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Today, we will discuss the best air compressor for impact wrench with a detailed analysis of the best five products in the market right now and the up-to-date buying guides for you.
If you come to this article, we think that you already have an ideal impact wrench for dealing with most of your tasks. But do you find out that you did miss an essential part to run your wrench? Yes, you need a suitable and high-quality air compressor!
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Before, we thought that our wrench could work with every air compressor. However, only after seeing our impact wrench refused to work, we found how vital an air compressor is. Since the standard air compressor can’t supply enough air to the impact wrench, you need to select the typical one for your purpose.
[amazon table=”16097″]Top 5 Best Air Compressor For Impact Wrench 2021
#1 PORTER-CABLE C2002 Oil-Free UMC Pancake Compressor
[sc name=”amzl” asin=”B000O5RO1Y”]The first best air compressor for impact wrench in our list is the Porter cable C2002. This product has conquered thousands of customers, and so do we. We love Porter for two reasons: it is cheap, but it is still high-quality and durable.
Porter-Cable is the best product in this amount of money. Porter designed this product base on the “pancake compressor” style, so it is best in stability and durability. And it can provide 2.6 CFM at 90 PSI, which means it could be best for ¼ to 3/8 inch impact wrench.
It also comes with the 13 piece accessory kit. It is also very compact that you can quickly move around your workshop. Don’t worry if you are not a professional because Porter Cable is user-friendly. The oil-free pump can ensure that you don’t need to think of oil spills or maintenance issues.
Pros
- Compact in size
- Portable and durable air compressor
- User-friendly design and maintenance-free
- Affordable
Cons
- Noisy
The best air compressor for impact wrench in ¼ and 3/8 inch. And it is best for household tasks.
#2 Makita MAC5200 3.0 Hp Air Compressor
[sc name=”amzl” asin=”B0001Q2VPU”]The second product in our list of the best air compressor for impact wrench is the Makita MAC5200. And the reason why it can come to our list is the 3.5 horsepower motor that can produce 6.5 CFM at 90 PSI. It is such an impressive diameter, and it really can increase your work performance. With a tank size of 5.2 gallons, it is the best option for a ½ to ¾ inch impact wrench.
Also, Makita designed this machine to minimize the noise and optimize output with as little maintenance as possible. It can quickly deal with most of the industrial and heavy-duty tasks. The pump itself is pre-oiled, so the operating temperature is low.
The handles and wheels are also the strong points of this product. And we think that you don’t need to worry about its lifespan because it really can suffer from some tear and wear. If you are not satisfied, you can return within 30 days. And Makita also offers you a year’s warranty.
Pros
- Good customer service
- Powerful motor for strong capacity
- Suitable for industrial and heavy-duty task
- It is not very noisy
Cons
- High price
This product is the best for ½ to ¾ inch impact wrench that has to work in high intensity.
#3 BOSTITCH Pancake Air Compressor, Oil-Free, 6 Gallon
[sc name=”amzl” asin=”B00UHNM1R0″]If you are looking for the best air compressor for impact wrench in ¼ inch- size, Bostitch BTF_02012 is the best choice for you. First of all, it can deliver 150 PSI and 2.6 CFM when running. And with a tank size of 6.0 gallons, it is precisely the one for your household task and your small workshop.
We like most about this product is the high-efficiency motor that can quickly start up even in cold weather. And this air compressor produces only 78.5dBA of noise when running, which is less than most of the other tools on our list.
It also has two universal couplers to support two users easily. And you can easily store and bringing along because it is only 29Ibs.
Pros
- Very quiet
- Suitable for 1/4 inch wrench
- Moderate and robust tank size
Cons
- Not good regulator
This is the best air compressor for impact wrench in your garage – we mean it is most suitable for beginner and amateur who only want to fix things by themselves.
#4 PORTER-CABLE PCFP12234 3-Tool Combo Kit
[sc name=”amzl” asin=”B009NR3R6A”]If we had to select the best five air compressors for impact wrench in 2019, we would choose two products from Porter-Cable. One is the very first product that we did review above, and one is PCFP12234. And what we like most about this product is it has 6 gallons tank size with 150 PSI.
Besides, this product also comes in a combo with a finish nailer and a brad nailer. All of the accessories are durable, maintenance-free motor, tool-free depth of drive adjustment. It also comes with a 25ft of ¼ inch air hose with a coupler and plug.
Porter-cable designed this product for better protection and portability. All three tools (guns and stapler) worked flawlessly (over many projects, to-date). It’s beautiful in that it is relatively light and easy to move around.
