![]() ![]() (note: I like I-R stuff, I'm not picking on them. The average air consumption is only 4.2 cfm at 90 psi.īut under load (actually being used), this impact wrench is sucking air at 22 cfm! Let's look at a 1/2" impact wrench, the Ingersol_Rand 231 So if the tool says it 'uses' 5 cfm on a 15% duty cycle, that actually means that the tool is using more than 20 cfm of air. (note: a LOT of air tools list the cfm 'needs' of the air tool based on a duty cycle or usage time of only 15%. If you want to actually figure out how much air you 'need', pick your air tool of choice and look up what cfm it uses. Which means you have to wait for the tank to refill. After a few seconds though, the air in the tank is 'gone' and now you are at the air-flow mercy of the compressor pump. Most any air compressor with a tank greater than 10 gallons or so will let you run a 'burst' of air to run that impact wrench or ratchet for a few seconds (because it is using the air already in the tank). Want to run an air impact or air ratchet for a few (single digit) seconds? Just want to air up some tires and don't really care how long it takes or how noisy the compressor is?Īlmost any air compressor will be 'enough'. So if you want or need to use air tool(s), accept all that inefficiency and make sure you have 'enough' compressor to supply 'enough' air (cfm) at the needed delivery pressure for the tool(s) to work. Then you take that compressed air, run it through some (often) overly long and too narrow hose and some restrictive fittings and try and turn the potential energy stored in that compressed air back into mechanical energy in an air tool (more losses). Losses in the electric motor and losses in the compressor pump. I have and use several.įirst you are taking electricity (usually) and turning that into compressed air. Go bigger or go home? that is one that I don't apply to air compressorsĪir tools are (or can be) rather handy. Take care of these units, and they will usually serve you well. Still depend on it for air nozzle use and airing up tires out in the tractor shed. I still have the 1/2 hp portable that I bought new in 1969. Expensive unit that many Members could not justify owning, The smaller portable units are more than adequate for these Members. My shop compressor is 5hp, 80 gallon, set at 175psi. Bottom line is that I value and trust some of those units enough to justify keeping them around. But airing up the steering tire on a semi truck to 110 psi requires more pressure. otherwise, it will remain set at 100psi shutoff. I can increase the pressure to 125psi with the dedicated 240 volt circuit, and unloader valve, if-when needed. It cost Me $60 for the used tank, and $17 for a longer belt. So, for a backup to my main shop compressor, the motor and compressor pump from the portable that I bought new in 1975 are still ready to work when needed. This old pump is designed to be plumbed with or without an unloader valve, and I have the unloader valve that originally came with the 60 gallon tank. I looked up the specs on that single stage, two cylinder cast iron pump, to see if it was used on some compressors rated at 125psi it was, but with a larger motor. ( well within the 135psi working, 155psi max ratings on the 60 gallon tank). I have chosen to retain the 80psi and 100psi pressure switch settings, but for curiosity=experiment did try increasing the settings to 105psi on and 125psi off. The motor and compressor pump were transferred to this tank, fitted with a new drive belt, and rewired for 240volt on a dedicated circuit. When it was about 30 years old, the tank developed a pin hole leak, so it remained unused for a few years till I found a used 60 gallon tank on Craig's List. Jeff: I bought a similar 1 1/2 hp, 120volt Campbell Hausfeld compressor back in 1975 for similar purposes.
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