What size air compressor do I need for air tools?
This is a question that we get quite often from many contractors and hobbyists who are new to using air tools.
It is essential to know which among the hundreds of different shapes, sizes, and makes of an air compressor is the ideal fit for your air-powered tool.
More than that, you would want to make sure that it can handle the task at hand.
There are also several things to consider when you evaluate the size of the air compressor.
All of this can be quite confusing for someone who just got their hands on an air compressor for the first time.
Hence, to make things simpler for you, we will be discussing the different sizes of air compressors ideal for the most commonly used air tools.
However, before we even get there, let us talk about why you even need an air compressor to begin with.
Why Buy an Air Compressor
It is a known fact that compressed air is considered to be one of the most versatile and useful forms of energy available for use.
Because of this, the air compressor has become one of the most highly effective and cost-efficient pieces of equipment anyone can own.
Using an air compressor will ensure that you will be able to complete your maintenance, construction, automotive, craft, and hobby projects significantly faster than traditional tools.
Some top benefits of using air tools with an air compressor include:
- Air tools tend to last much longer.
- They offer variable speed and torque control.
- Even if there are any accidental air leaks, there will be no harmful contaminants released into the atmosphere.
- The higher ratio of power in air tools directly contributes to lower operator fatigue.
- Air tools are known to run much cooler as they don’t generate excess heat while they are in use.
- Air tools are very safe to use; they have no electrical shock or any fire hazard potential in comparison to electric tools.
Are Bigger Air Compressors Better?
You would assume that a bigger air compressor would be an ideal choice for using it together with most air tools.
However, that isn’t exactly the case.
You will find larger air compressors that only have a lower air output.
While there are smaller ones that offer a significantly higher air output.
Additionally, many manufacturers have put a lot of time and research into developing air compressors that are small in size and light in weight.
They do all of these without compromising on the power output.
Then again, this may not apply to every small-sized air compressor on the market.
For this reason, you will not be able to assess the air compressor’s capability by just its size.
How Do You Determine the Air Needs?
Since you cannot just determine an air compressor’s capability by its size, you should be looking for how much air it is capable of delivering.
This will be measured in CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute).
As a general guideline, an air compressor that is meant to power tools will fall in the 30 to 140 CFM range.
Air compressors that come with a lower CFM rating are typically meant for things like passenger tire inflation.
On the other hand, air compressors with a higher CFM rating are designed for industrial applications.
To narrow down your search as per your specific requirements, you need to take a look at the CFM requirements of the most powerful air tool that you own.
It is also important to note whether the CFM rating is meant for a 100% duty cycle.
This is because several continuous-use tools are still rated as if you will be using them at 50% to 60%.
In such cases, you will need an air compressor that comes with a much higher CFM rating if you do not want it to stop constantly.
If you are going to make use of more than one air tool at a time, then you must add both of the tools’ CFM ratings together to determine the right air compressor you need.
Once you exactly know the CFM that your air tool needs, you will automatically know what size air compressor you need.
We also recommend that you choose an air compressor that meets the air output without needing to go too far over.
What Size Air Compressor Do I Need for Air Tools?
Now that you have a better understanding of air compressors and the power output necessary for air tools, we will be discussing the right air compressor sizes ideal for some of the most commonly used air tools.
1. For a Nail Gun
When it comes to most nail guns, air compressors that are capable of putting out about 120 PSI of pressure for the nail gun to work is ideal.
This can be a bit more if you are looking to use heavier framing guns.
In addition to the air pressure, you will also have to make sure that there is sufficient flow to keep up with the nail gun.
Air compressors that are small in size and have a one HP motor will typically provide about two CFM.
This will let you drive the nails with the framing nail gun at about 15 to 17 every minute.
With that said, the same sized air compressor will be able to drive a smaller brad gun at about 70 nails every minute and maybe even more.
You need to keep in mind that the size of the nails plays an important role here.
With larger nails, you will need an air compressor that has a higher CFM rating.
Again, keep in mind that if you are going to be running more than one nail gun with the same air compressor, you will have to have at least double the capacity to efficiently power both.
2. For Air Guns
Air guns are known to have small pressure chambers designed for much higher pressure.
This means that the air compressor needed to work an air gun should be running at 3,000 PSI or above.
Since most of the PCP guns and air gun chambers are not that big in size, the volume of air and the CFM isn’t the issue here.
