Purchasing the Right Air Compressor
There are two things that you should look for when purchasing an industrial air compressor, reliability and durability. The air compressor that you purchase will need to be durable enough to handle tough tasks for an extended period of time, and reliable enough to perform tasks when you need it to perform. Most air compressors are capable of handling the high pressure demands of many commercial businesses. Additionally, some air compressors such as Husky are able to produce much more horsepower than others.
The Different Types
As should be expected from a company that serves industrial businesses, there are many different type of compressors available to customers. Each compressor type serves a different necessity and constraint.
- Portable Compressors - Portable air compressors are compact and highly mobile; the common tank size is around 30 gallons. These compressors find most of their usage in garages, households, and in applications where continuous airflow is not needed.
- Stationary Compressors - Stationary compressors are larger in size than portable compressors. The tank size of the stationary compressor varies between 60 and 80 gallons. These tanks are top-mounted and oriented vertically. Commercial entities such as automotive shops and manufacturing facilities typically find the greatest usage of stationary compressors. If needed, stationary compressors are available in an oil-lubricated piston type.
- Vertical/Horizontal Compressors - A customer’s decision between a vertical or horizontal compressor will depend on any space constraints that they have. These constraints can either be for storage or usage. When compared to each other, vertical compressors require less space than their horizontal counterparts.
- Oiled and Oil-less Compressors - Oil-lubricated compressors are very high performing and powerful. These compressors are durable and reliable enough to meet everyday usage demands, offering a 3,000 hour resource capacity. However, oil-lubricated compressors can only be used for 20 to 25 minutes at a time, and the oil level must be monitored. The oil is a special oil that must be replaced regularly.
- Oil-less compressors are lighter than oil-lubricated compressors. These compressors operate by using a sliding piston that has a low friction coefficient; eliminating the need for oil and oil changes. These compressors are best used when work is completed within short time frames, infrequently, as they can only be used for around 10 to 12 minutes at a time. Examples of tasks that will best be completed by an oil-less compressor include painting and pumping tires.
Before Buying Consider These
There are a few things that you will want to plan and think of before you purchase an air compressor. What do you need the compressor for? Do you need the compressor for air tools or will you need a compressor for painting? What are your space requirements? Will a horizontal compressor fit in your garage space? Asking yourself important questions such as these will help you decide between purchasing a portable compressor versus a vertical stationary compressor?
- Air Compressor Quality - Air compressors are made with high quality standards to serve various industrial facilities, with their greatest service being for usage on air-powered tools. However, some compressors do have their limits and should not be used for an extended period of time. {' '}
- Air Compressor CFM - Air compressors are available with different cubic feet per minute, or CFM, ratings. Compressors with higher CFM numbers will provide a higher output for a lesser amount of time. The CFM rating that you will want to choose will depend on the application that you will be using the air compressor for; check the rating before purchasing.
- The Power Source - Compressors are either gasoline-powered or electric-powered. Compared to electric-powered air compressors, gasoline-powered compressors are usually more powerful. However, there are different expenses that are required with gasoline-powered compressors; balance your expenses with the usage before you make your decision.
- Prices - The prices for air compressors vary based on the tank size, installed features, and model of the compressor. Prices can be as low as $120, for a small 3 gallon tank, to as high as $2000, for a large 80 gallon oil-lubricated two-stage electric air compressor.
We offer air compressors in a variety of shapes, sizes, and features. Your choice of compressor will depend on your needs and your constraints. Each compressor is built tough and built to last. {' '}