The compressor will pay for it self in the long run as most air tools are cheaper than electric ones (as mentioned above) and I would rather be stepping on and dragging air lines around than electric cables (safety first). Also some air tools like impacts and drills are much more compact and powerful than the electric versions.
In the garage I have the following air tools (all in one drawer not a whole cabinet like elec tools and the price difference more than made up for the cost of the compressor and hoses.)
2 1/2" drive impacts
3/8" drive impact
1/2" drill
3/8" drill
90 deg die grinder
2 straight die grinders
air powered hacksaw
3" cut off tool
air hammer (zip-gun)
3/8 ratchet
2 blow guns
3/4" impact (elec version does not exist)
4" sander/grinder


The only things i bought new were one of the impacts and the grinder everything else i found in want ads, flea markets yard sales etc and while I have a good collection of air tools (never enough) I did not pay that much for them.

another rule is that your compressor can never be too big
Mine is a 115V 2 hp 25 gallon unit and I find it very restricting and am hoping to go bigger eventually. I added two old Oxygen tanks (6 footers) in line with the compressor and this added storage makes a big difference but does not make up for a bigger compressor

hope some of this helps

Oh yea incase you haven't noticed I'm a tool addict

Andy

 

"In the garage I have the following air tools (all in one drawer not a whole cabinet like elec tools and the price difference more than made up for the cost of the compressor and hoses.)
2 1/2" drive impacts
3/8" drive impact
1/2" drill
3/8" drill
90 deg die grinder
2 straight die grinders
air powered hacksaw
3" cut off tool
air hammer (zip-gun)
3/8 ratchet
2 blow guns
3/4" impact (elec version does not exist)
4" sander/grinder"


sorry to break it to ya but there is a 3/4" electric impact i use one almost daily now mind you i am a mechanic in the army and it is a tool built for the army but nevertheless it does exist and it is run off of 24 volts.

 

To answer "diesel strokes" question: What is the difference between single stage and dual stage compressors?

Air compressors can have many cylinders but most smaller models only have on or two. All compressors have a published recovery rate. That is how much air the compressor pump can produce in one cycle to refill the tank. NOTE: Ideally you want to run your air tool off the stored compressed air only…not the air produced by running pump. That is why you should stop using an air tool when the compressor turns on. You don't want the compressor to run none stop.

- Single Stage compressors just suck air into the piston chamber and then push it past a one way valve into the tank. So, for a one cylinder pump the cycle is one complete revolution and you only get a specific amount of air based on the cylinder volume (single stage). A typical recovery rate would be less then 9 cfm @90 psi. The larger the piston displacement and/or the more cylinders will increase the recovery rate of a single stage compressor. But each cylinder is independent of each other when filling the tank.

The psi is just an efficiency of the pump. As the tank pressure nears its max setting (say 120psi) it becomes harder and harder for the pump to push the same volume of air into the tank. That is why compressors typically have high Hp motors and need to run off 220V. A typical compressor manufacture will publish two recovery rates like 10cfm @ 40 psi and 7cfm @ 90 psi. Notice that the cfm goes down as the psi goes up. Big commercial compressors give ratings at 120 – 140 psi.

- Dual Stage compressors have one more process in the cycle. This type of compressor will always have two pistons but the second stage piston is usually smaller then the first stage piston. For example the first stage piston draws in a large amount of air and compresses (x1) it into the second stage smaller piston chamber. Then the smaller second stage piston compresses (x2) it even more as it pushes it into the storage tank. This is a more efficient and faster method to fill a storage tank, which means the recover rate (typically 13cfm+ @ 90 psi) is much higher then a single stage.

Dual stage compressors are very important for jobs that can not be delayed while the compressor is running like automotive painting. You can still operate your air tool while the compressor is running but if the recover rate of the compressor is less then the consumption rate of the air tool the line psi will drop off and the compressor will never shut off.

FYI: I found a single stage multi cylinder compressor at Lowe's (60 gal, 5Hp, 220V, 12 cfm @ 90 psi) for about $650.00. This is a cast iron pump oil type pump that uses three cylinders to increase the recovery rate. Best deal I have found for the features and recovery rate.