Air Compressor Size Question, How big is big enough? Options

[BeatNavy]

This may have been covered before, but I did not find it answered explicitly:

What size air compressor is good enough for doing a decent quality paint job on our cars and otherwise work with air tools? I don't have one now, but I am thinking of making the plunge and trying to paint my car at some point. I don't think I would really do anything bigger than a 914.

Here's a more specific question: is a 60 gallon, 3HP, 11.5 CFM at 40 psi; 10.2 CFM at 90 psi good for this? There's one on CL not far from me that could be a decent deal and serve as my post-Christmas gift to myself.

[tygaboy]

I did a ton of research and (budget and space available), I'd do a minimum of 5-hp, 2-stage, 60 gallon, 80 is even better.
There are often good deals on these things on Craigslist.

Also, you don't necessarily need to shy away from a used 3-phase setup I successfully ran a 3-phase, 5-hp on single phase 220 by using a solid state phase converter.

Yes, this means I was only getting 3.5 hp, and it was likely to wear out the motor more quickly. But I had no issues.

I happily confess that I recently upgraded (downgraded?) to a single phase 5 hp motor, just because I wanted to simplify all the wiring and in the end, it's "better".

My $.02. Hope it helps.