With that said, you will require a high-pressure air compressor that will load up the air guns.
The typical 150 PSI compact air compressor will not work on this case unless you are using a special valve.
The special valve will let you gradually build up the pressure in the air chamber.
To load multiple air guns, many air compressors offer special units that have a higher output of more than 4,500 PSI and above.
3. For Filling Up Tires
Every tire out there comes with its valves.
This means that you will only need about four CFM to run the tire inflator reliably and for it to work with a wide variety of tires.
You will find that most passenger car tires need anywhere between 28 to 35 PSI.
This means that you can easily make use of a typical air compressor that comes with about 90 or even lesser PSI.
4. For Auto Painting
To auto paint, you will need to make use of a paint sprayer gun with plenty of CFM.
Aim for a minimum of nine to 12 CFM that will allow you to work most of the paint sprayer guns on the market at present.
With higher volume paint sprayer guns, you will need at least 12 CFM each.
Of course, you’d want more if you intend to use more than one paint spraying gun at the same time.
For detailed work, we recommend making use of airbrushes, which need an air compressor with a much lesser CFM.
5. For an Airbrush
Airbrushes are known to be tools with a lot of precision.
They do not require a ton of air volume to function.
Even with the largest airbrushing jobs, you will only need about a little over one CFM.
That is the case even if you are using very large nozzles to airbrush a truck or a van.
For smaller jobs, such as painting your nails or some miniatures, you will only need about 0.3 CFM to run the smaller nozzles.
6. For Automotive Air Tools
For automotive air tools, you will have to combine the total of the air tools’ CFM requirements.
For a full set of automotive air tools that are typically found in most garages, you will need at least 70 to 80 CFM air compressors to accommodate them all.
With a 70-CFM air compressor, you will be able to run at least three sizes of impact wrenches, a grease gun, an oil pump, a washer, and a tire inflator all at the same time.
Obviously, this may depend on the model of the compressor you own.
7. For Home Use
For home use, you need to have a decent air compressor that is capable of providing sufficient power to run all the air tools you own.
At the same, it should be compact in size so that it is easy to store and move around.
Air compressors for home use will need a minimum of 150 PSI.
This will be able to run a wide range of air tools.
Six gallons is more than sufficient for using it at home and the garage.
This should be enough to supply you with about 1.2 CFM or a bit more.
8. For a Hopper Gun
Hopper guns are mainly used if you are looking to add some sort of texture to walls.
Just like any kind of paint spray gun, you must have the correct air compressor to match it.
To spray texture by making use of a hopper gun, you will have to make use of an air compressor that is capable of pulling out a minimum of 2.4 CFM at 90 PSI.
For more extensive jobs, you need at least five CFM or so.
9. For an Impact Gun
When it comes to impact guns, you will find that they tend to vary widely with the CFM needed.
This is because impact guns tend to differ in sizes.
For example, a 3/8-inch impact gun will need about three CFM at 90 PSI.
On the other hand, a ½-inch impact gun will need a minimum of four CFM to use at the same pressure.
Larger impact guns, like those measuring ¾ inches, will need a minimum of seven CFM to get the best possible result.
10. For a Jackhammer
Full-sized jackhammers tend to have highly varying CFM needs based on their size.
With that said, with even the smallest of the chipping hammers, you will need an air compressor that can deliver about 35 to 45 CFM.
There are also 60-pound breakers, which will need a minimum of 60 CFM, and then there are the 90 CFM models, as well.
Several of the air compressors on the market that are specifically designed to run jackhammers are also rated to work more than one of them simultaneously.
The most common size of air compressors used for jackhammers is the 185-CFM variant.
At this size, the air compressor will easily be able to run two jackhammers at 90 CFM, or three at 60 CFM, or even four at 45 CFM altogether.
11. For Lug Nuts
To break lug nuts off, you will need to make use of an air impact wrench.
Make sure that it comes with sufficient torque to do the job.
At the same time, you’d want a four CFM air compressor to match.
To break most lug nuts off, you will need a ½-inch impact wrench or the ¾-inch impact wrench.
You can refer above to find the correct air compressor size for this job.
Conclusion
What size air compressor do I need for air tools?
Do you now know which air compressor to buy?
As mentioned earlier, choose the size of the air compressor based on the most powerful air tool that you have.
If you intend to use more than one together, simply double the number.
In doing this, you can be sure that you have the right-sized air compressor that can be used for all your air tools and for different projects.