I have a 3 gal pancake that has served well for airing up tires and running brad & trim nailers, but I really would like something for an impact wrench & to run an engine cleaner/blow tool for air filters, cleaning the cars, etc.

Is this an 8 gal, 20 gal, 30+ gal type of need?

Any recommendations on brand, size/style, oil/oilless?

It's more about CFM requirements for the tools you want to run than capacity. But higher capacity the less often it'll be running. I'll let someone else more knowledgable chime in, but look at some of the tools you want to use, find what CFM req's they have, and buy a compressor that will meet that requirement.

I don't recall impact wrenches having high requirements. Usually its air sanders, die grinders, and paint spraying that people run into problems with first with not enough CFM.

Concentrate on the CFM and what the compressor can deliver (and what you need). Tank size is really for buffering. Bigger is always better and in short bursts can compensate for not enough CFM...but only in short bursts before the tank gets emptied.

Just my two cents, go bigger than you think you need. You can always find more uses for the extra capacity and it's cheaper to upgrade than it is to buy bigger later.

To add on to what java said, CFM is your primary feature, the tank (its size) acts as a buffer when high volume tools (spray finishing) use more than the pump can keep up with. Don't be fooled by hp, while hp and CFM tend to go together, sometimes cheaper units can have a high hp but only a marginal CFM output.

You didn't mention your need for portability? Up to about a 2-3 hp, 20-30 gallon tank is where portability stops. (There may be one of two out there slightly bigger?) But for most homeowners something in that range is more than adequate and may be able to be plugged in anywhere. It has enough guts in the pump and volume in the tank to support all air tools. You would be pushing it too hard if you were doing spray finishing regularly.

A concern I have about certain cheap brands is the quality of components at higher psi. Look at the max psi, if it is only rated around 125psi, some tools need to operate at or near that level and keeping the cutoff switch/regulator dialed to its max is not recommended. You want to see its max rating at more like 150+psi. High psi is not something I would mess around with a cheap unit.

I had a Makita 2400 2.5HP big bore. It was awesome, but just heavy as F and a terrible design to not have wheels at 75-80 lbs.

Portability isn't an issue. Honestly will probably park it in the garage closet and run a line to the work bench.

Right now my biggest (most frequent) need is honestly using it as a blow gun for cleaning out air filters, on top of airing up tires & basketballs. I wasted way too much time this weekend cleaning shopvac & Dyson filters - waiting 3 minutes for the 3 gal pancake to repressurize after every 5 seconds of spraying.

With this purchase I'll probably pick up an impact for making tire rotations faster. I can borrow a spray rig for painting as needed, and I already have electric cut-off wheel that worked well enough every time I've used it.

Other places I've been reading say to compare the "SCFM" for the money. I've had decent luck with HF tools lately (I know, cheap brands & all), so I'm pretty tempted to pick up this guy https://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools-compressors/air-compressors-tanks/air-compressors/21-gallon-175-psi-oil-free-vertical-air-compressor-64858.html rather than shell out for a comparable DeWalt.

mosdefn14 said:

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Portability isn't an issue. Honestly will probably park it in the garage closet and run a line to the work bench.

Right now my biggest (most frequent) need is honestly using it as a blow gun for cleaning out air filters, on top of airing up tires & basketballs. I wasted way too much time this weekend cleaning shopvac & Dyson filters - waiting 3 minutes for the 3 gal pancake to repressurize after every 5 seconds of spraying.

With this purchase I'll probably pick up an impact for making tire rotations faster. I can borrow a spray rig for painting as needed, and I already have electric cut-off wheel that worked well enough every time I've used it.

Other places I've been reading say to compare the "SCFM" for the money. I've had decent luck with HF tools lately (I know, cheap brands & all), so I'm pretty tempted to pick up this guy https://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools-compressors/air-compressors-tanks/air-compressors/21-gallon-175-psi-oil-free-vertical-air-compressor-64858.html rather than shell out for a comparable DeWalt.

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Honestly, a 21 gallon is total overkill for what you want. A blowgun doesn't even need a massive CFM because the volume through the nozzle is rather small.

