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What You Need to Know Before Buying an Air Compressor?

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need to know before buying Air Compressor

If your toolkit doesn’t possess the right kind of tools alongside a perfect air compressor, then your productivity level can decrease immensely. The reason for this failure is that you will take a lot of time to execute the work since you don’t have the ideal toolkit and most importantly, you don’t have the right air compressor.

Actually, an efficient air compressor will save you a lot of time and thus, will give you the much-needed safety while working. It’s an asset that can boost your productivity level as well.

I have identified the different types of air compressors along with some significant facts and features of a good air compressor. So, let’s have a look with me.

Rotary and Reciprocating Air Compressors

Rotary and reciprocating air compressors are the two common types of air compressors. Below, I have discussed these two air compressors in a brief manner:

  • Reciprocating air compressors are the most common compressors on the market that have a straightforward piston oriented design. Additionally, this unique design makes it easy-to-manufacture and it will save a lot of time as well. The piston will help you raise the pressure and ultimately, help you store it in a tank.
  • Furthermore, the rotary compressors work in a diverse way and it’s a bit more complex than the other compressors. Usually, the pressure is created by two helical screws that spin within in a conserved chamber. Moreover, the bigger the compressors will be, the higher the output you will get. So, if the size is determining factor for you, then go with a reciprocating air compressor.

Performance (Duty Cycle)

Rotary compressors are well-suited to spray painting where you need to run the compressors continuously. In stark contrast, the reciprocal compressors work best as an air tool because you have to use the pressure less and often in tiny bursts.

So, if you compare their duty cycle, you will see that rotary compressors will be 100% duty cycle whereas the reciprocal compressors show only 50% duty cycle. That means they need rest to build new pressure at a rate of 50%.

Power Choices

The most obvious power choices for running the air compressors are either the electricity or the diesel. However, to decide which power source is the best option, you need to analyze the environment wherein the air compressor will operate.

  • In most cases, the diesel run compressors work better for an extended period of time and the output of these compressors are great in stature as well. Besides, they are portable and all these things make them a popular choice in the construction industry. Nevertheless, you need to ensure proper ventilation system that will limit their external application though you might find diesel fuel in the remotest location.
  • Electrically run air compressors are usually indoor compressors that are tailor-made for permanent installations. Basically, these air compressors are small in size, but can be found in large sizes. The smaller units are used in powering the hand tools, as well as other individual applications. Additionally, they are portable and light in design, but their use is restricted due to the scarce electrical power outlets.

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Noise Factor and Portability

If you are working with a big air compressor, then the noise will be big as well. So, the smaller reciprocal air compressors will not produce big noises as they work on a duty cycle of 50%.

In contrary to these compressors, the diesel run compressors in the construction site will generate heavy noises and you need to analyze the environmental aspect to avoid any noise pollution. However, the permanently installed air compressors will need an out-and-out plant room that has acoustic sound controls.

Essentially, you can easily put the smaller reciprocal air compressors into the back of your vehicle. But, the larger diesel-run units must be fitted with the towing rig and they are heavy to tow as well. So, you might need a big vehicle for these kinds of air compressors.

You can take a look at the list of the quietest air compressors that we have reviewed.

PSI or Pounds Per Square Inch

This is a universal rating method that is used to gauge the amount of pressure produced (Europe uses a unit called bars). Generally, the compressor is used to evaluate the optimal pressure load of equipment and it will further, analyze whether the equipment is in need of continued or intermittent pressure flow.

Additionally, most of the hand tools necessitate 90PSI and in that case, you need to pick a compressor that has a 110PSI shut-off limit. This will permit the line leakage and you will get more pressure if you use the tools that are attached to the air compressors.

Conclusion

To sum up the article, I would like to say that you need to match your tool kit according to your air compressor. It doesn’t matter if it’s big or small air compressor because as long as you have the perfect blend of tools and an air compressor, you might end up being on the winning side. So, buy a quality compressor and be safe.

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