Can anyone help me decide how large a compressor to buy? I will use it for nailing guns and spraying finishes. Note: “Buy the biggest you can afford” does not help with the decision. Thanks in advance. Ed in NM
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Caveat: I'm new to woodworking, but I'm looking into buying a compressor soon. What follows is from what I've learned.
The sprayer USUALLY requires more compressor than the nailer. The horsepower isn't important. Find out the cfm @ 40 psi. The spray gun will have an air consumption value in cfm and a working pressure in psi. Just be sure that your compressor can comfortably handle your spray gun.
Some HVLP spray guns (more accurately LVLP spray guns) have extremely low volume (air consumption in cfm) and low pressure (working pressure in psi) which "require" fairly small compressors.
At 5 cfm and 17 psi the Asturo ECO is such a gun. Here is a link to see one:
http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/asturo3.htm
Finally, I've noticed that Porter Cable compressors have high cfm ratings in fairly small compressors.
Brian
What ever size you get, pay more for a belt drive. Stay away from oil-less, they wear out too fast (8 years).
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