We’re looking to pick up a compressor but I’m a little overwhelmed with the options. Most needs are pretty basic and easy–tires, blowing dirt off stuff–but we also have quite a lot of fence to stain, so something that can power a sprayer would be great.
Any recommendations on size and brand? Is harbor freight okay for this sort of thing or am I better off with a name brand?
I bought a Blue Hawk twin tank (small) from Lowe’s for around $50. It’s been fine for fluffing tires and blowing out tractor air filter screens after turning my manure piles. I don’t know if it would be big enough to use with a paint sprayer–I’m kind of an idiot when it comes to them, but for my needs it’s worked out fine.
a starting point would be to find out what are the spray gun requirements in CFM then size the compressor to that need
Maybe I’m approaching this in the wrong way. A quick Google turns up these airless paint sprayers with good reviews…
”‹”‹https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0026SR0FW/
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0026SSW8G/
Maybe the answer is one of those for the fence and a small inexpensive compressor for the little jobs…
So I am thinking portable, powerful enough to keep the spray flowing smoothly, gas powered to work a far distance from electricity? You may want to start with your paint sprayer, how much air air does it need a minute, to keep spraying smoothly. This is the beginning, compressor has to provide enough air to power the sprayer, to do a good paint job.
If you have not used a sprayer recently, buy a new, cheap one. Sprayers have improved AMAZINGLY in the last few years. We got a cheap one from TSC to paint the old spreader we bought. Husband said it was very easy to use, light to hold, things went fast. Much better, easier to use than his old, expensive sprayer, ”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹ for a fraction of the cost. Read the paperwork in the sprayer kit to know your air requirements.
Then list your other requirements for the sprayer. Now you have a shopping list the new compressor has to meet to be useful.
Lastly, get a VERY GOOD respirator mask to use during painting. Buy the extra filters to go with it and goggles. Don’t go cheap in this area of protection. Sprayed paint particles in the air are dangerous to your health. Breathing them in will coat the inside of lungs causing damage. Air moving outside can change direction fast, so you get blowback paint on you to breathe. Not worth your health to skip wearing good protection. Those cheap paper masks won’t protect your lungs, spray droplets are smaller than the paper openings. .
We have a porter cable one that’s done us well for the odd jobs and painting - caveat, it’s electric and the painting has been in or near the house so running extensions cords has been easy.
We have a portable generator, so electric is fine.
Doing further googling, the answer really looks like it might be an airless sprayer and a small portable compressor. This bostitch has good reviews on a lot of places.
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UHNM1R0/
Any feedback on that plan? Looks like it would be less expensive than a compressor with the CFM to run the paint sprayer. And a compressor that size isn’t really PORTABLE, as far as I can tell…
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
