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Guys, decided to finally buy an air compressor and switch to air tools.
What’s the rule of thumb on this? Needless to say there is everything from huge industrial looking things to small 100 psi tanks. What should I get as far as HP and Tank capacity to run them efficiently?
Thanks!
The important thing is how much cfm it can sustain. 5 or 6psi sustained @100psi is about as small as you can go. That should handle everything up to (but maybe not including) an air grinder.
You can get by with some cheap air-tools, except your big 1/2" drive impact wrench. Spend some $$ on that so you can do 500+ ftlbs.
The best hose/pipe solution is to use cast iron piping to put fittings around your garage. Then use a short 3/8" hose to your tool. Any longish runs call for 1/2" hose.
If you get serious about air tools (and I’ve not), you need to deal with moisture. Put in a UJoint and a petcock drain right after then pump. Then a dryer and oiler.
The mistakes I made:
Buy a more powerful compressor then you think you need. Watch Craigslist.
1/4" hose is worthless.
A cheap 1/2" impact wrench is worthless.
I agree with everything Scott said. A compressor rated for 4cfm at 90psi is the minimum. The “rating game” in compressors means that there is a wide range in performance and price for a compressor. The more money you spend, the better a compressor you’ll get. Check the rated duty cycle as one criteria. A high end compressor will be rated for a 100% duty cycle, but the cheaper home shop types may be rated for no more than a 50% duty cycle. Duty cycle doesn’t matter too much when using an impact wrench, but air sanders, bead blasters, and the like use a lot of air and duty cycle matters.
just my opinion, I hate air compressors and air tools, noisy…I imagine that one day soon I will be able to charge all my 18 volt cordless stuff with a solar station, I already charge them with an inverter while driving down the street.
I know 18v stuff cannot do everything the air tools can but I just hate the racket.
Al
Always get more compressor than you think you need. If you are sticking to normal shop tools (ratchet, sprayer, impact) then you can get away with one of the small “pancake” ones:
But you will always find that you need more. I started with the standard “8 gallon” compressor:
and tractor supply was having a sale so I bought a big one:
Any tool related to bodywork needs the most air, grinding, sanding, painting etc. will all put the most demand on your compressor.
Ranger wrote:
This man speaketh the truth. I bought one of the 55 gallon Craftsman stand up compressors that came with an air wratchet and impact wrench. Then I met a Honda crank bolt on an engine stand with no way to stop the crank from spinning and my impact wrench wouldn’t get it. So I went to sears and bought an Ingersoll Rand 1/2" Air Wratchet with 1500 ft/lbs of nut busting torque and that Honda crank bolt had met its match and spun right off. I just have my tank near the garage door for easy access and use around a 50 foot red hose so it covers my whole driveway and I just coil the hose back up on the compressor handle when I am done. I do have to admit that I very rarely use my air tools due to the noise. I use them more as a last resort and mostly only use the air wratchet and cut off wheel.
Definitely get the bigger tank the tool will take longer to drain the tank. I have already upgraded 2 times. Go for the horsepower also. They usually produce more CFM.
You have to decide oil less or regular piston on the compressor. Oil less make a lot of noise.
Do not trade with your brother 
18v has gotten a lot better. The Matco 18v impact has 725lbs breakaway torque and 425lbs applied torque.
rsafreno wrote:
Go for the regular piston one - definitely much quieter - you’re neighbors will thank you!
If you’re going to use grinders, dual action sanders, and stuff like that you’ll need 9-10cfm. I bought a Husky twin cylinder from Home Depot. I think it was $399. Plenty of air for whatever. Make sure you drain the tank every couple of weeks. Lack of use will ruin one also. Go open the drain valve and let it run for 10-15 minutes every couple of weeks as well to keep everything loose and lubricated.
In our high humidity area I didn’t with my last one (Speedaire from Grainger) and the piston rings were gone in a year or two.
I’m having a hard time finding something less then 60 gallons with a regular piston, seems like everything attached to a 30 gallon tank is oilless.
You might have to resort to Craigslist or local estate auctions - there is a HUGE difference in the noise… come on out to my shop if you ever want to hear the difference.
Here’s a classic piston air compressor:
It’s coming up at this auction:
Tax Seizure Auction - Dec 12th
That is one scary looking piece of kit. An OSHA inspector (Occupational Safety Health Administration for those curious souls) I think would have a cow if he saw that thing chunking away at a shop!
ukrbmw wrote:
They exist, though not at the lower end of the price scale. See http://www.everyaircompressor.com/Ingersoll-Rand-SS3F2-GM-IRC1127.html for one example.
ctbimmer wrote:
ukrbmw wrote:
Aye! matey! Real men use rusty compressors! ARGH! ARGH! ARGH!