Who has an air compressor and why?

I have a pancake compressor I mostly use for inflating Peking duck but I will also be using it with my pin nail gun when I install my flooring.

I'll let you know Tuesday

i have a generic hotDog style compressor that gets most of the use from tires all the way to the occasional framing nailer project. the trick with the framing nailer is that you can only shoot 2 nails before the compressor has to be topped up... so for 3 nail framing nailer projects i get the single stage harbor freight 10 gallon out similar to this one
https://www.harborfreight.com/10-gallon-25-hp-125-psi-oil-lube-air-compressor-62441.html

it'll run the framing nailer a lot longer before it needs to top up.

if i plan to be using a lot of air, which is almost never, i also have a 2 stage ~20 gallon compressor i was given. it is WAY WAY quieter than the others due to being a 2 stage pump that doesn't spin as fast.

there are times, due to noise and proximity to neighbors, that i'll put off a task to a better time of day bcause the 2 compressors i use most are too loud.

that said, here at work before the building got revamped and the compressed air situation was kinda... silly. there were a bunch of little compressors around, many from California Air Tools and they are generally significantly quieter than their Big Box Store equivalent. they are more expensive though.

if yo're going to buy new and it's going to live in the garage i suggest getting a vertical tank instead of horizontal as i linked above at HF. the configuration takes up less space park it in the front corner of the garage and get some good hoses to move things around or one of air distribution kits like Cheese linked above

here's a used CA air tools unit that.... well i wish i could justify it.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/tls/d/san-mateo-california-air-tools-ultra/7268803563.html

another fun thing is you get to buy accessories!
hose makes a huge difference. i bought this when i got tired of fighting shitty hoses that get really stiff unless tehy're baking in the sun to warm them up
https://www.amazon.com/Flexzilla-Fi...&keywords=flexzilla+air&qid=1612198361&sr=8-1

50 feet is a bit unnecessarily long for me, so i ordered 2 of these as well

https://www.amazon.com/Flexzilla-in...ywords=flexzilla+repair&qid=1612198635&sr=8-2

cut the hose into a 35 foot and 15 foot section and used the fittings... i rarely use the 35 foot hose since my compressors are portable.

20 gal Craftsman. Motorcycle tires, my tire machine,car tires, nail guns and I also have the Harbor Freight brake bleeder. That's a game changer

Mad

I have multiple compressors.
one big stand compressor that is piped to a retractable hose reel system that I use around the house inside and outside from working on outdoor equipment to running nail guns.

I have a smaller 25 gallon one that I use when I need portability and more CFM than a small pancake one can provide.

I also have a small pancake one that I use for traveling jobs. Like if I am helping someone with some trim work then I bring that one for running nail guns.

Compressors, I has:

3.5HP 20g Campbell Hausfeld on tank on wheels - Noisy AF, On/Off switch died 15 years ago when it was 10 years old and it keeps rocking. Have used it for painting and big nail guns and has performed quite well.

Senco PC1010 - Nice and quiet, light, compact and portable. Great for brads and pin nailers. Also good for blowing off dirty r/c cars when travel racing. I also use for topping off tires on cars and bikes. The tank is tiny but with an extension cord it keeps up just fine do do all 4 and I take it to track days as well.

Iwata Studio Pro - Quiet AF and only good for airbrushing... and the best you can get for that

I have a Makita compressor that I use for filling car, moto, and bike tires, cleaning parts, cleaning my work bench, filling exercise balls, and a bunch of random stuff. Some kind of compressed air is really nice (and sometimes essential) for seating tubeless mountain bike tires.

Most folks can figure out an out-of-the-way location and just run lines to where you need them. Mine is tucked under the stairs in a really tight spot. It's plugged into a power strip that I mounted on a wall for easy access to the power switch.

Butch said:

One time, at band camp, kidding, after tire work, my car was oversteering crazy. There was 50 psi in the rear tires. Crazy.

