which air compressor and impact wrench?

[judoant]

I want an air compressor for an impact wrench, gun, nailers, ect, not all at the same time. What do you guys run? I just want it for my home garage for occasional projects. I would like it to be portable and be able to break loose rusty bolts.

I was looking at a craftsman combo compressor and tools for $315 but some of the more recent reviews are not good saying it can not run the gun.

http://m.sears.com/craftsman-26-gallon-air-compressor-with-impact-wrench/p-00916471000P

 

[Ezlife45]

I went through much of the same stuff a few years ago. When I was single and had a little more funds available, I "WANTED" an Ingersoll-Rand two stage compressor. I let coworkers talk me out of a two stage and I bought their single stage compressor. At the time I bought a cheapie impact wrench and I didn't think my compressor was good enough. Then I had a little more money and I gave my dad the single stage compressor. I finally bought my two stage compressor but at the same time I bought a good impact wrench.

As it turns out, the single stage comp was more than enough for the work I wanted to do. The work was night and day between a 300 ft-lb impact and a 600 ft-lb impact. If you can afford a big impact that's where you will spend the best money. When selecting your compressor, the bigger air tank you get the better you'll be. If you really need a small portable compressor you can manage but it will be better with a larger tank. Even though most good impacts will require more air than that compressor can put out, you won't be running it continuously so your compressor will have time to catch up.

Looking back I can't see the specs for the impact but if you can swing the funds, go for a slightly larger compressor and get a better impact wrench with at least 600 ft-lbs of torque. It appears the torque wrench in the package may only have about 400 ft-lbs.
Ideally you would get a good impact - look at the air requirements at 90 psi, then get a compressor that provides more air than that. If you get a compressor that does not provide as much air as your tool requires simply means you cannot run that air tool continuously so you will need to stop from time to time so the compressor can catch up. Doesn't mean it won't work. Heck, I've used my I/R impact wrench on a pancake compressor with a 2 gallon tank, you just can't let it rip for 5 minutes at a time.

 

[slapdappy]

maybe this, because oil lubricated and high user ratings. You can buy an auxiliary tank for times you need more volume. Oil ones are best because they run better and last longer, I think.
Hitachi 4 gal. 1.35 HP Twin Stack Air Compressor with 8 oz. Synthetic Oil-EC89 at The Home Depot

edit: re Shootmymime's advice below, this Hitachi is described as having a "Cast iron, oil lubricated pump".

p.s. Craftsman has become mostly junky chinese crap, especially stuff with moving parts like torque wrenches and compressors. I hate breaking one of my socket ratchets because the replacement's inners feel and sound cheap and junky.

 

[BettysNephew]

I would suggest getting one with a cast iron pump, they last far longer than the lighter weight stuff. A larger tank is also a good suggestion if you are going to do pit stop type tire changes, but I have found I have the time to wait for the compressor to catch up for my uses. Do not even consider buying a spray gun unless you have a two stage, a huge tank and some serious water vapor removal equipment. You will not be happy with the results.

 

[shootmymime]

no no no, dont get one that has an encased plastic shield. get a cast iron air pump run off a pulley belt and separate electric motor.

i got this compressor, its a tough more but trust me, it will last a whole lot longer being a cast iron pump.


Husky 30 gal. Cast Iron Portable Electric Air Compressor-VT6315 at The Home Depot

 

[fteofbeary]

I finally bought my two stage compressor but at the same time I bought a good impact wrench.

 

[TechWrench]

While I agree that a good gun is the better way to go, if your compressor isn't able to provide the PSI output that the tool needs, the tool will never operate to its rated levels. The maximum PSI rating of the compressor is not the same as the CFM output or recovery time, all important elements for a good compressor. Most air guns will only reach their maximum foot lbs. rating at PSI supply that is higher than portable compressors are capable of providing. If you want a high power gun to work right, you need a high power compressor.

 

[fourwd1]

Moved to OT.

