group that services these in my state.
http://www.cp.com/usen/whatwedo/us-stationarycompressors/rotaryscrew/cpn.aspx

Not the quietest, the QRS is the quieter one, but it's a complete solution for not much more than the quotes I got for a new recip + chiller combo and the unit is rated for continuous load so I shouldn't need as big a compressor.

This should be okay to run a single 6/8 Gauntlet right?  10hp seemed like overkill and I know M&R likes to overstate (kudos for that) needs for the equipment so I presume the press won't need 19cfm @ 100psi unless it is running all heads, wide open?

[DCSP John]

Our Polar Air is American Made in Ohio. [eaton compressors]
We got the Quincy screw when we added our second auto.
There are a few places of manufacturer for this brand.. we specifically requested
the stateside built model. Both machines are workhorses, although we rarely turn
on the Polar Air anymore. I would recommend either.

[Screened Gear]

I looked at doing it with a piston/recip but it costs more than it appears when you add the chiller in.  You're looking at a used recip at 1-2k + about another 1-2k for a new chiller.  New recip would come it higher, around 3-4k, all in, depending. 

They accepted an offer for 3500 on this unit, 360 to ship, 5 year factory warranty, chiller on board and there is a group that services these in my state.
http://www.cp.com/usen/whatwedo/us-stationarycompressors/rotaryscrew/cpn.aspx

Not the quietest, the QRS is the quieter one, but it's a complete solution for not much more than the quotes I got for a new recip + chiller combo and the unit is rated for continuous load so I shouldn't need as big a compressor.

This should be okay to run a single 6/8 Gauntlet right?  10hp seemed like overkill and I know M&R likes to overstate (kudos for that) needs for the equipment so I presume the press won't need 19cfm @ 100psi unless it is running all heads, wide open?

Thats a great price. Way to go. I also want to say welcome to the Auto world. I didn't know you got one.  It will be frustrating in the beginning but the production speed is well worth it.

[ZooCity]

I guess I still need to pay another $350 for a tech visit on the unit to get the 5yr warranty going but, yeah, good deal.  Still feels silly paying more for the compressor than the auto!

Thx Jon, I'm looking forward to it and sober about what I can/can't do on the 'ol Gauntlet.  I'm honestly just happy to have something to help punch out the big orders, 75% of which are low color count DC prints these days.  Manually printing DC and WB takes a serious toll on my hands v. plastisol.   This auto will be a bridge to wherever we're going next.  Putting it in the shop in about 2 weeks.

Auto drain a must on the compressor?

[Screened Gear]

Manually printing DC is no joke. I had a 24 shirt order I ran on the manual. I like priting manually some times. I had to pull the squeegee because the print was so large. I haven't pulled in years. I was feeling it for 3 days in my wrists.  Auto is the only way to go with DC especially large prints.

[ebscreen]

I like printing manually, for about 12 pieces. Remind myself that I'm still pretty damned good at it every now
and then.

Auto-drain not a must, but very useful. Otherwise you need to remember to drain every now and then, which reminds me.....

[ScreenPrinter123]

I looked at doing it with a piston/recip but it costs more than it appears when you add the chiller in.  You're looking at a used recip at 1-2k + about another 1-2k for a new chiller.  New recip would come it higher, around 3-4k, all in, depending. 

They accepted an offer for 3500 on this unit, 360 to ship, 5 year factory warranty, chiller on board and there is a group that services these in my state.
http://www.cp.com/usen/whatwedo/us-stationarycompressors/rotaryscrew/cpn.aspx

Not the quietest, the QRS is the quieter one, but it's a complete solution for not much more than the quotes I got for a new recip + chiller combo and the unit is rated for continuous load so I shouldn't need as big a compressor.

This should be okay to run a single 6/8 Gauntlet right?  10hp seemed like overkill and I know M&R likes to overstate (kudos for that) needs for the equipment so I presume the press won't need 19cfm @ 100psi unless it is running all heads, wide open?

Our QRS 7.5 ran a 6/8 Freedom with no problems.  It also ran a 8/10 Progressive Rhino (all air) with no problems.  We even did a test when we had both of these all air machines and it kept up with both with all heads running.  It was almost running non-stop but it it did keep up.  Not sure how this translates to your gauntlet but my guess is you would be okay.

[ScreenPrinter123]

What do you mean by auto drain?

We have a tube running from our chiller that will automatically spit out moisture but it very rarely does it (and we are in high humidity New Orleans).  At then end of the day we push the button that empties this moisture out and we drain the tank.  Once it becomes a part of the routine it is no big deal.