air compressor ?s
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
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air compressor ?s
I assume you mean a portable air tank not an air compressor. An air compressor will fill it's own tank.
A 6 gallon portable air tank will only operate an impact wrench for a few seconds.
A portable tank can be filled at a service station that has a good air supply, not one of those little electric box type tire stations.
A 6 gallon portable air tank will only operate an impact wrench for a few seconds.
A portable tank can be filled at a service station that has a good air supply, not one of those little electric box type tire stations.
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New User
Joined: May 2003
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air compressor ?s
I meant a portable 6gal air compressor, I wasn't clear on whether they refilled themselves or not. I'm looking at some models with two air tanks at 3 gals each, is there a benefit to having 2 airtanks? And how long does it take for the air compressor to refill itself, would i be able to operate an impact wrench often enough to be useful or would i always be waiting around for a recharge?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
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air compressor ?s
Well, the 2 tank (hotdog) compressors are basically made that way to save space, no other real reason.
As far as impact guns, the important thing we'd need to know is, #1 - CFM How many CubicFeet per Minute is it capable of sustaining. This is the thing most people don't get. You can have a 500 Gallon tank, doesn't do much good if the compressor can't keep up to it.
#2 - Max pressure. Just about all units sold are going to run around 100 - 150 PSI.
For simple impact tools, you don't need a huge compressor.
One like your describing (I think) would run it, but you would have to stop every few minutes to let the compressor recover. This is where CFM rating comes in. The higher this #, the more quickly the compressor can supply the air. The ideal is to get a compressor that will have enough umph to run continuously at a high enough CFM and pressure to keep it running.
Easy way to find out, check your air tool manual. It will recommend an operating pressure, and ideal CFM.
I'm assuming you're looking at something like this http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=prod...1991-70-D55151
http://images.lowes.com/product/028877/028877366869.jpg
As far as impact guns, the important thing we'd need to know is, #1 - CFM How many CubicFeet per Minute is it capable of sustaining. This is the thing most people don't get. You can have a 500 Gallon tank, doesn't do much good if the compressor can't keep up to it.
#2 - Max pressure. Just about all units sold are going to run around 100 - 150 PSI.
For simple impact tools, you don't need a huge compressor.
One like your describing (I think) would run it, but you would have to stop every few minutes to let the compressor recover. This is where CFM rating comes in. The higher this #, the more quickly the compressor can supply the air. The ideal is to get a compressor that will have enough umph to run continuously at a high enough CFM and pressure to keep it running.
Easy way to find out, check your air tool manual. It will recommend an operating pressure, and ideal CFM.
I'm assuming you're looking at something like this http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=prod...1991-70-D55151
http://images.lowes.com/product/028877/028877366869.jpg
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 421
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From: Canyon Lake Texas
air compressor ?s
I used an air iimpact on my previous 4 gallon pancake cheapy. It did fine, but the impact was only good for about 5 second bursts. A die grinder was only good for about 3 seconds. It was a good little unit for the $88.00 I paid for it (it did brad driver great!), but I sold it at a swap meet ($50.00) and went for the biggest 110volt I could get. The 220's are much better, but the one I have will do me for everything I do. If you are gonna be working on cars, especially if yopu want to use die grinders and DA sanders-get a bigger tank and a bit more HP.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
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From: South Dakota
air compressor ?s
As DainBramage said it is all about Cubic Feet per Minute output from the compressor. You have to see how much CFM the tools you are going to run need. And get a compressor with more CFM in the rating. The tank is basically the reserve or cushion used before the compressor comes on. A two stage compressor keeps up better that a single stage. Brother-in-law had an 80 gallon tank with couple hundred feet of hard line, but a two cylinder single stage 3 horse electric. I could make that thing work hard with just one DA sander, while repainting some of his tractors, even ran the pressure down to nothing. You could have a 5 horse, two stage compressor with no tank and this would keep up with any air tool, even two or three at a time. But it would start as soon as you used the air tool and stop as soon as you stopped, this is the reason for the tank.
