Air compressor size

JonnyD91 · 06-08-2011, 11:01 AM

I want to pick up an air compressor. I want to actually get the smallet one i can get that will run and air gun. I will be using it alot with a nail gun so i want it to be as portable as possible but still be able to use my air gun with it. I have always borrowed my dads in the past.

Any recommendations?

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Thunderpaw · 06-08-2011, 11:11 AM

I like the 15 gal horizontal standing with wheels. Pancake or doughnut size is too small.

xxkneedraggerxx · 06-08-2011, 12:59 PM

Lowes has a 20 gal one for like 199 comes with everything u need plus wheels

sniper1rfa · 06-08-2011, 03:17 PM

Get the biggest one you feel comfortable carting around, IMO.

habitatxskate · 06-09-2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniper1rfa

Get the biggest one you feel comfortable carting around, IMO.

This, if you want it cheap go to harbor freight

JonnyD91 · 06-09-2011, 10:02 PM

well what is the minimum tank size and psi i can us that will still run the air gun? The nail gun doesnt need much.

Thunderpaw · 06-10-2011, 11:05 AM

120-150 psi, most tanks can get to that pressure but the smaller the tank the more it runs to keep the set psi. On small tanks it sucks to use up all the air and have to wait for it to fill up again.

JonnyD91 · 06-10-2011, 11:22 AM

ok, i think ill get one of these then:

http://www.harborfreight.com/profess...sor-68149.html

Amazon.com: Porter-Cable C2002 Oil-Free UMC Pancake Compressor: Warehouse Deals

rick-l · 06-10-2011, 12:31 PM

What is an air gun? If it is a paint gun it will have specific air requirements.

JonnyD91 · 06-10-2011, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-l

What is an air gun? If it is a paint gun it will have specific air requirements.

Sorry
Air gun = impact gun

sniper1rfa · 06-11-2011, 08:05 AM

You'll get about 5 seconds from one of those using an impact.

Why the insistence on tiny? It's just not worth it, imo, for practical use. Air is a very inefficient way to do something, so you need a lot of it for most applications.

FWIW, any compressor will run any air tool if the pressure is high enough. The problem is sustained use - a nail gun is very annoying to use when you need to wait for the compressor every ten nails. That's why I say buy the biggest one you're comfortable lugging around. Go to home depot and pick a few up, then get the biggest one you could lift into your truck.

Incidentally, you could purchase a few auxiliary tanks and a pancake compressor, then daisy-chain the tanks into the output line. That lets you move each tank individually rather than moving the whole unit at once. Just put a QD and a check valve or ball valve on the inlet, and a combination QD/check on the outlet so the pressure stays in the tank between uses. You'll still be limited by the compressor's flow capability but at least you'll have more air.

King of Poop · 06-11-2011, 10:04 AM

here is what you need from harbor freight. and its on sale. Its what we use at my buddys garage. Its loud as balls and takes a while to fill up but it works great. I mean I can't just lug around my 60gal from home

http://www.harborfreight.com/25-hp-2...sor-67847.html

Subikid90 · 06-14-2011, 10:30 PM

^ I have that one in my garage and it gets tons of use and works fine for impact, air ratchet, cut off wheel and paint sprayer.

leecea · 06-15-2011, 09:19 AM

I've had this one for a while: http://www.harborfreight.com/2-hp-8-...sor-67501.html

I used it with a framing nailer at first, and now I use it with my impact wrench. It seems great and although it has a small tank, it fills up quickly. I never feel like I'm waiting for the compressor.

The only reason I wish it was bigger is because I'd like to get into media blasting small parts.

JonnyD91 · 06-15-2011, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leecea

I've had this one for a while: http://www.harborfreight.com/2-hp-8-...sor-67501.html

I used it with a framing nailer at first, and now I use it with my impact wrench. It seems great and although it has a small tank, it fills up quickly. I never feel like I'm waiting for the compressor.

The only reason I wish it was bigger is because I'd like to get into media blasting small parts.

This is the feedback that i was looking for.

This is the nailer I bought

Amazon.com: Bostitch N62FNK-2 15-Gauge 1-Inch to 2-1/2-Inch Angled Finish Nailer: Home Improvement

I know people say to get the biggest one possible, however space i a big issue storing it. I like to keep my car in the garage and I only have a 1 car garage, so I would need to store it on the far size of the garage next to my car. In all honesty I would prob. use the nailer more that the impact wrench. If I need some heavy work done on the car I can take it to my friends shop and usually if i fix his computers he takes care of my car for me

atljwpepper · 06-27-2011, 10:49 PM

I will admit, I was skeptical on this HF compressor as well when my buddy purchased it. I didn't think it would last... 3 years later, he's definitely got his moneys worth out of it. He only uses it for the occasional nail gun and impact wrench as well.

