Air Compressor Purchasing Guide

An air compressor is a valuable piece of equipment for operating power tools. They are better in terms of efficiency and are easier on you. The type you need depends on the tools you will be using. Good choices include a Copeland compressor, Husky air compressors or Quincy compressors.

Factors to Consider in an Air Compressor

Consider how often you will use air compressors and how it will be used. What tools will you be using and how much power will be needed to operate them? Some tools, like nail guns, don’t need high volume compressor. Others, such as drills or sanders do need high volume because they require steady air flow.

Set a budget for your purchase. The price for these machines varies significantly from brand to brand. Buying a used compressor is one way to make your budget stretch further.

The style of the pump is another consideration. The most common are direct drive and belt drive. Direct drive pumps will last up to five hundred hours. These take up less room in your workshop. They are well suited for moderate uses. Another benefit of these is that no oil changes are needed. Belt drive pumps require oil changes every five hundred hours and will last for about fifteen hundred hours. These are good for do it yourself as well as professional use.

Consider the power of the compressor. Consider both the horsepower and pound per square inch (PSI) pressure. Make sure it is more powerful than the most powerful tool you will be using. Check your tools before purchasing the compressor.

The tank size is another important consideration. These come in sizes from two to one hundred gallons. The more you will use the equipment, the larger the tank you will need. Always go a little larger than you think you will need. This will ensure that you can get the optimum use from the compressor.

Finding an Affordable Air Compressor

Shop around before purchasing air compressor systems. Compare brands and read reviews on the internet. Compare the machines and features of each. Similar machines can differ by hundreds of dollars.

Consider a reconditioned machine. In these, the machines have been completely inspected. Worn or damaged air compressor parts are replaced. Many of these have gotten very little use and are in nearly new condition. You can find equipment at a considerable savings. Look for a model with a one year warranty to be sure you are getting a quality product.

Consider shopping online. Often, the prices are considerably less than in some stores. Many ship straight from the factory, saving retail mark up. This savings can be significant. In many cases, you won’t need to pay sales tax on the equipment, which can add up. Many sites offer free shipping on these purchases, so it won’t cost any additional money for shipping.

Air Compressors - How To Choose One

There are three main types of air compressors. Which you need will depend on the air pressure you need and how portable your compressor needs to be.

Reciprocating compressors come in a range from 5 HP to 1000 HP. The smaller compressors are portable, sometimes being mounted on wheels. These may be petrol driven or electrically powered. They compress air by a series of pistons in cylinders. The pistons are driven by a camshaft. Reciprocating compressors are often used in Auto Body Repair shops.

Larger reciprocating compressors are gradually being replaced by simpler rotary screw compressors. A large reciprocating compressor can discharge air at 35 Mpa, more than 5,000 psi.

If you are looking for a compressor for continuous use a rotary screw compressor may be suitable. These compressors use helical screws to compress the gas into a smaller volume. Portable and fixed rotary screw compressors are available. These compressors vary in size from 5 HP to 500 HP. You will find rotary screw compressors that give you a low pressure gas output, or a high pressure output, up to 8 Mpa. These compressors are used to power pneumatic drills when workers are digging up roads and pavements.

For continuous, heavy industrial uses you need a centrifugal compressor. A centrifugal compressor uses a rotating disk with vanes. Output from centrifugal compressors can be as high as 70 Mpa, 10,000 psi. Snow blowing machines use this type of compressor. Superchargers and turbochargers in car engines are centrifugal compressors.

When you buy compressed air for diving the air has been compressed using a three stage, reciprocating compressor. The cylinders in the compressor are ceramic lined, so no lubrication is needed. This avoids the air in the cylinders being contaminated with lubricating oil. If a non-recommended lubricating oil is used it can undergo partial combustion and cause carbon monoxide to enter the air cylinder.

The compressed air is filtered through silica gel to remove water, then through activated charcoal to remove any traces of oil.

Sometimes air from a cheap, low powered compressor will be stored in a bank of large high pressure cylinders. Air from these cylinders is then used to quickly fill diving cylinders. The diving cylinders need to be filled slowly to prevent the compressed air inside them from getting hot. If the gas inside is hot, it will expand and the cylinder maximum pressure will be reached with less air inside. The gas cools and the cylinder may only be half full.

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