What pneumatic air compressor do you use?
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
What pneumatic air compressor do you use?
When it comes to bolts...i'm a weakling 
What pneumatic air compressor do you use when working on your Jeeps?
I am looking on getting a lift soon and would love to install it myself instead of paying someone else to do it.
Any specific brands, HP, or psi that are strong enough to loosen track bar bolts, control arm bolts?
What pneumatic air compressor do you use when working on your Jeeps?
I am looking on getting a lift soon and would love to install it myself instead of paying someone else to do it.
Any specific brands, HP, or psi that are strong enough to loosen track bar bolts, control arm bolts?
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: Goodyear, Az
As far as compressors go, its not necessarily the PSI rating of the compressor that gives your tools strength. You can pick up two very similar looking impact wrenches but they can be very different.
For example two 1/2" impact wrenches I have look somewhat similar while one is rated at 250 lb.ft. of torque while another is rated for 600 lb.ft. Obviously the 600 one will loosen bolts, nuts, whatever much easier than the 250 one. That being said, you need a compressor that can handle the demands of your tools. Most air tools are rated at a 90 psi operating pressure so just be sure you get a compressor that can produce at least that.
You could roof an entire house with a pancake compressor and a nail gun because nail guns have a small CFM (cubic feet per minute) consumption rate. A die grinder will have a much higher CFM consumption rate because that particular tool requires a lot more air to run.
It is my opinion that you get what you pay for when it comes to air tools. I personally like Ingersoll Rand air tools and you can purchase them for a reasonable price depending on what line you choose. Please do yourself a favor and stay away from Harbor Freight. While some people will tell you their stuff is fine, you dont want your 35 dollar impact wrench to quit half way through installing your lift. Some people also will say you dont need Matco, Snap On, Ingersoll, ect. because you are just paying for the name but honestly, having used several brands, there is a quality difference with higher end tools.
Im certainly not saying go buy a $300 Titanium Ingersoll because its the best, Im saying you will be much happier spending 120 on a decent impact.
Much the same can be said about compressors, however, ultimately it is going to depend on how much you intend to use this stuff. You dont need a 80 gallon belt driven compressor to rotate your tires but dont get a 3 gallon compressor if you intend to install lifts or whatever. Make sense?
Personally, I am a bit of a shade tree mechanic and have used a 25 gallon Craftsman 125psi compressor for years and it suits me fine. I cant run an air grinder non stop but I rarely need to do that so Im not concerned.
I would recommend doing some google searches for compressor and tool reviews. You can learn a lot this way.
Good luck to you.
PM me if you have any questions and I will do my best to help.
For example two 1/2" impact wrenches I have look somewhat similar while one is rated at 250 lb.ft. of torque while another is rated for 600 lb.ft. Obviously the 600 one will loosen bolts, nuts, whatever much easier than the 250 one. That being said, you need a compressor that can handle the demands of your tools. Most air tools are rated at a 90 psi operating pressure so just be sure you get a compressor that can produce at least that.
You could roof an entire house with a pancake compressor and a nail gun because nail guns have a small CFM (cubic feet per minute) consumption rate. A die grinder will have a much higher CFM consumption rate because that particular tool requires a lot more air to run.
It is my opinion that you get what you pay for when it comes to air tools. I personally like Ingersoll Rand air tools and you can purchase them for a reasonable price depending on what line you choose. Please do yourself a favor and stay away from Harbor Freight. While some people will tell you their stuff is fine, you dont want your 35 dollar impact wrench to quit half way through installing your lift. Some people also will say you dont need Matco, Snap On, Ingersoll, ect. because you are just paying for the name but honestly, having used several brands, there is a quality difference with higher end tools.
Im certainly not saying go buy a $300 Titanium Ingersoll because its the best, Im saying you will be much happier spending 120 on a decent impact.
Much the same can be said about compressors, however, ultimately it is going to depend on how much you intend to use this stuff. You dont need a 80 gallon belt driven compressor to rotate your tires but dont get a 3 gallon compressor if you intend to install lifts or whatever. Make sense?
Personally, I am a bit of a shade tree mechanic and have used a 25 gallon Craftsman 125psi compressor for years and it suits me fine. I cant run an air grinder non stop but I rarely need to do that so Im not concerned.
I would recommend doing some google searches for compressor and tool reviews. You can learn a lot this way.
Good luck to you.
PM me if you have any questions and I will do my best to help.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Eagle Mountain, UT
x2 on you get what you pay for and look at what your needs are and go from there. Craftsman is usually a safe bet because they have a lifetime warranty but I don't know if that applies to their air tools and comprssors. I would say a 25 gal air tank that has at least a 90 psi and 3-6 cfm rating should do just fine for the weekend machanic.
