I’m an avid DIY’er and am looking at buying an air compressor. The biggest job I see myself doing is occassional hardwood floors.
I’m a tad confused on the minimum compressor size / psi I should buy. I’d prefer something small and portable, but I’m not sure what the minimum size I should get is since I’ll occasionally be doing more than trim work.
Can anyone throw some light on the issue for me?
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Replies
Rubin,
What you need to do is decide which air tools you might possibly get in the future and then find out how many cfm or air they use. Most tool catalogs will have the information. If all you are going to use is nailers and small "impact" type tools, you will not need as big a compresser compared to what you will need to run an air sander or drill. I will tell you from experience that an air powered sander or grinder will eat up a lot of air and will need a fairly large compressor if it is going to run for any length of time. I have a 3 hp Sears at home and a 10 hp Curtis at the shop. The Sears one works ok with impact wrenches etc, but fire up the sander and it cannot keep up. The 10hp is a two stage and runs at a higher pressure. It will keep up with almost anything we have in the shop except for the bead blast cabinet. So it really depends on what tools you plan on using.
Hope this helps,
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
Thanks for the feedback Bill -I really only forsee this for carpentry work (mainly trimwork). I do not plan to use as a sander or for painting or for any type of automotive use. No continual use. The largest job I forsee is the hardwood flooring (my wife wants it throughout the house).
You can get by with a little 2 gal compressor from Lowes or Harbor Freight. Very light weight. Goes to about 120 psi. But it will cycle often. Will not push a paint sprayer or air wrench, but it will work fine for one nailer. Cost less than $100, sometimes around $75.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
You have some basic choices. You can spend $100-160 and get a good quality oilless unit that will do all that you want it to do, be small and portable but still be somewhat loud. Bostich, PCable, etc.Or, you can spend $200-300 and step up to an oil-lube unit in a dual tank or single 4 gal tank design and get better durability and quite a bit quieter operation.Or, check out the Bostich compressor thread that mentions their TrimPro compressor which is super lightweight, quiet and will run trim nail guns and such for $150 or so.What ever you do - I highly suggest not getting the big mombo $200 Coleman type 4-6HP compressors that you see at SamsClub or HD or Lowes - you know, the 3-4' tall jobs... I did that at first, and they are not that great because they are super LOUD and take forever to fill up!My suggestion is to get a good brand small oil-lube compressor and stay away from large units or cheapo units like HF.There are a couple great deals going right now - one in particular is the Amazon clearance sale (check thread) where they are selling a Dewalt twin-stack oil lube with a 2" brad nailer for about $200 - wow - what a price! The brad nailer is worth $100.Also - Sam's Club is clearing out Bostich twin stack oil-lubes for $197 or so. Also a good deal is the Porter Cable twin nailer compressor combo for $175 at Amazon - although it's an oiless - so it'll be louder - it comes with two nailers that are worth a good $150 or so; makes the compressor seem pretty cheap.Either of these choices or their equivalant will handle roofing, framing, trimming, tires, rafts, some airtools and blow guns.Best possible choice for an all-around compressor.I have a friend who bought a HF compressor and that thing has never been right - don't low-rent this purchase and don't buy a husky, ridgid or craftsman - they are designed to be cheap - don't be fooled by the colors or the fancy features.
Here's the Dewalt deal - this one's ripe for hoppin on - free shipping to boot. Guarentee you'll not find a better deal right at this point.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BANMV8/ref=br_lf_hi_/104-2920825-9315115?n=228013&s=hi&v=glanceJT
Everyone here has given ya good advice, but lemme say this:
Even if you don't intend now to need a bigger comp., for the occasional use you're talking about, it won't cost much extra to get a bigger/ better unit than you need now.
I have two PC's...a 20 gal oilless and a 6 gallon oil-lube twin stack. Both cost me less than $300, both have been thoroughly abused, and both are at least 3 years old with near daily use. Only thing I've replaced is the regulator on the older 20 gal.
Buy a good quality compressor that lives up to everything you ever intend to do; buy once and buy right.Jason Pharez Construction
Framing Contractor