An air compressor for painting cars operates by breaking up paint with pressurized air, and using that pressure to produce a fine mist of paint through a nozzle. The air compressor for auto painting delivers air in a strong enough flow that the paint is turned into a fine, liquid particulate, which is ideal for an even coat over the vehicle. Based on the size of your operation and the types of auto painting you will need to complete, compressor criteria may differ.
This article will cover the best types of air compressors for painting & painting cars, what your air compressor will require to be able to paint cars, and things to consider when choosing an air compressor for painting. Number 1 Factor in Choosing an Air Compressor for Painting – Air Compressor CFM. Spraying paint with an air spray gun requires a large volume of air being injected into the paint which creates atomization or break up of paint. So if you will be using your air compressor for painting or painting cars, you will want to consider a 2 stage compressor with atleast 5 Horse power to properly provide air to your spray gun.
With a small air compressor tank you simply don’t have the air volume to paint an entire car at one shot. You can take a chance and paint the entire car at one shot if you can hear and feel the air pressure drop and adjust accordingly. The tricky part YES, you can paint the car in steps with a smaller air compressor but you may run into problems with overspray on the clear coat stage.
Now before moving forward to find out what size air compressor is needed for spray painting a car or what is the best air compressor for automotive painting, let’s first check out what is an air compressor used for in automotive work. After going through all the above-explained paragraphs, now you know precisely what is a good size air compressor for spray painting cars and what are the minimum air compressor requirements for spray painting a car. If you found the constant squealing sound of the Campbell Hausfeld 60 gallon two stage air compressor quite annoying while working on your auto spray painting work, then buying the 60 Gallon Ultra Quiet Air Compressor from the house of California Air tools is the most suitable option for you.
The best air compressor for painting cars will offer consistent airflow and air pressure. It’s recommended that you choose an air compressor that has a 3-5 HP motor with a CFM delivery between 4-6.5 CFM at 90 PSI. The compressor may have a lower HP and still deliver the recommended CFM. Based on our testing, The California Air Tools 20020 air compressor is the best air compressor for car painting, because it meets the criteria above. In our opinion and from what we have researched, we have found that California Air Tools, DeWalt, Craftsman, Stark, and Industrial Air are the top air compressor brands.
Whether you’re a mechanic or just want to give your vehicle a new look, you’re going to need the best air compressor for painting cars. California Air Tools 4710SQ – The Runner Up. Next, taking the second place in our list of the top 5 air compressors is the California Air Tools 4710SQ. If you prefer an air compressor that doesn’t cause much noise, then you can’t go wrong with this one. For general use, you need about 0.1-5 CFM at 70-90 PSI. The minimum CFM required for your compressor will be the total CFM the tools need times 1.5.Find the Best Air Compressor for Painting Cars That’s Right for You.
An air compressor is what powers a spray gun, making it an essential tool for any body shop. Buying a properly sized air compressor for auto painting will help you avoid common painting issues while enhancing your productivity. Auto Body Toolmart offers several outstanding air compressors that are ideal for painting cars.
With regard to maintenance, some air compressors, such as California Air Tools’ CAT-60040CAD, are much easier to use in the long run because of having an oil-free pump. The fact is that most air compressors for painting cars are heavy tools that range in the weight of 150 pounds going upwards. As you can see above, narrowing it down to the best air compressor for painting cars is not easy because most of them are almost equal and their prices go hand-in-hand with performance.
what air compressor for painting cars Related Question:
Can you paint a car with a 20 gallon compressor?
Additionally, a small air compressor will fail in painting a car in whole, because it must fit under the paint surface. A smaller air compressor will fit into car cases, bumper covers, and other vehicle parts, like motorcycles. This means running a 20- to 30-gallon air compressor.
Can I paint a car with a 6 gallon air compressor?
What Size Air Compressor Do I Need To Run A Paint Sprayer? Because of this, you cannot use a 6 gallon air compressor to spray paint. It is necessary to have a compressor with a large tank, preferably 50 gallons or more, in order to be able to spray paint with a spray gun.
Can I paint with a 60 gallon air compressor?
I recommend a 60-gallon 5 HP air compressor, if you are painting a full size car in your garage or shop. You will need one that puts out at least 15 CFM at 40 lbs. The larger air compressor you have, the more reserve time you’re going to have.
Can you paint a car with a 30 gallon air compressor?
That being said, most air compressors with an air tank capacity of 30 gallons and up can usually handle painting a car. If you’re painting a classic full-size car or want to play it safe, a tank of 60 gallons or more should be enough to coat the vehicle in a single pass.
Can I paint a car with a 8 gallon compressor?
If you think you may use a smaller air compressor to paint the car in steps (same day), but you may run into more than enough dust on the clear coat stage, yes, that may happen. flash times come when the spray has almost already evaporated and becomes clear.
What CFM do I need to paint a car?
You need an air compressor with more than 50-gallon volume if you want to paint your car without refilling the tank. As for the CFM rating, it should be between 14 to 18 per unit. The air pressure varies from 10 to 25 psi, and a 10 horsepower compressor should suffice.
How many gallons of compressor does it take to paint a car?
Generally, a 30-gallon air compressor is sufficient for painting most cars. A compressor’s CFM rating is more important than its tank size when choosing one for painting. If you are planning to use a paint gun, you must compare the CFM of the air compressor with the paint gun.
What CFM compressor do I need?
To find the minimum required CFM of the compressor you need to purchase multiply your tool’s required CFM by 1.2. Example – If you want to run a tool which is 5.5CFM you would times that by 1.2. (5.5 x 1.2 = 6.6CFM).
Can you paint a car with a 5 gallon compressor?
YES, you can paint the car in steps (same day) with a smaller air compressor but you may run into problems with overspray on the clear coat stage.
What size compressor is needed for spray painting?
While some air spray guns have a rating of lower than 10 CFM, we’d recommend your compressor CFM for spray painting is at least 12 CFM.
What PSI should my paint gun be at?
Setting the air pressure to about 28-29 PSI for clear will ensure you having great flow out. Most HVLP spray guns will use 10-14 scfm at 40 psi. This is volume of air pressure per cubic foot.
Can you paint a car with a pancake compressor?
Generally, a 10hp compressor is sufficient for auto painting. However, higher horsepower compressors can be used for other purposes, and may be more efficient.
Can you paint a car with an electric spray gun?
Electric paint sprayers are the perfect way to efficiently paint cars, and if you have one, you probably know how convenient they are.
Can you use a 3 gallon air compressor to paint a car?
ByBrittney. For a comprehensive buying guide, visit AirCompressorsUSA.com The most basic specifications of a top-quality compressor are usually 30 gallons per outlet, have a standard blade CFM rating of 10 lbs, and often operate with paint guns. They can all be assembled in no time at all and they can paint any car.
Can you paint a car without an air compressor?
The first option you have when it comes to spraying paint without a compressor are handheld airless paint sprayers. These units are great because they are portable and can spray a variety of materials ranging from very thin materials to material as thick as latex.
