What You Need Horsepower (HP)

To Know Before
The most important CFM rating on smaller compressors is However, most 5 HP and larger industrial compressors are
at 90 PSI because that is the pressure that is required to
The horsepower rating should be run most tools. CFM ratings tend to be exaggerated just are built to industrial standards, not because they are
like HP ratings, but you should get 3-4 CFM per real HP at two stage.

Buyi ng A . . .
a good way of determining what 90 PSI.
size of compressor you need but
unfortunately, the marketing guys
have been exaggerating horsepower Tank Size good quality single stage compressor than a low-cost big
box store type two stage compressor.
ratings to help the big box stores

COMPRESSOR
sell more compressors. Industrial
compressors are usually accurately A compressor tank doesn’t produce air, it only stores air. Direct Drive or Belt Drive, Oil or Oil-Less
rated which is why an industrial 5 HP It is much more important to have a big enough pump and
compressor is usually about three times motor, because if you are producing as much air as you want There are some very good compressors in both belt drive
as big and expensive as an overrated hobby type 5 HP and direct drive versions. The problem is that most of the
compressor. tank is. direct drive compressors you’ll see were designed to keep
the cost down for the big box stores, and of course that
One way to tell if you are looking at real or overrated HP also means low quality.
is to look at how much electrical power it takes to run it. However, there are some situations where you can save
A true 5 HP motor will draw about 24 amps on a 220 volt Direct drive compressors are directly connected to the
circuit, (single phase power), whereas most overrated motor shaft and therefore turn the same speed as the
hobby compressors will run on a normal 15 amp 110 volt a compressor that produces 10 CFM continuously, you motor, which typically spins either 1725 or 3450 RPM.
circuit which is only capable of running about 2 real HP. If can take 20 CFM out of the tank for half the time. If you There are a few exceptions, but most decent quality direct
you can plug it into a normal wall plug, it can’t be more than need to run a one inch impact wrench (about 20 CFM) drive compressors are low RPM. Engineers have designed
2 real HP. some compressors to spin twice as fast so they could
tank, you might have enough air stored in the tank to do the get more air out of them, and keep the price low for the big
job. This way the compressor can build pressure until you box stores. But the life expectancy is cut down to about
HP. For example, it would take a 10 HP gas compressor need to repeat the job. 1/4 of the low RPM compressors and the noise is almost
to produce as much air as an industrial 5 HP electric unbearable. A few manufacturers still make low RPM
compressor. On the other hand, if you want to run a tool steady, such direct drive compressors in the smaller sizes and they are
as a sander, it is important to be producing as much air
Pressure (PSI) as you need. A smaller tank is more portable and gets up
to pressure quicker, whereas a compressor with a large
where portability and quietness is important.

Air pressure is usually rated in Pounds per Square Inch or tank doesn’t start and stop as often and cools the air a Some direct drive compressors are oil-less, which is
PSI. Most air tools require 90 PSI to run properly, but to necessary in some applications such as breathing air or
maintain 90 PSI at the tool, you will need a compressor less; it starts and stops less often but the running time is aeration. If they are low RPM and designed right, they’ll
the same as if it had a smaller tank. Tank sizes are usually
compressors are two-stage which means they build measured in US gallons. high speed oil-less compressor. There are a few European
This guide contains manufacturers who make some high quality direct drive oil
information on: stage builds to about 90 PSI and the second
stage builds to 175 PSI. Most hobby and
One or Two Stage lubricated compressors. They are compact and portable
and are ideal for the construction industry. In the last
smaller commercial duty compressors are few years there have been many Chinese copies of these
Single stage compressors have one or more cylinders, European compressors. Just like other tools that are
Tank Sizes This sounds like plenty of air pressure and each cylinder pumps air directly into the tank. copied, some are good and some are not.
but they usually kick in at about 100 PSI, Two stage compressors have at least 2 cylinders, and
the air is pumped from one cylinder into another
Duty Cycle and when you consider the pressure drop and then into the tank. A typical two stage, 2 If you don’t need to carry the compressor around or if you
caused by restrictions in the hose and need higher air volume, your best value will be in belt drive,
Oil or Oil-less couplers, you might have barely enough cylinder which pumps air through a cooling tube oil lubricated compressors. You still have to be careful
pressure at the tool. and into the smaller second stage cylinder because there are some high speed aluminum pumps with
very low life expectancies that were built for low price,
Pressure (PSI)
Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM) 175 PSI. The main reason for buying a two just like some of the direct drive compressors. The main
advantages of belt drive compressors are that the pump
stage compressor would be if you need high can spin a lot slower than the motor, which allows it to be
One or Two Stage Air Tools require a certain volume of air to pressure, but not too many applications need
keep them going. The volume of air that a high pressure. Therefore, you probably don’t
Horsepower (HP) compressor produces is rated in CFM need a two stage compressor.
Most belt drive compressors are splash lubricated, which
(Cubic Feet per Minute). You may see several
Life Expectancy Some people believe that a two stage compressor rods to splash oil around in the compressor crankcase.
compressor. Sometimes you’ll see a high rating As long as there is enough oil in the crankcase, splash
for displacement CFM, which is a calculated but that is not necessarily true. I’ve seen good lubricated pumps should last a long time. For best value,
Moisture Problems rating based on the size and speed of the and poor quality compressors in both single and get a belt drive, oil lubricated compressor (unless you need
compressor pump. This rating doesn’t mean two-stage. to carry it around.) and stay away from the noisy high
Direct Drive or Belt Drive much because it’s at zero pressure and does speed, oil-less compressors.

Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM)

 Duty Cycle
In a body shop or industrial For example, if a 10HP compressor would be the
Knowing the duty cycle is very important before you application you will usually use minimum size required for your application, get a 15 HP COQUITLAM STORE
buy a compressor. The duty cycle is expressed as refrigerated air dryers to compressor because it will only run about 2/3 as much & HOME OFFICE KMS C.A.R. PARTS KMS TOOL REPAIR
a percentage and tells you the number of minutes cool the air and remove the and will stay a lot cooler, so it might even last twice as 604-522-5599 604-522-5593 604-395-4134
the compressor is allowed to run out of a 10 minute moisture. long. When you buy a compressor, consider how much it Toll Free: 1-800-567-8979 110 Woolridge Street, 931 Tupper Ave
period. For example, a low quality hobby compressor costs per hour of life expectancy. Fax: 1-800-567-3799 Coquitlam, BC V3K 5V4 Coquitlam, BC V3K 1A4
110 Woolridge Street, Mon-Fri 8:00 to 5:00 Mon-Fri 8:00 to 5:45
usually has a 50 % duty cycle, which means it Desiccant dryers are Coquitlam, BC V3K 5V4 Saturday 9:00 to 5:00 Saturday 9:00 to 5:00
shouldn’t run more than 5 minutes out of any 10
How Big Of A Compressor Do I Need?
Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm [email protected] [email protected]
Saturday 9am to 5pm
minute period. If you exceed the duty cycle the pump remove moisture. They [email protected]
will get too hot and won’t last as long as it should. use silica gel to absorb
Most industrial compressors have at least a 75% moisture from the air, Of the thousands of compressors I’ve sold, I haven’t yet VICTORIA LANGLEY ABBOTSFORD
duty cycle and some are as high as 100%, which and the silica gel can be had a customer come back saying they wish they had 250-391-4555 604-534-4853 604-853-5598
means you can run them continuously. replaced or heated when bought a smaller compressor. If you’re running industrial Toll Free: 1-877-848-6657 Toll Free: 1-888-530-6278 Toll Free: 604-856-5988
saturated. If you have a equipment you’ll have to go by the manufacturer’s 1652 Island Highway,
Victoria, BC V9B 1H8
#300, 19600 Langley Bypass,
Langley, BC V3A 7B1
30824 South Fraser Way,
Abbotsford, BC V2T 6L4
smaller system, you may Mon-Fri 7:30 to 5:30 Mon-Fri 7:30 to 5:30 Mon-Fri 7:30 to 5:30
your buddy each had to paint a barn with a 10 CFM get by with a well thought out 10 CFM at 90 psi to keep them going. However, impacts Saturday 9:00 to 5:00 Saturday 9:00 to 5:00 Saturday 9:00 to 5:00
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
compressor and your compressor had a 65% duty plumbing system. Copper or
cycle and his only had a 50% duty cycle, you would get aluminum pipe won’t rust and both dissipate heat well. have 5 CFM per tool available continuously you’ll probably KAMLOOPS KELOWNA
30% more of your barn painted in a day. If you use a larger size it will work like a bigger radiator 250-374-7300 250-765-9665
other tools that you’ll run steadily, you’ll need at least Toll Free: 1-888-567-8665 Toll Free: 1-888-922-9665
Assuming both your spray guns required 10 CFM, 10 CFM per tool continuously. For example, if you want 1780 Versatile Drive,
Kamloops, BC V1S 1S2
158 Penno Road,
Kelowna, BC V1X 6S2
your buddy could only paint for 5 Remember to mount the moisture trap at the end of to run a sander steadily you could get a 16 CFM (at 90 Mon-Fri 8:00 to 5:30 Mon-Fri 8:00 to 5:30
minutes and then would the pipe, as far from the compressor and as close to PSI) compressor with a 65% duty cycle which would give Saturday 9:00 to 5:00 Saturday 9:00 to 5:00

