What Size Air Compressor Do I Need To Paint A Car

Having the right tools at hand e'er makes the job easier and unremarkably improves the overall quality of the job. Trying to make do with an underrated compressor, and poorly matched to a paint gun tin can non only ruin the pigment job, but it may too make information technology even incommunicable to paint a car. So, what size air compressor do I need to paint a motorcar?

Air compressors tin can besides exist used for a variety of other tasks around the workshop. Before you settle on an air compressor, listing the tools that might run off compressed air to ensure the air compressor y'all purchase will meet all of your needs.

There are several factors to consider when it comes to purchasing an appropriate size air compressor for painting cars: the size of the tank, the compressor CFM rating, the air pressure rating or PSI, the amount of horsepower, and how it runs. It is recommended to purchase 60 gallon compressors or higher capacity to reach consistency in your auto painting jobs.

Should you get a belt-driven air compressor and reciprocating or rotary screw air compressor? Also, is this a unmarried small auto painting job, or will you take multiple big painting projects involving the entire auto? Air compressor sizes vary a swell deal from small portable models to large fixed in place models.

Powermate VX PLA4708065 80 Gallon Air Compressors

Compressor has an oil-lubricated pump
Used with almost automotive spray guns
Features 155 max psi pressure and 14 CFM
Air compressor body consist of total cast iron

Does the air compressor need a specific amount of horsepower?

A low horsepower car that can deliver sufficient CFM and pressure level should be more than sufficient. Remember that horsepower is the amount of work that can be achieved, in this case, the air compressor. For most do it yourself mechanics, the air compressor is going to be used for a multifariousness of tasks around the shop.

While a small HP compressor might run into the needs to paint your vehicle, a more than powerful machine can usually run other ability tools that are acquired from time to time. Call back long term and the different tasks y'all may need an air compressor for. Going with a larger horsepower machine is unremarkably the best option as long as you practice not suspension your upkeep.

What amount of pressure level (PSI) does the air compressor need?

Auto manufacturing industry worker with spray gun with red paint

Substantially you need to lucifer the amount of air force per unit area or PSI ratings to the paint gun you programme to employ. Typically, a high volume, the low-pressure spray gun tin run on 10-fifteen PSI, and almost air compressors can easily handle this level of PSI. Getting the PSI level correct is i of the most important factors when it comes to painting a automobile. In that location are other elements too; withal, to achieve an fifty-fifty coat of paint, it is important to match the air compressor PSI with the requirements of the spray gun and the blazon of paint being used.

If you are planning to add a clear coat to your paint job to protect your paint and requite information technology a nice finish, experts suggest increasing the PSI from the xv PSI range to xx or 25 PSI range. Always follow the instructions included with the spray gun kit and the requirements of the type of pigment being used. If the pressure level dropped while painting, the results would be less than satisfactory.

Does the tank size affair when information technology comes to painting a auto?

The tank size does matter. A small tank could cause an uneven menstruation of pigment, leaving an undesirable paint finish, which would require re-sanding and repainting. Most experts suggest that purchasing an air compressor with at least a l-gallon air compressor tank is sufficient. However, tanks with sixty-gallon air compressors or more than are preferred.

If your budget allows, purchase the largest tank y'all can beget and store in your painting area. Are yous planning to do a lot of painting using the air compressor? You will exist more than satisfied with a larger tank and the results you tin can reach compared to using an air compressor with a smaller tank. Smaller compressors are typically used to inflate car tires with a nail on them.

What does CFM rating mean?

CFM is the number of cubic feet per minute the air compressor tin deliver to the paint gun. It is important to match the CFM rating of the air compressor to the paint gun and also accept sufficient capacity to deliver a quality pigment task. Many body shops utilize compressors with a 14 to eighteen CFM rating.

If you lot are doing straightforward touch-ups and cosmetic enhancements, you can probably survive with an air compressor that delivers depression CFM. However, for larger jobs, a higher rated compressor should be used. Otherwise, you may discover that the paint job is not uniform beyond your vehicle. Some areas of your automobile are better painted than others. Base coats and articulate coats should too be applied using compressors with a higher CFM.

How many CFM do I need to pigment a car?

