Portable air compressors make it easy to inflate your tires or use any pneumatic tool from any location you deem convenient. These compressors ought to be used in your garage or workshop and these can be easily interfaced with other pneumatic devices and a painting spray gun, or your favorite nail gun.
Leveraging a switch, the portable air compressors comprising of a motor and air tanks hold compressed air whereby the working of the unit incorporates the piston and chamber establishing pressure of air. The compressed air is held in the tank until you turn on the portable air compressor.
The compressed air then gets directed into whatever air tools you are using, reverses low tire pressure for your bike, ATV, lawnmower or car. The unique aspect with portable air compressors is they can be easily moved to the location of the task.
Let's look at some of the best portable air compressors on the market.
Best Portable Air Compressor
1. Makita MAC2400 Big Bore 2.5 HP Air Compressor - Best Overall
- Cast iron pump with Big Bore cylinder and piston is engineered to...
- Powerful 2.5 HP 4-Pole motor produces 4.2 CFM at 90 PSI for...
- Roll-cage construction provides complete protection to withstand...
- Low AMP draw reduces incidences of tripped breakers at start-up
- Pump is oil-lubricated for cooler running temperatures and...
With a 2.5 HP motor, a large 4.2-gallon air tank, and oil-lubed parts, this air compressor will suit a professional worker or any contractor, or a regular homeowner who likes to take on DIY projects. Regardless of what you need this portable air compressor for, you’re going to have the time of your life using it. It enables you to use two air tools concurrently something that makes use of two sources of air pressure without having to down your air pressure in order to operate the two tools.
You will find pleasure in the 4.2 SCFM at 90PSI that accompanies this type of air compressor. As one of the oil-lubricated air compressors, you should ensure that you maintain it in the best way so that it can give you the power it deserves. However, you have several perks of having it being an oil-lubricated compressor, for instance, you can completely rule out any friction-related issues.
Resistance also implies that you do not need to worry that your air compressor components heat up very easily. Furthermore, you can operate your compressor while other people are asleep, because it is virtually silent.
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2. CRAFTSMAN Air Compressor, 6 Gallon Pancake (CMEC6150K)
- The portable air compressor is proudly made in the USA with...
- PORTABLE: 6 gallon capacity maximizes portability and stored air...
- NO MAINTENANCE: Durable, oil-free pump of the 6 gallon air...
- PRESSURE: 150 Max PSI to ensure adequate cut-inch pressure for a...
- QUICK RECOVERY TIME: 2.6 SCFM* @ 90 PSI allows for quick...
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3. CRAFTSMAN V20 Tire Inflator, Portable Air Compressor
- LOW VOLUME OUTPUT: High pressure of air compressor tire inflator...
- ULTIMATE CONVENIENCE: Digital tire inflator comes with 3-power...
- AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF: Portable tire inflator for car allows you to...
- EASY READ DISPLAY: Digital PSI gauge
- 3 Year Limited Warranty, refer to "Warranty & Support" section...
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4. DEWALT Air Compressor, 135-PSI Max
- Durable oil free pump provides extended maintenance-free...
- Low 71 dBA* allows for quieter operation (*Tested per ISO3744)
- Roll cage and control panel provide protection to key compressor...
- Low 2.6 amp draw motor provides easy start-up and reduces breaker...
- Lightweight (24 lbs), thin (9.0") and compact design is easy to...
The DEWALT D55140 Air Compressor is a a portable, light weight air compressor that can hold a maximum air tank of 1-gallon and has low noise level. It’s has a maximum PSI of 135 and has a 2.6 Amp motor and is suitable for small projects that include inflating tyres, using brad nailing or even air brushing. Its oil-free pump means low maintenance making it ideal for homeowners or professionals who require quick, light duty air compression.
