Getting the right sized air compressor for air tools is highly important. But how would you know what the right size is? To determine that, there are different aspects related to your air tools that you have to take notice of.
We all know that compressed air is a very efficient and advantageous form of energy for air tools. So, having an air compressor makes your air tool last longer, has better speed, runs cooler without generating heat, and causes no electric shock or fire accident.
But for choosing the right air compressor, you need to focus on important things like knowing where you use the compressor and knowing your power requirements.
In this article, we’ll answer your question, “What size air compressor do I need for air tools?” Let’s get started!
What Size Air Compressor Do You Need for Impact Wrench?
The reason you would need an air compressor for your impact wrench is that the air compressor turns electric energy to kinetic energy for your wrench. And the air compressor creates other advantages too. It reduces the weight of the wrench, so when you’re working, you suffer less fatigue.
And it prevents the wrench from heating up and makes the wrench more durable. Impact wrenches need a certain size of air compressors for them to work.
Moreover, the usual ½ inch impact wrench would probably need air compressors with 4 to 5 cubic feet per minute (CFM) at 90 pounds per square inch (PSI) and a capacity compressor of 20 gallons.
So you can avoid delays between tasks. The way to figure this out is by determining the amount of air pressure and CFM you need for your impact wrench. This, of course, depends on the size of the impact wrench itself. The larger the wrench, the more air pressure needed to run it.
Determining air pressure isn’t the only way to determine the size of the air compressor needed. The tank size is also important. Air compressors come in different sizes that are measured in gallons. And the basic knowledge here is that the bigger the compressor, the more air it holds since it’s more spacious.
This increases the time you can spend working because you’ll need less time to fill up the tank. Impact wrenches can work fine with portable electric compressors since these wrenches are the type of tools that have periodic stops.
Hence, to find the best air compressor for your impact wrench, you should check out the capacity offered by your compressor and the cost of the benefits it offers. If you want the large tanked air compressors, it might cost more, but at least you can work for long hours without delays.
Our Recommendation – California Air Tools 8010A Air Compressor
The California Air Tools air compressor is very quiet, and its sound ranges up to 60 decibels only. So, this compressor is very easy on your ears when you use it.
Not only does it reduce sound pollution, but it is also rust-free. No more need to worry about it getting dirty and needing to oil it to remove the rust. And its maintenance costs and other costs are less because it has an oil-free pump. This is because it has a tank that is made of aluminum, which brings out the rust-free quality.
And the oil-free pump makes it possible to use the compressor in different temperatures and on uneven terrains. A toolkit is also added with the purchase of this air compressor so that you can have less difficulty in transporting the tool.
Its weight is only 37.25 pounds, so it’s very light in weight, which means you can easily lift it and carry it from one place to another.
This one has a powerful motor of 1.0 horsepower that is rated or running and 2.0 horsepower that is peak and runs 2.20 cubic feet per minute (CFM) at 90 pounds per square inch (PSI). It comes along with a bulb voltage of 110 volts.
Moreover, the California Air Tools air compressor has high efficiency because of how durable and reliable it is, and this makes your experience during your project much better compared to most other air compressors.
Due to the way it was engineered and designed, its efficiency is also high from the high performance it gives because of its powerful motor. This motor operates at 1680 revolutions per minute (RPM).
Highlighted Features
- Rust-free
- Has an oil-free pump
- Light in weight
- Noise-free when operated
- Portable
- Has a toolkit included
- Has a powerful motor
- Low voltage
- Low maintenance costs
What Size Air Compressor for Nail Gun?
Looking for air compressors for nail guns is much harder than looking for them for impact wrenches. It’s also a lengthier process and has more aspects of being checked before choosing the best air compressor.
Some nail guns also run with periodic intervals, so it doesn’t really need a lot of air supply since you only require a small amount of pushed air to drive nails into materials. Thus, a lightweight air compressor with about 2 cubic feet per minute and 2 to 6 gallons of tank capacity should do the trick.
But choosing air compressors actually depend on the type of nail gun you’re using. If you’re using a pneumatic nail gun, then then the above air compressor would be enough. But a different nail gun with a different size and different uses would need a different kind of air compressor.
In general, most pancake air compressors work well with nail guns. Lots of construction workers tend to buy air compressors following the industrial-grade systems.
The key points to focus on choosing air compressors for nail guns would be to check its portability, its air supply or tank size, its speed and flow, and its horsepower.
It is important to maintain a good match or balance between the air compressor’s CFM (cubic feet per minute) and its horsepower (HP). And since nail guns are driven with the energy coming from compressed air, a minimum amount of air pressure is needed. They tend to run on low CFM.
Furthermore, the tough points to match would be portability and tank size. Nail guns are most efficient if portable. The more portable and lighter, the smaller the tank size, which means it carries fewer gallons of compressed air. But there are still portable air compressors found in large sizes with a 20-gallon capacity.
You can choose, depending on the amount of work needed to be done.
Our Recommendation – BOSTITCH Pancake Air Compressor
The BOSTITCH Pancake air compressor also has an oil-free pump. So, their maintenance costs are also low. And this oil-free pump has a long life.
It runs on a 6-gallon tank and has a tank storage pressure of a maximum of 150 pounds per square inch (PSI). And its pump delivers 2.6 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) at 90 pounds per square inch. It also has a long tool run time and quick recovery.
Because its motor has high efficiency, it starts up pretty easily even in the winter or any other cold weather. It even comes with an extension cord of 50 feet. And its weight is also very light and stands at 29 pounds. It has a narrow tank diameter, which makes it easy for the unit to be carried around and stored.
This air compressor isn’t very loud either. It works with 78.5 decibels, making a very quiet environment to work in. The BOSTITCH Pancake air compressor comes with 2 flexible universal couplers and a high flow regulator so that it can increase the performance in its air tool.
Highlighted Features
- Has an oil-free pump
- Light in weight
- Portable
- Has a 50 feet extension cord
- Has a powerful motor and pump
- Low maintenance costs
- Noise-free when operated
Final Words
Finding out what size air compressor you need for air tools is a slightly complicated process. Yet having air compressors for your air tools is vital if you want to sustain your air tools and make your work more efficient and productive.
There are some things you need to determine and calculate carefully. But if you follow the right guidelines and check the above features, then you might end up finding the perfect sized air compressor for your air tools.
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