Best air compressor for home garage. Top affordable portable compressors

If you’re looking at getting the best portable air compressor and you’re considering the Harbor Freight and California Air Tool system, stay tuned and I’ll give you some valuable information that will help you make your decision.

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The first test we’ll be doing is noise level from five and 12 feet. First we’ll test the Harbor Freight at five feet. Let’s call that 94 dB. Now let’s test California Air Tools compressor. That’s about 73 dB. Now move back to 12 feet and test the Harbor Freight compressor. That’s about 91 dB. Now the California Air Tool system. Let’s call that about 71 dB. The California Air Tools consistently beat the Harbor Freight by about 20 dB, which is really a lot.

Studies have shown the average person feels sound doubles in volume every 10 dB, so the Harbor Freight sounds about four times louder. And let me tell you, it felt that way to me. From an OSHA standpoint, anything above 85 dB requires hearing protection, and in the case of the Harbor Freight compressor, I would agree. However, with the California Air Tools, I feel that I could easily work all day without any hearing protection.

The next test we’ll be doing is current draw. Will be testing both inrush and true RMS current. Inrush current is the spike in current that occurs when you start a motor. My Fluke meter takes an average of the first five cycles to determine inrush current.

We can expect inrush current to be about four times greater than RMS. Also, the RMS current will change as the pressure builds up and the load on the motor increases. For this test, we’ll use the RMS current just before the motor shuts off. First we’ll test the Harbor Freight compressor. That would be an inrush of 47.2 amps. True RMS 12.8. Now we’ll test the California Air Tools compressor. And that would be an inrush of 46.8 amps. True RMS current 13.6 amps. As you can see, they have similar inrush currents. However, the RMS currents are significantly different. Clearly the California Air Tools compressor has a stronger motor.

Now we’ll test to see how they perform as a system by comparing how long it takes them to fill an empty tank. You’ll need to keep in mind that the Harbor Freight is an eight gallon tank and the California Air Tools has a 10 gallon tank. We’ll test the Harbor Freight’s compressor first. The harbor freight took a minute 55. Now we’ll test the California Air Tools compressor. And let’s call that a minute 35. The California Air Tools is a clear winner. If you look at it on a per gallon basis, the Harbor Freight takes about 50% longer per gallon than the California Air Tools.

In summary, clearly the California Air Tools is a technically superior air compressor. However, that does come at a price. It is three times more expensive. So from my perspective, in a small shop, it really comes down to how often you are going to be using the compressor and how valuable the noise reduction is to you. You can always move up to the next size Harbor Freight if performance is the issue. For me, I know I would have a tendency to skip putting on hearing protection, so the California Air Tools lower noise is worth the money to me. However, it really comes down to your needs and budget. I own both and like both. Thanks for watching.

FAQ

Will be the use of 60 gallon compressors effective?

These compressors are usually effective and cope with big jobs. The compressor operates within a long period. Some of them are mainly used for industrial purposes, and others may be easily used for domestic purposes.

I need to fill car tires, what air compressor will do?

The car tires are usually filled between the 32 PSI (for motor cars) and 53 PSI (if it is cold outside). So 1 and 2 CFM air compressor will do for these purposes. And if you are looking for a tire changing machine, pay attention to 4 CFM.

What air compressors will do for air tools?

Firs of all, you should know whether an air compressor will drive air tools you are going to use. For instance, air sanders and large shears will need more than 10 CFM, and up to 120 PSI, whilst small air nailer operates on 2 to up to 5 CFM, and 70-90 PSI.

Will be 6-gallon air compressor be enough for an power wrench?

Yes, but we do not recommend using it. We believe that a power wrench may run on 6 gallon. However, your work should not be too long, it should take several minutes before stored air will be run out.

Is California Air Tools compressor powerful?

These compressors have a good quality, last long, and are reliable. Moreover, none human intervention is hardly required. It will be a good option for you, if you are planning to work outside and keep your compressor outside. These compressors will run even at low temperatures. And this is a good option, if you have cold winters.

What does SCFM mean?

SCFM is an acronym which means Standard cubic feet per minutes. This characteristic shows the air volume that can be provided by an air compressor.

Are air compressors used for filling the car tires?

When it comes to an inflation of car tires, other tools should be also used in order to avoid “overfilling” them with the compressed air. It means that the pressure of the tires should be constantly controlled during the inflation by means of the compressor. A pressure gauge will cope with this task perfectly.

How much PSI is required for the tire inflation?

PSI stands for pound per square inch, and construction vehicles mainly need 100 PSI in the tire. This amount varies, and many factors impact it, such as weather, the load axle, and a number of tires per axle. To know the required amount of the tire pressure, read a vehicle’s manual.

How many gallons should be used for air tools?

A duration of the air tool operation depends on a size of the tank. The gauge of the tank compressor is gallons, and goes from 1 gallon to 80 gallons. A large tank should be used for tools that need a high air volume for constant usage.

What air compressor CFM is better?

There is a general rule: a quality single-stage air compressor will provide approximately 4 true CFM at 100 psig. It is rare to find 3 CFM per HP. Mainly, two-stage compressors are more effective by 15% compared to single-stage compressors.

How much PSI will air tools need?

An air tool developed for the common usage with a portable air compressor will usually need 0 to 5 cubic feet per minute at about 70 to 90 pounds per square inch. If bigger tools are used, they will need more than 10 CFM at 100 to up to 120 PSI.

Will 3 gallon air compressors do for small jobs?

Yes, these air compressors will be useful for small jobs. However, it is not recommended to use it for air guns because a high CFM is used. When the tank is small, the motor of the compressor should be constantly refilled.

What air compressors should be used for painting?

If you are going to paint a car, a 60 gallon tank with five to six HP compressor should be considered for this purpose. It will provide enough CFM for the spray gun. It is better to consider CFM between 14-18 at 90 PSI.

What air compressors should be used for sandblasting?

90 PSI is perfect for the sandblaster. About 20 CFM is the minimum for the compressors, and you may see that such air compressors may be expensive.