I'm thinking about buying an air compressor and I was wondering what psi do you all reccomend to run air tools. That is what is enough psito make an impact wrench effective?

 

It's not about pressure - it's volume. Air tools typically run on about 90-120 PSI, but if you want to run something that uses alot of air, like a cut-off wheel, you'll want a good sized tank. Impact wrenches don't use much, so a small tank would work.

The smaller the tank, the more often the compressor will run.

 

Chubs man you have a way of making something so simple seem so complex

 

I just got a Brute 15 gallon tank air compressor from Walmart for $187 with a 71 piece air tool set.
It comes with an Impact wrech, air rachet, drill, cutter/knibbler, air tool accessories for the tools etc. It is a really nice set up, I just had to buy the air hose.
It is by no means a professonial grade garage set up, but for homeowner use and what I want, It is fine. I don't need nothing expensive and fancy.

Lynn

 

Here is the one from Walmart that I got.
http://www.brutepower.com/products/air_compressors/
As I said above, I got the 15 gallon set with the 71 piece air tool set for $187, the 10 gallon set does not come with the tools and is $98.
Lynn

 

i was looking at the compressor that lynnbob got from walmart and i was wondering if 5.1cfm @ 40 and 4.2 cfm @90 high enough to effectively run an impact wrench to get tough bolts off?

 

I went back to look at what I said and have no idea how that would be considered complicated. [sm=alcoholic.gif]

 

Look at what the tools are rated at. They'll tell you what you need.

I got a30 gal (I believe) Craftsman from Sears. Was $200 during a sale. Works great, but it seems like you never have a big enuf tank for some jobs. I'd love to get an 80 gal!

 

Harbor freight has a nice 3HP compressor with a 21 gallon tank (it says 230 VAC in the ad, but comes wired for andwill run on a 15A 115 VAC line)--very often it's on sale for $159. I've had one for over 2 years and beat it pretty hard (including sandblasting) with no problems, my brother has had one for over 3 years; keep the oil clean, change it every15-20 hours of compressor operation--twice a year for me)[/align][/align]The big tank lets you draw much higher CFM than the compressor can provide for short periods--with this and a 475 ft.lb Rockwell wrench I have yet to find a bolt/nut that wouldn't loosen or shear...[/align]