have to wait for 5 the equipment as possible. you just over 10 CFM continuously. With a typical sander, [email protected] [email protected]

minutes, whereas you wouldn’t have to wait for air nor would you have to
worry about overworking the compressor. If you have a CALGARY EDMONTON RED DEER
you could paint for 6 A common misconception is that you’ll reduce the 403-457-3537 780-455-8665 403-347-3990
1/2 minutes and wait smaller compressor, you can still sand the car, but you’ll Toll Free: 1-855-242-9301 Toll Free: 1-877-655-8665 Toll Free: 1-888-344-3990
water in your air lines by draining your tank often. tend to overwork the compressor and you’ll be waiting
for only 3 1/2 before It is important to drain your tank to prevent 6311 Centre Street S.W., 14520 111 Ave N.W., 53 Burnt Park Drive,
you started painting for air. As a rule, you need about 2 1/2 real HP for each Calgary, AB T2H 0C7
Mon-Fri 7:30 to 5:30
Edmonton, AB T5M 2P4
Mon-Fri 7:30 to 5:30
Red Deer, AB T4P 0J7
Mon-Fri 8:00 to 5:30
again. That’s a 30% automotive tool. Industrial air tools often require a lot Saturday 9:00 to 5:00 Saturday 9:00 to 5:00 Saturday 9:00 to 5:00
isn’t likely to get into your air lines. As a more air than automotive tools so you should check the [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
increase.
half full with cold water, the air would cool, buying a compressor that won’t run most of the 200 or

KMS ACCOUNT
In another example, moisture would condense out and you would so tools available because once you start using air tools
a Super Duty 5HP have dryer air in your lines. That doesn’t you’ll like them.
compressor with mean that you should put water in your tank,

SALES
a 100% duty cycle but you should do everything you can to cool
can actually produce the air before it gets to your moisture trap. Other Types of Compressors
more continuous air
than a Heavy Duty 7.5HP compressor
with a typical 75% duty cycle. You will usually get Life Expectancy Most of this information pertains to electric
reciprocating compressors. If you need 25 HP or more
SERVING WESTERN
you should consider a screw type compressor. If you need
get a compressor with a longer duty. What if you save 10-20% by buying your compressor a continuous low volume, low pressure supply, you should
at the local big box store or by buying an economy consider a diaphragm compressor. There are several other
CANADA
industrial compressor and it only lasts half as long
Moisture Problems as another compressor? Have you really saved
types, like the rotary vane and regenerative blowers that
are excellent for certain applications but reciprocating
money? Some brands of contractor’s compressors piston type compressors are the most common, and are
When you compress air it gets hot, and when it cools,
water condenses out of it. The harder you work
are designed to last 10 times as long as others and best value for most applications. · On-Site Sales · Insurance Claims
the price.
moisture problems you will have. Sometimes the best
Don’t buy a compressor until you talk to the experts
at KMS Tools. We’ve done the homework · Shop Installations · Contract Pricing
way to solve moisture problems is to get a bigger Don’t buy a compressor unless the dealer can tell as far as proper ratings and which
compressor so it doesn’t have to work as hard and
get so hot. The humidity in the air can also cause you
you about the life expectancy. If he doesn’t
know, get him to call the manufacturer. As
compressor is best for the type of
work you are doing, whether it be on
· Commercial Quotes · Leasing & Financing
to have inconsistent moisture problems. A common a rule of thumb, for every dollar you spend the job site, or heavy duty industrial
moisture trap provides a low spot for water to or at home. FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND TO THE PRAIRIES
collect. This system is designed to collect droplets you’ll probably save 2-3 dollars in the long
of water, not water vapor, so if the air is hot it will run. We carry quality compressors made in PHONE:
carry moisture through, and then the water vapor the USA, plus a few low-end models to
will condense in the hose. The trick is to get the air as Besides purchasing a high quality compete with the big box retailers. FAX:
cool as possible before it gets to the moisture trap,
EMAIL: [email protected]
compressor to get long life expectancy,
because if it cools after the trap, more moisture will you can also buy a bigger compressor.
condense out. kmstools.com/accountsales
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