HOW TO CHOOSE AND USE THE BEST AIR COMPRESSORS IN HOME SHOP
Things have changed a lot in recent years for one of the handiest tools you can own
Compressed air has always been a handy thing to have in a home workshop. If you've ever wondered about adding an air compressor and related tools to your collection, let me show you a few things you should know. Answering the question “what will you use compressed air for?” is a great place to start.
Possible uses determines the size of compressor that makes sense for you. And when it comes to size, it's the volume of air moved that's the important parameter. If you won't be doing anything other than running an air nailer or blowing dust from air filters, then a small, oil-free compressor will do a great job for you. Machines like this deliver
1.0 to 1.5 cubic feet of air per minute (cfm). Sometimes you'll see the term scfm on compressors. This stands for “standard cubic feet per minute” and is just cfm measured at standard atmospheric pressure and temperature. All compressors build up plenty of pressure, so it's not much use looking at the pounds per square inch (psi) figures found on all compressors.
Many small, portable compressors plug into a regular electrical wall outlet for power, and they don't take up much workshop space. Traditionally, even small air compressors like this were noisy, but manufacturers are now making models a lot quieter. Any machine that's rated under 50 decibels (db) will be quite quiet in use. In my experience, the best of these are also cordless, using the same rechargeable batteries that fit drills, saws and other tools. It's handy to have access to compressed air without being tethered to an extension cord, and today's tool batteries can keep a small compressor going for a long time.
If you think you might like to use air-powered sanders, air wrenches or spray finishing equipment someday, then you'll need a larger compressor to deliver more cfm. The size required depends on the actual air consumption figures for the most air-hungry tool you might buy one day. Choose a compressor that delivers at least 20 per cent more air than the hungriest tool you're considering so you don't overwork it. For instance, the large, stationary compressor I have in my shop moves a whopping 14 cfm of air, and I use nearly all of this when using a stone hammer, for instance.
All this talk about compressors is one thing, but air-powered tools are slowly declining in popularity as cordless electric tools get better. This is true even in a formerly air tool-friendly industry like auto repair. A mechanic friend of mine who runs his own shop doesn't use any air tools any more. Cordless electric impact wrenches are simply easier than the loud air wrenches used for years.
Something similar is happening with hoseless finishing nailers that don't need compressed air, and there are two families of models around. One of the original hoseless nailer lineups comes from a company called Paslode. Their tools burn combustible gas delivered from a disposable gas cylinder to drive nails. Cordless battery-operated nailers are available that use the same battery packs as other tools in the lineup. Both work well in my experience.
If you do decide to go pneumatic with an air compressor, take a look at something called a pin nailer. This tiny, hand-held gun shoots needle-thin, 23-gauge headless fasteners. These are almost invisible when flush with wood, and do a great job holding small trim and mouldings while glue dries.
Regardless of the compressor you choose, be sure to get a hose nozzle to put air in tires, and a trigger-operated dusting nozzle to blow out dirty air filters and machine parts. I'm always using my compressor for jobs like these, and they're the kind of tasks that most compressor-owning home workshoppers I know tackle all the time.