 

[Ezlife45]

no no no, dont get one that has an encased plastic shield. get a cast iron air pump run off a pulley belt and separate electric motor.

i got this compressor, its a tough more but trust me, it will last a whole lot longer being a cast iron pump.


Husky 30 gal. Cast Iron Portable Electric Air Compressor-VT6315 at The Home Depot

For the price this seems like a fairly decent compressor. Still portable but decent air flow. My single stage comp wasn't too much more, but it's not portable. Has slightly more capacity but also has a 60 gallon tank.

 

[LittleCaesar]

What is your top dollar to spend? Personally I'd opt for a compressor that put out at least 5 cfm at 90 psi to really get the most out of your gun. Put at least 60% of your budget towards the compressor, cast iron preferably.

Here is one suggestion:
FREE SHIPPING — Ingersoll Rand Garage Mate Air Compressor — 2 HP, 5.2 CFM, Model# P1.5IU-A9 | 2 - 9 CFM Air Compressors| Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[Ask10]

I can only add what I did, but it was cheap and worked well for me. I was opening an autoshop at the time.

I was going to try and drop $600-800 on a "good" big compressor, but then was advised to buy two smaller compressors if I needed to depend on simply having air. So, I bought of this compressor on recommendation from a fellow shop "associate?" because it had a cast iron pump and a was serviceable with oil. Nothing like the sealed crap which the Craftsman stuff was. I used it daily for around a year, mostly with an impact and spray gun (with appropriate moisture filters of course).

Only $400 total for BOTH (at the time of purchase), and actually, both never gave any trouble except I had to replace the output coupler on both. Cheap and only a few hours of tweaking. Both compressors ran a treat and never let me down with heavy use.

21 gal. 2.5 HP 125 PSI Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor

I bought this impact wrench and have had no problems with it for that same year. I gave it away 2 years ago and it's still being used by my friend who works in a shop on weekends.

1/2 in. Professional Air Impact Wrench

So, I'd go "cheap" if it's for home projects. Worst that you have to do is wait a little bit here and there for a small tank to recharge, but a second air tank is very cheap.

 

[UnderFire]

I will never buy anything but an Ingersoll Rand Titanium series gun, my Dad has a lot of 1/2" guns, but nothing can touch his 10+ year old IR Titanium, we use it for literally everything while the Matco, craftsman and cheaper IR guns sit in the drawer. It's not cheap, but it will be the only gun you'll ever need.

 

[iBison]

Just throwing this out there. I bought my son a Milwaukee battery operated unit as kind of a payment for working on my cars. Actually got him the dril/small impact then the 1/2 inch. He loves the hell out of that thing, great for the shop and great for taking to the junkyard or a friends. Not as much power as some air units, but it handles most stuff he does.

 

[judoant]

I can only add what I did, but it was cheap and worked well for me. I was opening an autoshop at the time.

I was going to try and drop $600-800 on a "good" big compressor, but then was advised to buy two smaller compressors if I needed to depend on simply having air. So, I bought of this compressor on recommendation from a fellow shop "associate?" because it had a cast iron pump and a was serviceable with oil. Nothing like the sealed crap which the Craftsman stuff was. I used it daily for around a year, mostly with an impact and spray gun (with appropriate moisture filters of course).

Only $400 total for BOTH (at the time of purchase), and actually, both never gave any trouble except I had to replace the output coupler on both. Cheap and only a few hours of tweaking. Both compressors ran a treat and never let me down with heavy use.

21 gal. 2.5 HP 125 PSI Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor

I bought this impact wrench and have had no problems with it for that same year. I gave it away 2 years ago and it's still being used by my friend who works in a shop on weekends.

1/2 in. Professional Air Impact Wrench

So, I'd go "cheap" if it's for home projects. Worst that you have to do is wait a little bit here and there for a small tank to recharge, but a second air tank is very cheap.

This looks about what my budget is. Under $500 for tank and gun. This is just for the home garage occasional job.