Cars of Technology

At some point we all need compressed air. That means buying an air compressor. When you’re shopping for a compressor keep in mind that more horsepower doesn’t actually mean you get more compressed air. The Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) is the best indicator of compressor performance. There are  a lot of games being played with horsepower numbers. Peak horsepower may actually be five to seven times the running horsepower. Most companies will give you a horsepower rating but they never say if it’s peak or running horsepower. I recently looked at three different 5-horsepower compressors in Lowe’s. The CFM ranged from 15.3 to 18.1 at 90 psi. That’s a significant difference. The Tank The type of usage should determine the size of your air compressor tank.  You need this tank because it gives the compressor time to rest and cool off. A big tank takes a long time to fill while smaller tanks are always asking to be refilled. If you only need air in short quick concentrated bursts, such ...