Air Compressors

Use Air Compressors to work smarter and quicker. Our range includes leading brands such as CIF, DeWALT, SIP and Welding Star. Air compressors are vital pieces of equipment for all workshops, garages and DIY enthusiasts.

How do they work?

Air compressors use a gas or electric engine to suck in volumes of air and squeeze it into a small space. This process increases the pressure by making the volume smaller. The air is then stored in a receiver tank and can be used for many applications.

What is an air compressor used for?

Domestic uses include airbrushing, pressure washing, tyre inflating, sandblasting, air blow guns, and paint guns. Industrial uses include: power tools, sanding, pneumatic tools, grinding, diving equipment, nail guns, paint workshops.

How do I determine which air compressor I need?

Compressors are measured in two ways: pounds per square inch (PSI) and cubic feet per minute (CFM). These measurements determine the effectiveness of the compressor. You will need to identify what PSM and CFM your tools or equipment need.

If you will only run one tool at one time off the compressor, then you will need to look at the tool that has the highest PSI and CFM requirement. If you want to run multiple tools from the air compressor you will need to total up the PSI and CFMs of each of the tools.

As the air is stored in a tank, the size of the tank will impact how the compressor works. For tools and equipment that need continuous air, a larger tank is better as this will produce enough CFM. For tools that will be intermittently used a smaller tank is sufficient.

The horsepower is normally between 1.5HP and 6.5HP on an air compressor. Higher ones are available, but these are usually only used in industrial areas.

Single-stage or two-stage compressors?

Single-stage air compressors, also known as piston compressors, have one or more cylinders. Each cylinder will pump air into the storage tank.

Two-stage air compressors have two cylinders and the air is pumped from one cylinder to the other cylinder, cooled, then delivered into the storage tank. These are mainly used where high pressure is needed as they have double the pressure.