air compressors for a home shop

[masraum]

I've got a woodworking tools/shop thread, and in the thread, a bunch of folks recommended getting an air compressor. I had an old Devilbiss 20gal in the past. I used it every once in a while. It was a pain to use most of the time because if I thought "I'll use it real quick to air up the tires, remove lugnuts, etc..." the tank took too long to fill to be worth it. I did use it with a brad nailer for installing baseboards and that sort of thing, and for that it was great.

When I drive past jobsites where folks are working with them, I usually see either pancake compressors or the compressors that look like they are sitting on a couple of scuba tanks. Looking at HD, it looks like most of the pancake compressors have 6 gal tanks and the "scuba" compressors have 4.5 gal tanks.

For doing something like using a brad nailer, blower, airing up tires, and maybe even occasionally using an impact wrench what's the big difference? I think with a larger tank, once it's full, you get more use in between the compressor cycling on and off, right? Then I think one of the big (especially for an impact wrench) characteristic is how much CFM the compressor will flow, often rated @90psi and possibly also 40psi. I assume that's more related to the compressor than the tank size, but probably also more important.

Thoughts?

I'm wondering if maybe a decent quality pancake or "scuba" compressor would be better for my needs.

[Crowbob]

I agree. For occasional use and not under prolonged load a smaller unit will be fine.

I use compressed air to blow grass and dust off the tractor so a big tank helps. If your going to paint you'll need more tank and more CFM.

[Dantilla]

"Scuba" compressor works great for home stuff.
I've used it with my framing nail gun, finish gun, and it kept up fine with air shears when I put a metal roof on my carport/ woodshed/ storage thingy.

[908/930]

Yes the larger tank helps keep the compressor from cycling on and off, larger flow and HP usually larger tank, the real large ones just run continuously and use pressure relief, so size to your needs, nail gun uses very little air, impact gun different story but not like you need continuous use. Also check on the noise level in the specs, I find some of the pancake ones annoyingly loud compared to their larger twin piston equivalents, but weigh much less. There are more available now that are quiet.

[look 171]

Steve, we have four Porta Cable "Pancake" compressors ( I have my own in my garage, that's not dirty and beaten to death, for pumping tires and general stuff) that get beaten to pulp all day driving anything from framing nailers to finish guns, and blowing off some ground in dirt off what ever we need (don't expect a hurricane but will pump your truck tires in minutes). For just under 100 bucks, compressor only, they hold up well, but like everything else today, once they quit, its not worth repairing. Noisy little things compared to a real Pancake made by Thomas. Those are quiet, but its almost three times as much. No oil, no leak, no accidents to client's homes, that's why we like them. Often they come with a brad and finish guns as a package, for 75-80 bucks more. CAn't beat that.

This Craftsman one is the same damn thing as our PC. Cheaper then buying it from Porter Cable.

If you thinkyou will be using a lot of air tools, then its worth a larger capacity compressor. i really think you will be fine with the pancake one. If you feel a larger one is needed, then buy it then. What's nice about the lil' compressor is that you will need to lugged that thing into the house when you work on it. Shop is too far.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-6-Gallon-Single-Stage-Portable-Electric-Pancake-Air-Compressor-3-Tools-Included/1000595155?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-tol-_-google-_-lia-_-153-_-compressorsdiyandstationary-_-1000595155-_-0&placeholder=null&gclid=CjwKCAiAn7L-BRBbEiwAl9UtkMySB0h3CgDQazZNs4uqPW3hFlVgIBfee1pRcm Np4HlhZlIYj1FqVBoCLv0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[A930Rocket]

I had to Google Thomas pancake compressor....

Holy cow, that’s one expensive pancake!

[look 171]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I had to Google Thomas pancake compressor....

Holy cow, that’s one expensive pancake!

Yeah, but very quiet. Someone walked off with mine. for a long time, I never protected my ears and wore knee pads. Now, I can't stand noise. Once those damn things kicks on, I walk outside.

[look 171]

https://www.amazon.com/California-Air-Tools-2010AGK18-Compressor/dp/B07X7KQ78R/ref=pd_di_sccai_6/142-9107277-7199451?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07X7KQ78R&pd_rd_r=1545a55d-8dcb-45d0-9805-d69cf5428893&pd_rd_w=UIqMp&pd_rd_wg=F8LhB&pf_r]

I had a Senco one similar. These are weenie compressors and are only good for running finish guns. Very quiet and it takes a short time to get up to a set psi. Senco stopped making them or selling them. I am thinking about buying another just for those long finish work days if I need to be waiting around the job. Worth the money if I don't have to listen to it.

