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Portable air compressors and tools

5K views 7 replies 5 participants last post by  SteedGun 
#1 ·
Would like to get a portable compressor that will work well with 35" tires (someday). Is it worth $900 for arb compressor with tank? Will it really run good pneumatic tools? I don't have any decent power tools and no air compressor home or portable.

Is this a good compromise or better off with one for home and one for vehicle?
 
#2 ·
That small of a tank would be good for about 2 lug nuts with a decent impact driver. Forget a sander or DA. You need a much larger compressor for home use. I have an 80 gallon tank with a Quincy head and a GE 3.5 horse motor, 100% duty. I put it together from parts and I still run out of air painting or sand blasting. I have about $350 in my compressor. For $900 you can get a good home compressor if you have 220 volts at your home. I plan on putting together a system for our Jeep. I have a tank from a small Campbell Hausfield Compressor that fits next to the driveshaft.
 
#3 ·
As with most things in life, the two specialized tools will each be much better than one that does both.

A compressor good enough (with a large enough tank) to run air tools will absolutely not be very portable. I have lots of different size compressors, from my venerable "two horse twenty" 1984 compressor (college graduation present!) under my garage workbench, to a couple Porter Cable 2-gallon pancakes, to a ViAir (can't remember number, the one that's just under $200 at Amazon), to some of the little under-fifty-dollar beachball plug-ins.

The Viair is the best option for a portable that goes in your car and runs off DC. It's well packaged, relatively light but heavy-duty enough for four Jeep tires. The Porter Cable is the smallest one you can run tools off of, and could be considered portable, but runs off AC and takes up a lot of space and is pretty darn heavy.
 
#6 ·
I have this one in my Jeep and love this tool. Glad I spent the extra money to get the 400P vs the 300P. This one is very portable and has a very good air gauge and trigger. I have used this on several occasions now to save family and neighbors.

Amazon.com: VIAIR 400P Portable Compressor: Automotive
Yeah, the 400p, that's the one I have. Well worth the extra dosh over the 300, unless the extra cost is a hardship.
 
#7 ·
Thanks everyone for the replies! I can either go expensive with one, midrange with one or cheap with two. I think it will be the VIAIR. Have to think about it some more. $500 is a lot of money to not run power tools. I can't see modding the engine to run an Air conditioning compressor as an air compressor only until the warranty is less valuable (lifetime :).
 
#8 ·
I have the Viair 400P in the Jeep and a small compressor in my garage to run my power tools. When I am using the tools in the garage the compressor does run a lot but it works fine and I did not spend more then $ 200 for the one in the garage. That makes the total kit of two compressors around $ 400 for my use. I am sure I will burn up the garage compressor in time but it works great for now.
 
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