Air compressor requirements?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Air compressor requirements?
Soon I will begin sanding with my dual action sander and priming/painting with my hvlp gun. My sander requires 2.5 cfm and the gun around 10 cfm. Both tools use a lot of air. I am considering buying a 3 hp compressor, but don't know if it has enough power to get both jobs done. I'm a newbie to paint, but eager to get at it. Am I on the right track?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 91
From: Concord, CA
Forget HP as that is not what you want to pay attention to. What you need to look at is CFM at what PSI and the tank volume. The tank issue is simple. The larger your tank the easier to run tools that require a lot of air without the pump in operation 100% of the time. Example: 30 gal. vs. a 60 gal. tank. As for CFM you need to see both the CFM rating and at what PSI. I have guns that need 13 CFM at 40 PSI. Now there are plenty of compressors that will say 7.5 CFM at 90 PSI. Nice, but doesn't tell me what I want to know and that is what it puts out at 40 PSI. You need to get the real stats on a compressor at different PSI's and see how it matches up to your tools especially air sanders and HLVP guns.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Bear in mind also that compressors often produce a little less CFM than advertised and air tools/spray guns often use a little more than advertised. Don't try to cut it too close when purchasing your compressor. I have a 5 hp compressor that is supposed to produce 11.5 cfm at 90 psi. It will not keep up with my DA sander that is supposed to use 4 cfm at 90 psi.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
This past weekend I used a neighbor's 33 gallon compressor that is listed at 2 hp and 8.6 cfm at 90 psi. It would only run 25 seconds before it had to refill. My DA sander uses 4 cfm. I got the bed and doors done, but it took sooooo long that I had to stop. I'm pleased with the job the sander does, but would like to be able to keep going. I'm going to look into renting a larger, gas-powered one for the rest of the truck. Thanks for your help so far.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: salem va
if you decide to buy an air compressor try to get the biggest tank you can afford and make sure it is not an oiless motor. they are ok but make way to much noise and don't hold up very well when they are used a lot. i know i went thru two of them before i bought a good ingersol. the money i spent on the other two i could have easily paid for my new one.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
retro48/52
Paint & Bodywork
5
Apr 4, 2010 07:29 PM
afinepoint
Paint & Bodywork
84
Dec 15, 2007 09:58 AM
zukezake
Paint & Bodywork
7
Dec 3, 2002 03:00 PM
