Buying a Used Air Compressor? Follow These Tips

Buying a used air compressor can be a smart decision when you have a tight budget. And as long as you follow some general guidelines, you should end up with an affordable compressor that offers the power you and your tools require.

Know Your Exact Application

Will you be using this machine at home for some simple DIY projects, or on the job such as at a construction site or mechanic's shop? Know exactly how and where you will use it will help you determine which model fits your needs best.

What are Your CFM Requirements?

If you're new to air compressors and using pneumatic tools in general, then you may not be aware of your cfm (cubic feet per minute) requirements. Every air tool has a certain cfm rating and this tells you what is required to power them. For instance, tools like pneumatic nail guns and staplers have a lower cfm rating and require less flow or output than do sand blasters or a pneumatic grinder, which require not only more power but a continuous source of it.

A good rule of thumb is to find the tool you use that has the highest cfm rating and use that in determining which compressor you choose. If you find a machine you like that will power your hardest tool, then it will also power your other tools that have lower cfm ratings.

Do You Require Portability?

Air compressors, both new and used, come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are portable and some stationary, and you will have to know exactly what your needs are in this scenario. If you are a DIYer and intend to use it around the house for doing some light finishing work, then it makes sense for you to get a smaller machine that is very portable. There are small compressors that can be carried by hand from a built-in handle. There are also ones that are portable, but they are quite a bit bigger and on a set of wheels.

And then there are those that are very large and completely stationary. These are the air compressors you tend to see in auto body shops and factories. Know before you purchase any compressor exactly if you will need to move the compressor around.

Find Out the History

When buying a used air compressor, the most important thing you can do is to find out the exact history of the machine. Ask to see any maintenance records and inquire if there have been any replacement parts. If the unit is not local, then it is your right and duty to ask to see photos if the seller has not yet provided any. If at all possible, ask to see video of the compressor being used to see it in action. Know if this machine is even a viable option before you drive however many miles to check it out in person.

Buying a used air compressor is a great option if you're on a tight budget. Just be sure to follow these guidelines so you choose one that fits your needs and will last a long time.

Jason is the creator of Air Compressor Ads, a resource for individuals and businesses looking to purchase used air compressors. His latest blog post gives insider tips on how to purchase a used industrial air compressor.

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What Are the Advantages of Using a Reciprocating Compressor?

There are three basic types of air compressors on the market today: reciprocating, rotary screw and rotary centrifugal. In this article we're going to focus on the advantages of using a reciprocating compressor.

How It Works

Let's take a look at exactly how these machines work before we outline the specific advantages of using them. Like an internal combustion engine, where an offset crankshaft causes the rotation of a piston which translates into linear motion, a reciprocating compressor also uses a crankshaft to compress gases that are then used in various jobs and processes. As the piston moves back and forth, it takes in low pressure gas and increases the pressure.

Where It Works

Although many applications of these machines have been replaced by the screw compressor, it is still a mainstay in the gas and oil industries. Oil refineries continue to use these specific units for numerous tasks and processes that require high pressure delivery of essential gases.

And gas itself, which fuels our cars and our lives, can be transported cross country via pipelines that are powered by reciprocating compressors. These work horses are also frequently used in refrigeration plants, chemical plants and just about anywhere heavy duty tooling is needed.

Why It Works

And now let's discuss the advantages a these compressors have over other models. For starters, it is one of the most efficiently run machines and can be used continuously, as you might in a large factory or plant setting, or intermittently, like you see in an auto garage or mechanic's shop. Other types of compressors work best in one situation or the other, and don't provide the same kind of usage flexibility.

Next, a reciprocal compressor has an application for almost any composition of gas and this is due to the positive displacement. Also, unlike other types, a reciprocal is able to discharge very high pressures at low mass flow rates, and capacity controls are simple and instantaneous.

Finally, if quiet is as important to you as powerful, then a reciprocal compressor has this advantage as well. This is because of the piston technology, which tends to operate much quieter than many other types of compression technology. Because of its quiet power, these machines tend to be the ones used for household applications.

If you're in the market for a new compressor and you need efficiency, flexibility, power and quiet, then the reciprocal compressor is most likely the ideal choice for you.

Jason is the creator of Air Compressor Ads, a resource for individuals and businesses looking to purchase used air compressors. His latest blog post gives insider tips on how to purchase a used industrial air compressor.

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What Size Air Compressor Do I Need? - Answer These 3 Questions

Many people new to air compression or pneumatic tools will find themselves asking, What size air compressor do I need? when shopping for their first one. And it's a great question to ask because you want to make sure you do your homework and purchase the right machine for the job or tasks at hand. In order to answer this question, you need to ask yourself three more.

What Are My Tool Requirements?

To answer this question you need to look at the tools you currently use, or plan to use, and find their cfm (cubic feet per minute) requirement. This can either be found on the tools themselves or in the user's manual. Some tools consume more air than others, such as grinders and sprayers, and some consume less, such as nail guns and staplers.

If you will be the only person using the air compressor, then find the tool with the highest cfm and use this number to help determine the size of machine you need. If, however, more than one tool will be used at any given time, such as in a mechanic's shop, then add up the total cfm for all the tools that will likely be used in tandem. This figure will give you the air compressor's required - or delivered - cfm.

Take this figure and multiply it by 20 percent to give you an accurate delivered cfm rating for the compressor you are interested in purchasing.

Stop-Start or Constant Run?

Do you require air compression at all times or only at certain times? If you will be using the unit for household tasks such as inflating tires or sports equipment, or doing some finishing work, then you most likely will require a smaller, portable machine and these are generally stop-start varieties.

If, however, you plan on using this air compressor at your place of business, such as a factory or auto body shop where it will be used constantly by many people, then it makes sense you would need the type of motor that will run continuously, providing pressure the second it's needed, every single time.

Still not sure? A good rule of thumb is to figure how many times per hour you will use the machine. If it will be stopped and started 20 times or more per hour, then you will need a constant-run setup.

What Size Tank Do You Need

It's not the size of the tank that matters but how often you will use the unit. Obviously the bigger the tank, the longer usage time you will have as the pressure is depleted more slowly. The negative aspect to a large tank is that they take quite a bit longer to refill with pressurized air. A larger tank makes sense if you are concerned about the motor constantly starting and stopping to refill, or if again, you will be using it in a work setting and need a constant flow of pressurized air.

If you take the time to answer these three questions first, you will finally be able to answer the question, What size air compressor do I need? and purchase the one that's right for you.

Jason is the creator of Air Compressor Ads, a resource for individuals and businesses looking to purchase used air compressors. His latest blog post gives insider tips on how to purchase a used industrial air compressor.

View the original article here

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