Thoughts and advice on getting an air compressor

[guywholikestools]

I have electric impacts, ratchets, etc. They're nice, they're new, and top of the line.

I'm looking at buying an air compressor for my home because I have an opportunity to buy a brand new Snap-on BRA5DV30VP at an extremely good price, and took a drive to see one of these run locally. It's super small, really quiet, and looks like a top notch unit --- have no issues with this model.

But the lingering question in my mind is: Are air compressors just obsolete, aside from blowing air for dust, etc. and filling up air in your vehicles tires (which any small unit can do).

Please tell me what you use your compressor for besides painting.

I'm a little nervous about buying used compressors with tanks, because of the risk of failure vs what I would actually use it for, so it's one of those situations where either I buy this one or I don't buy one at all.

 

[Rc_Guy]

I have never painted with my compressor in the 45 years I have had a compressor, I fill tires, I winterize the RV, I blow out the back of the side-by-side when I’ve hauled a lot of wood and branches, filled blow up toys for grandchildren.

 

[Lassen Forge]

If I had it to do again (and I might shortly) and bought new, I would spend the extra coin, and get a rotary compressor. Spendy as ****, but then I can run sand blast cabinets, paint setups, and whatever else my little evil heart desires.

Nothing like having a continuous 15-20+ CFM at your beck and call...

 

[38 Dodge Coupe]

It's been almost 40 years since I purchased my dual stage IR air compressor. Over the years I have used it for painting, sandblasting, air powered tools (DA sander, long board file, die grinders, etc) and a Coats tire changer. Now that batter powered tools have become more dependable and affordable, I still do not regret purchasing my air compressor, as it has its place in my garage.

 

[Damon L.]

Sanders, cut off tool, blasting, powder coating, impact, blowing stuff off, plasma cutting, pneumatic nailers, tire changer etc.

I use the **** out of my compressed air. My compressor is 20 years old this year. New pressure switch and check valve as of this year, but outside of that and regular oil changes, I have had to do zero maintenance.

 

[finn]

Media blasting, painting, tires, and more.

Sanders, both DA, in-line, and band sanders , as well as cutoff tools are still better in the air versions than electric, although I don’t use air impacts much anymore.

 

[Rinspeed]

Myself, I have no idea why anyone wouldn't want a decent size compressor. I use mine several times a week for various tasks and it always stays full until needed. Whenever I'm working on anything automotive I usually have three die grinders close by, one with SS wire brush, one with a buffing pad and one with a cookie wheel.

 

[Roert42]

Fill up tires, blow dust/ sawdust, blow grease/ dirt off an old transmission before working on it, blow water off an old engine I just pressure washed, sand blasting cabinet, air hammer, needle scaler, painting, 3” cut off wheel, air ratchet, plasma cutter, air nailers of various sizes, palm nailer, air impacts, filling fluids into transmissions and differentials.

These are all the things I could think of off the top of my head that I use air for. I got by for a long time without it, but now that I have it I wouldn’t want to. It opens up a lot of options for equipment/ tools. Instead of it needing to be electric, you can decide on a case by case basis what will work better.

 

[mikedodge]

Die grinder, nibbler, air tools I'm not going to spend a fortune replacing with cordless, sand blasting, powder coating, painting. I don't use my compressor a lot but when I need it I need it.

If you've gotten along thus long without one and are questioning if you need one you probably don't.

That snap on looks like it's only 7psi. On the plus side it's portable. Watch how much you spend on it because once you have one you might want to do more with it and end up needing a bigger one and a 60 or 80 gallon aren't all that expensive.

 

[MongoTA]

Please tell me what you use your compressor for besides painting.

In some ways, once you get one, you find more uses for it. But there's always that balancefiguring out if it's worth it to supplant what you have with something new.

My first compressor was for nail guns. Thomas ST2880. I've had it for near 30 years, still runs like a champ. Ran mostly air nailers, framing guns, roofing, through finish. And also used it to inflate things. To blow things off. To blow out the lines in my underground swimming pool when winterizing. The basics.

Then I picked up a few die grinders for metal work. As my metal work expanded, I needed more CFM.

