What To Search For When Purchasing An Air Compressor
It seems that many woodworkers don’t have an air compressor, simply because they sound difficult.
Some of the handy terms that you should truly know about when watching out for a compressor include:
PSI - Pounds per square inch
CFM - Cubic feet per minute
Duty Cycle - how long a compressor can run compared to the amount of rest time over a 30 minute period. Like it can operate for ten minutes, then rest for twenty without making major head wear
Single Stage - where the compression piston compresses all the air in one stroke
Versus two Stage - where there are two pistons that work in cooperation to compact the air.
If you are planning on running tools like sanders, buffers, grinders and so on you’ll need to think about something in the mid-size or maybe bigger shop size of compressors.
If you plan on employing grinders, sanders, buffers and the like, you will need to think about an enormous fixed base compressor like Campbell - Hausfeld or Ingersoll-Rand. These will have around six hp and a storage tank of 50 gallons or more . If you’re a hobbyist woodworker, who is hunting for a nailer or stapler, one of the small cartable compressors is perfect. Makers like Porter-Cable or Delta will work fine.
The real trick to buying a compressor is to grasp beforehand what you are going to use it for and what the air-tool rating is in PSI and CFM. This could give you a better indication of the duty cycle you’ll need. But this isn’t the end either, because you must look CLOSELY at the air tools you are considering as the same tool can change noticeably in the amount of compressed air it will consume. That is’s enormously important, and it implies the difference between getting a mid-size compressor or massive fixed compressor. A compressor and associated air powered tools might be a real time saver, even for the hobbyist’s work shop.
In the final research you’ll have to make that complicated call, but what ever you do, make sure you guarantee you get an agreeable compressor for your choice of tools.
Next, discover more on Air Compressor varieties which you can access via the Discover Air Compressors support site.
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