Recommendations On Shop Air Compressors For Air Tools

[vidospace]

Can anyone recommend a decent air compressor for medium duty mechanical work? I need something with torque decent enough to undo "never removed before" suspension bolts with a rattle gun.

[mad082]

get something with about a 4hp pump on it.

at the end of the day though, even a small 2hp compressor will put out the same amount of power to the actual tool though as it is the pressure that determines how well the tool works, and 100psi from a $100 compressor is going to be the same as 100psi from a $1000 compressor.

all that varies with the better compressors is how much air they can deliver when the compressor is actually running, meaning that if you have something that uses a lot of air and you need to use it for long periods of time (like a spray gun were it will be used for a few mins at a time rather than a few seconds) the bigger compressor can supply the required amount of air.

[mad082]

oh and you will find that a breaker bar will be better for initally cracking the nuts/bolts and the using the rattle gun from there.

also the quality of the rattle gun makes a big difference. cheaper ones waste air while better ones will have a higher torque rating and won't waste as much air.

[Duncan]

also consider the good electric rattle guns for light work.

[vidospace]

Thanks guys, yeah all above makes sense. I would have gone for a eletric rattle gun but I am after an "all in one" solution to my future tool purchases. Also very handy for filling tyres etc.