DEWALT D55140 Air Compressor is ideal for short burst application where light and temporary air pressure is all that is required say for inflation of tires or for powering brad nailer. Cordless, compact, and relatively quiet, with an oil-free pump making it a low-maintenance and practical choice for users in both homes and workplaces. Nonetheless, low overall volume of the tank and certainly, the lower CFM, which has the potential to hamper a large scale or high intensity project.
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5. BOSTITCH BTFP02012-WPK Air Compressor Kit
- OIL-FREE: Requires no daily maintenance and eliminates risk of...
- LIGHTWEIGHT: 29 lb. weight and narrow tank diameter make unit...
- HIGH FLOW REGULATOR AND DUAL COUPLERS: Maximizes air tool...
- LOW NOISE LEVEL: 80dBA** operational noise level for a quiet work...
- KIT INCLUDES: BTFP02012 Pancake Compressor, 50' Rubber/PVC Blend...
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Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Portable Air Compressor
1. Air Pressure and Air Quality
Pressure or air quality is also one of the most important things to consider when deciding which of the above portable air compressors to buy. It is therefore important that you select air compressors that provides the air volume required by your air tool, at the right target pressure.
Let's look at an example. If your tool requires 174 PSI for it to perform well that is the amount of PSi that your air compressor is supposed to deliver into your tool. As a result, you have to look into the variety of density options of the air compressors to discover what one fits where you intend to apply it. If you want home use, see which of the models can power the highest pressure tool that you have.
In terms of air quality, you get to take a look at the cleanliness of air that your compressors or the compressor on offer is producing. The actuality is that air compressor can deliver air of receipt quality. You can have a form of air which contains dust particles, moisture or even oil particles. So the quality of the air in the compressor needs to be good at least.
2. Free Air Delivery
We're referring to the volume of air that your compressor generates. Free Air Delivery is in CFM and reflects directly how much air your tool needs. As we said earlier, to do this, you have to regulate your tool’s air consumption to the Free Air Delivery of the compressor.
Additionally, it is necessary to sum total air consumptions for used tools and select compressor with Free Air Delivery rating no less than total result.
3. Tank Size
What is your plan to use for your air compressor? The answer to this will determine what tank size you need. If you are working on tools which need air pressure for say 10 to 15 minutes in an interval, then there are compressors that have a small holding tank.
There you have it, but if you are working with large air tools that you shall be using for some time longer, then go for a compressor with a larger tank capacity. Remember the more tanks, the less portable your air compressor especially when the tanks are large.
4. Power Source
Most air compressors are powered by either gas or electricity. Compressors that operate electrically operate on household voltage, normally a single phase. One important benefit of these types is that you can apply them inside your home because they don’t give off any vapors.
Portable air compressors which use gas as a source of power are more preferred than those that use electricity because you don’t have to worry about how far you can be from the source that you trip over the power cords. Furthermore, most of them are usually more potent than their electrical counterparts.
However, they are not the best to be used indoors because they require well-ventilated areas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What Size Air Compressor Do I Need to Run Air Tools?
30 to 140 CFM
Most of the air compressors we have highlighted in today’s guide are within this range, and you can easily pair with your air tools. Possible applications involving the options with the lower CFM rating are seen with tires, sporting equipment, car tire, truck tire or car tires. However, if you need it for industrial use, then should consider one with a high CFM rating.
2. Can You Run an Impact Wrench with A Pancake Compressor?
You can run an impact wrench with one of the excellent portable compressors we have discussed above; however, a small pancake compressor will be suitable for nail guns. This is so because impact wrenches are employed as steady-state, intermittent instruments. In this way, you will not be using an impact gun as you would with dir grinders or even sandblasters, for a long period.
3. Is a 6-gallon Air Compressor Enough?
Yes. Although this depends with the tools you are using it on. It means that those tools that need short bursts of air, like finish nail guns and pneumatic brad nail guns, don’t drain your tank as much. Thus, an air compressor of between 2 and 6 gallons suffices. Also, it's important to note that there are two types of pumps: single and two-stage.
You can also choose to go for an oil lubricated compressor or an oil-free compressor.
