Air Compressor for RV Builder

Mike Fitzgerald wrote:
"Charlie England" wrote in message
...

John Bundy wrote:


What size air compressor do I need for building my RV-10? I don't know
about rivets and air tools. My experience is mostly carpentry. I may
be interested in spraying some primer in interior areas but that's
about as far as I'd go with painting.

Go to:

http://www.matronics.com/search

& get as many opinions as you can stand about air compressors directly
from RV builders.

If all you do is rivet & don't try to use spray guns or air powered die
grinders (air drills are ok), a little 5 hp unit with 10-15 gal tank
would be adequate. Type of compressor gets important if you don't care
for noise (oilless is bad; old style piston type with oil in the
crankcase is good).


... forget about hp... it means NOTHING. That is why Campbell Hausfeld and
other compressor companies have the lawyers swarming over them at the
moment. I repeat: horsepower ratings for (most) compressors is bulls*hit and
most people know that. Also, giving absolute numbers of XX gal size tank is
also not useful information without knowing what tools you will be using.

How to select a compressor: Find your most air hungry tool. Buy a compressor
with more CFM than required at the PSI required for that tool. And then
figure out how frequently that tool will run when selecting tank size.
Continuous use tools like paint guns and die grinders would require a larger
tank than 10-15 gal.

HVLP guns typically require at least 13-15 CFM although there are a few low
CFM HVLP guns available (Sharpe Platinum is one such gun). Or, just go with
a conventional gun.

I agree - get an oil lubed compressor simply due to the noise. And the
oilless compressors do not last as long.

Anyway: select the tools, then select the compressor.


You are absolutely correct about the way to select a compressor & about
the HP myth. Everything you said (and a LOT more) is in the Matronics
RV-list archives link I provided. For instance, what external
accessories you will need if you paint using an oil-type compressor.