Quincy 5hp two-stage, I picked that up maybe 7 years ago? Much higher CFM, much higher PSI, but still quiet. Picked up a blast cabinet. It's odd how often I use it. I run a plasma cutter, so much faster, more efficient, and less dangerous than using consumable cutting discs on an angle grinder.

Air tools can be inexpensive compared to electric, especially on the secondary market where they can be had for pennies on the dollar.

Though I have a passive copper tubing after-dryer to condense moisture out of the compressed air, I picked up an air dryer that went unsold at auction. I've used that with the plasma. I don't have a need to paint.

Air tools can be quieter than electric. Or noisier, lol. Noise might be a factor for you. Tool motor noise, not compressor noise. I have heavy duty air hoses, a light weight ones. Some tools it's easy to maneuver a lightweight hose versus a plug in cord.

I will say I've gone to Milwaukee and Dewalt cordless tools; impact wrenches, nail guns, sanders, metal shears, etc. Best thing I can say is take a hard look at what you do now and what you want to be able to do in the future. While cordless, air, or electric may be the best for certain tools, you can be less efficient here and there and <gasp> keep your tool collection down.

With an air compressor you're simply adding to the foundation of what tools will be available to you in the future.

 

[Aaron_W]

Personally I find medium size (10-30 gallon) portable compressors like that snap on to have very niche uses. A small compressor can often fill the same needs at a fraction of the cost and space and they are still not enough compressor to run air tools, sprayers, blasters etc beyond short bursts.

I would say that class of compressor is a tough sell these days.


I do have a Dewalt 30 gallon portable compressor and I like having it available, but it takes up about the same floor space as a 60-80 gallon and honestly my old noisy 6 gallon gets far more use. I'm actually thinking about getting a quiet 6 gallon.

There were 60 gallon compressors available for about 150% the cost so the main selling point to me was the ease of getting into the shop. Just wheeled it in and plugged it in. A 60 gallon would have been a lot more work and the only reason I'd really need it would be to add a blast cabinet.

Most of my air use is running a nailer, a pressure casting tank for resin and blow guns. I have a couple of air tools, the 30 gallon is very marginal for that use but just adequate for DIY use in the driveway.

I've got a quiet 2 gallon for running my airbrush and small air tasks (mostly blowing stuff out) in the house.

 

[KwikFab]

I use mine often for CNC.

 

[Codyboy]

I see this question very often. Makes absolutely no sense to not have one, even if its a pancake type.

Ill never be without an air compressor.

 

[L.Cheapo]

There are plenty of air powered tools that have no cordless equivalent. Air hammer. Cooling system vacuum filler. Blow gun. Evap smoke machine.

Air also raises and lowers my Handy Air Lift workbench.

I used my Dewalt DCF961 to rotate tires today. I'm not doing that again. It's too damn heavy. I'll break out the old IR 1/2" composite impact and the air hose next time.

 

[jkesselr]

I think the thing that often gets missed is the tool life benefit. I have air tools I have had for 35 years that I can still plug into a hose and they go to work, just the same as they did 35 years ago. With electric, batteries start to fail and now the tool that once did the job is a shadow of its former self. This concern has been alleviated a bit by the influx of cheap replacement batteries, but even cheap batteries cost money and may or may not deliver the same performance as the pricey originals. At some point, I suspect that some of those aftermarket batteries may dry up, as well. Yes, adapters exist, but the more **** you hang off the tool, the less benefit the cordless feature continues to be. Maybe I am the exception, but when I think back to all of the old cordless tool lines I scrapped because they stopped working worth a damn and the cost to replace batteries exceeded the cost of buying replacements, I find value in a tool that just keeps working decade after decade. I say all of this as the guy who is heavily invested in Milwaukee's M12 and M18 lines - the same guy who is going to cry real tears when he has to replace all of those tools like he has had to do in the past.

 

[AEAdam]

I don’t know. I just bought my second air compressor. Air nail guns aside, I think maybe they aren’t worth it. Used to be air compressors were essential for impact guns, die grinders, and convenient for drills etc. But really no more. Not for these tools.

