HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT AIR COMPRESSOR
EASY SELECTION ICONS
An air compressor is a truly multi-purpose tool. Depending on the tool attached, a compressor can be used for:
Drilling, Tightening and loosening fasteners, Inflating everything from footballs to tyres, Painting, Sanding/Scraping, Cutting/Grinding, Chiselling and Nailing/Fastening.
With such a wide range of possibilities, it is understandable that choosing the right compressor can be a tricky task. To clear the air, we’ve labelled all of our air tools and compressors so you can easily find the right compressor just by looking at the box. To discover just how easy we’ve made it, check out this short video.
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING AN AIR COMPRESSOR
If you want to get into the nitty, gritty, granular details of air compressors, we’ve compiled a list of common details and terminology that you’re likely to come across when choosing your tool.
POWER
HP is simply a reference to horsepower; this tells you the amount of work the engine of your compressor can handle. It’s nice to know but for most household applications, this won’t be an important factor in the performance of your tool.
TANK VOLUME
The capacity of your air compressor is the volume of air that can fit inside the tank. A larger litreage tank generally means you will be able to use the air compressor for longer without it having to charge up again with air, however this depends on how fast the air flows out of the tank.
PRESSURE
The air pressure of your tool is measured in PSI. If you’re looking to run a heavy duty tool or application that requires high pressure, this is where you need to pay attention to ensure the PSI of your compressor is compatible with the PSI rating of the tool you’ll be using.
AIR DELIVERY / FLOW RATE
The flow rate refers to how quickly your little (or big) air compressor can pump air out. Australian air compressors will be measured in L/min (or litres per minute), the higher your L/min, the more air you’ll be able to put out. It is important to match this with your chosen tools requirements.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRESSURE AND FLOW RATE
A simple way to understand the difference between pressure (PSI) and flow rate (L/min) is to think of pressure as strength and capacity as endurance. Your PSI measures how forceful your air is in a short burst of air and is able to build up to, while your flow rate measures how much air is available continuously.
TIPS FOR USING YOUR AIR COMPRESSOR
NO EXTENSIONS
When using your air compressor, it is recommended you avoid using extension leads. In cases where you need longer reach on your tool, you are better off sourcing a longer air hose.
RESPECT THE CYCLE
Try not to use the air tool when the pump on your compressor is operating. Waiting for the pump to stop helps ensure your compressor completes its recommended cycle.
MATCH YOUR TOOL TO THE COMPRESSOR
Decide what tools you want to have and in use then look at the tools requirements for PSI and or L/min, then establish if the air compressor can produce what the tool needs.
TIPS FOR MAINTAINING YOUR AIR COMPRESSOR
To help get the best performance from your machine remember to read the manual and clean condensation from the tank and air filter as required.