How to Set Up an Air Compressor for DIY Projects

4
(1)

If you are a do-it-yourself (DIY) technician, an air compressor is a vital piece of machinery you can’t afford to miss in your full-purpose arsenal of ait tools. A compressor saves you time and effort since pneumatic tools have the power to complete activities such as hammering, sanding, nailing, or spraying in a second.

In addition, it spares your body stress, fatigue, and soreness that would result when performing scrubbing, striking, or pressing activities manually. Have you ever set up an air compressor before? This project is easier than you think!

Tools That Can be Used with an Air Compressor

Which tools do you have in your garage that can help you set up your compressor? Before understanding the procedure involved, it’s important to learn the various tools used. Some of them include;

How to Set Up an Air Compressor

Now that you understand the various pneumatic tools that you can use with an air compressor, let’s dive in and learn how to set it up.

Plan

What tools do you need for the project? Are they ready? Get all the needed equipment and a simple diagram or sketchup of what is required to get the process completed. Look at the size of your compressor and consider if you might need future expansions of the system. For instance, if you got a bigger compressor in the future, would it fit in the same location you want to set up the current one?

Choose Your Compressor

Choosing the best air compressor for air tool wisely is the most important step. You need to consider:

  • Tank Volume – Get a tank volume that fits your needs perfectly
  • Cubic Feet Per Minute (cfm) – Consider how much air an air compressor can push per minute
  • Duty Cycle – Take into consideration the time which a compressor motor can function safely before it sleeps and cools down in the process
  • Horsepower – Consider your compressor’s motor output which is measured in horsepower. Judge its efficiency based on the cfm and psi ratings
  • Pounds per Square Inch (psi) – You need to consider the pressure at which air is sent to the compressor for efficiency reasons.


The Bostitch BTFP02012 air compressor, with 6 gallons tank and 150PSI, accompanied by 3 air tools.
Check
prices for this model and other air compressors on Amazon now.

Setting Up Your Air Compressor

At this step, you need to get the real work done. Whether you are working from your home garage or work shop, plumbing in your air compressor is one step you can’t avoid.

  1. Get a kit that contains a strong and flexible inch o.d put ex-hose of 50 feet long. Ensure that elbows, straight unions, and tee fittings are included.
  2. Cut a small length of the put ex-hose and begin the setup. Accompany this process with a dryer or filter. To be on the safer side, chose a dryer that has a pressure gauge, shut-off valve, and regulator among other essentials.

However, if you have an air compressor that you would like to upgrade, follow these steps.

  1. If your system has hard lines that are made of copper, galvanized steel, and such other tools, first focus on the air outlets and then add a second filter close to it. This filter is meant to sieve out any debris, corrosion, or oil in your pipes before they reach your air tools.
  2. Get a drain valve and insert it at every drop leg. A drain valve is the best way to collect water from the pipes – they allow for the collection and drainage of condensation as required.

Deliver Air Supply

This is the last and the most important step in this DIY project. Here, you need to deliver air supply to the right places inside the compressor.

Finally, plan for the future and make any changes that might affect your air compressor. However, don’t forget to get air tools and other equipment that can go well with the compressor. This will help promote productivity, ease the workload and cut delays as well as associated risks.


The California Air Tools 2010A Air Compressor. Check the current price.

The Final Word

Do you now feel confident to set up your air compressor all by yourself? Now that you understand the steps needed, ensure that you invest wisely in the best air compressor for air tool that will power your equipment for years to come. It’s worth an investment!

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?