Getting the most from my air compressor

That said, I regularly use a homemade 1/2HP compressor for portable work. The little motor runs a big pump, so the thing is belted down to about 400 RPM. Slow, but steady. Any compressor will make 100 CFM unit the tank runs out. The CFM ratings you see are just what the pump can make. You can run a jackhammer for a couple seconds on a 20 gallon tank.

Well thankfully I figured that was all marketing hype. Yes to a tractor shop I'm sure mine is a big toy, but that is all I need. Still it doesn't hurt to get the most out of it I can hense my question. It did a fine job of running my spray gun (I'm not in the auto painting business) it does a good job at full pressure running my air tools w/the 120 feet of hose on it (I just wondered since they all say to use 90psi max). I average 1 use a week to remove something. It is more important to me that I can put it in the back of my truck and haul it somewhere else and plug it in to about any electrical outlet and use it than it is that it will power a professional sandblaster or remove lug nuts from a articulated loader. Just think of what I'd hear if I got one of those oilless 2hp 10 gallon tank units--yet I'm sure some folks do quite well with them too.

Don't worry you haven't offended me and I'm not mad. I just couldn't pass up that you work for Campbell Hausfeld and say it it a big toy. Guess you aren't in marketing there. Or maybe you are and are selling upgrades?! Hu?

Thanks to everyone else for their advice too--I do appreciate it!

1. I would suggest spraying at 40psi. i have the "cheap campbell gun". It is a Great starter gun and it works fine at this pressure.

2. Try adjusting your paint/reducer amounts. The thinner it is, the better it will spray. I have painted the hood on my Cub and have spilt gas on it and vigorously rubbed the gas off, no probs with the paint fading or loosing its luster.

3. You also have a very low CFM air compressor. I think that most tools run 9cfm at 90psi to be efficient.

4.You got to have the cfm and volume correct on your system.

5. I would, not so lightly, suggest that you try a bigger compressor. I run a Puma, three piston, 23cfm, $850 delivered, and siphon blast 90psi for about 2 hours. The motor gets a bit hot, and i give it about a 20minute break and go again.

Good luck with it.

5. Worse comes to worse, run a extension cord to your work and shorten the hose.
bruce

I have rigged one of my Compressors with a tee and 3 quick connects at the tank, and have made up another Tee type of fitting that has 2 male quick connects going into a filter/ regulator. Whenever I need to get a serious volume of air using a long hose I turn up the regulator on the tank to maximum and use two 3/8 hoses to feed my remote filter/regulator. From the remote I then use one shorter hose to the tool (or another tee type adapters for up to 3 individual hoses if we are using multiple nail guns).

Hope this helps Tom R

You can use a CO2 bottle (quick connect valves) from a paintball store on your nail gun for greater mobility, and all around more dangerous nail gun fun.