FWIW, I driving my framing nailer using a California Air Tools 8010A. I think that’s enough air compressor for me. It fills tires, blows dust and dirt, what else do you really need?

 

[Ing3018]

I did not need the air compressor I have when I acquired it. That said, being able to media blast, run paint spray guns, undercoat the vehicles and blow out the irrigation lines became DIY tasks after that point. I have not invested much in battery tools as a result. I am not a pro and I do not need to be mobile either, so it works for me.

 

[MovingAlong]

Please tell me what you use your compressor for besides painting.

Are you buying one for me? If not, then my uses don't matter.

If you cannot think of a use for yourself, then pass on the deal.

 

[Shoreline_]

Most of auto repair shops I see the guys still use their 1/2 air impact more than their electric. Probably because when you use it all day the electric 1/2" gets fatiguing.

 

[cvairwerks]

Still haven't found electric versions of my rivet guns or squeezers...

Air drill is way less fatiguing when drilling hundreds of holes in a shop session.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Use small oil compressor not pancake style for air ratchet, impact wrench, tires, blow guns, and nailers. Compressor is very quiet. Prefer redundancy corded, cordless, gas, and air just in case, S*** happens.

 

[sz0k30]

Compressors still have their place. The last few years with the invention of brushless technology, handheld electric tools have pretty much limited the use for air tools & compressors. A lot of us old guys have bigger compressors because air tools was all there was. Newer and younger users will probably be using more electric and less air tools. You say you have the latest & greatest electric, so unless you plan on painting or sandblasting, a smaller compressor can still be handy for airing up tires or blowing dirt off.

 

[Shoreline_]

Also unless you have a dedicated process and use it all the time I wouldn't get larger than 60 gallons of storage. Any larger and It ***** waiting for the thing to fill up just to fill one tire of with air. I think 60 gallons is the sweet spot

 

[RalphInCA]

Related subject:

While watching the races this past weekend, I noticed that the racing teams still use air impact drivers.

With the new battery powered stuff out there I was wondering why they haven’t converted to (very high-quality) battery powered devices.

Seems like that would reduce or eliminate one possible problem: running over air hoses and having to keep them out of the way.

 

[Shoreline_]

Which races? F1 uses high pressure nitrogen for compact and high power. It would be like a 480v electric impact.

 

[Citation]

I can't see not having one but how much are they asking for the Snap On? This isn't an area where I would expect SO to be better than the others. Also, I own a compressor similar to that one. It's always a bit of a questionable compressor size. Mine was purchased from my old job for a very good price. Otherwise I do not suggest getting a similar compressor.

For basically the same price (new vs new) you can get a 240V 3hp 60 gallon compressor. The larger compressor will have no trouble with most air hand tools including DA sanders and maybe a small blast cabinet. The 120V model may have mixed results keeping up with a die grinder/zip wheel. Mine is 26gal at 130 psi. It's great for the impact wrench since that isn't a continuous load. It's great for filling tires (much faster than an "inflator") and using the blow gun. It's often sufficient for the zip wheel but can't run continuously. The same it true of the air drill (doesn't get used enough).
I've never tried painting or sanding with it and presume it would be marginal at best. If it was gone what would I get? I would probably just use my CAT 5510A. It's just 5.5 gallons but it can run the impact for short bursts. It will also do the blue gun and tire inflation well enough. The zip wheel would have to be replaced with electric. The CAT is going to run frequently but it's quiet enough that I just don't care. I'm not advocating CAT specifically, just that if your needs are limited, a smaller, quiet compressor might be a sweet spot answer. The is doubly true if you have limited garage space. If I had a good friend or kid who could use it I would be tempted to pass my compressor on to two l reclaim the garage space.

 

[Shoreline_]

Definitely would not buy a Snapon compressor. Our Snapon dealer wouldn't sell them he'd sell Jenny instead.

 

[Citation]

Related subject:

While watching the races this past weekend, I noticed that the racing teams still use air impact drivers.

With the new battery powered stuff out there I was wondering why they haven’t converted to (very high-quality) battery powered devices.

