decisions decisions, air compressor garage vs portable

[hinmo24t]

thinking of getting an air compressor for my garage, or something to tote around when i go offroad. i have a full size spare and hilift and wheel often times just 10 mins from my house, making me lean the tank/garage route. do the air compressors like bostitch or porta cable deal with deflating tires efficient or is it best to get some separate devices for that? i have a BJs wholesale with free air close to me too that ive used to air up and down, but thinking the garage setup would be nice. not looking to go air tools in future, probably get into cordless impacts instead.

thanks for suggestions

 

[TodiN]

Hehehe, both if you can afford it.

 

[hinmo24t]

Hehehe, both if you can afford it.

good point considering the portables ones can be had for like $30

 

[Bumbo]

I would say both...

I use portables primarily for tire fill. I have a Viair 400P and a 88P, both live in different vehicles.

In the garage I have a basic 20 gallon compressor which I use for air tools, tire fill, and just compressed air for dusting things off which tends to be surprisingly useful depending on what you do. I plumbed my garage and have the compressor in a closet, and have a retractable reel which makes use very convenient. It’s usually always pressurized as well.

 

[hinmo24t]

I would say both...

I use portables primarily for tire fill. I have a Viair 400P and a 88P, both live in different vehicles.

In the garage I have a basic 20 gallon compressor which I use for air tools, tire fill, and just compressed air for dusting things off which tends to be surprisingly useful depending on what you do. I plumbed my garage and have the compressor in a closet, and have a retractable reel which makes use very convenient. It’s usually always pressurized as well.

thanks for the insight...

 

[AuSeeker]

Just an FYI for a garage compressor I would get a compressor with the highest CFMs (air flow is rated in Cubic Feet per Minute)and largest tank you can afford, I know you say you're not considering air tools in your garage BUT there are many air tools beside impacts that will be very useful when working on your T4R or any other vehicle, air chisel for cutting bolt loosening rusted parts, etc., needle scaler for rust removal, die grinder for fine detailing/shaping metal parts, nail guns and staplers if you do some woodworking and there are many others as well, most of these use a lot of CFMs with the exception of the nail guns unless you shoot a lot of nails and a compressor with low CFMs will not keep up with using them effectively, also when using compressed air for blowing dirt and debris out of nooks, crannies, cracks and tight places the more CFMs you have the better for less wear and tear on the compressor or it will be running continuously and it will shorten it's life, the same it true with the aforementioned air tools.

I would say a compressor of no less than 6 CFMs but the more the merrier.

 

[Inv4drZm]

With everything I've done to my truck I've gotten by with electric power tools. Never had a compressor in my garage other than the ARB twin in my truck. Just bought a Makita die grinder, should be pretty slick.

 

[81runner]

Just an FYI for a garage compressor I would get a compressor with the highest CFMs (air flow is rated in Cubic Feet per Minute)and largest tank you can afford, I know you say you're not considering air tools in your garage BUT there are many air tools beside impacts that will be very useful when working on your T4R or any other vehicle, air chisel for cutting bolt loosening rusted parts, etc., needle scaler for rust removal, die grinder for fine detailing/shaping metal parts, nail guns and staplers if you do some woodworking and there are many others as well, most of these use a lot of CFMs with the exception of the nail guns unless you shoot a lot of nails and a compressor with low CFMs will not keep up with using them effectively, also when using compressed air for blowing dirt and debris out of nooks, crannies, cracks and tight places the more CFMs you have the better for less wear and tear on the compressor or it will be running continuously and it will shorten it's life, the same it true with the aforementioned air tools.

I would say a compressor of no less than 6 CFMs but the more the merrier.

As a compressor mechanic of 15 years, I would add to this, make sure if you buy a home unit, it's belt driven and oil lubricated. The direct drive units are JUNK. If it's an oil free unit, then it has an aluminum cylinder and a carbon piston ring. Can't handle much in the way of heat, and they fail pretty quickly. I have a 20 gal belt driven unit, 2hp from the 80s, rebuilt about 13 years ago. It puts out about 8 cfm, which is plenty for just about anything you'd ever plan to do in a garage. I have an MV 50 mounted in the runner, plumbed to a 2 gallon tank so I can charge it to 120 psi while I'm on the trail, and be fully inflated within 20 minutes.

 

[Terminator03]

Just an FYI for a garage compressor I would get a compressor with the highest CFMs (air flow is rated in Cubic Feet per Minute)and largest tank you can afford, I know you say you're not considering air tools in your garage BUT there are many air tools beside impacts that will be very useful when working on your T4R or any other vehicle, air chisel for cutting bolt loosening rusted parts, etc., needle scaler for rust removal, die grinder for fine detailing/shaping metal parts, nail guns and staplers if you do some woodworking and there are many others as well, most of these use a lot of CFMs with the exception of the nail guns unless you shoot a lot of nails and a compressor with low CFMs will not keep up with using them effectively, also when using compressed air for blowing dirt and debris out of nooks, crannies, cracks and tight places the more CFMs you have the better for less wear and tear on the compressor or it will be running continuously and it will shorten it's life, the same it true with the aforementioned air tools.

I would say a compressor of no less than 6 CFMs but the more the merrier.

Excellent points! Don’t forget a sandblaster too... those use a lot of air!