Recommendation on air compressor

[derekeh]

I know very little about air compressors so I’m looking for recommendations of one that would fit my needs. I will be doing some appliance repair. It will need to be able to support possibly 3 to 4 small air tools (mostly screw guns) going at the same time. It will be used for 8 to 10 hours daily. However, in the future I would like to be able to run air sanders or a blaster off of this compressor in another section of my garage for some car work. Not at the same time as the other air tools mind you. Not having to drain the tank several times a day would be nice as well. Any recommendations? Thank you.


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[5ubtle]

Your question is overly vague. Let me help you get started. What are the CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) and pressure requirements of the "3 to 4 small air tools" which will be working simultaneously? What are the CFM and pressure requirements of the air sander and blaster that you may want in the future?

 

[derekeh]

I apologize for the vagueness of my post. A friend of my brothers is wanting us to start doing some appliance repair and since I just finished building a garage, we plan to use part of it. This was all talked about this week.
Ive looked up some of the tools we should be using and it looks like 90 psi is the pressure for the screw gun with 2.5 cfm average consumption and 6 cfm under load. When i say 3 to 4 tools going at once, that is probably a long shot. Just imagine 2 to 3 people disassembling washers, dryers, ovens, etc... if that helps in describing my needs.
As far as an air sander, what Ive looked up usually shows around 5 cfm average with 12 cfm under load.


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[bob15]

I would look 2 separate compressors. Find a small 15 gallon compressor for your appliance repair; and then if you really see where you will be needing to run a sander or blaster, then look for a larger 2 stage compressor.

 

[stonesfan68]

I’ve been in the compressor business for 26-years and I’ll tell you to just get battery powered tools for what you’re doing. I would not mess with an air compressor and pneumatic hoses for screw guns.

Air sanders are air hogs. You’re going to need a relatively big compressor to run a sander or a blast cabinet. I’d look at a 5HP minimum, or upgrade to a 7.5HP.

 

[sberry]

Yes, a 5 hp is considered the standard for body work, sanding etc. Repairing appliances is different than salvage demolition with a crew too, I think adding a good comp is eventually a milestone to a good shop I am in total agreement about getting battery drill drivers for screw removal. A guy could work a week on a single charge with a good one.

 

[dkmc]

Yes, battery powered tools.
No need to convert electricity into rotary motion, compress air, then convert the
air pressure back into rotary motion.........loosing some of the energy every step of
the way.
For the times you do need air, look into a 5hp Quincy QR325. It would be the last compressor you'd need to buy.

 

[larryq]

If you're doing any sanding then a 60 gallon compressor is an absolute minimum, as those things are air hogs. And if you're using one for 8 hours a day then 80 gallons is the actual minimum for you.

As mentioned above Quincy is a great name, if a bit pricey, and you can do some quick comparisons here at aircompressors direct. The key metric is CFM; 15 CFM and above is when you edge into 'industrial' strength.

 

[5ubtle]

The next thing you need to decide is your budget. A $150, inexpensive compressor from Harbor Freight (or similar) could support your screw guns for a few years. If you want a compressor to last longer, it will cost more. If you want to run a sander or a blaster without having to wait for the compressor to catch up, the compressor will cost at least $1000, but it will run the screw guns without breaking a sweat. If you want a compressor which can run a sander or a blaster for 8 hours a day for 40 years, it will cost about $3000.

I agree with the others about the battery screw guns.

 

[Lonstar]

Another vote for battery powered screw guns. Dealing with an air line is a PITA at times. Any time a cordless/hoseless tool will do the job, that's what I reach for. I use air tools when it's the only option to get the job done.

The latest 20v 3/8 drive impact wrenches (guns) from the major players have plenty of power and battery life for just about anything you would need to do. If more torque is needed, look at a 1/2" impact in 20v.

As far as a compressor, in my opinion 15 cfm might be a little light. Look at 19+ CFM compressors. These will have true 5 hp or 7.5 hp motors that are rated at 30 amps or more, not the "6 hp peak" compressors that run on 15a or 20a circuit. Those have ~3 hp motors and will never keep up with an air sander, let alone a good blast cabinet.