Are Air Compressors still necessary?

[ShiverMeTimbers]

I've had a 26 gallon air compressor for 20 years but we're moving and I'm wondering if I still need it. Tire inflation: Milwaukee M18 inflator, mountain bike floor pump, etc. I don't use it for much else. I have a grinder but also have an electric one that is easier to use. I don't do a ton of work in my shop, and for blowing air I have a Milwaukee M18 blower.

What am I missing? Most tools I need have equivalent electric/battery counterparts. I'd love to free up space in the garage, but am I going to miss having an air compressor? I used it for a nail gun when building my 12x16' gambrel shed, but in the new place I don't see myself building anything like that.

 

[liliysdad]

I have a full slate of cordless tools…and cannot fathom not having air in my shop.

Die Grinders, cutoff wheels, tire inflation, nail guns, needle scalers, air hammers….nothing cordless touches the pneumatic version.

 

[mikedodge]

If you haven't used it for a while you probably don't need it. But once you sell it you'll need it lol.
Based on how many people ask about them here and how many places sell them a lot of people still find them necessary.

 

[ShiverMeTimbers]

If you haven't used it for a while you probably don't need it. But once you sell it you'll need it lol.

That's exactly what I'm afraid of!

 

[pcrov]

Plasma cutter. They're getting cheap enough that if you've got air you may as well have one. And who doesn't want to play with the 4th state of matter?

 

[liliysdad]

Plasma cutter. They're getting cheap enough that if you've got air you may as well have one. And who doesn't want to play with the 4th state of matter?

Completely forgot that one!

 

[stickshift]

If you live in a region with cold winters and need to blow out sprinkler lines, a compressor pays for itself vs hiring a sprinkler company to blow out the system every year.

 

[The Cobbler]

for me the answer is yes .

 

[tarmy]

You ever pump up your car/truck/trailer tires with a bike pump?

 

[T444e]

Plasma cutter, blast cabinet, die grinder (cordless don't have enough power for many tasks), blow gun, paint gun, needle scaler, air hammer (cordless rotary hammer meay work for some tasks) and I'm sure there are others I have forgot

 

[nadogail]

I've had a 26 gallon air compressor for 20 years but we're moving and I'm wondering if I still need it. Tire inflation: Milwaukee M18 inflator, mountain bike floor pump, etc. I don't use it for much else. I have a grinder but also have an electric one that is easier to use. I don't do a ton of work in my shop, and for blowing air I have a Milwaukee M18 blower.

What am I missing? Most tools I need have equivalent electric/battery counterparts. I'd love to free up space in the garage, but am I going to miss having an air compressor? I used it for a nail gun when building my 1lgambrel shed, but in the new place I don't see myself building anything like that.

Compressed Air is the fourth most useful utility. My Framing Nailer, and pneumatic Brad nailers are consistently making money for me, enough money that I keep a smaller compressor to take to job sites and sometimes hook up in tandem with the larger compressor for bigger spraying jobs.
My Makita tools are handy but are not up to what can be done with good Pneumatic Impact Wrench

 

[lolaetype]

Besides what others have mentioned there is media blasting, can't do that with a battery powered tool.

And I find using various blow guns to blow dirt and debris out of nooks and crannies of parts and places quite useful.

 

[shaune]

Tires and blast cabinet for sure. The odd time to blow out my eaves trough.

 

[JuncleJohn]

I have 3. One in the house garage, detached garage and a 6 gallon pancake.

When (not if) I need air, I have it.

John

 

[PoorUB]

I will be 67 years old shortly, but still do much of the maintenance of my vehicles. I have a good assortment of air tools that work fine and I have no plans on replacing all of them with battery so the compressor is still important to me. If I were younger, perhaps, but at this point in my life I don't see me buying a boat load of battery tools.

 

[ShiverMeTimbers]

You ever pump up your car/truck/trailer tires with a bike pump?

Not too proud to admit that I have, in a pinch.

 

[ShiverMeTimbers]

I forgot about the sprinklers. We're moving near Boise so blowing out the sprinklers is mandatory for that climate.

I have room for it, as we're getting a house with a 54' RV garage. Need to build a storage mezzanine, so maybe that nail gun will get some more use.