You would be fine with a smaller high CFM compressor in the event you want to paint something?

I'd buy an electric impact over a pneumatic. Way more convenient, less noise, no hose, and you can take it with you when you travel.

I also wouldn't buy a larger compressor at HF unless you pony up the extra for the extended warranty. Their new compressor "brands" haven't had great longevity

For what you're describing a large compressor is total overkill for what you're needing. Like was mentioned previously, for occasionally running an impact wrnech just get an electric. I have the ridgid half impact and it zips lugs off no problem.

When my pancake compressor died I got the one below. So freaking quiet. You can actually hear people next to you talking. I forget it is running sometimes. It's perfect for running nail guns, blow gun, tires, balls, etc. Could even handle some air tools if they're not in constant use.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/California-Air-Tools-8-0-Gal-1-0-HP-Ultra-Quiet-and-Oil-Free-Electric-Air-Compressor-8010/206087284?g_store=&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&&mtc=Shopping-B-F_D25H-B-D25H-025_028_COMP_AIRTOOL-NA-NA-Feed-SMART-NA-NA-Compressors_Smart&cm_mmc=Shopping-B-F_D25H-B-D25H-025_028_COMP_AIRTOOL-NA-NA-Feed-SMART-NA-NA-Compressors_Smart-71700000081377591-58700006924599093-92700064312898275&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0eOPBhCGARIsAFIwTs7Xl8dDJ2l3sxDQAyINJR8LW4v4dK1I8iV9xVC_P2vVqNyeJ47v_lEaAvDBEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks. This might be the one. A quick search of HD reviews for "clean" - many folks are using this model for exactly what I'm needing, and there's a comparison video showing how quiet it is.

Probably not a compressor I would ever buy - 2.2 cfm@90psi and a max tank psi of 120 is both a bit low IMO.

Depends on what you're using it for. For me it's been great. I don't run any airtools with it other than nailers which any compressor can run. I air stuff up, blow stuff out. It has worked really well for my needs.

Air is like ammo,you can't have too much. I have an 80 gallon inside the shop and a 100 gallon with another 80 gal in tandem out side my shop. I never run outta air.

Yeah...you should get the Milwaukee 18v impact and then get a compressor sized to everything else because you won't compete with it to break nuts loose.

I have a large compressor and a couple of nice impact guns and they are fine for quick zips, but they won't sit there and WAIL on a rusted 1.5" nut that hasn't moved since 1956 like a good electric impact. That sum***** might not move at first, but at beating on it for 30 seconds it sure as F---- will...or itll twist off, either way, problem solved.

I have a Makita MAC700 2.0 HP Big Bore that runs my Tornador cleaning gun (don't know the CFM requirements off hand but it clicks on frequently) just fine for light to moderate use. I paid low 200s. If you want something more serious, I'd strongly recommend the MAC5200 3.0 HP, which will be in the mid-$300s (or slightly more). It has wheels and can be moved around quite easily. For a portable one, this should be sufficient. I've also heard good things about the Dewalts with the 15-ish gallon tanks, but they're more than the Makita and I don't think perform that much better.

Keep in mind that you can add a spare tank with a smaller compressor and do a lot of things "bigger" compressors do compared to just the small ones by themselves. Of course, this is mostly short term use and if you're needing constant air, there's no substitute for the right CFM for the specific tool.

Well, I have Rigid tools & 4 amp batteries...not sure the Milwaukee would make sense. But good idea, I'll check out the Rigid one to throw in the toolbox along with the Rigid inflator (which is pretty clutch).

There is zero reason to buy an air powered impact wrench anymore. The battery powered ones are easier to work with and just as good.

I would try adding an additional tank like this to your existing compressor if all you are wanting is more tank size.





https://www.harborfreight.com/11-gallon-portable-air-tank-65595.html

Interesting. Might give this a try next time a HF coupon comes through the email.

Duncan Idaho said:

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There is zero reason to buy an air powered impact wrench anymore. The battery powered ones are easier to work with and just as good.

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I like the sound of being on Nascar pit lane.