what to look for in an Air compressor

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fsstnotch,

If you plan on painting when you get home (make it soon, OK!) the main thing you want to look for is CFM capacity. Many of today's spray guns eat air like a demon, some using upwards of 20CFM. The test I ask my customers to do (yep, I sell spray equipment) is pull the trigger on their spray gun and see if their fully charged compressor will run for 2 minutes withour cycling on. If it will do this, then you probably have an adequate sized compressor. It is not about voltage, tank size or horsepower, but CFM. However, to get adequate CFM you will probably have to go to a bigger, higher horsepower compressor.

Check your spray gun too. It should give a CFM rating and you have to be above that capacity on your compressor. For instance if the gun is rated at 14 CFM, then your compressor should be no less than 15 or better yet higher.

Another thing to remember is to have a final filter set up on the air line before it gets into the spray gun. There are many models available, but try to get a 3 stage air drier if possible. It removes water, oil, oil mist, dirt, and finally humidity which is what kills paint jobs. The closer you get to clean dry air, the better your paint job will be.

Good luck and come home soon! Thanks for your service!

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