Who knows about air compressors?

[kb4ns]

Kinda thinking about getting one of the little "pancake" style air compressors. I don't need an air compressor often, so spending big bucks on a big compressor is out of the question. What do y'all think about them little compressors for the casual user such as myself?

[oldogy]

Compressor requirements are more about pressure, Cubic Feet per Minute and pressure at a given CFM. What will your 'casual use' be? With a small air tank the CFM is even more important than a compressor with a large tank. With a large tank you can let the compressor catch up but with the small unit you can't. If you want to pump up tires or blow the dust out of a firearm the small unit would suffice. Check the CFM requirements for any air tool you plan on using. The oil less compressors are noisey.

oldogy

Edit: A compressor of any size will require 220 volts.

[Mike.357]

I do not want to say you are wrong Oldguy but I have a compressor and it plugs right into any wall socket.

got mine at Northern Tool. I think the brand is a Rockwood. Brand is irrelevant really for a compressor costing slightly more than 100 bucks. It has a 20 gallon air tank. Size is about 18 inches high x 24 inches long x 8 inches wide. ( rough estimate)

I use to air up tires, and blow debris off of things. I have a lot of tires that take air around here. It claims it will work on 3/8 airtools but I have no need to mess with that stuff. I have had it for four or five years and it has given faithful service. It is not a pancake type, but looks rather standard.

i really don't know how I would get by without it.

[56FordGuy]

Oldogy is right on the money. Stay away from the 110 volt oil less compressors with big (16-20 gallon) tanks. The tank drains down quickly using air tools, and it takes the compressor a while to fill it back up. For airing up the occasional tire or running an impact wrench for a few minutes, the pancake style would probably do alright.

The 110 compressors will last a long time if used every once in a while, or for light duty. The company I work for outfits our service trucks with the 110 volt oil less compressors. They get used heavily every day to run air tools and blow out equipment. They don't last long at all under that kind of load. On average, the compressors get replaced every 8 or 9 months. In my opinion, the Rigid brand with two tanks are very good compressors in that class. They seemed to last about a year, maybe a bit more. Again, though, that's under a constant workload, running around 15-20 hours a week. Most household users probably won't run one 20 hours in a year.

For any type of serious work, like a shop, you need to look at 220 compressors or gasoline powered portable units.

Edited May 9, 2010 by 56FordGuy

[Mike.357]

Mine must be different that what you guys speak of. It only takes a minute or so to fill, and i rarely bleed it dry when using it.

What is considered a big tank?

[56FordGuy]

Mike, I'd call 16 gallons or bigger a big tank for a 110 unit. All the ones I've used have been unable to fill the tank at all while running tools at the same time, and take several minutes to fill once the tool is shut off. I've got a 20 gallon Husky in my shop that takes about 10 minutes to fill up from empty. I bought it before I got the 220 wired up.

[Mike.357]

Okay, I have never tried to use air tools off of mine, but it claimed it would run small ones, dunno. But it keeps up with filling tires which is 95% of what I use it for.

If I need air tools I take it to a professional

And I just looked, my tank is only 6 gallons. I dunno why I thought it was bigger. I guess I need to pay attention to labels on it, LOL. CFM is 3.4@40 and 2.7@90 according to the label. And it is a Rockworth not a Rockwood.

Edited May 9, 2010 by Mike.357

[oldogy]

This chart will show about what air requirements are for various air tools. Note, the pressures to run most tools are at least 90 PSI

oldogy

Air Tool DescriptionAverage CFM @ 90 PSI

Angle Disc Grinder - 7"5-8

Brad Nailer0.3Chisel/Hammer3-11

Cut-Off Tool4-10

Drill, Reversible or Straight-Line3-6

Dual Sander11-13

Framing Nailer2.2

Grease Gun4

Hydraulic Riveter4

Impact Wrench - 3/8"2.5-3.5

Impact Wrench - 1/2"4-5

Impact Wrench - 1"10

Mini Die Grinder4-6

Needle Scaler8-16

Nibbler4

Orbital Sander6-9

Ratchet - 1/4"2.5-3.5

Ratchet - 3/8"4.5-5

Rotational Sander8-12.5

Shears8-16

Speed Saw5

[VERO1]

I have a Bostitch pancake style compressor. Got it from Lowes a few years ago. I mainly use it for tires and nail guns. It has put on two roofs and a bunch of hardwood floors without any problems. It would not be good for large spray guns or tools needing lots of air.

[kb4ns]

I appreciate the input guys. I'm still not sure. Right now, the majority of what I'd need a compressor for is tires. I have one of those cheap 12v compressors in my pickup. It's junk, but it works. I might be looking into buying a solution for a problem that doesn't exist...

[oldogy]

I appreciate the input guys. I'm still not sure. Right now, the majority of what I'd need a compressor for is tires. I have one of those cheap 12v compressors in my pickup. It's junk, but it works. I might be looking into buying a solution for a problem that doesn't exist...

Be very careful. Tools are like guns, you always need one more.

oldogy

[kb4ns]

Yeah. I've been looking through the latest Harbor Freight catalog.

I need one of those...

Oh, I need that...

And one of those...

Maybe two of those...

It's just sad.

[56FordGuy]

Almost any compressor with a tank is better than one of those 12 volt units.

[kb4ns]

I don't doubt that. I just haven't yet run across a situation that the 12v hunk 'o junk didn't work for. Tells me that I may not need another unit right now.

[Mike.357]

I just counted. I have 44 tires I need to maintain air in. But I would be suprised if I ran that compressor 5 hours in a year. a couple of minutes or so a couple of times a month. so probably not even a 5 hours a year ,LOL

[jtluttrell]

The pancake compressors are great to have around the house for tires, nailers, cut-off tools.

[Wingshooter]

I have this one:

8 Gallon Oil Lubed Compressor Kit - HL410197DE at The Home Depot

I use it all the time. It is 110/120v and uses oil. The tank will deplete quickly if you are using it hard, but it fills pretty quick also. I have used it quite extensively to fill tires, for auto-body work and for home improvement projects. It wouldn't stand up to commercial use, but it works for light-duty stuff.

I have used small and medium sized air-nailers, impact wrenches, air ratchets, grinders, drills, cut-off tools, orbital and straight line sanders and a paint gun for fences and some lawn furnature all with this compressor. The sanders seem to use up the air in the tank the fastest, so I will use an electric one for big projects.

A smaller pancake compressor would also be great to have around the house. The smaller the tank, the less you can use a particular tool continuously.

There are a lot better compressors out there, but I do like the size of this one for home projects. Any bigger, and it would be in my way.

Edited May 9, 2010 by Batman

[DWARREN123]

For any large amount of tool use a 220 volt with at least a 25 gallon tank is preferred. It will work better and last longer.