HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT AIR COMPRESSOR
Are you aware that every air compressor cannot be used for every kind of job? Air compressors differ both in power level and in size. If you want to get an estimate what kind of air compressor you’ll need, first check the air tool that you’re using for its power requirements. After that, all you need to do is pick a compressor that’s a bit more powerful than you think you need. That way, if you want to you can later buy an air tool that requires a slightly higher level of power.
An air tool you often see in a contractor’s toolkit is the rotary screw compressor. There are many options when it comes to purchasing a rotary screw compressor. If you want one that is powerful, don’t skimp on cost. A cheap air compressor is only useful for putting air in your tires.
Air compressors are sometimes rated by horsepower or hp. Dont be swayed by the hp listing. It all depends on how much power it draws. Often the hp listed is inflated.
You’re much better off looking at the PSI — pounds per square inch — when choosing your air compressor. 90 PSI is the rating that works with most air tools. If your compressor is listed at 125 to 135 PSI, even though it seems like it should, it’s not going to work with an air tool that requires 90 PSI. The reason for this is that PSI really measures shut off pressure, and the value doesn’t acknowledge when there is pressure lost in the line. If you want to make the most of a 90 PSI tool, consider a two-stage pressure shut off type of compressor. At 90 PSI the first stage will turn off, and the second stage will shut off at 175 PSI.
Also think about cubic feet per minute (CFM). For most air tools you’ll find in the store today, a CFM of 4 to 6 is common. This will make your life easier because at 90 PSI you should be getting exactly 3 to 4 HP. The CFM is a measurement of how much air moves through the system.
Tank size is also very important when considering your goals in using your compressor. It is just fine to use a regular part and motor and the standard tank of 30 gallons if your job requires only short bursts. But you want to go with a smaller tank that has a more powerful pump and motor, paying attention to the air stored in the tank, if you intend to use your compressor heavily.
This is why you’ll often see contracting professionals using multiple air tools simultaneously; they know that a 150 PSI rated compressor is a superior choice when using the compressor on a long-term, continuous basis.
Truck mounted compressors, as opposed to portable ones, use the power from the truck to run the compressor, but of course that requires for the truck to be kept running. If a contractor uses the compressor for long stints, hed be better off with a portable one, or a deck mounted one. Deck mounted compressors are the same as truck mounted, except that they are set on a removable bed on the truck, and therefore can be left at the site instead of having to haul it about on consecutive days of work.
Also there are both electrical and gas powered compressors. If you are likely to be on a site that lacks electricity, then the gas powered compressor is your best choice.