I'm in the market for an affordable compressor and can't decide on either brand or size. I'd like to stay under $300. Can I get by with a 6 gallon or should I get something more like a 20? I think I'll want 135-150psi minimum in order to drive a framing gun and air tools. It will NOT be used heavily. Tire-airing, cleaning, occasional trim/framing work, not sure what else going forward.

Thoughts?

Do not cheap-out. I have a three cylinder with cast iron heads running strong after 20+ years. Just drain the tank religiously. You will probably have to settle for 125 psi but that is plenty. Get a nice big tank too.

I probably win the largest compressor in the neighborhood contest, so not the right person to ask. As Cast said, big tank = volume. Many people confuse pressure and volume. You'll pretty much always get the pressure from any size compressor, but not having enough volume will have you waiting on your compressor to catch up which blows and not in a good way.

Nailer, no problem with small tanks. Sanding, blasting, impact gun, etc. it's no bueno. If all you do is what you have above, even a pancake style would suffice. I love my compressor and my Plasma Cutter.

Charlie

When I was framing homes had 3 framing guns going had 20 gal. Tank. If you plan on any type air tools 20 gal not big enough. If you just working around house the pancake works fine. Pancake easy to move around the 20 on wheels or in cart/wagon easy also. No paint gun either.

Like said.... dont confuse pressure with volume. Look at the tools you wish to power. They will have pressure and crm requirements . Buy a bout twice the crm you need. That way, your compressor will will cycle off about 50% of the time your using it.

But for around house use... I use my 5HP 30 gallon and about 150 feet of hose. Dont move compressor often.

this has been a great one for about 3 yrs now, airs tractor tires and will run a paint gun/air tool/nail guns all day with minimal starts.

has the high pressure too.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-30-Gal-155-PSI-Ultra-Quiet-Portable-Electric-Air-Compressor-C302H/206695048?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CBase%7CPB%7C25-28_COMPRESSORS_AND_AIR_TOOL%7CHusky%7CBT3%7CBrand%7CAirTools%7CLIA%7c71700000045008692%7c58700004650922073%7c92700039927177435&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq7SMjujx4gIVhrfACh0CswX5EAQYBiABEgJ2E_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have something similar to this in my shop at work as a backup for when our big screw compressor is down.

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the recommendations and information.

Ingersoll Rand


And for the love of God, do not get an oiless!

Loud as dump truck driving through a nitroglycerin plant.

Oiless run hot. If you exceed 50% run time, the rings scar the cylinders. Rebuild is easy if you can get thd part. At lest based on my experience.

I realize I should know this...is it ok to leave your compressor always on and pressurized vs. draining the tank? Will it rust?

I leave mine on a lot, unintentionally though. As long as you don’t have a leak it will be fine. But that has nothing to do with draining the tank. Still have to do that.

Timed tank drain is less than $30, have one on mine. Funny compressor story, we moved a couple years ago and I hired a moving company to help me move mine. I knew I was in big trouble when I warned them how heavy/top heavy it was and the crew foreman asked me if I had "let all the air out of it" as that would make it lighter. They were not successful in getting it moved.

Charlie

Previous house, mine was in a closet. I used it several times a week. Had a quarter turn valve inline on wall. Valve it off when not useing. It was on and charged for about at least ten years. I sold the house and gave to a neighbor.

He may have wanted to make sure all the pressure was out so when they dropped it and broke the pump or a line that it wouldn’t blow up and kill them....

Very nice movie quote sir!

This!

Third this.

Although I've got a Craftsman oil less that's almost 20 years old that has seen many a backyard on a summer day, running multiple nail guns and impact drivers building fences and decks. It just won't die. But, that was back when Craftsman built things to last. It still runs, but all activity in the garage stops when it cycles.

Most of my air tools have been replaced by cordless tools now, so it doesn't see much use. When it finally goes, I'll give it a viking funeral for its years of dedicated service, and go pick up a small oil less to replace it. A framing nailer doesn't need a huge capacity, and about the only other thing I use it for is airing tires or blowing out the garage any more.

as a contractor i could get about 1 year or little more out of cheap 100 dollar unit from harbor freight, thats running it 5 days a week powering 2 nail guns and trim guns . works fine for an impact and airing tires, if your gonna use sanders or paint gun your going to have to get in to 100 gallon tanks or bigger. all the low budget compressors are made in china . for what you need i think youll be fine with a cheap unit from harbor freight, i have had both oil less and oil filled and got about a year out of both, in my business a 100 doller tool that lasts a year is good, thats all i can get out of a dewalt or millwakee circular saw as well.
this is one ive been using, like i said about a year, year and a half with everyday use. i have one in the shed here at home thats about 4 years old. its a little noisy though.
https://www.harborfreight.com/air-t...i-professional-air-compressor-68149.html
I have a belt driven , oil filled, 40 gallon one in my garage thats about 20 years old, its an old craftseman