[LWJ]

Back to my prior line about garage sales and pawn shops. Although, a new PC for 70-80 seems almost free.

I just built a rolling cart for my scuba compressor. It has all the attachments, nailer, hoses, and related junk in one place. Tucks under my work table. Sort of makes sense as the darn compressor gets moved if your hose isn't long enough.

Also, harbor freight has some cheap quick connects (leaky?) that you want to change tools / nozzles.

[masraum]

Thanks all!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by LWJ

I just built a rolling cart for my scuba compressor. It has all the attachments, nailer, hoses, and related junk in one place. Tucks under my work table. Sort of makes sense as the darn compressor gets moved if your hose isn't long enough.

I have a DeWalt compressor that I bought a rolling cart for. The cart is key!

I think it is 18 years old so I can't make a current recommendation. I'd pay extra for the quiet, however

[SiberianDVM]

This one is quiet and lightweight.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G75OUO8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1&fpw=alm

[1990C4S]

Cheap pancake, and a long hose for woodworking.

[wdfifteen]

I recommend a small piston pump compressor. I have this 13 gallon, 1.7 hp diaphragm pump that takes forever to pump up. Piston pumps are way faster. At 13 gallons it runs a finish nailer and pumps up tires just fine, but I can't imagine using anything smaller. It's on wheels and has a 10 foot hose.
Whatever you get, the first thing to do is put a good quality ball valve on the air outlet so you can shut the air off. This tank will hold pressure for weeks with the valve closed, so I don't have to wait for it to fill every time I try to use it.

[1990C4S]

Oil-less = disposable

Cast iron piston pump with oil = lifetime compressor

[Flat Six]

Hulk air compressors (made by EMAX, who do large industrial compressors) are affordable and super quiet.

I've had mine for ~3 years and love it; the 2hp / 10 gallon upright fits under one of my workbenches and I've run lines to an overhead 30' reel for shop air that reaches anywhere in my garage I want to use it.

Hulk:
https://hulkcompressors.com/

Available at The Home Depot:
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Tools-Air-Compressors-Tools-Accessories-Air-Compressors/HULK-POWER/

[cabmandone]

I have a Stanley/Bostitch pancake and really don't like it. From empty it takes forever to fill. It's useless on an impact gun. It does well with 1 framing nailer, brad nailer, stapler etc. but the framing nailer if you're really moving will work it. I had one of the two tank setups that my nephew let drown when his basement flooded. I liked it but again, for even occasional impact use, not so good. You mentioned CFM in of you comments and that's spot on. If you're primarily using this for air nailers, stapler, brad nail, pin nail, all good. Filling tires on a car... good there. But if you plan to use and impact I'd go with something with a bit more oomph.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 908/930

Yes the larger tank helps keep the compressor from cycling on and off, larger flow and HP usually larger tank, the real large ones just run continuously and use pressure relief, so size to your needs, nail gun uses very little air, impact gun different story but not like you need continuous use. Also check on the noise level in the specs, I find some of the pancake ones annoyingly loud compared to their larger twin piston equivalents, but weigh much less. There are more available now that are quiet.

I was perusing the HD website, and noticed that they listed "quiet" and "silent" (that's funny) compressors. I've seen that the quiet models mostly seem to be in the mid 70s for dBa, but some are a bit lower. Then I noticed that some that aren't quiet are up around 90 dBa which is a lot louder. I'll definitely be looking for something quiet.

[vash]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I had to Google Thomas pancake compressor....

Holy cow, that’s one expensive pancake!

Me too! It appears to use an air pump similar to the ones airbrushes use. Quiet I bet.

Pumping up tires and hammering the bi-decade brad nail doesn’t justify it for me. But damn I would almost purposely deflate a tire or two to own one.

[Flat Six]

Originally Posted by masraum

I was perusing the HD website, and noticed that they listed "quiet" and "silent" (that's funny) compressors. I've seen that the quiet models mostly seem to be in the mid 70s for dBa, but some are a bit lower. Then I noticed that some that aren't quiet are up around 90 dBa which is a lot louder. I'll definitely be looking for something quiet.

The Hulk I bought is rated at 41 dBa . . .