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air compressor for small auto work & nailing
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Posted by jmancan (My Page) on Sun, Sep 24, 06 at 15:47
| I’ve been looking to buy a compressor for the DIY’r for medium jobs around the house (wheel rotation, brake jobs, nailing, etc – nothing too major). However, I’m having trouble deciding what to buy. Since I’m looking to some auto related work along with nailing I don’t want something too over-powered but also don’t want something too cheap and underpowered for light auto repairs. Some Craftsman models I’ve looked at online didn’t seem to get good reviews (like the 15gal/1hp, 26 gal/2hp, etc). I found a Husky at Home Depot (26gal/1.7hp w/ tools) for under $300 that got good reviews that I’m considering. Is something that I should go for? Any feedback would help. Thanks! |
Here is a link that might be useful: husky @ Home Depot
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: air compressor for small auto work & nailing
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I'd stay away from the big box stores.
Mine is a cheapie from Big Lots - $160, but this i would not recommend,( noisy, risky quality control).Its power is sufficient....
At one time I owned an old, old one, and powerful !! Probably cost a fortune to run..
Try to buy a good used one, a two stage... A mans compressor never too powerful,IMO. |
RE: air compressor for small auto work & nailing
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- Posted by canguy British Columbia (My Page) on
Sun, Sep 24, 06 at 16:35
Your air nailer will be the biggest consumer so get a unit, preferably with a cast iron piston pump, that meets the volume required measured in cfm. You will rarely need over 90psi so a 2 stage is probably overkill. The cheapie diapragm and aluminum piston units are noisy and just dont cut the mustard.
A friend who is not mechanically savvy lucked out and bought an Ingersoll-Rand at a building supply for less than a grand cdn which is cheap. It is a 5 hp with a cast iron pump and 60 gallon vertical tank. It has been performing flawlessly for over 5 years under some heavy use. He had a part time business spraying specialty lacquers. |
RE: air compressor for small auto work & nailing
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| You need to look at the air consumption of the tools you plan to use. Pressure is not consumption. An air nailer doesn't use much air, probably nothing compared to an impact wrench. If you already have the tools, check the label, and look for 'ACFM at psi'. Compressors are usually rated at two different psi's, maybe 40psi & 90psi. |
RE: air compressor for small auto work & nailing
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| Get the largest cast iron belt drive you can get to run on 110 volt 20 amp circuit. These 2 HP unit can do operate most tools but will have problems sanding, blasting and some paint guns. 2 HP will deliver about 5.5 to 6 cfm at 120 PSI. Any more delivered CFM will be 220 only. |
RE: air compressor for small auto work & nailing
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- Posted by baymee LehighValleyPA (My Page) on
Mon, Sep 25, 06 at 11:20
| I'd say that the tire rotation, using an inpact gun, would definitely use the most cfm of air, by a long shot. Garages torque the wheel nuts on at 200-300 foot pounds, which they aren't supposed to do. Fords, for example call for 100 ft. pds. You will never break free an overtorqued nut with a small cfm unit. I have an old 5HP, twin, with large tank and I have to wait for the unit to be fully charged to break some of these nuts loose with a Snap-on 1/2" drive gun. A nail gun on a job site is usually powered by a pancake compressor with only a tiny tank. |
RE: air compressor for small auto work & nailing
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I use the 2 hp 4 gallon 4 cfm portable compressors (about 60#) for all pneumatic nailing/stapling. These also work well to inflate normal auto tires, though they do get a bit warm for that type of service.
For lugnuts, it's a DeWalt electric impact wrench that also can be used to install/remove lag screws and other hex bolt headed fasteners.
I gave away a 5 hp gasoline 20 gallon compressor to a friend because it was bulky and seldom used. I have looked at the 60 and 80 gallon electric compressors but just don't have a need for that much air. These units are so large and require such power that they would be stationary except for unusual circumstances. |
RE: air compressor for small auto work & nailing
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| Yes, an impact gun uses a lot of cfm but it's duty cycle is typically very short when doing wheel work. Unless you work in a NASCAR pit crew or on heavy machinery you'll probably not be bogging down a decent compressor. (one touch of the button and you'll loosen the average automotive lug nut.) Same with nailing. Unless you're a framing contractor and use rapid fire mode then you can do most nailing tasks with a modest size compressor. The area where you'll fall short is high cfm/high duty cycle work. A classic example is air sanding with a DA. Avoid the homeowner compressors. I have a twin tank portable Hitachi unit that hasn't let me down yet. |
RE: air compressor for small auto work & nailing
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| I know everyone says the oil less compressors are junk, but you have to ask yourself is the added cost of a gas or oil compressor worth it if your going to use it a few times a year? I have a 30 gallon 150psi craftsman compressor. This compressor is more than enough for my needs. I have no problems with a impact gun, air hammer, or framing nailer. I took apart my 69 camaro with it and never once did I have a problem. I'm now using it to frame a 8x12 shed and it barely cycles on. It is loud, but for less than $300 I don't care. If you plan to use a die grinder or DA sander, you might want to upgrade to a larger compressor. My die grinder drains this sob pretty fast. One word of advice, buy a filter to put into the line. Your air tools will thank you. Also, never use the impact gun to put your rims back on your car. You could damage your rims or brake rotors. Read your owners manual for the correct torque usually around 100 ft lbs for aluminum rims 60ft lbs for steel rims. |
RE: air compressor for small auto work & nailing
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| Thanks for all the feedback. Since I'm sure I won't be rebuilding my car or doing sanding, grinding, etc I probably don't need a 30gallon compressor. Also, I'm thinking I don't want to deal with an oil compressor. Can I get away something smaller or my needs? Say a 15 gallon or less for just nailing, impact wrench, and maybe light spraying (non-automative)? If so anyone have a suggestion of which one? Craftsman, Home Depot? Amazon? Thanks! |
RE: air compressor for small auto work & nailing
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| Ingersoll-Rand makes a variety of quality units in various sizes. |
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