carmar said:
for all the diy-ers out there, what air compressor do you recommend?
i am thinking of getting one but there are too many selections out there.
i am looking for one that is reasonably price, less maintaince and less noise.
most of the time, it will be use for small project such as brake job and tire rotation. thanks.
To really give you a proper answer, you need to prioritize between... price, noise level, maintenance, delivery (pump capacity), capacity (tack size), horizontal or vertical tank, gas or electric, stationary or portable, etc.
You've said, "small projects like brake jobs and tire rotations." That's considered light-duty and means you'll be using air ratchets and air impact wrenches. But believe me, once you get a compressor, you'll find all kinds of jobs for it, so you'll also want an air hammer, blow gun, paint sprayer, nailer, angle grinder, etc. It's a great tool.
Stationary compressors are big and usually made for high delivery (pump capacity). Gas-powered compressors are made for field-use and are too high maintenance. So, I'm going to guess you want a portable-electric. Most reasonable-sized, homeowner-style, electric-powered compressor motors are 110V. They are usually convertible to 220V, so if that is a concern, watch for that. If you plan on using a long extension cord with your compressor, it will have to be a large gauge (like 12AWG) or you will need 220V power. (Though, a longer hose solves this problem. :biggrin: )
Tank size will effect the cycle time of the motor – i.e. how often the motor turns on and off. Pump size (delivery) will effect how long it takes to fill the tank. There are a lot of compressors out there that will give you reasonable delivery. As an example; blow guns, grinders, air hammers and air impact wrenches usually require the greatest air flow. Look for something that can deliver greater than 6 CFM @ 90psi.
Most (if not all) homeowner-style compressors come with a built-in regulator for use with paint sprayers. So, look for a unit that you can modify with a direct-to-tank connection (by placing a 'street tee' between the tank and regulator.) The increased flow when using an air impact wrench (without going through the regulator) is nice to have. (Use a 3/8 quick-disconnect and 3/8 hose.)
In my opinion, the biggest decision is 'oiled' or 'oil-free'. For what it's worth, I prefer the 'oiled' compressor, but I know people with the 'oil-free' type who are satisfied with twice the noise and buying new compressors every few years. :biggrin: For maintenance, every few years you change the oil in an 'oiled-type' compressor.
By the way, never 'blow off' our work as a 'last step' before paint. It causes static and your work piece will attract dust, debris and it will not remove oil. The proper last step is to whip our work with a pre-paint cleaning solution... it helps clean off oils/liquids and reduces static.