Pros
- Reasonable price
- Durable and can deal with many tasks
- No stocking
- Easy to operate and use
- Lightweight and easy to move
Cons
- Noisy
#5 CRAFTSMAN Air Compressor, 6 gallon
[sc name=”amzl” asin=”B07KHHDJGD”]Craftsman air compressor is the most expensive product in our list of the best air compressor for impact wrench. And we have to say that it is worth to invest in this high-quality and long-durability product.
Its design follows the “pancake compressor” style, which means it is very durable but very portable. Besides, the model also ensures long durability and less maintenance.
The product can deliver 150 max PSI with 2.6 CFM for quick compressor recovery time. You can also efficiently run and use it during cold weather. The product also comes with 13-piece accessories and a one-year limited warranty from the producer.
Pros
- Stable and portable design
- Full accessory
- Suitable for ¼ and 3/8 inch impact wrench
- Good warranty policy
Cons
- High price
How To Select The Best Air Compressor For Impact Wrench
PSI and CFM
Definition
The more air pressure the air compressors can produce, the more powerful it will be. And people always calculate air pressure through two factors:
- CFM ( cubic feet per minute): these factors mention the mass of air flowing per minute.
- PSI (pounds per square inch): this unit will denote the air pressure.
The best air compressor for impact wrench has to be the most suitable number of these two factors. And depends on the different sizes of the impact wrench, we can find out what is the most suitable one for each of them.
There is the fact that the bigger your impact wrench is, the more air it will need. And here are the best CFM and PSI for each:
¼ inch impact wrench
It is the smallest size of impact wrench, and it means that you don’t need much air pressure to run. So, the best air compressor for impact wrench ¼ is the one that can provide 1- 1/5 CFM. Of course, you can select the one with a bigger CFM without worrying about your wrench, but it is not necessary.
3/8 inch impact wrench
For a 3/8 inch impact wrench, you will need more air pressure. In particular, you need to double air pressure to run the 3/8 inch impact wrench. In our experience, you should better choose the one that can provide 3-3/5 CFM. You can also operate your wrench with a 2.5 CFM air compressor, but it will reduce the tool’s lifespan.
½ inch impact wrench
½ inch impact wrench is one of the most popular ones on the market right now. It is in the average number in size. And in our experience, the best air compressor for impact wrench ½ inch is the one with 3.5-5 CFM and 90 PSI of air pressure. You should at least select the air compressor with 4 CFM, and 5 CFM is the best option even if it is a little expensive.
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Tank size
The tank size is also one of the most crucial factors you should pay attention to when looking for the best air compressor for an impact wrench. It will directly impact your work performance. And it is very annoying if you have to stop the work all the time and wait for the tank to refill.
So, if you own an impact wrench that is less than ½ inch, we suggest you should select at least 5 gallons air tank. If you are not a professional who has to use the wrench, 5 gallons is the best option for you.
It would help if you considered investing in more than 20 gallons of air compressor for bigger sizes of impact wrenches. It will ensure you a long working time with no interruption.
Other factors
Technically, there are three things you need to check before purchasing the air compressor: PSI, CFM, and tank size. However, there are still some other factors that will define if your air compressor is the best air compressor for impact wrench or not. And here they are:
Portability: you buy this air compressor for your impact wrench, which means that it is always on the move around your house, garage, or workshop. So, it would be best if you did not ignore the portability. And the one with the wheels and handles is the best option for you in this case.
Durability: of course, you don’t want to replace your air compressor after a few times of use. And that is why you should check the origin, material, warranty policy carefully to make the best decision.
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FAQs
Q: Would Porter cable work for blowing out PLASTIC water lines in winterizing a home? What size are the connecting air fittings? 1/4?
A: If you’re talking about your sprinkler lines, then yes (assuming 3/4″ tracks). As to the connector, it depends on your back-flow device.
Q: Due to the small tank, does Makita regularly cycle running a 1/2 inch impact wrench?
A: We run a 1/2 inch impact pretty regularly. It doesn’t cycle that much. It has a tough time with a cut off tool or angle grinder.
Conclusion
When you have to work with a heavy-duty task, we suggest that you pay more money to invest in the best quality product. Because your working environment is very harsh, and you always require your tools to work in high intensity and capacity. And it will waste more money than your expectations at the beginning.
So, when looking for the best air compressor for an impact wrench, you need to check the product reviews and ask the seller for as much information as possible. And in cases you don’t like any products in our list of the best air compressor for an impact wrench, we are still here with the helpful buying- guide.
So, what brands will you select? Let’s leave a comment and share it with us!
