Air compressors: please school me

K

KBzPTGT

New member
I have no experience with these. nOOb questions to follow.
I need to know what the best size hose to use.
Should I get a oil/air separator?
Oil fogger for tools?
Anything else?

The Mrs. got this for me: http://www.harborfreight.com/21-gal-25-hp-125-psi-cast-iron-vertical-air-compressor-61454.html
Im planning on getting the Tornador Black w/vacuum attachment. I cant think of anything else that we would get that would use more cfm than that. Future purchases will be ratchet, wrench, nailer.

It's home will be in a semi detached garage. I guess it should have fresh air flow but can a sound proof enclosure be around it with an open top?

Thanks for the input.

KB
 
I only have a little experience with air compressors and tools. I have one small one on wheels used more or less for tires, have an impact wrench and my cfm output of the compressor can't keep up with it.

To answer your questions. Unless you are paint you really should not need an oil separator.

An oil fogger for tools, never seen or used one when I worked on the assembly line. For oiling the tools maintenence come by every evening and would drip a few drops of light oil in the air chuck on the tool, reconnect the hose, and hit the trigger so the air carries the oil through the motor. Unless you use the air tools excessively younshould very rarely have to oil them. If you do plan to oil the tools there should be tool oil out there. In the past I have used a 3 in 1 oil it used to be called, it was for sewing machines and such.

Only other thing is you are going to need airchucks or air connectors for the tools and the compressor. There are different styles or types out there just make sure when you buy the female connector for the compressor that they match all the male ends you buy for each tool.
 
I guess I said oil separator. I think the separotors for the compressor are actually used to remove the moisture.

I also missed you hose question. There are different quality and made from different materials, buy what you can afford. It is like buying an extension cord, you get what you pay for. The short one that came with my compressor is made for some kind of hard rubber or soft plastic, when cold it is not pliable. I bought new hose last year and a real so I could each around the whole garage without having to unplug and drag the compressor around. Someday I will get around to putting it up. :)
 
I've got a few pneumatic tools in my open box storage closet if you want to save a lot of $$$.

I have a standard Tornador (non black), Tornador Air Foamer, Tornador Blow Out Tool, and a few of the pneumatic polishers. PM me for more info.
 
I have lots of experience with air compressors, air tools, and painting. I built an airplane (Dave Barnhart's RV-6) compressed air is used almost exclusively for aircraft power tools.

There are two types of air compressors, oiled and oil-less. You know if you have an oiled compressor when the instructions talk about changing the oil now and then.

Oil-less compressors are much louder than oiled. They are usually less expensive than oiled compressors. If the majority of the use of your compressor is spray painting then this would be a good choice. If you are using it with air tools you could get an oil fogger (Air tools need lubricated and so the air fogger would supply a continuous small amount of lubrication in the airflow.) When I used an oil-less compressor with air tools however, I just kept a bottle of air tool oil around and put a few drops into the air fitting of the tools every few weeks.

Oiled compressors have been around forever. They are MUCH quieter than oil-less. If you are using it with air tools there is no need to add an oil fogger because the compressor will 'leak' a microscopic amount of oil into the airflow. If you are going to use it for paining you will need an oil-air separator to remove the oil from the airflow.

Regarding hoses: The bigger the better.

There is also the topic of hose length. Let's say you are using a high-speed cutter on an object. Consider the distance between the electrical outlet and the object. The two extremes:
1. Park the compressor next to the outlet and use a long air hose.
2. Use a heavy-duty extension cord to move the compressor closer to the object and use a shorter air hose.

Option 2 is better. You will deliver more air pressure and volume to the tool. Having said that, if you are not using tools that need a high volume of airflow (like a cutter) then it will not matter as much.
 
only to be used on occasions on weekends and or small projects. Would an oil-less of a larger 2 hp & 30 gal tank size be better than a smaller 1.8 hp & 20 gal tank size?
 
I have an oil less compressor and it's LOUD. Actually hate being near it when it's running cause it's obnoxious.

definitely go with a rubber hose. PVC hoses suck. Even when it's warm they just don't move freely like rubber hoses do. Mine actually managed to snap in 2 when it got cold. I literally have no "pros" for a PVC hose. Hated it from day one.
 
KBzPTGT said:
only to be used on occasions on weekends and or small projects. Would an oil-less of a larger 2 hp & 30 gal tank size be better than a smaller 1.8 hp & 20 gal tank size?
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If space isn't an issue and portability isn't your goal, bigger is almost always better when it comes to compressors. You never know when you'll want to work it hard.
 
ShaneB said:
I have an oil less compressor and it's LOUD. Actually hate being near it when it's running cause it's obnoxious.

definitely go with a rubber hose. PVC hoses suck. Even when it's warm they just don't move freely like rubber hoses do. Mine actually managed to snap in 2 when it got cold. I literally have no "pros" for a PVC hose. Hated it from day one.
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All of this. I have one of the run of the mill 33 gallon craftsman compressors and the noise is deafening in the garage when it kicks on. It drives me nuts, but I don't quite use it enough to justify the money it would cost to upgrade.

As far as hoses go, I'd love to know why any of them are made out of pvc.....terrible. I've been using Goodyear brand rubber hoses that I got from harbor freight years ago and they're fantastic
 
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