What To Look For in an Air Compressor
Depending on their size, air compressors should be able to blast between 150 and 400 litres of compressed air per minute, at up to 7-8 bars of pressure. Larger air compressors will typically have a 50 litre tank and powerful motors (1-2kW), but they will weigh 30 kg or more. If you are keen on a larger air compressor check if it comes with wheels for easier transport. If you go for one with a large air tank, you can run all sorts of air tools in your workshop that cost a lot less than equivalent mains or battery-powered ones as well.
Mid-range units are more suited for home workshops and tend to come with 20 to 30 litre tanks with an air flow capacity of between 100 to 200 litres per minute. These will weigh around 20 kilos.
But air compressors with just 6 to 8 litre tanks are also very popular, particularly with hobbyists as they are powerful yet versatile and weigh less than 10kg.
Note that air compressors can be quite noisy – but larger compressors require the motor to run less often.
So whether you’re looking for a portable compressor or one to transform your workshop, I’ve found the best ones available right now. Read on for my detailed reviews …