Air compressors for home garage

Have you tried electric impact gun? They are pretty strong. Some Nascar teams even uses battery powered impact guns to remove the wheels.

I like Campbell hausfeld compressors. I have a small 2 Gallon that i used to use for tires.

I use a breaker bar for wheel nuts, then a battery drill to spin them off/on. For super stubborn underbody bolts, I use an old NI-CAD impact gun.

Electric Impact Wrench at Canadian Tire. They go on sale regularly....around $50-60. They are good up to 200ftlb.
Use impact sockets as well.

Yeah... Seems like overkill to get a compressor and impact wrench for a few stuck bolts. Don't get me wrong, compressors can be a lot of use for other things too (just hauled mine into the house yesterday to put up some trim), but for a one-shot deal, there's probably better ways to skin that cat.

C

BDSL wrote: ↑ Electric Impact Wrench at Canadian Tire. They go on sale regularly....around $50-60. They are good up to 200ftlb.
Use impact sockets as well.

For just occasional tires, electric impact gun with impact socket for your cars are fine. SOmething around $80 total

engineered wrote: ↑ I use a breaker bar for wheel nuts, then a battery drill to spin them off/on. For super stubborn underbody bolts, I use an old NI-CAD impact gun.

Sometimes it's a hassle to plug in the impact gun and I just use the 24" breaker bar instead. I tried few rusted bolts with my old impact gun but found breaker bar works better. On limit space, I use 12" lead pipe to put on as a sleeve on my old rachet and works pretty good too like on the caliper bracket bolts.

The questions i have is. Why are the bolts overtorqued?

What is the main use of the compressor for? lug nuts? or something different?

If lug nuts, then you should invest in a torque wrench. This way, everything is torqued down properly as long as you know the torque specs?

engineered wrote: ↑ I use a breaker bar for wheel nuts, then a battery drill to spin them off/on. For super stubborn underbody bolts, I use an old NI-CAD impact gun.

I have a breaker bar. But for other mechanical work, does not work on tight areas such as suspension area. Electric impact guns 15 amps at Canadian tire did not have enough torque to take out overtightend bolt. Mechanic air gun had no issues


Thanks all for your feedback

phuviano wrote: ↑
What is the main use of the compressor for? lug nuts? or something different?

Mostly car work, such as tires, brakes, and suspension area.

the nice part of having a compressor is the air tools are fairly inexpensive. if you do a lot of work that would require a compressor then by all means. you will propably want something at least in the 5+ cfm@90 psi range but likely a lot higher.

phuviano wrote: ↑
What is the main use of the compressor for? lug nuts? or something different?

we only got an air compressor is because I didn't want to pay someone to blow out the irrigation system, and its paid for itself several times. We have those portable air compressors also for the cars, but when you have to fill air up for all the vehicles in the household, the air compressor is the way to go. I always wanted to get the air guns also for the changing the tires etc, just didn't get around to it, will definitely pick one up when I see a good deal.

elkhaze wrote: ↑ I have a breaker bar. But for other mechanical work, does not work on tight areas such as suspension area. Electric impact guns 15 amps at Canadian tire did not have enough torque to take out overtightend bolt. Mechanic air gun had no issues

Thanks all for your feedback

They aren't 15amp. They are only 7.5amp which produce around +200ftlb of torque. This is sufficient for 99% of fasteners. The only exception might be the crank bolt which hasn't been removed since factory.

you can get by with a 8/10gal for changing wheels. But for a stubborn bolt it is undersized. You'd want like a 20gal+ if you are serious about it.

BDSL wrote: ↑ They aren't 15amp. They are only 7.5amp which produce around +200ftlb of torque. This is sufficient for 99% of fasteners. The only exception might be the crank bolt which hasn't been removed since factory.

You are correct, I mixed the amps with another tool.

ziaa wrote: ↑ you can get buy with a 8/10gal for changing wheels. But for a stubborn bolt it is undersized. You'd want like a 20gal+ if you are serious about it.

+1 on this. You can easily ceiling or wall mount (wall mount if there's a room above)a 6 gallon + A ceiling mounted reel. It's surprisingly helpful if you do a lot of DIY.

ziaa wrote: ↑ you can get by with a 8/10gal for changing wheels. But for a stubborn bolt it is undersized. You'd want like a 20gal+ if you are serious about it.

Wouldn't pressure be the important factor for high torque to remove lug nuts? Whereas reservoir size would give you more run time.

engineered wrote: ↑ Wouldn't pressure be the important factor for high torque to remove lug nuts? Whereas reservoir size would give you more run time.

That is correct. All compressors can give you 90psi no problems which is what the tools run at. Its the flow (CFM) at 90psi that is more important. A reservoir that is small might give you seconds of flow at 90psi. But the flow requriments of the impact will quickly drop the pressure in the tank. Thats why you want a larger tank, as it will be able to supply the pressure and flow for a lot longer. You need time for siezed bolts.

ziaa wrote: ↑ That is correct. All compressors can give you 90psi no problems which is what the tools run at. Its the flow (CFM) at 90psi that is more important. A reservoir that is small might give you seconds of flow at 90psi. But the flow requriments of the impact will quickly drop the pressure in the tank. Thats why you want a larger tank, as it will be able to supply the pressure and flow for a lot longer. You need time for siezed bolts.

Agreed. Also something like the recent Husky deal can do 225 psi in a smaller reservoir, essentially mimicking a larger tank at 90psi as far a delivering enough cfm. It's also pretty good at 5cfm @ 90psi.
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