aventino68
Well-known member
These days with everything electric what size compressor are guys using for a small garage where air tools aren't used as much any more?
Compressor requirements in 2019
- Thread starter aventino68
- Start date
cvairwerks
Well-known member
Need really hasn’t changed, unless the only reason you needed a compressor is for a tool or three and dusting things off and filling tires. No all electric blast cabinets or tire machines That I know of. No affordable electric tools for working in hazardous locations either. Most heavier presses use air rather than electrons to run the pump. Every individual’s needs depend on what and where they do the work.
Prospecter
Well-known member
I use whatever I can get for <$100 on Craigslist. Right now I have a 3hp 220v Craftsman with a 25ish gallon tank.
vanapplebomb
Well-known member
Depends what you are running. If all you are doing is using a 1/2” impact, a blow off gun, or filling tires, then get a smaller 20is gallon portable unit.
If you are using a die grinder, da sander, or HVLP for large projects, go with a 230V 60+ gallon unit.
If you are using a die grinder, da sander, or HVLP for large projects, go with a 230V 60+ gallon unit.
juddspaintballs
Well-known member
I've got a 3 HP 30 gallon 8.2 scfm compressor that does well enough for me. Speedaire I believe it is. I'm not running HVLP. Sometimes I run a cut off tool, sometimes I run a sander, but mostly it's just filling tires, blowing dust off of things, and running my air impact.
I think the sweet spot are these 20-33 gallon 2HP units with 2 cylinder cast iron pumps/oil lubrication. (not oiless)
They're portable, fairly quiet, dual voltage, pretty well build and can handle most pneumatic tools. (high CFM @ short duty cycles).
For high CFM @ high duty cycles like DA sanding, electric is better.
They're portable, fairly quiet, dual voltage, pretty well build and can handle most pneumatic tools. (high CFM @ short duty cycles).
For high CFM @ high duty cycles like DA sanding, electric is better.
2002maniac
Well-known member
I have no use for a high volume compressor at the moment. Cordless electric have replaced my pneumatic grinders and impact guns.
Until the day I need a blast cabinet, plasma cutter, or high volume painting equipment, I'm happy with a 10 Gallon CAT compressor. It's small, quiet, and I have yet to make it run continuously to meet my needs.
Plasma cutter will probably be the tool that makes me upgrade.
Until the day I need a blast cabinet, plasma cutter, or high volume painting equipment, I'm happy with a 10 Gallon CAT compressor. It's small, quiet, and I have yet to make it run continuously to meet my needs.
Plasma cutter will probably be the tool that makes me upgrade.
Depending on budget and space you might consider something like a roofing compressor.
My first compressor was a 4 gallon Emglo kind of like this
With a 3/8" hose it had no trouble driving my 1/2 impact. Just about any compressor can air tires. It was sufficient for a cylinder leak down tester. It was OK but not idea for a blow gun. The problem when used with a blow gun is you had perhaps 10 seconds or so before the pump would kick in. It only took 15 seconds to refill but still, if you were really using the blow gun it could outrun the pump and the tank didn't give you that much reserve.
Something like a Porter Cable 6 gallon pancake would provide similar abilities. The PC has not only a larger tank but the extra pressure (150 vs 120 peak) makes a difference when you are drawing the tank down. The pump on the PC is significantly slower but given this narrow use case that might not matter much.
Both the PC and the Emglo are noisy.
"Quiet" compressors like the California Air Tools models are nice because they really are MUCH quieter than typical compressors. In addition to the Emglo I have a CAT 5510A. The CAT is actually my most commonly used compressor since the tank on my larger compressor (similar to what Davefr showed) went bad. The CAT is weak but still sufficient for getting wheels off the car with the impact. It doesn't take long to exhaust it with the blow gun but, unlike the Emglo, I don't care when it fires up just 5 feet from me. It's just not that loud.
Anyway, if your needs are limited you might be able to use a smaller compressor that could fit under a bench (like the PC, or my Emglo or CAT). If space and money aren't concerns go larger. If they are at least consider an "under the bench" sized compressor.
My first compressor was a 4 gallon Emglo kind of like this
With a 3/8" hose it had no trouble driving my 1/2 impact. Just about any compressor can air tires. It was sufficient for a cylinder leak down tester. It was OK but not idea for a blow gun. The problem when used with a blow gun is you had perhaps 10 seconds or so before the pump would kick in. It only took 15 seconds to refill but still, if you were really using the blow gun it could outrun the pump and the tank didn't give you that much reserve.
Something like a Porter Cable 6 gallon pancake would provide similar abilities. The PC has not only a larger tank but the extra pressure (150 vs 120 peak) makes a difference when you are drawing the tank down. The pump on the PC is significantly slower but given this narrow use case that might not matter much.
Both the PC and the Emglo are noisy.
"Quiet" compressors like the California Air Tools models are nice because they really are MUCH quieter than typical compressors. In addition to the Emglo I have a CAT 5510A. The CAT is actually my most commonly used compressor since the tank on my larger compressor (similar to what Davefr showed) went bad. The CAT is weak but still sufficient for getting wheels off the car with the impact. It doesn't take long to exhaust it with the blow gun but, unlike the Emglo, I don't care when it fires up just 5 feet from me. It's just not that loud.
Anyway, if your needs are limited you might be able to use a smaller compressor that could fit under a bench (like the PC, or my Emglo or CAT). If space and money aren't concerns go larger. If they are at least consider an "under the bench" sized compressor.