-Mike

06-08-2011, 11:01 AM	#1
JonnyD91 Scooby Newbie Member#: 250084 Join Date: Jun 2010 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Central NJ Vehicle: 2010 WRX Sedan DGM Cobb Stg. 1	Air compressor size I want to pick up an air compressor. I want to actually get the smallet one i can get that will run and air gun. I will be using it alot with a nail gun so i want it to be as portable as possible but still be able to use my air gun with it. I have always borrowed my dads in the past. Any recommendations? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

06-10-2011, 11:22 AM	#8
JonnyD91 Scooby Newbie Member#: 250084 Join Date: Jun 2010 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Central NJ Vehicle: 2010 WRX Sedan DGM Cobb Stg. 1	ok, i think ill get one of these then: http://www.harborfreight.com/profess...sor-68149.html Amazon.com: Porter-Cable C2002 Oil-Free UMC Pancake Compressor: Warehouse Deals Amazon.com: Porter-Cable C2002 Oil-Free UMC Pancake Compressor: Warehouse Deals

06-11-2011, 08:05 AM	#11
sniper1rfa Scooby Specialist Member#: 141040 Join Date: Feb 2007 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Designing things Vehicle: 07 2.5i wagon UGM	You'll get about 5 seconds from one of those using an impact. Why the insistence on tiny? It's just not worth it, imo, for practical use. Air is a very inefficient way to do something, so you need a lot of it for most applications. FWIW, any compressor will run any air tool if the pressure is high enough. The problem is sustained use - a nail gun is very annoying to use when you need to wait for the compressor every ten nails. That's why I say buy the biggest one you're comfortable lugging around. Go to home depot and pick a few up, then get the biggest one you could lift into your truck. Incidentally, you could purchase a few auxiliary tanks and a pancake compressor, then daisy-chain the tanks into the output line. That lets you move each tank individually rather than moving the whole unit at once. Just put a QD and a check valve or ball valve on the inlet, and a combination QD/check on the outlet so the pressure stays in the tank between uses. You'll still be limited by the compressor's flow capability but at least you'll have more air. Last edited by sniper1rfa; 06-11-2011 at 08:12 AM.

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06-08-2011, 11:11 AM	#2
Thunderpaw Scooby Specialist Member#: 242205 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dallas Vehicle: 2009 wrx blue	I like the 15 gal horizontal standing with wheels. Pancake or doughnut size is too small.

06-08-2011, 12:59 PM	#3
xxkneedraggerxx Scooby Newbie Member#: 278497 Join Date: Mar 2011	Lowes has a 20 gal one for like 199 comes with everything u need plus wheels

06-08-2011, 03:17 PM	#4
sniper1rfa Scooby Specialist Member#: 141040 Join Date: Feb 2007 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Designing things Vehicle: 07 2.5i wagon UGM	Get the biggest one you feel comfortable carting around, IMO.

06-09-2011, 10:02 PM	#6
JonnyD91 Scooby Newbie Member#: 250084 Join Date: Jun 2010 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Central NJ Vehicle: 2010 WRX Sedan DGM Cobb Stg. 1	well what is the minimum tank size and psi i can us that will still run the air gun? The nail gun doesnt need much.

06-10-2011, 11:05 AM	#7
Thunderpaw Scooby Specialist Member#: 242205 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dallas Vehicle: 2009 wrx blue	120-150 psi, most tanks can get to that pressure but the smaller the tank the more it runs to keep the set psi. On small tanks it sucks to use up all the air and have to wait for it to fill up again.

06-10-2011, 12:31 PM	#9
rick-l Scooby Specialist Member#: 33868 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chesterfield, MO Vehicle: 2003 wrx srp	What is an air gun? If it is a paint gun it will have specific air requirements.

06-11-2011, 10:04 AM	#12
King of Poop Scooby Specialist Member#: 177880 Join Date: Apr 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Greensboro, NC	here is what you need from harbor freight. and its on sale. Its what we use at my buddys garage. Its loud as balls and takes a while to fill up but it works great. I mean I can't just lug around my 60gal from home http://www.harborfreight.com/25-hp-2...sor-67847.html

06-14-2011, 10:30 PM	#13
Subikid90 Scooby Newbie Member#: 239233 Join Date: Feb 2010 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: WI Vehicle: 1998 LGT White	^ I have that one in my garage and it gets tons of use and works fine for impact, air ratchet, cut off wheel and paint sprayer.

06-15-2011, 09:19 AM	#14
leecea Scooby Guru Member#: 37359 Join Date: May 2003 Vehicle: 2003 WRX	I've had this one for a while: http://www.harborfreight.com/2-hp-8-...sor-67501.html I used it with a framing nailer at first, and now I use it with my impact wrench. It seems great and although it has a small tank, it fills up quickly. I never feel like I'm waiting for the compressor. The only reason I wish it was bigger is because I'd like to get into media blasting small parts.

06-27-2011, 10:49 PM	#16
atljwpepper Scooby Newbie Member#: 275031 Join Date: Feb 2011 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Tacoma, WA Vehicle: 2009 Forester Blue	I will admit, I was skeptical on this HF compressor as well when my buddy purchased it. I didn't think it would last... 3 years later, he's definitely got his moneys worth out of it. He only uses it for the occasional nail gun and impact wrench as well. -Mike