Portable air compressors go wherever the job is.
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Whether you want to mount a portable air compressor on your truck, wheel it around the job site, or carry it anywhere, there's a portable compressor that fits any job&#;and any user.
This guide will help you choose the right portable compressor: one you can easily take up on the roof, under the deck, or on the road. We typically recommend customers look for compressors with enough CFM (Cubic Feet/Minute) and PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) to meet the job's demands.
Browse Portable CompressorsHand-carry air compressors are the smallest and easiest to move around. If your compressed air needs include inflating balls, mattresses and tires, hobby work, and other light-duty applications, these are the compressors for you. They are available in a variety of sizes and are mostly electrically powered, with some exceptions of those needing gasoline instead.
Hand-Carry CompressorsInflatorsPancake CompressorsHot Dog CompressorsTwin-Stack CompressorsUsesEmergency car tires, inflatables, bike tires Entry-level uses; car tires; some air toolsHome DIY projects; most air toolsProfessional carpentry/ contractor workCFM0-2 CFM0-4 CFM0-5 CFM2-7 CFMMax PSI60-230 PSI90-135 PSI110-225 PSI120-175 PSIHP0-1 HP1-5.5 HP0.5 - 2 HP1-6 HPPower Source(DC) 12v/24v or (AC) 120v115-120v Electric & Gas110-120v110-230v Electric & GasBrowse Hand-Carry CompressorsMostly reserved for emergency use, high-quality inflators are extremely useful if kept in your car's trunk. They come in 12-volt, 120-volt, and cordless battery power options and are also the smallest consumer air compressors available.
When choosing an inflator, it's important to understand that it is not designed or meant for tasks other than inflating pool toys, bike tires, or small vehicle tires&#;in other words, it can't power air tools or fill RV-size tires.
Pancake air compressors are portable, require minimal maintenance, and are easy to use. They are basic entry-level compressors with small tanks and are used for small projects around the house.
Pancake compressors are small and portable, making them a simple tool you can pull out and use at a moment's notice. Most have regulators and gauges so you can monitor your PSI, too. Some lighter air tools can be used with pancake compressors; however, due to their smaller air capacity, you may need to wait for the tank to refill often.
Hot dog air compressors get their name from the fact that their elongated tanks resemble hot dogs. They usually come in 1-7 gallon tank sizes. The size of the tank determines how long an air tool can be used before the compressor kicks on, called its duty cycle.
Two features you should look for are a durable carrying handle and rubber feet to prevent scraping floors. Three-gallon (all-in-one) air compressors are great for small projects around the house and come with the most common attachments for small jobs. They are compact, lightweight, and extremely versatile machines.
You can use these compressors with most air tools, but if you plan on using heavy-duty professional pneumatic tools like a nail gun for a flooring project, you should consider the largest hot dog compressor tank available, or a twin-stack compressor (below).
Twin Stack air compressors have two tanks, so you won't spend nearly as much time waiting for your tank to fill as with other types of hand-carry compressors. With the second tank, they can consistently power most air tools with minimal downtime.
Most consumer-grade twin stack compressors are direct drive, and they require much less maintenance than belt-drive compressors, with the added benefit of not worrying about oil changes and belt replacements on oil-free models.
Like most portable compressors, twin-stack models are offered as oil-lubricated or oil-free. Oil-free twin stack compressors do not need to be maintained. If you are using an oil-lubricated pump, make sure to check the oil&#;if there is no oil to lubricate an oiled pump, the compressor will wear out sooner.
Air compressors with wheels are often classified by either having vertical or horizontal tanks. Wheeled compressors are available as either electric or gasoline-powered.
Unlike hand-carry compressors, these units have wheels because they are much heavier, so they need to be pushed or pulled to wherever they are needed.
Wheeled CompressorsVertical CompressorsHorizontal CompressorsWheelbarrow CompressorsUsersConsumers and hobbyistsProsumersContractorsCFM3-10 CFM2-27 CFM5-18 CFMMax PSI115-225 PSI120-180 PSI125-175 PSIHP1-4 HP1-14 HP1-14 HPPower SourceElectric Only (110-230v)
Electric (110-230v) or GasElectric (110-230v) or GasPortable vertical tank compressors are essentially the same as horizontal units below, just with a different tank orientation and electrical power. If you're debating between the two, your storage space should dictate which style you purchase.
If you're re-siding a home, building a deck, or framing an addition, a major benefit of the vertical orientation is eliminating the need to bend over to use the compressor.
A major difference between the horizontal and vertical air compressors is there are no gas-powered vertical models. If you need to work away from electricity and need significant CFM or PSI, horizontal portable compressors will likely be your best option.
