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Recommendations
Jan 26th
No matter what you need it for, find the best portable air compressor right here!
Basic inflator (12 V): Campbell Hausfeld RP1200. This inflator is quick, powerful, and plugs into your cigarette lighter. Priced around $20-25. Campbell also offers at 120V option if you need more power, which is priced ~$55.
Most portable options:
Pancake tank – Powermate 1-gallon Pancake Air Compressor. This is a very user friendly model that requires minimal maintenance and only weighs 16lbs! Priced $70-80.
More powerful options:
Pro-Force 10 Gallon, Oil Free, Air Compressor – This model offers much greater power while still being mobile enough to use around the house or garage. Priced ~$250 it is a great investment for any novice homeowner. *A professional or semi-professional contractor along with homeowners that attempt advanced household projects may want a more powerful option.
Ingersoll Rand Garage Mate 20-Gallon (Belt Drive) Cast Iron Compressor – This model is one of the best options that provides as much power as you would need for any consumer pneumatic tool and still is portable enough for any shop or garage. Runs on 120V and priced ~$600. Great mix of quality and affordability.
All the above options are electrically powered and thus a great option for any homeowner. If you are just using it around the house I would definitely recommend using an electric option, as gasoline powered options often come with a much larger maintenance burden. However, if you are interested in a portable, gasoline powered option than check out:
EMAX 17-gallon, 8HP Single Stage Portable Air Compressor w/Honda Engine. This is a great mix of quiet and power. Great for any job site as it is tough and durable while still portable enough to roll around on flat surfaces with relative ease. Priced ~$1,800-2,000 it is definitely only recommended for professionals.
I will reiterate that the average homeowner only needs a small pancake or hotdog tank to do small tasks like blowing up a tire, stapling, or air brushing. If you need to use any other air powered tools than I would recommend upgrading to a vertical/horizontal tank model (See ‘Pro Force’ above) or the Ingersoll Rand model described above if you will have extended periods of use with larger tools.
Safety/Troubleshooting
Jan 26th
This is a list of tips to help keep your portable air compressor running well and also to keep you safe!
1. You should always drain the water out of the tank. There will typically be a small valve on one of the bottom corners of the tank that is for draining any moisture that accumulates inside. If you allow the moisture to keep accumulating there will be less space for air, as well as the possibility of rust on the inside of the tank. Try and remember to drain the tank once per week or once every 3-4 uses.
2. If the compressor is plugged in, and the power is switched to ‘on’, and it is still not running I would check the pressure gauge. If it is within the set parameters than it will still be able to deliver air. Once the pressure drops too low the machine will automatically start up again.
3. If the compressor stops working outside check to see what the temperature is. If it is too cold than the machine may just need to be brought inside and warmed up. If you have been using the compressor continuously for an extended time (3-4+ hrs) than it is also possible that the engine is overheating and it needs to ‘rest.’
4. If pressure is not sufficient than check the hose and connections for leaks. These can often be fixed with a simple tightening of the leaky piece. If you cannot find the problem there, try using a soap and water mixture on the welds of the tank to see if any air is leaking out. If this is the case you will need a new tank. DO NOT try to weld it yourself, and keep in mind that anything you try to patch it with will not last more than a minute or two.
5. If pressure is not sufficient and there are not leaks than reduce the demand (whatever is ‘plugged in’) and see if it starts to build. If not you may have blown a gasket or a valve. A gasket is a relatively simple fix and can be done by a novice repairman, however a valve is a bit more complicated. I would recommend seeking advice from an expert at a large hardware store or online.
6. Always check valves to see if they are clogged, especially if the portable air compressor is stored in a dirty or cold place. If ice has blocked a valve than just bring it inside to melt, but if it is dirty use a skinny piece of wire and GENTLY work it free.
7. ALWAYS make sure the outlet that the compressor is plugged in to (if you are using an electric model) does not require more voltage than the outlet delivers.
8. It can be extremely damaging to power an electric compressor with a generator. The generator does not produce enough juice to start the compressor. You see, a large electrical device, like a generator, requires a lot more energy at start up than it does to run. This can easily be provided by a household circuit (the breaker does not trip because the excess requirement is so brief) but not by a generator.
Various Tanks
Jan 25th
There are many different types of tanks to choose from regardless of what you need the portable air compressor for. Many of the names do not make much sense and it can seem like a very arbitrary decision as to which one you select. The following describes the different types of tanks and what each kind is good for.
Vertical Tank: The motor and the pump are mounted on top of the tall, rectangular tank. This tank provides a very space efficient design for a typically large capacity tank. However it is not easily transported because of the large capacity and more unstable design.
Horizontal Tank: This is a much more classic design consisting of an elongated cylinder that sits on mounted wheels, parallel to the ground. This offers a bit more portability but is still hard to transport to new locations. The capacity is still sufficient for use in a shop or mechanics office.
Pancake Tank: Much more portable tank that usually only weighs about 60lbs. The name describes it exactly as it has a very flat, rounded appearance. This model is ideal for small jobs, especially in tighter areas.
Wheel-Barrow Tank: The most portable option that is widely used on job sites. It is slightly heavier than the pancake tank, but the design makes it very easy to pull around. It is arranged just like a wheel barrow with two handles and a single wheel.
These are just some of the main models to choose from and certainly does not encompass all the options. My personal recommendation is the wheel-barrow model because of its portability. You can’t really take it inside the house very easily, but around the garage or driveway its the best.