Compressor advice, ASAP : )

[Zekester]

Canadian Tire has a 5 gallon compressor on sale this week, reg price $250, on for $130...just for a few more days...

• 3 peak HP oil lube motor 1.3 HP running
• 125 MAX PSI
• 5.1 SCFM @ 40 PSI and 4.1 SCFM @ 90 PSI
• Twin stack design

You can buy impact tools in the same series, but one buyer commented that he couldn't get lugnuts off with this compressor...wouldn't it be the gun? isn't 125 psi enough?

I'm just looking for around the house use, pumping up tires after airing down, blowing parts etc...

comments?

 

[Texx]

In general, you need a half inch impact to remove lugnuts. 125 psi should be enough, if you can maintain it long enough to bust the nut loose. A very high end impact like a snap on brand will pull em off easy with 125. Personally, I would (and did) go with the biggest compressor I could afford.

 

[KLF]

That compressor should run a 1/2" impact gun, but not for long, you'd have to wait for a bit between each wheel. It won't run a die grinder or cutoff wheel for very long.

125psi should be plenty to bust lugnuts, you're actually not supposed to run most air tools above 90psi. It could be he was either using a cheapo gun or the hose to the gun was too small (diameter) and/or too long. You need a 3/8" hose for them, shorter is better. Don't try to run one from one of those coiled hoses.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

That compressor is made to run a nailer, not automotive impact tools. The pressure as long as it's above 90 is fine, and that's the input pressure for must impacts. With a bigger tank, that compressor would go from not enough to occasionally adequate.

I have a 30 gallon 2.5 running HP compressor, and it is barely adequate for running general shop tools, and it will not run a grinder, or a cutoff for more than a few seconds.

 

[davegonz]

I think that sounds fine for occasional use and not for high air volume applications like what people have said above (grinders, cutoff, etc.).

Just dont' get a cheapy, non-oil lubricated one. They are LOUD.

 

[Zekester]

Thanks for the comments...

 

[151fab]

It's not the PSI that gets ya it's the CFM. Impacts require a large amount of air (volume) to run at their peak. The only way to get CFM is with a large tank or a over-sized compressor pump neither of those features will be found in an inexpensive air compressor