Access your inner handyperson with the joy of air compressors

Air compressors have a huge variety of uses, and for each set of uses, there’s an appropriate compressor.

The right air compressor can set your spirit free and allow you to achieve handyperson nirvana. Air compressors have a huge variety of uses, and for each set of uses, there’s an appropriate compressor. The main determining factor in choosing air compressors is the amount of power the object has, often measured in CFM, or cubic feet per minute. This is just as it sounds – it’s the number of cubic feet of air the machine pumps out per minute, and the higher the CFM value, the higher the volumetric flow of air from the device.

Obviously, the more air that’s being pushed out of the machine, the more powerful it is and the more force it can generate. This is why air compressors can do everything from blowing dust off your clothes to running a pneumatic jackhammer.

There are two main types of air compressors available to you. Piston air compressors use a motor to build up air inside a tank chamber and release it all at once when you open the valve. Portable air compressors don’t have such tanks, so when they’re on, the air flows continuously. Obviously, if you’re planning on moving around a lot and require a lot of flexibility and portability, you might want to look into a portable compressor, whereas for jobs that can take place all in one spot, look into a piston air compressor. Within the two types, there are many sizes, each best for different needs.

Let’s start with small compressors, with under 2 CFM ratings. Small, cheaply priced air compressors, while accessible and portable, have a limited number of uses, and won’t last as long as larger, more powerful compressors. For instance, they can fill tires, but it will take a relatively long time to do. You can also use a small compressor to run a trim nailer or similar small nailing device.

For larger applications, you’ll need a compressor with up to four to five CFM power levels. They can reliably do smaller tasks, and also run larger machines like framing nailers, paint sprayers, caulk guns and the like. Such a compressor is also very resilient and will last for many years, even decades. Once you get into really serious applications like impact wrenches and ratchet wrenches, you might need something that’s even more powerful.