How useful is a 1-gallon air compressor?

[gamp945]

Hi all,

I acquired a nice 1-gallon compressor a while back on deep clearance but have not yet opened the box.

Since then I have purchased cordless nailers: a framing nailer, 16ga finish nailer, 18ga brad nailer, and pin nailer. So as far as pneumatic nailers go, I don't need a compressor.

I also have a cordless tire inflator.

I was planning on keeping the 1-gallon compressor for dusting off tools and wood finishing projects in the shop, but some reading suggests that this size compressor is probably not adequate for dusting tasks. But what should I use instead? A larger compressor used solely for dusting seems expensive and bulky for a very small shop like mine (just 12x14). Maybe I should just stick to vacuuming?

Am I correct that a 1-gallon compressor doesn't have any use in my case? Am I unaware of some jobs that it might be useful for? It seems like I should probably just keep it unopened in the original box and sell it off.

Thanks for reading!

 

[dante2]

I have a HF pancake compressor like that gets used to inflate tires and will run brad nailers but that is about it. They are pretty useless other than that I think.

 

[mike93lx]

A cordless blower can work decently for dusting stuff off.

A 1 gal compressor is useful to make noise and I guess is better than nothing for inflating a tire

 

[subroc]

I used a 6gal pancake as a small shop tool for several years. I have since then upgraded to a larger jobsite/portable. The pancake was useful. It blew things off. It filled tires. It ran my nail guns including a framing nailer, a brad nailer and a stapler. When I backed over front yard light i used it with an air chisel to break up the concrete ball holding the post.

For simp!e tasks in a small shop they have some value. If you need a bigger compressor then you will be disappointed. If you don't really need a larger machine then it might be enough.

if you got the thing on deep clearance what is stopping you from checking it out and seeing if it will work for you? Is it that you might be able to get $8.00 more if you sell it as NIB?

 

[LXCam]

They make great Christmas tree ornaments.

 

[rlitman]

The compressor head on a 1 gallon pancake usually makes the same CFM as the compressor on the 2 gallon pancakes and even 4 gallon tiny tanks. In short bursts it will still run an impact wrench. I'm not stretching a hose to my in-laws to use an impact, so I have my 4 gallon portable stored there. It's plenty good to use with the impact to change anodes in their water heater, and beats doing it by hand by far.

 

[Shiftless]

If you have plenty of storage space, hold on to it. People say “It’s better to have a tool and not need it than to need a tool and not have it”

If all of your shelves are full, sell it or give it away.

 

[dscheidt]

I have a similar unit, but with a giant 2 gallon tank. I got it to fill bike tires, for which it's overkill. I use it (rarely) to run a pin nailer or stapler, and to pull debris out of holes I'm drilling, stuff like that. It doesn't make enough air for dusting out the shop or a car radiator, but for small stuff it's okay. Bigger stuff it will do, it will just take a lot longer. it will run a framing nailer, for a few nails, then you have to wait for the tank to refill.

 

[2oolhound]

It would probably be great for an air brush. The small diaphragm compressors sold with air brushes pulsate and cause problems so anything with a tank solves that problem.

 

[RTM]

I only use my 6 gal pancake for the (intermittent) nailers you eliminated the need for with cordless. I use a dedicated inflator for tires. I just bought an air hammer for a few rivets down in a hole, that might be the only thing you can't do currently.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Most useful for finish nailers and hanging trim. Using in places where it is more convienent than hauling a larger compressor and long hoses. Sounds liek you have that covered with cordless.
Might work OK with an airbrush.
BTW: My small compressor cost more than many with larger tanks and more CFM but IMO it was worth it before cordless nailers were available.

 

[gamp945]

Thanks everyone

It sounds like I should probably just sell the compressor.

 

[The Cobbler]

looks similar to the Senco PC1010 which are great for trimming. ( I have 3 of them ) it probably has decent value of you want to sell it
It would be decent for blowing off smaller type stuff , airing up low tires etc

 

[SARG]

I have two that i use for tires and also for the yearly maintenance on two well systems and the associated pressure tanks. ideal for adjusting up the pressure.

 

[driftpin]

It's summer. I use one (a Porter Cable pancake air compressor) to blow-out the AC drain line. I have a portable 240V 30 gallon Campbell Hausfeld and a 80 gallon Saylor Beall upright, each has its role.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Consider the engine drive jackhammer/ blasting compressors have no reservoir at all. Aside from the noise, it's all about CFM

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Great if it's the only air compressor have. Terrible if you have a larger one.

 

[Blind1]

I use my small pancake to run finish nailers and air up tires/ clean up debris, etc. great for detailing as well.

I like it. I don’t have room for anything bigger and it gets my jobs done just fine.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I bought a little craftsman compressor around 17 years ago to do valve guide seals in a driveway when my resources were few. It does basic stuff fine. But if you're going to do some blasting or body work, upgrade. When you do, you have a portable.

