We’ve chosen ten different air compressors to review for you to help you find the best one for impact wrenches. The Campbell Hausfeld FP209499AV Air Compressor is our pick for the best overall air compressor for impact wrenches. The PORTER-CABLE C2002 Air Compressor is our pick as the best air compressor for impact wrenches for the money.
After going through hundreds of reviews and pitting multiple devices against each other, we have come up with a list of the 10 best air compressors. The device comes with a 5.2-gallon tank capacity, which is enough for ½-inch impact wrenches. Next up is a device that can run multiple impact wrenches all at once.
Even the best air impact wrench is pretty much useless without the appropriate air compressor. To help you pick the best air compressor for your impact wrench, we have curated 6 of the best air compressors we could find out there. Impact wrenches require significantly less compressed air compared to some other air tools out there, so make sure your compressor is capable of running all air tools in your arsenal.
You will need other tools in addition to an air impact wrench when you work on your vehicle, including impact sockets, an air compressor, and a retractable air hose. The more blows or impacts per minute, the faster the air impact wrench will tighten screws or loosen nuts and bolts. “Our pick for the best air impact wrench is the Ingersoll Rand 1/2” Quiet Titanium Air Impact Wrench.
The best air impact wrenches are able to put out more torque than you might think, so the drive mechanism cannot be poorly manufactured. These top rated air impact wrenches were chosen to meet those requirements, and have some additional benefits of their own. Obviously, you’ll need a set of impact sockets a good enough air compressor for impact wrench use and something like a Goodyear air hose which can put up with a lot of “Dirty floor” abuse.
You’ve already read about various great air compressors for air impact wrenches, but you haven’t heard about my personal favorite, the CRAFTSMAN air compressor. Wheels: No. If you need a dependable air compressor for your air impact wrench, I recommend the Makita MAC2400 air compressor. If you don’t want to waste weeks of your life going around trying different air compressors, I’d recommend you read the following section of the post, where I’ll go over all of the qualities I believe the best air compressor for air impact wrench must-have.
When it comes to operating an impact wrench, many professional enthusiasts suggest using at least a 6-gallon air compressor with 4CFM. Choosing a lower-capacity air compressor can give you trouble using the impact wrench smoothly. Factors to pick the Best Air Compressor for impact wrench. The size of the impact wrench determines the air pressure required to operate the air compressor.
If you are buying an air compressor specifically for your 3/8-inch impact wrench, I would definitely recommend shelling out the extra money to go for the 3 or 3.5 CFM air compressor. Air pressure varies greatly, but in my experience, a 3-gallon air compressor will have an air pressure of around 0.5 CFM. As I said earlier, even the smallest impact wrench takes around 1 to 1.5 CFM to run reliably, so it likely wouldn’t be a good investment on your part. A 3-gallon air compressor will not provide a sufficient amount of air for the impact wrench to work reliably.
best air compressor impact wrench Related Question:
What size air compressor is needed to run an impact wrench?
The average size air compressor you need is a 4-5 CFM @90 PSI for a ½” impact wrench. For instance, an impact wrench with a 1″ drive will need a 10 CFM @90 PSI, a ½” drive will need a 4 CFM @90 PSI, and ⅜” will need a 3 CFM @90 PSI.
Will any air compressor work with a impact wrench?
As far as the minimum required pressure for the operation of an impact wrench, it ranges from 70 PSI to 100 PSI. If you are going to use your compressor only on occasion, any model will suffice provided that it provides enough power to run the tool.
How much PSI is needed to run an impact wrench?
90 PSI is the minimum required for most air impact wrench compressors to work correctly. You need an air compressor that has a higher shut-off pressure.
What is a good size air compressor to run air tools?
Air tools made for general use with portable air compressors typically require 0 to 5 cubic feet per minute (cfm) at 70 to 90 pounds per square inch (psi), whereas with larger tools connected to stationary systems, the requirements usually exceed 10 cfm at 100 to 120 psi.
Is a 6 gallon air compressor good for air tools?
Tools that require only quick bursts of air, like pneumatic brad nail guns and finish nail guns, drain the air tank much more slowly. For these tasks, 2- to 6-gallon tanks are sufficient.
What size impact wrench do I need to remove lug nuts?
A good impact wrench for lug nuts should measure ⅜-inch or ½-inch. These two sizes provide enough power to remove even the toughest lug nuts without applying excessive torque. Using too much torque could strip your lug nut. The ½-inch size impact wrench is the most common for this type of job.
What is the best air pressure for air tools?
Most air tools require between 70 and 90 PSI. Any light-to-medium-duty air compressor can easily handle 90 PSI, but you always want the compressor to supply more flow than needed. Pro Tip: Always respect a PSI rating. If you don’t supply enough air volume, the tool won’t operate correctly.
Are Husky compressors any good?
The Husky Air Compressor is good in terms of budget and reliability. If you cannot afford brands like Dewalt and Campbell, a Husky air compressor is a good alternative. Our analysis from more than four thousand reviews shows that they are reliable, easy to use and Home Depot has good customer care.
Does tank size matter air compressor?
Tank size matters—sometimes The compressors we chose have tanks ranging from 1 to 6 gallons. A larger tank holds more air and will allow you to use more air before the pressure drops and the motor kicks on to refill the tank. That might let you avoid stopping work while the compressor refills the tank.
Is SCFM the same as CFM?
SCFM and CFM are both essential values that indicate the airflow rate in a compressor. SCFM measures this value based on ‘ideal’ temperature and pressure conditions, while CFM measures the ‘actual’ air flow rate. CFM is the recognized value for measuring the airflow rate in the United States.
What PSI should I set my air compressor for tires?
Most construction vehicles need at least 100 pounds per square inch, or PSI, in each tire. The exact amount might vary depending upon the axle load, number of tires per axle, and weather.
How many CFM does a paint gun need?
For a quality HVLP Spray Gun you can often need up to 20 CFM of air. If you are using a Conventional Spray Gun you may not need as much air as HVLP requires a High Volume of air (HV) especially compared to conventional spray guns, but a conventional spray gun can still use 10 – 15 CFM.
Can you run an impact wrench with a pancake compressor?
You can, but you probably won’t get that much torque. According to this website (http://www.portercable.com/Products/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=23620), the compressor runs at 2.6 SCFM @ 90 PSI. But, the tool’s average air consumption is CFM 4.2 @ 90 PSI as per product description.
Can you run air tools with pancake compressor?
The User-friendliness and portability of pancake compressors make them popular among homeowners. Although compact, a good quality pancake air compressor offers enough power to run many pneumatic tools like nailer guns, jackhammer, air spray guns, drills, sanders, etc.
How long will a 6 gallon air compressor last?
With a 6 gallon compressor, you should be able to work for a couple of minutes before you run out of stored air.
