I live in a condo and need a small air compressor for occasionally working on my vehicles. Any suggestions? I want compressed air for blowing things off. Additionally, an air wrench will be nicer to use than my small Milwaukee drill driver for removing nuts and bolts!

 

You can get away with a pancake compressor like those offered at HD and the like for carpentry. I've had one for years. It just won't have the volume to keep up with large impacts, and with the medium ones, you may have to have a dwell time for it to replenish depending on what you're doing.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Porter-C...-203162815-_-N


The newer battery impacts get as much torque as the air. For air, I have Snap-on 1/2" drive impacts but my favorite 1/2" is an IR. It gets the job done somewhat better and is quiet compared to the SO, and I use it more now. But its been superseded and I don't know the modern equivalent. I also have 1/2" battery impacts, SO and DeWalt. Surprisingly the DeWalt has more torque, but again, the newer Milwaukee's have more. If I was really hyper about it, I'd sell of those and get the Mil.

 

I just treated myself to the Milwaukee 1/2" impact. It takes the same m18 battery as my 3/8 drive compact Milwaukee so I didn't need a charger or battery. Bare tool only. I am just getting used to the impacts so beware they might cost you a broken stud on occasion if you are a novice like me. I just traded out the winter tires on a Toyota Highlander and
i was having difficulty with one lug nut. I did do some reversing to baby it off but babying with that Milwaulkee is like a baby gorilla. I broke the stud. I did remember i had a sticky stud before winter so this took care of it.

 

There have been numerous instances where I need compressed air for cleaning debris or flushing fluids. It's going to be really helpful blowing out the spark plug wells in 5.4 engine. Sure I can find a use for it in the 6.0 too.

As for an impact wrench, I do prefer cordless. As much as I use my Milwaukee drill driver for removing lugs nuts and other bolts, I hate to think about lugging the air compressor out for every job! More than likely, I will buy the heavy duty Milwaukee impact wrench.

For topping off tires for proper inflation, occasional compressed air cleaning, would you go with a 3 gallon or 6-gallon tank? I need it as convenient as possible to pull out of my small storage closet.

 

I second just about any pancake or small top/bottom tank will be plenty for airing up tires and blowing things out. As for an impact, it won't do the job well or for very long. The "mechanic" air tools generally run at 120psi to get full stated torque specs. I just recently purchased a DeWalt 1/2 impact that runs on all my 20v MAX batteries. I haven't found a bolt it hasn't been able to handle, including pesky crankshaft bolts. Best investment yet, and it is always in the truck when I'm hauling my RV to make changing a spare quick and easy.

 

I have a twin stack 4 gallon I think it is and it does fine for tire filling. I just let it catch up when I have to. I would think the 3 gallon would as well. 6 gallon seems more than enough for just filling tires and blowing things out.

 

I keep my Milwaukee with on all long-distance trips and there never has been a trip that I have not had to use it. I started bringing my cordless drill too and find that useful.

 

Mark,

For you, I'd recommend the 3g unit for your air needs, and get the Mil impact for your power wrenching. As with Brother Bill, if you are not experienced with power wrenching, it can get you into trouble on and off since you lose the feel for what is happening. Hand wrenching tells you there a higher load, but a strong impact blows right through the issue if the torque capability is higher then the need at hand. A smaller torque ability will slow the wrench down and you can see the issue occurring. The correction other than experience will be if there are torque setting on the wrench or intermittent gunning, trigger on - trigger off. It's a skill set like everything else

You may have room for the occasional need of a compressor in the van, but the ability to carry an electric impact for emergency tire changes or other issues along the trail can be helpful.

Honestly, if I was building up an ideal van for the trips you do, I'd be installing air tanks and a compressor under the vehicle. But that need is one you can better judge for yourself than me in an armchair with all the miles under your belt. Have you gotten into situations on the road where a compressor is warranted? The battery impact may be all you need. When I go on long trips my battery impact is part of the package, along with the 12v battery charger, with or without the trailers.

Edit, I see other posts entered while I was writing.

 

I thought of installing air tanks under the van to use with an impact wrench. I have never been in a situation where the small Milwaukee impact wrench has not gotten me out of trouble. I have 250 mile RV tow insurance. I don't have 4x4 so I never get myself into stupid situations as this van is so big, that I am reluctant to take it off roading.

If needed, I could carry the 3 or -gallon tank. The Portor Cable 6 gallon seems really popular.

 

After researching air compressors for specific applications, I came to the conclusion that larger tank size is more important for blowing debris off my engine, flushing transmission cooler lines, etc. To convert gallons to cubit feet, Divide the number of gallons of the tank size by 7.48.

I need a 4 gallon tank or larger to blow junk out of spark plug wells and basic engine clean up Blow guns need a lot of air.

 

Next time I'm at the farm I'll check what the size of the one I have. Whatever it is, I've done all that and filled my tractors tires with it after a tube repair.

 

Thanks Jack. Next time you're at the farm, breath some fresh air for me. I need a camping trip and open air.
I am visiting my 85 year old parents in Minnesota. It's nice and fresh here. I miss the open space!

 

From what I read when I did the sand blaster project which took lot of air, there needs to be a match between horse power/cfm and tank size. The reason is about avoiding quick restart cycle causing motor over heat (and power bill) and wait time for refill.
For air dusting, I think keeping the motor running all the time is fine, as long as it has enough air. Which means you would want to look at the smallest nozzle that works for you and the cfm it would need. So a very small air tank would be sufficient, which acts more as a dampering device, not a reservoir.
For mobile application, size, weight, amp draw are aso important. I wonder the danger of large tank and accident would cause a big explosion.
One more thing would be the noise. There are some recently made very quiet affordable ones.
Before, that would require oiled pump (not oiless), spring loaded valves, not reese valves to have decent noise level.
On the wrenches, I loved mine. Saved so much time. It's ratchet wireless wreches. I also use impact driver to take off small bolts where space allows.
For large bolts, I would loosen them by hand with a breaker bar before using an 1/2" impact for saving time.
I would loosen a bit on all bolts before removal to prevent the last few bolts holding all the force and stuck or break as a result.

 

Coolfeet: I bought one of these but with the all aluminum tank. It is incredibly quiet! I needed something I could air up my 110psi motor home tires with, and not drag hundreds of feet of air hose out of my garage to do so. They make several tank sizes, vertical or horizontal, twin tank, with wheels and without... The aluminum one is super light...

https://www.lowes.com/pd/california-...hoCVc8QAvD_BwE

Scott

 

Thanks for the link. Lot's of nice compressors and tanks to choose from! I live in a 2 floor condo and do not have a garage. I have to be careful with all my tools and equipment. I need a 3000 square foot garage to keep my toys in.

The one you linked to weighs 35 lbs. I need to take a trip to Lowes, Home Depot, and Harbor Freight to physically look at these.

Have you used a compressor with a blow gun to clean junk out of your engine before wrenching?

Mark