No matter how good an air compressor is, it can’t do all jobs. Compressors have different sizes and levels of power. In order to figure out which air compressor is right for you, you first need to determine the power requirements for your air tool. Once you’ve done that, then make sure to choose an air compressor that has a bit more power than your tool requires, so that when you buy your next air tool, even if it needs a little more power, it will work.
Ordinarily you will probably run across portable rotary screw compressors. There will be a dizzying assortment of choices to make. The cheap ones are just that, cheap ones, thus you should probably stay away from those, unless all you want to do is put air into your tires occasionally.
Air compressors are sometimes rated by horsepower or hp. Dont be swayed by the hp listing. It all depends on how much power it draws. Often the hp listed is inflated.
You’re much better off looking at the PSI — pounds per square inch — when choosing your air compressor. 90 PSI is the rating that works with most air tools. If your compressor is listed at 125 to 135 PSI, even though it seems like it should, it’s not going to work with an air tool that requires 90 PSI. The reason for this is that PSI really measures shut off pressure, and the value doesn’t acknowledge when there is pressure lost in the line. If you want to make the most of a 90 PSI tool, consider a two-stage pressure shut off type of compressor. At 90 PSI the first stage will turn off, and the second stage will shut off at 175 PSI.
Next you will take into account the “cubic feet per minute” or CFM. The majority of air tools manufactured today will require 4 to 6 CFM. Not a big deal here, since at 90 PSI you will be getting 3 to 4 exact horsepower. CFM merely tells you how much air is being moved.
Tank size on a compressor may be important to you depending on how you wish to use your air compressor. If your work requires you to use it in short bursts, then the typical 30-gallon tank and a normal pump and motor is more than fine. If however, you wish to use it heavily, you would do better with a bigger tank and much stronger pump and motor, taking into consideration air that is stored in the tank.
This is why you’ll often see contracting professionals using multiple air tools simultaneously; they know that a 150 PSI rated compressor is a superior choice when using the compressor on a long-term, continuous basis.
Truck mounted compressors differ from portable ones because they use the truck itself as a source of power. Of course a problem with this is a fact that the truck has to keep running to keep the compressor going. If you need to keep the compressor in use for long periods of time, the best choice is a compressor that is deck mounted. Deck mounted compressors are similar to truck mounted ones in that they sit on removable beds for the truck. This makes it feasible to let the compressor stay at the worksite instead of forcing you to lug it every day.
Also you can find compressors that are electrically and gas powered. If you think you’re going to be working on a site that does not have electricity, then go with a gas powered compressor.
nicholas halmond is an experienced body man. who knows tools. He has searched the web up and down to find the best deals on air tools and other tools. If you are interested in where to find discount tools go to http://www.airtoolsnow.org/.
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