From Q I need to buy an air compressor for my home woodworking shop. Could you give me some hints on the minimum airflow, power and tank capacity?
A While it’s tempting to go out and buy some big plowhorse of a compressor, the fact is that most shops can get by with a 1- to 2-hp unit. That’s because most of us only use them to run trim nail guns and blow dust off projects. Smaller compressors are cheaper and don’t require 240-volt circuits.
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But if you plan to use paint sprayers or rotary tools like an orbital sander, then size the compressor to the tool that requires the highest volume of air. You’ll find the specifications printed somewhere on the tool or in the accompanying literature (yes, the booklet you tucked away somewhere when you first unpacked the tool). Determine the tool’s working pressure (pounds per square inch, or psi) and air usage requirements (standard cubic feet per minute, or scfm). Choose a compressor that’ll provide at least 1.2 times these specifications.
Finally, consider investing in an oil-lubricated one. It’ll last longer and be much quieter than the oilless compressors.