Portable horizontal compressors are popular because they have more power than hand-carry units. In most cases, they are very similar, just with larger tanks and more costly components.
These single stage compressors are popular with carpenters because, with their large tanks, they don't need to run constantly to refill.
Horizontal compressors are also available as electric or gas-powered, so you'll need to decide ahead of time where you'll be using your compressor and how much CFM you need.
When you need durability and mobility, choosing a Wheelbarrow air compressor might be exactly what you need. With single or double wheels and sturdy handles, you can pull wheelbarrow compressors weighing upwards of 300 lbs through tough, uneven terrain.
Wheelbarrow compressors are designed for professional tradesmen on the job site. They are built with larger air tanks and heavy-duty materials so they can handle challenging conditions and withstand the normal rigors of a job site.
You can choose between gas-powered or electric-powered models, single or two-stage motors, and single and two-wheeled varieties. Some compressors even offer dual-air outlets to power two air tools simultaneously.
Mobile air compressors are as portable as the vehicle they're attached to. This category includes truck-mount, tow-behind, and DC compressors, each with unique applications and uses.
Truck-mount compressors can be found mounted on roadside service vehicles, and tow-behind compressors are often towed with construction trucks. DC compressors are designed to inflate punctured tires and power air tools on the go, making them perfect for off-roading in Jeeps and UTVs, or vehicles that use air-ride suspension.
Mobile CompressorsDC CompressorsTruck-Mount CompressorsTow-Behind CompressorsUsesOff-roading, air-ride suspension, semi-trucks, agricultural equipmentMobile contractor, farmer, and construction applications Industrial construction applicationsCFM0-8 CFM13-57 CFM90-790 CFMMax PSI100-200 PSI150-200 PSI100-150 PSIHP0.25-2 HP8-18 HP24-254 HPPower Source12-24vGas OnlyDiesel OnlyDC (direct current) air compressors open up new possibilities that gasoline or electrically-powered compressors can't offer by running on battery power instead. These types of compressors don't normally have air storage tanks, meaning they run constantly, and many models boast a 100% duty cycle rating (always running).
Because they are battery-powered with either 12-volt or 24-volt currents, you can use them virtually anywhere, including permanently-mounted on your jeep, ATV, semi-truck, or agricultural equipment. You'll even find these compressors being used for air-ride suspension applications on vehicles.
With a DC compressor, you can go off-roading with ease, knowing you don't need to rely on plug-in power to prevent your tires from going (too) flat on you up in the mountains. Also, on rocky tracks, you won't have to worry about spilling gasoline or losing the gas tank, either.
Truck-mounted air compressors deliver heavy power from an even heavier compressor, supplying CFM and PSI levels of a two-stage compressor. As such, these compressors need to be transported in the bed of a work truck. You'll get the power of a stationary compressor with the convenience of portability.
For professional contractors or hard-working farmers, these compressors offer amazing value on job sites or in remote places. Just remember to bring extra gasoline because they are gas-only and can't be powered by electricity.
Tow-behind air compressors are behemoths of compressed air power. Up to 120 HP and over 375 CFM, these 2-stage rotary-screw compressors rival industrial stationary compressors.
Too powerful and large to fit into the standard truck bed, most require a hitch and a sturdy set of wheels to transport them to the job site. However, some will fit into the beds of larger tractor-trailers and can even be purchased without the trailer (skid-mounted). Either way, with a compressor like this, sandblasting, graffiti removal, pavement breaking, post-pounding, and more have never been so simple.
Because of their size and horsepower, they can deliver as much consistent power as a 2-stage stationary compressor with the benefit of being out in the field. These professional compressors also come with options for extended warranties and cold-weather protection kits and are highway tow-able (up to 55 mph).
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Comair.
We know it can be difficult to choose the right type of portable air compressor, so we've created tools to help make the decision simple. What better way to discover the best portable air compressors than by hearing what our customers actually think?
Click the link below to view the best portable air compressors of the year, as voted by our air compressor experts and customers who have purchased, used, and reviewed their own compressors. Or, if you need more help, give us a call.
Best Portable Air CompressorsAir Compressor Buyer&#;s Guide Navigation
Published: 21/02/
Portable air compressors are incredibly useful machines that you can use for various applications. Whether you want a tiny model with a handle to carry between jobs or a durable and powerful truck-mounted machine that you can use anywhere, there&#;s a portable air compressor that will suit your needs.
This guide will cover what a portable air compressor is, what they are used for, what makes an air compressor portable, the benefits, and the many different types and models available.
A portable or mobile air compressor is a compressor that you can easily move and take wherever you need.