 

[Torque&Recoil]

I'm with JuncleJohn - I have 3 also. For me, personally, I can't imagine being without significant compressed air. That said, I do have friends who get by with skimpier air compressors. One in particular only works on late model cars (no rust), doesn't restore anything, all tools battery powered, none of the air tools which others have already mentioned. He does some interesting garage work, but more "Send Cut Send" than actual fabrication.

Define your mission. Then your path will be clear.

 

[Spareparts]

Mine shuts off at 175 psi, blow off the trusses in my shop and all the stuff I have stored up there, tractor tires, air tools, lots of things
that needs a lot of air, yes I have a lot of 18V stuff and use it often, but they don't replace the need for Air.

 

[cvairwerks]

Couldn't run my rivet tools or a plasma cutter without one. Even if I could convert to all battery or electric tools, I wouldn't get rid of my compressor. It costs me nothing but a little space, as it's been paid for, more than a decade ago.

 

[finn]

If you don’t do work in your shop, you don’t need a compressor.

You don’t need many, if any, other tools either, I suppose.

That brings up the question “is this the right forum for you?”

Personally, I have four, and they are essential for all the reasons given. I understand why one might question the need, though if they don’t do things that require air.

 

[OccupantRJ]

A day without an air compressor is like a day without sunshine.

 

[Sweetcorn]

Portable battery powered inflators, battery powered impacts, etc., all have come a long way in being fast and powerful and have really cut down on my own personal compressor use.

I couldn't be without one for paint spraying, blast cabinet use, and plasma cutting, but I also have to mention how much I love using my air hammer. Air hammers are one of the most under-rated tools for those of us in the rust belt.

 

[joe_padavano]

If you are asking this question, you don't need it. Me, I media blast, paint cars, use a plasma cutter, and own several dozen different air tools. I'm in the process of going from my current 23 SCFM compressor to something even larger.

 

[472scout]

You don't use compressed air for cleaning?

In the past week I've used my compressor to clean/blow off my lawn mower, chain saw, floor vacuum, and under the hood of my F150 before swapping the plugs and air cleaner. Sure, I could use a leaf blower, but they have a tiny fraction of the power.

 

[CoogarXR]

I don't use mine a ton these days, but when I need it, I need it.

I can get by with my little compressor for my air nailers, but if I get a tough project that needs my 3/4 impact gun or if I do any auto body work I fire up the big compressor.

At my old place I had my big compressor in a shed behind the shop with the air lines plumbed in. I moved, and my new garage is being built this week. I have a shed about 5ft away here too, where I plan to plumb in lines and cable to my compressor. It's nice to have it out of the way, both visually and sonically.

 

[abfish]

I did away with a small compressor at my house, as it was only used to inflate tires. Cordless inflators fill that need.

At my company shop, there's no replacing the compressor for running big air tools and the plasma cutter.

 

[Mike65]

Yes, for me it is since I have so many air tools to replace them with cordless would cost me a small fortune. I also have a small pancake air compressor in my wood shop for my air nail guns & stapler. I use the large compressor in the garage at least once a week. I am 68 years old & have no interest in replacing my drawer full of air tools with cordless.

 

[cvairwerks]

Haven't found one of these run by electrics yet...

Chicago Pneumatic 24" Compression Riveter, CP-450 - Norman Machine Tool

Chicago Pneumatic 24″ Compression Riveter, CP-450 Inventory # 9989-P Model: CP-450 S/N: 42 888 Specifications: Capacity: Aluminum: 1/4″ Steel: 3/8″ Standard Yoke Dimensions: Reach: 24″ Closed Height: 2 1/2″ Max. Force: 20,000 lbs. Max. Travel: 1 3/4″ Final Part of... Read More

www.normanmachinetool.com

 

[Citation]

If you have space for it keep it through the move then decide. I like having a compressor for filling tires. The 12V compressors in my cars are much slower. I get that cordless is handy but with hose management the compressor's flow rate is a winner in my book.