 

[Indexmill]

I recently bought a 1-gallon "silent" air compressor branded Husky from Home Depot for $100 with a three year warranty.

I am amazed at this little thing. It pumps up quick and is very quiet; easy to hold a conversation right next to it. It's light and stays where you out it. Of course it does not have the volume to run a framing nailer all day but that is not what it was designed for. I bought it to use in the Master Bedroom to run a pneumatic ******** for the ... oops, wrong story. to run framing and finish nailers while doing extensive renovations to the Master Bath and MBR. It worked like a damn charm. After shooting 5 or 6 framing nails quickly, ya had to let it catch up for a moment before continuing. But when doing renovation, you are not really running the framing gun at full speed. So, it no issue. And, my God, not having to haul 100' of air hose up the the MBR from the garage thru the house or up the outside of the house and then in a window is Godsent kindness. Very well worth the $100 and very quiet, We'll see how well she lasts; but has the 3 year warranty.

 

[m6z]

I've got a cheap 1 gallon compressor that I've had way more than a decade at this point.

Works great with my Mityvac. It'll also inflate the occasional tire.

 

[dogdog]

I have a husky 1 gallon, good for air nailer, fills tires, I am not sure about the impact. but handy when you don't want to wake the whole neighborhood up.. It's the quiet ones.

 

[Forgottonia]

A lot of times you don't need much air. Like for blowing something off a little, or filling one small tire. Would be useful not to need to fill the larger air compressor. Especially if it makes so much noise it drives you out of the shop.

 

[Voi]

I was planning on keeping the 1-gallon compressor for dusting off tools and wood finishing projects in the shop, but some reading suggests that this size compressor is probably not adequate for dusting tasks. But what should I use instead? A larger compressor used solely for dusting seems expensive and bulky for a very small shop like mine (just 12x14). Maybe I should just stick to vacuuming?

I do think that a blast of air from a compressor is better for cleaning up after sanding versus a cordless blower or vacuum. I find that those smaller pin holes that get packed with sawdust while sanding with an RO or more easily found with a blast of air from the compressor than with a vacuum or my cordless blower.

I am able to do so with a six gallon pancake compressor. If it ever dies I'd prefer to just get the smallest compressor that's up to the task, even if it takes a bit longer.

Is your one gallon not up to that task?

 

[cmandp]

I just got my own 2 gallon air compressor this year so I may be biased, but I love it. If the one you linked is the one you have it will be quieter than a vacuum cleaner, seriously quiet and great for use around the house without having an extremely loud thing turning on without notice.

Any air compressor is better than none. I use it with my brad nailer, use it to blow things off (vacuum cleaner filters, dusty things that no other method will clean, etc), air up vehicle tyres and more. I will try and run some air tools on it (specifically an air hammer) next time the need arises.

I plan to also get a larger compressor for use in the garage but I will keep the portable one for using around the house and taking to work on friends and family's stuff.

 

[gamp945]

Is your one gallon not up to that task?

I've read some reviews on the compressor and it sounds like it might be just OK for dusting. For example:

I use it mostly for cleaning out sawdust from my machines. I do wish it had a better sustained airflow, though. It seems to trail off a bit after the initial blast of air.

Since my shop is so small, and a compressor can be a bit awkward to find space for, I am wondering if a small compressor is not a good solution for the sole purpose of dusting (again, I have battery-powered tools for nailing and inflating).

After doing some searching around I have found a potential solution:

Amazon.com: Metro ED500 DataVac 500-Watt 120 volt 0.75-HP Electric Blower Duster : Electronics

Buy Metro ED500 DataVac 500-Watt 120 volt 0.75-HP Electric Blower Duster: Compressed Air Dusters - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

These small blowers are made specifically for dusting off computers and the like, and some of the reviews mention woodworking and machine cleaning. The downside is that they are loud.

 

[subroc]

The other downside is you already have a compressor sitting there.

You appear to be overthinking this.

Searching for something else before you even evaluate if the solution you have at hand will be effective enough for your needs is a search for an unknown.

BTW, you picked this thing up on deep clearance, what did you pay for it?

 

[Keep]

They are great for cleaning out computers, and are small/light enough to move around from location to location. I use a 5 gallon pancake compressor now for computer cleaning, but it can be a pain when loading it into and out of the truck all day to go into different offices.

 

[Indexmill]

Man can't live without a compressor. It's a gotta-have thing.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a small one like that in my race trailer. Does a fine job of airing up the rear tires.

A little compressor is awesome to have when you need it. To me, it beats the hell out of a portable air tank. It runs on 120V and doesn't draw much. . . Wife gets a flat tire and you have to go change it. Is the spare pumped up or flat too ? Air the little thing up and take it with you. You can find a 120V outlet almost anywhere... even along side the road since some vehicles have outlets now.

You have it, it's paid for, I'd keep it. That one time you need it, it'll pay for itself.