If you want more information about how these machines work, look at our complete air compressor guide.
Portable air compressors have a wide variety of uses across different industries.
There are many benefits of portable air compressors compared to stationary models.
For example, they:
If you are purchasing a portable air compressor, there are some crucial factors to consider to ensure it&#;s suitable for your needs.
PSI (Pounds per square inch) is the air pressure the air compressor delivers. The higher the PSI of the compressor, the more air you will have to power your air tools. To power most standard air tools, you will need around 150/200 PSI but check the exact PSI required by your devices before making a purchase. If it&#;s just going to be used to inflate tyres, you can get away with a lower PSI (50-100 PSI).
CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) measures the volume of air produced and delivered to your tools per minute. Similar to PSI, a higher CFM means more air to power pneumatic tools. Different tools will need different CFMs. For example, a pneumatic drill usually requires 3- 6 CFM, but an HVLP spray gun requires 12 CFM.
With PSI and CFM, it is best to overestimate the air you need. A helpful tip is to multiply the requirements of your largest tool by 1.5 and use that as the minimum requirement for your portable air compressor. This will ensure you always have enough air for your needs.
This refers to the time the machine can run before it needs a break to cool down. It also indicates how long the device will need to cool.
The duty cycle is measured in percentages. For example, a machine with a 20% duty cycle can only run for 2 minutes and then needs 8 minutes off. However, a machine with a 90% duty cycle can run for 9 minutes and then needs 1 minute off. A 100% duty cycle means it can run non-stop. Some high-performance models will shut off automatically when they reach a specific temperature.
It&#;s worth bearing in mind that a machine&#;s duty cycle refers to working at 100 PSI and a temperature of 72 degrees. So, higher temperatures will affect the time the machine can run.
In general, the higher the duty cycle, the more expensive the machine will be. The duty cycle that will be best for you depends on your budget and how you will use the machine.
When considering how portable an air compressor is, it&#;s useful to consider factors such as weight, size, and whether it has handles or wheels.
Portable air compressors will usually be smaller and lighter than standard air compressors. They are designed with smaller tank sizes and lightweight materials. However, it&#;s worth noting the machine&#;s weight and checking that you can comfortably carry it.
Many portable air compressors will come with handles so that you can carry them easily. Make sure you check that the handles are sturdy, secure, and grippy to make transporting the device easier.
Some larger portable air compressors come with wheels for transporting them. This means you can get a larger and more powerful compressor but still be able to wheel it between jobs or locations. However, this means they are often too heavy to carry around easily, so their mobility restricts how you can use them.
Portable air compressors usually come with a tank size of up to 100 litres. Tank size determines how long you can work before refilling the tank. So, it&#;s crucial to check that the tank size will be suitable for the type of jobs you want to do.
For domestic applications and small jobs, a small tank size of 24 litres is usually sufficient. However, for larger tasks, a larger tank will work better. It&#;s important you consider any tank larger than 24 litre will by rights require extensive HSE certification every year by a qualified inspector
If you&#;re still unsure about choosing the correct size, look at this guide on choosing the right air compressor size.
Most portable air compressors run off the mains power. These electric air compressors are ideal for indoor applications. They usually use the standard UK voltage of 230 volt, or some site machines can run on 110V for added safety
Some are even more portable and are powered by a petrol or diesel engine, which is great if you plan to use them in a location with no electricity. However, they should only be used outside or in a well-ventilated area. Smaller air inflators run off batteries or have a 12V cigarette lighter plug-in.
It&#;s also important to check the length of the power cord. Try to go for a long cable for easy and convenient use without needing an extension lead.
At Air Supply, we have decades of experience selling, servicing, and repairing a wide range of air compressors and equipment. We pride ourselves on being experts on compressed air!
Air Supply has one of the most extensive stocks of used air compressors in the UK for sale and hire. If you are looking to hire a portable air compressor, have a look at our 16cfm 220-volt portable hire compressor.
We also stock a wide range of new air compressors, including small portable models. One option is our small Absolute ultra-silent lubricated range. These portable air compressors are compact, lightweight and extremely quiet. Their 45 dB noise level is quieter than a normal conversation. They are available in standard configuration.
Or, if you are looking for a portable air compressor with optional accessories, check out our small Absolute oil-free class 0 range. These SILVER-LINE compressors offer a clean air supply for high-quality applications and come in different types and sizes to suit different needs.
If you&#;re still struggling to choose the right portable air compressor or aren&#;t sure exactly what you need, reach out to our friendly and trustworthy team, who will be happy to advise you. We love sharing our expertise and helping customers find exactly what they need!
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