If my current 26gal compressor disappeared I might be slow to replace it. I've got a small CAT quiet compressor and an Emglo roofing compressor. Both are sufficient for my current needs (other than my 3" zip wheel). The roofing compressor refreshes fast but it's loud and trips it's breaker when cold. The CAT is the opposite. Being quiet I'm happy to use it a lot more often.

 

[micromind]

I have 2 of them, one in the garage and one in my van.

I typically use one or both once a week or more.

Back when I was employed, very likely I was the only electrician who had an actual air compressor in the van. 3/4HP, single cylinder, 12 gallon tank.

 

[MovingAlong]

Are Air Compressors still necessary?

For you - appears not. Put it up on Marketplace and enjoy the freedom!

But are they still necessary? Try to allow for the possibility that others might choose to do their work differently than you...

 

[Bodj Built]

If you haven't used it much lately, sell it. If you find you need one, they're fairly cheap used. I bought my 60 gallon Husky for $100. Put a $200 motor on it and it's been trouble free for 4 years now.

 

[sjvicker]

Little portable ones are great for tires and nailers and 60 gal and up are great for air tools, painting and small blasting but it really seems the market for 20-30gal ones should be cratering. I have a 20 gal and the only thing I use it for is small plasma cuts

 

[stickshift]

Little portable ones are great for tires and nailers and 60 gal and up are great for air tools, painting and small blasting but it really seems the market for 20-30gal ones should be cratering. I have a 20 gal and the only thing I use it for is small plasma cuts

30 gal is great for sprinkler blowouts, and I've painted with it. While it doesn't have the CFM to keep up with a die grinder for long, it's sufficient for less demanding CFM tools or even shorter burst runs of tools like a die grinder. I think that size is popular as consumer grade compressor because it's about as big as you can get without moving to 240V compressors.

 

[Cobra5150]

I have a cordless inflator and it takes forever to add more than a few PSI to any tire larger than a lawnmower.

 

[lovetap]

The M18 inflator has largely replaced my air compressor for tires and small scale dust blowing. My nail guns are battery. Currently I only use an air compressor for flooring stapler, air jack, and pneumatic hammer. When I have a little more space a plasma torch will join the family.

But to your question, if you have to ask then probably not. Not to shill products but the M18 inflator is a home run IMO, inflates tires rather quickly up to your desired pressure. If you don't have specific tools that require the large volumes and pressures then I would save the space.

 

[jayemm]

I don't have air tools so a small portable compressor in conjunction with a 5 gallon portable tank is satisfactory for various small jobs around home. Beyond inflating tires it's used for blowing out A/C fins, dirt from inside computer case (gently), dust/dirt from inside power tools like angle grinder, dirt off fan blades without removing guard, dirt from sliding door and window tracks, dust from compressor and cooling coils on refrigerator etc. Even without shop use I wouldn't want to be without a compressor of some kind just for it's cleaning ability. Too handy.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I guess you don't really "need" an air compressor, but man, it makes life so much easier having one. You can't pump up a tire (reasonably) by hand (well, you *can*, but would you? Seriously?) or rely on one of those little halfa$$ed battery air compressor thingys (I have, I tried, they work, but they ****)....

Sure, I have a ton of battery tools that have replaced some of my pneumatic tools, but sometimes the uggauggauggafrZZzzzzz wrench is a more appropriate solution to the problem, or being able to blow out a dirty air filter... yeah.

 

[67King]

We moved in December, and I moved my 80 gallon 2 stage. I still haven't gotten mine hooked up, there is just so much to do (and getting the old house finished was a MAJOR undertaking). But I often curse not having it. That said, I do have a pancake one that has saved my bacon a few times. Even on the MTB, having it is nice to help set the beads on the tires, which is hard to do without compressed air, and I try to not use the CCO2 except for trailside flats. I also use it to get the foam style grips on and off the bars.

But overall, even though you don't use it often, you will miss it if you don't have it. If you had a big one like mine, I'd tell you to sell or leave it, and get a smaller one. I'd be more than happy with one the size of yours, but since I have painted a few cars, and I have a bead blaster, having the large one is nice.

In your case, you could probably have a larger pancake style one do the job, but since you already have the one you have, and it presumably is semi-portable, I don't see a reason to get rid of it.