Choosing the Right Air Compressor - Part 3
This is our follow-up to Part 1 and Part 2, where we discussed some basic principles in choosing the right air compressor.
Tank Shape:
Air compressors primarily come in 2 shapes:
- Vertical
- Horizontal
Vertical tanks are great if you plan leaving the compressor in one spot for a long time, and you need to maximize your floor space. This is why it’s recommended for home users or for powering workshops.
Vertical models take up more room, but they usually offer portability features such as truck mounting brackets, wheels and handles. If you’re planning to travel a lot with your tank, I’d suggest getting a vertical model.
Other less common models include Pancake Hotdog and Twin-stack compressors. These 3 styles store smaller air volumes, and are meant to be conveniently carried by hand. They’re suitable for low-output devices such as air nailers and smaller impact wrenches.
Power Rating:
Tank Sizes range anywhere up to 120Gallons and up.
The output capacity of these compressors is measured as a combination of Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM), and Pounds per Square Inch (PSI). When evaluating a tank, you have to take both into account.
For example: A compressor running 100CFM at 100PSI is more powerful than a 100CFM compressor running at 70PSI.
The amount of power you’ll need is largely dependent on the type of tools you intend to use.
A person who’s using a sand blaster will require a very different compressor than someone who’s using a nail gun. A good rule of thumb is to buy more than your current requirements so that you can add more tools later on without having to purchase a whole new compressor every time.
Selecting the right air compressor for your need should be an easy task as long as you first take the time to plan out your working requirements:
- Power Source
- Compressor Type
- Tank Shape
- Power Rating
Hopefully, you now have all the information you need to make the right decision. But if you have any more questions about picking the right air tank or air compressor, please leave a note in the comment form below.
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