Introduction of An Air Compressor
There are many considerations when choosing the best air compressor for your needs. But we have done our best to make the selection process as easy as possible. Whether you are looking to buy an air compressor for your garage or shop we will guide you through the process.
Air Compressor Tank Size
This will likely be the biggest factor in determining the price. Which you will pay but it is also the first place to start when making your choice. If you only plan on airing up tires and running air tools with short bursts like a nail gun a small tank size (less than 5 gallons) will be fine.
For tools that must a steady stream of air pressure, like a car buffer, for instance, a small tank can empty pretty. And leave you standing around waiting for some pressure.
The more tools you plan to operate which use constant pressure will require larger and larger tanks otherwise you will be waiting for the pressure to increase enough to use the tool. This is especially true when using a paint gun or grinding tool.
Air Compressor Design or Style
Portability can be important if you plan on moving your air compressor to and from a work site or into your basement for DIY projects. Compressors that move with a carrying handle have been labeled as portable air compressors.
Stationary compressors come in horizontal or vertical designs. They may still have wheels but are only designed to move on level surfaces. Depending on the space you have available this could be a deal-breaker.
Max Pressure (PSI)
To me, this isn’t a huge factor these days. Smaller air tanks can hold a higher pressure at least for a short period. Unless you have a tool or use that requires high pressure. The volume will be the most important factor in how long you can run a tool before the compressor needs to kick on.
Standard Cubic Feet Per Minute
This is the rate at which the compressor will replace the air used at 40 PSI or 90 PSI. Like the max pressure unless you know exactly what your air tools will use this isn’t a huge factor to me. The faster it can replace the air the less time it will take to fill the tank.
Customers Rating and Reviews
The rating base on consumer ratings and reviews from as many sources as I could find. Some have more ratings than others but this should give you a pretty good gauge of the quality of the gas-powered air compressor.
Air Compressor Horsepower
When buying a car or a lawnmower horsepower can be a huge factor. For our purposes even when looking for the best air compressor the horsepower rating doesn’t mean a whole lot. There are more important factors that we can look at like the rate at which it compresses air.
The horsepower doesn’t tell us much of anything about the performance. We have still listed this in our comparison chart in case you place more importance on this specification than we do!
Air Compressor Pressure Switch
A pressure switch is a switch actuated by a change in the pressure of a liquid or gas. Air compressors use the pressure switch to regulate themselves. Without them, the compressors might explode or malfunction. Thus, you’d best take some time to explore your pressure switch options!
Coleman Powermate is one of several companies that stocks some great name-brand pressure switches. A universal pressure switch can go for under thirty-five dollars. That’s a small investment considering what a vital role the part plays. Don’t shirk your preventative maintenance obligations!
A Working Pressure Switch Is Essential
Making sure your parts are compatible is a challenge. We’ve all had the experience of getting the wrong part for the job. You then have to truck back to the manufacturer and get the right part. In the meantime, your job is waiting to get done.
Act smart and do your research now, while you’re online. Check out some of our suggested links and play the air compressor game right. Heavy industrial work is not something to be done. You could get hurt.
Price is a Big Deal
In a perfect world, we wouldn’t even need to list price at all because we would all be able to afford the very best air compressor! But, this is far from the case so here is how we have ranked price.
Final Verdict
We appreciate you taking the time to visit our site. We are always looking for ways to improve your experience while you search for the best air compressor for your needs. Feel free to contact us or leave a message below with your thoughts.
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