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Kinda depends on the car. There are some no-profile tires out there that call for that kind of pressure. My car recommends 32psi for comfort but I run it at 40 for better wear.

Re: the compressor, I have one but for the average person who just wants to fill tires or basketballs get one of those cigarette lighter plug in models. Takes up a lot less space if you don't plan to run an air tool. Keep it in the car for emergencies. Or a bicycle pump as someone else suggested.

Truck tires: 65 psi
Trailer tiers: 80 psi
Small air compressors run in fear of these...
Have several air compressors here on the hill . A 220v for serious air tools that lives outside in it's own little enclosure to a older sears belt drive 110v that is mobile.
For keeping my moto tires correctly inflated I use a high pressure Specialized bicycle pump with built in accurate gauge .
DT

My compressors main uses are inflating car, moto, bicycle, and tailer tires and painting moto fairings. 20gal 175# Husky. Its loud AF but works fine.

stangmx13 said:

My compressors main uses are inflating car, moto, bicycle, and tailer tires and painting moto fairings. 20gal 175# Husky. Its loud AF but works fine.

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I'm more touchy with pressure on 2 wheels. The Moto and the Mountain Bike get a Hand Pump.

My car and truck are allowed a, "Git 'er dun!" with a compressor.

Got one of these for Christmas last year and it's the cat's pajamas- dial in your target pressure, attach to the valve stem, and it'll inflate or air-down until you're at the target number. It's replacing my compressor for most usage, it's particularly neat to snap on a 60v battery and have mobile air.

https://www.dewalt.com/products/sto.../20v-max-cordedcordless-air-inflator/dcc020ib

Eldritch said:

I'm more touchy with pressure on 2 wheels. The Moto and the Mountain Bike get a Hand Pump.

My car and truck are allowed a, "Git 'er dun!" with a compressor.

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All tires get set to my preferred pressure with a proper pressure gauge. For bicycle tires, most of the compressor use is seating the beats on tubeless tires. It saves a lot of time and pumping.

I got a 99 buck cheapo from Sears a few years back and love it. Such a cheap guarantee to pump up a flat tire just enough to get down the hill to repar shop. Used it once to drive nails on deck otherwise just tire inflation on bike, cars, even wheelbarrow. I got a wand but its not that great a blower as I'd hoped. Oh yeah, and I did get the special attachment because bicycle companies went over to that stupid other valve stem system, which I hate.

If you got a garage and space, get a damn compressor.

stangmx13 said:

All tires get set to my preferred pressure with a proper pressure gauge. For bicycle tires, most of the compressor use is seating the beats on tubeless tires. It saves a lot of time and pumping.

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Yeah, for me, it seems like I'm always over blowing and having to drain down and then measure up and like, back and forthing with a compressor on the 2 wheel guys, where I am a lot more critical about the reading. That's why I switched to hand pump.

For 4 wheels, I just get it pretty close and call it a day, LOL.

I use my tiny 3 gallon for blowing dust off stuff and mostly to keep tire pressure in the happy zone.

Thinking of getting into HPLV painting game and furniture restoration. What size of compressor would be good for that?

m_asim said:

I use my tiny 3 gallon for blowing dust off stuff and mostly to keep tire pressure in the happy zone.

Thinking of getting into HPLV painting game and furniture restoration. What size of compressor would be good for that?

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Check the CFM requirements for the gun you want to use and then buy based off of that. Bigger is usually better as it will cycle less and put less strain on the motor.

For tyres, I use one of these:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-1...-with-Digital-Gauge-Tool-Only-P737D/307627867

yodaisgod said:

I've never had a garage until I bought my house in October. Trying to find "necessary" garage items. :laughing

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Congratulations on the house!

Get speakers out in the garage if you don't already have some.


I don't know what your electrical outlet situation is, but this ceiling-mounted cord reel was one of the best purchases I've made for my garage.

Not a bad idea.