Professionals apply air compressors with a CFM of effectually 14 to xviii CFM and pigment guns that also take similar ratings. These compressors deliver a uniform pigment job beyond the unabridged surface of the car. Also, base coats and clear coats require higher CFM ratings to deliver uniform coverage.

In many situations, consumers are retouching their vehicle and merely demand to pigment a pocket-size expanse. Perchance touching up a fender or door panel that was scratched. Air compressors with lower CFM ratings of around four tin exist used. Although more than expensive, it is frequently meliorate to buy an air compressor with higher tank capacity and CFM ratings, since you lot never know what paint jobs are in your future.

Recommended air compressor sizes based on the type of spray guns

Information technology is important to lucifer the spray gun with the compressor specifications. Having mentioned this bespeak, readers should be aware that matching a professional spray gun with a smaller capacity air compressor, e.yard., tank capacity and CFM rating is also possible. Operators cannot run the spray gun continuously or nonstop. They will demand to terminate painting for a short time while air pressure level rebuilds in a smaller tank.

Air compressors for HVLP spray guns

Porter Cable 80 Gallon Unmarried Pass Air Compressor

Suitable air compressor to paint cars
Equipped with synthetic oil for long life
Compressor comes with Iron crankcase
Stainless steel leaf valves & tank force per unit area valve

HVLP (Loftier Book Low Pressure) spray kits operate at a lower pressure; notwithstanding, they need a high volume of air to catechumen the pigment to an aerosol every bit it is sprayed onto the surface of your auto. Higher CFM air compressors are required to piece of work with HVLP spray painter guns. Notation the spray gun pigment kit's specifications to ensure your air compressors and spray gun specs friction match.

Automotive HVLP paint sprayers have several advantages. In that location is less overspray allowing for more authentic painting and unmarried-laissez passer techniques. There is too a reduction in overall air pollution, and materials are utilized more than efficiently. HVLP spray guns can handle primer, pigment, and clear coat finishes making it a favorite of refinishing specialists.

Air compressors for LVLP spray painters

Campbell Hausfeld HS5180 Air Compressor for Cars Pigment

Recommended for automotive latex paint
Comes with xiv CMF and 175 max psi
Used with an HVLP gun for painting your cars
Can be used with different automotive tools

LVLP or depression volume, low-pressure spray guns can work well with most air compressors. Even the less expensive air compressors will work well with this type of spray painters. Earlier ownership a less expensive air compressor to match with an LVLP spray gun, have a moment to consider what other tasks you may use the air compressor for. Sometimes spending a petty more on improve quality, the high capacity machine will salve you money in the long run.

Also,   LVLP spray guns do non require a high capacity compressor, they work well with clear coats, work well with thinner paints, and have a smaller fan design than HVLP spray guns. A smaller fan pattern means that it will take longer to embrace a large surface area. Cheap compressors like the California air tools 5510se or the Rolair vt25big would do the job.

Can you pigment a car with a portable air compressor?

Portable models tin can exist used in spraying paint on your car provided that they deliver sufficient CFM, air pressure, and accept sufficient chapters. Using a smaller HP wheeled portable compressor to paint provides flexibility if you lot demand to move the air compressor around the shop.

Painting cars one day, removing tires the adjacent, and other repair jobs requiring the use of compressed air to run various tools allow yous to obtain more employ of your investment for a multifariousness of tasks. If you have a defended pigment store, a fixed or stationary industrial air compressor with a sufficient length of air hose volition exercise the job just fine.

When you buy an air compressor, brand certain information technology includes a limited warranty in instance you demand to replace the air tank. Look for moisture trap and lubricated pump in the features.  Too, a compressor for machine pigment requires oil to foreclose piston friction, so make certain you lot become the best synthetic oil possible.

Wrapping It Up

College capacity tanks, coupled with larger horsepower and CFM, give the user more than flexibility in terms of spray gun choices equally well every bit other uses around the shop. Professional auto body and paint shops usually opt for big stationary air compressors. In contrast, occasional refinishing enthusiasts opt for portable units that can exist moved effectually the shop to the location they are needed.

The size of your budget may dictate the capacity of the air compressor chosen. Consider all of the uses you will have for the air compressor and spray guns. Match the pressure, the CFM, and tank size to the tools you volition be using to ensure completing the chore professionally. When purchasing an air compressor for painting, you need to do your research. For more popular posts, follow our links beneath.