Seems like that would reduce or eliminate one possible problem: running over air hoses and having to keep them out of the way.

Air/Pneumatic are lighter

 

[finn]

Also unless you have a dedicated process and use it all the time I wouldn't get larger than 60 gallons of storage. Any larger and It ***** waiting for the thing to fill up just to fill one tire of with air. I think 60 gallons is the sweet spot

I have leaks in my black iron piping system, but shut off the ball valve at the tank outlet (and cut the power) when I go home for the night.

No waiting for air when I come back.

 

[Shoreline_]

Yea but the mfg recommends drain the tank when you're not using it. Most people don't just saying that's what they say.

 

[finn]

Air/Pneumatic are lighter

Which is why, if not using pneumatic devices, I try to use the smallest electric tool and battery pack that will do the job.

 

[finn]

Yea but the mfg recommends drain the tank when you're not using it. Most people don't just saying that's what they say.

My Champion compressor / Manchester tank has a 1970 date stamp.

Pretty sure it will outlive me.

I don’t think a current lightweight box store unit would, though.

 

[tarbellb]

Are you comparing the "extremely good price" to the Snap On retail or to similar comps?

SnapOn just rebrands a classic comps like a IR

Consider usage cases, big compressors are absolute for a few things, buts its specific and limited ie blasting, painting, ?

Nice to have but definitely not nearly as necessary as it once was

 

[driftpin]

Nothing like having a continuous 15-20+ CFM at your beck and call...

Made in the USA Saylor-Beall 705 upright, that was the choice I made. Used, and given the once-over by a dealer who is a personal acquaintance.

The second one is what I bought, Baldor 24 amp motor 240V 1 Ph.

The first one was brought to him by a scrap dealer and was quickly tested to see what it needs. It will get overhauled and put out for sale.

Consider adding your location to help people who may be close to you, offer advice on local deals, and sources.

 

[Aaron_W]

It's just 5.5 gallons but it can run the impact for short bursts.

Yep, I used to use my cheap HD impact with a 6 gallon pancake. It was only good for 1 or 2 whacks at a time, but that was usually enough to break loose a nut or bolt I couldn't get with a hand ratchet or breaker bar.

The 30 gallon won't let me work like a NASCAR pit crew but it is enough to keep up when working at a leisurely pace. I'm just doing DIY work in the driveway so I'm not trying to break any records.

 

[mikedodge]

Before going straight to a bigger compressor figure out what your needs realistically are.
One like that snap on one or even smaller will handle most things alright and still be able to use high consuming tools but with a lot of catch up time. But if you're expecting to be doing stuff that needs a lot of air save the money and skip straight to a bigger compressor.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I'm looking at buying an air compressor for my home because I have an opportunity to buy a brand new Snap-on BRA5DV30VP at an extremely good price, and took a drive to see one of these run locally. It's super small, really quiet, and looks like a top notch unit --- have no issues with this model.

Even though it claims it can run on 120VAC is does say you need 30A at that voltage !

 

[SouthernIllinois]

I have leaks in my black iron piping system, but shut off the ball valve at the tank outlet (and cut the power) when I go home for the night.

No waiting for air when I come back.

I have a little over 175 feet of Transair 1" piping and black pipe. No leaks there but one of the regulator/filters does.
I also isolate the system when not in use and I never have to wait for the tank to be refilled.

Matter of fact, just a few hours ago I used a Chief air saw to cut down some aluminum socket rails. Cut down about a dozen. I never even turned the compressor on. Between the air in the 80 gallon tank and however much air volume the plumbing holds, it was enough to make those cuts without even powering it up and the system was still at 110 psi when I was done and isolated it.

 

[Shoreline_]

My Champion compressor / Manchester tank has a 1970 date stamp.

Pretty sure it will outlive me.

I don’t think a current lightweight box store unit would, though.

Must not use it very much. We have Manchester tanks that rot out in ten years.

 

[liliysdad]

It has been at least two days since the last thread discussing the obsolescence of air compressors.

If you need one, you know you need one, and you can’t fathom not having one. If you don’t need one, you feel compelled to as others if you really need one.