Part of any functional workshop or workspace is having the tools you need at hand, ready to go when you need them. Tools should be compact, easily accessible, and useful for their intended purpose. Several tools can work in conjunction with each other to make certain tasks and projects much easier to complete.
Among the pantheon of power tools, the air compressor is a shining example of an amazing, functional tool with a multitude of different use cases. Part of getting an air compressor is understanding the size, horsepower, flow rate, and pressure you’ll need.
Once you’ve mapped out those vectors, you can set up the machine and start using it in your workshop right away. Here are five useful things an air compressor can do.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
An oft-overlooked, but ultimately satisfying, use for air compressors is how easy they make cleaning and sanitizing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies used an air compressor setup with spray cans to sanitize surfaces throughout the day. This same concept can be applied to sanitizing other surfaces at any time, for any reason.
But where an air compressor truly shines is its ability to help keep spaces and electronics clean. Electronics, especially, have a tendency to accumulate dust and dirt buildup. If you’re cleaning a computer, make sure you shut it off prior to plugging in your compressor. Then proceed to take it apart and use the compressor (at a lower PSI) to gently blow any dust, dirt, or debris from the device.
Be sure to tackle the motherboard, processor, speakers, connecting ports, memory cards, fan, and the surface of the unit. For TVs, stereos, air purifiers, and other appliances, simply blow the dust out of crevices and surfaces. You might want to make sure you have a vacuum cleaner handy to pick up any stray debris that you blow out from your electronic devices.
Nailing
Air compressors make nailing things a breeze. A pneumatic nailer kit uses an air compressor to drive nails into your projects. Pneumatic tools don’t require continuous airflow—but using them intermittently does tend to drain the tank a bit fast.
Depending on the type of pneumatic tool/nailer you’re using, you’ll need to go with a CFM (cubic feet minute) of two or more and aim for a 2 – 6 gallon tank. Different nailers require their own ratings, so make sure you understand what you need from your air compressor before embarking on your next project.
Putting Air In Tires
Have you ever been driving down the road and been struck with a flat tire? What about waking up on a winter morning to notice your tires are running a little low? It’s happened to many of us. That’s why having portable Dewalt air compressors around your house, garage, or vehicle can be beneficial.
Air compressors can quickly and efficiently air up a tire without requiring you to put your donut on the wheel or drive down to the nearest gas station. This saves time, energy, and money over time. Portable air compressors are pretty handy for bicycle, wheelbarrow, lawnmower, and motorcycle tires, too.
Sandblasting and Power Washing
Sandblasting is a unique technique where using abrasive material (such as sand) on a surface at high pressures can clean or otherwise alter it. Sandblasting is used in glassmaking, plastic manufacturing, and some construction. An air compressor makes this technique quite easy to perform. But air compressors really shine with power washing.
Pressure washing originally started with steam cleaners until the Karcher company figured out one could use a motor and an air compressor to send streams of pressurized water onto surfaces. This effectively blasted the dirt from the surfaces and pressure washing was born. Pressure washing requires a bit more of a hands-on approach to get the right amount of pressure and flow directed at the dirt.
The sheer joy of using pressure to blast dirt off surfaces cannot be understated and even has its place in the world of modern art creation and industrial cleaning routines.
Painting
Giving your home or car a fresh coat of paint can take some time. But sometimes it needs to be done. Maybe you want your car to look new. Perhaps its paint has been peeling for a while and it’s time to clean it up. Or it could be something more practical, like trying to get lower car insurance quotes.
Either way, an air compressor can help make things easier. Air compressors used in tandem with a spray paint can make painting a breeze. All you need is the right amount of pressure, a spray can, some paint, and a bit of patience.
Using a paint sprayer is going to give you a smooth coat and a great finish. But since a compressor atomizes the paint, be sure to wear a mask/respirator, gloves, goggles, and any other appropriate PPE to get the job done.
