small air compressor usage

[Gaogier]

Hello

I am thinking of getting a small air compressor, but not sure if I would warrant getting one or just stick with a tyre inflator and get an electric staple/nail gun replacement.

I currently have a staple/small nailer Stanley TRE550, but it won’t “load” the next nail or staple if the stack behind isn’t 30mm thick, and the safety pin has long been broken.

My mum likes to do upholstery work and uses this quite often but since she goes through about 1000 nails/staples a week this gets annoying and she ends up doing everything by hand.

I currently use a tyre inflater to get bits cleaned out so this would be replaced with the better option of getting an air compressor.

Other than this, what would an air compressor be used for? It works about to be some 20% extra getting the compressor and the air tool nail/staple gun, over the electric version.

What would you do?
What do you use your air compressor for?

 

[Bear2Biker]

Well I would stick with electric, yes you have a cable to manage but the battery ones are 1. expensive, 2. waiting for charge, 3. not enough included batteries, 4. a bit weighty with battery . I bought a small 15L Machine Mart air compressor kit a few years back with all sorts of attachments, the most used was the nailer/stapler, then the tyre inflator. I got an electric stapler for attaching insulating membrane in my 8x18 shed/workshop, works brilliantly.

I had big ideas for my shed/workshop 4/5 years ago so bought a big Lidl 60L compressor with more tools - its still in the box at the back of the shed-too noisy and heavy, in reality, even if you got a small one you've still got the noise and air line to fight with as they're not really very flexible like an electric cable.

A quick search on T'internet, electric ones priced £15 to £45 - far cheaper than an air compressor which you also have to clean & maintain, store somewhere and annoy the neighbors with noise and at that price you could probably replace far easier if it wore out/broke, same staple/nails as far as I can see. I don't think a small compressor or tyre inflator would have enough power with continous use and would certainly wear out quickly, causing disappointment and expense.

 

[Gaogier]

I already have the tyre inflator as my sister isn’t great at car maintenance, and was driving around with dangerously low psi, some 20 psi below what it should be. So my mum went and got a half decent tyre inflator, and only really used it the once. But we keep it in the car, as whenever we go to London (at home our tyre pressure is perfect), our car will keep saying low pressure.


Anyway I have used the tyre pressure to clean out heavy stuff from the shed/workshop to clean the tools or when cleaning out electrical equipment. This isn’t the most effective as their is no tank to pressure for anything meaningful.

Why I was thinking, do I get an air compressor, and use a staple/nail gun, use it to clean up my mess and to inflate tyres!? I am not sure if it would be used for anything else,

 

[stevie888]

As well as the tyres. mine has proved very handy for blowing stuff down after sanding, I also use a needle gun on de-paint/de-scale duties though in fairness it'd only a Lidl cheapy so do need to be patient.

I have also made up a small airlift to clean leaves from the bottom of the pond which actually works really well but again slowly.

I think that it's one of those tools that you find uses for once you have it, Mine lived on a high shelf just inside garage door so easy for cars and pond within reach.