Air tools+Compressor

"KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs" (kusabisensei) 01/10/2014 at 16:15 • Filed to: Toolopnik

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I should get some air tools. They're awesome, plus it means I can get an air compressor. This is good for tire pressure adjustments etc. What compressor do you recommend, that will run an air ratchet/impact gun without needing to stop and let the tank recharge frequently, and is portable enough I could horse it into the back of my truck for track day duty? The given picture is a compressor, but likely is overkill for my application.

NoIDontDriftmy240 > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 01/10/2014 at 16:22

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I think 30 gallons tank should be more than enough for weekend d.i.y-er. You can find good deals on craigslist for a mint used compressor from ingersoll rand, craftsman,etc. A lot of people buy compressor and only use it a few times before they decide to sell. Battery powered impact wrench might be a better option for track day duties.

Wacko > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 01/10/2014 at 16:24

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I have a 15 Gallon, and it's big enough for most jobs, and small enough to be wheeled around, brought it in the house since I installed new baseboards with the small nail gun.

I prefer my electric impact, since it has more power than my air impact, and way easier to carry around.

CalzoneGolem > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 01/10/2014 at 16:26

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I have a 10 gallon compressor. It is great for my brad gun. It does not have a enough juice to run my die grinder for long. I imagine it would work an impact gun just fine but I have an electric one so I see no need to buy a pneumatic one. What I'm saying is buy the biggest one you can.

48 Spoons > NoIDontDriftmy240 01/10/2014 at 16:26

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I second the eletric impact wrench. I have an electric impact driver and just got some bits that let me attach sockets to it. Works great and don't have to lug around a massive tank. Also have a basic compressor that I got at harbor freight that so far has been great and was like $16.

Casper > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 01/10/2014 at 16:29

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It all depends what you want to drag around and what power you have access to. If it's portable the biggest issue will be tank size and being able to use standard 110 power (a lot of bigger units will be 220). It also depends how much constant use you will need from it before it can recharge. I have gotten by with as little as 5 gallons for basic tasks of changing tires and topping pressure off, etc, but I would much rather have access to my big compressors at the shop for more serious work.

If you just want one entry level system that you can move around, probably stay around 30 gallons or less and probably over 5 gallons (they need to recharge a lot). Of course it also depends on the quality of the compressor, tools, etc. Once you get up around 60 gallons there's no way to consider it portable (although we bolted one to a pallet so we could throw it in the bed of a truck and take it with us easier).

Brian, The Life of > Casper 01/10/2014 at 16:33

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^This.

It's all about what you need to do with it and what the minimum requirements of your tools are.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Casper 01/10/2014 at 16:42

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The tools are 5SCFM@90psi or less.

I'm not going to be doing grinding or something that requires more air, so I was thinking about a 10 gallon tank, 120V motor of about 2hp or so, and it would still be light enough that two people could put it in the truck.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 01/10/2014 at 16:43

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I have a 60 gallon 220v compressor in my garage. I use it all the time. However with the advent of electric impact wrenches I find myself using it less. Probably use it the most for my plasma cutter and to clean out my garage. I also have sanding tools that I occasionally use on it. Pros is that the air tools are less expensive than electric tools. I think you would get fed up with any intro model if you try and use it heavily. I also have a portable dewalt compressor I use for construction and filling up tires etc.

I would recommend deciding if you want a heavy use machine or a light duty machine. If you go light get something portable but don't waste your money on tools. If you go heavy go crazy and get everything you need. I suspect you'd be better off going light duty and getting electric tools.

Casper > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 01/10/2014 at 16:47

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If you aren't running temperamental tools, you should be fine. Where people usually get in trouble is they think they just need a little compressor so they buy a dirt cheap Chinese system that stops working after a year. Just buy something with good reviews and fits your personal needs.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > 48 Spoons 01/10/2014 at 16:47

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Since I don't have electric tools (I only have a good set of hand tools), part of this was electric or pneumatic.

The pneumatic stuff had an advantage when considering if I needed to adjust tire pressures etc and not relying on a small compressor with no tank.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Casper 01/10/2014 at 16:51

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I have already been cautioned by a friend to never spend money on an oilless compressor, unless I just love throwing money away.

So probably it will be something that is oiled, just from that perspective.

I'm still considering getting one from Harbor Freight. They are comparable with one from HD/Lowes/etc in terms of entry price. Some of Harbor Freight's stuff can be hit or miss on quality, so could you go particularly wrong with their compressors?

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > NoIDontDriftmy240 01/10/2014 at 16:52

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I'll check Craigslist, etc. If there's a stationary one (and I decide to upgrade from a "portable" unit), that may be the way to go.

desertdog5051 > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 01/10/2014 at 17:36

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A screw type compressor, as pictured, would run all your tools and everybody's on the street, at the same time. When I was a contractor to the railroad, we used one to run two 1" impact guns to unbolt rail joints. The guns weighed about 22 pounds each. That screw compressor never labored a bit.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > CalzoneGolem 01/13/2014 at 21:47

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I bought a 10 gallon oiled compressor this weekend.

From Harbor Freight.

I'm starting with a 3/8" drive air ratchet (Non-impact), so I could use some of the existing sockets for light use.

For some reason, there's a 1/2" drive impact socket set and extension in my toolbox. I think that was from when RamblinRover and I did the timing chain on his 300D. So now I just need the perfect excuse to get a 1/2" impact gun...