How large a compressor

ILB

Member
How large an air compressor do I need to run a Kobalt die grinder LGA 1143 without the grinder run out of air?
 
Check the air consumption on the grinder's box, or research on line, then buy something bigger.

Compressed air is not cheap though. Consider that you are using 1-1/2 to 2 HP of motor power to drive your little grinder.
 
A lot depends on how long you run the angle grinder. You might get a borderline compressor to run one for an hour or so but to run one all day you need more than enough air. A smaller compressor would probably burn up. All day use I would recommend one 24 cfm at 175psi.
 
I agree with Mike, if all you want to run is the die grinder, that is a lot of overkill.

Pneumatic grinders are more for industrial use, run for a long time by various operators without overheating. The air is already there, so may as well use it.

But any pneumatic tool, like grinders, drills, sanders, etc. that get long run times, consume a lot of air. Air is expensive when the equipment and energy consumed are considered.

And if you do buy a compressor, be aware the "home shop" type compressors are very often over rated on the horse power and CFM ratings. Shop carefully!
 
A guy brought me Ford heads to be ported . After 5 minutes of air grinders I went and bought a Hitachi electric die grinder for 100 bucks . Cost of job covered new grinder and was much more efficient to me.
 
(quoted from post at 08:06:36 02/24/18) How large an air compressor do I need to run a Kobalt die grinder LGA 1143 without the grinder run out of air?

The air powered tool should have a label which states the required CFM (cubic feet per minute) to properly operate that tool. The compressor you buy should be able to supply more than the tool requires.
 
Air grinders are handy, but very impractical for small shop use. They are safe to use in very wet areas, you can't get a shock from them. I have a medium size electric from HF that works well for me.
 
A friend of mine that when it game time to sharpen the knives on head his combine, don't remember how wide the head was, length of the knife. He would pull the knives out of the head, and clamp it to saw horses and he and his son would start sharping it. One with their 4-1/2" side grinder, the other with their pneumatic die grinder. Not sure what size their air compressor was but at least 3hp. That air compressor could not keep up with the die grinder. Every so often who ever was running the die grinder would have to stop and wait for the compressor to catch up.

Dusty
 
You will need a commercial duty compressor like you find in a professional tire shop, not your run of the mill Lowes, Menard's, True Value type compressor. Yes they have 5hp with 80 gallon tanks. These are homeowners compressors. Something like a Ingersoll Rand type 30 or equivelant machine with a 220 volt 5 HP - compressor duty motor. I owned a tire shop for 22+ years and we started out with those compressors before we learned to look around for the commercial duty ones.
 
I will have to disagree with some of the posters about the handiness of air powered die grinders. I would not go back to electric ones for love or money. LOL The biggest thing is to not buy the cheaper die grinders. They are not very efficient on there air consumption. I have a couple of HF elcheapos for places where I do not want to risk a good one and they use twice the amount of air that my better Ingersoll Rand grinders do. I am not talking about breaking the bank either. You can buy a pretty good die grinder for $50-100 dollars. The $15-20 imports use lots of air. Also the collets on the cheap ones do not hold the tools as well either. They come lose or get so tight you can not hardly get they out.

If your running any type of air tools you need at least a 220 volt 5 HP compressor. Skip the direct drive oil less compressors too. They are noisy and have much shorter lives.
 
For most one man shops a 10 cfm at 125 psi will run about everything. At the tire shop we had a 10hp 3 ph @175 psi. When we got busy with truck tires we plugged in the 10 hp gas into the line and ran them both.
 
(quoted from post at 12:26:14 02/24/18) The die grinder will run down my 5HP with 80 gallon tank, will get an electric next time.

But what is the CFM capacity of that compressor? 5 HP and 80 gallons basically means nothing.
 

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