Air Compressor Lubricator Question

[fabsroman]

What a pain buying a compressor for my garage is becoming. I am half sad that I decided to leave my old one with my dad.

I was going to buy the Ingersoll Rand SS5L5 that is a single stage compressor listed at something like 18.1 SCFM at 90 psi with a 60 gallon tank. I figured that would run anything I ever needed to use. Then I spoke to my brother and he told me that I should get a two stage compressor operating at a higher psi because the single stage would be playing catchup whenever I use a grinder, cutoff tool, sander, etc. I know I had this problem with the Craftsman 25 gallon compressor at my parents. According to my brother, the single stage compressor would be running the entire time if I were to use one of the above tools and that is what happened with the other compressor. So, I started looking at two stage compressors and those things are extremely expensive and/or they are 80 gallon tanks. The IR SS5L5 is $720 and I didn't even want to spend that much. All these other two stage compressors are $800+ except for one that I found made by Craftsman that is currently discontinued. I found one floor model and can buy it for $459. The Craftsman catalog says that it will run any tool they sell without a problem, yet it is only rated at 9.0 SCFM at 90 psi. I am getting a headache over trying to figure all this out.

Then, I found a website for Eagle Compressors and it looks like they make a two stage 60 gallon compressor that would work for me. Problem is that I cannot find anybody that sells them and their website is barely even running properly. What a pain.

Now, I need to get through the compressor purchase before worrying about everything else. Just when I thought I had something figured out, a simple conversation with my brother has me all screwed up.

You guys have any advice?