5 Tips for Choosing the Best Portable Diesel Air Compressor for You

Choosing the right portable diesel air compressor for your needs is a big decision.

Air compressors are complex machines, and they come in many different sizes, stages, and grades, with a variety of CFM, PSI, and horsepower ratings. So we get it: it can be a little confusing.

At Swift Equipment Solutions, we’re here to make your life easier. So we’ve put together a quick, five-tip guide to finding and selecting the best compressor for your job.

1. Single- or Two-Stage?

Okay, the first thing you want to determine is the appropriate type of portable diesel air compressor for your needs. And this means deciding whether you’ll need a single-stage or two-stage compressor.

Single-stage compressors are smaller and lower capacity. They work by compressing the air once, with a single-piston stroke. They’re not likely to be diesel-powered and are more suited to the consumer market—for airbrushing and other household projects.

If you’re just puttering around in your home garage, this option is fine. But if your needs require a little more oomph, a single-stage ain’t gonna cut it.

Now, when it comes to two-stage compressors, it’s a different story. Two-stagers compress the air twice, with a cooling period in between; air compressors of the two-stage type produce more power, and you can run many different tools simultaneously off of them.

So you’re likely to find a two-stage, diesel-powered air compressor in commercial and industrial facilities. Obviously, they’re also more expensive than the single-stage types, but their much greater power output and efficiency makes them ideal for contractor- and commercial-grade applications.

2. Rotary Screw or Reciprocating Piston?

Here’s another factor to consider.

The most widely available forms of air compressors use the good old reciprocating piston. There’s nothing magical about this tech—similar to your car engine, it uses the piston-in-a-cylinder standby to drive and compress air.

Reciprocating piston compressors are common in the automotive industry, as well as residential applications; because of internal friction, they can run very loud and very hot, and they may need frequent maintenance if used often.

Rotary screw compressors are a different matter. This type uses two interlocking, rotating screws to compress and deliver the pressurized air.

With fewer moving parts, and less interior friction, the rotary screw compressor produces greater power, is more reliable, and requires less energy. It may be more expensive up front, but these costs are easily defrayed by greater savings over the life of the machine.

3. Know the Lingo

In order to select the right diesel air compressor for your needs, you’ll also need to understand the terminology commonly used in the biz. If you don’t know your CFM from your PSI, then you’re out of the loop.

So here’s a handy primer of air compressor jargon to help you cut through the confusion:

• Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM): this is the overall volume of air delivered by the compressor. This is the most important measurement to use when gauging the right kind of compressor for your needs. A high CFM portable air compressor is perfect for jobs that need more tools and more power.
• Pounds per Square Inch (PSI): this is the standard measure of air pressure. The higher the PSI, the more the air is compressed for a given size of air tank.
• Tank Size: the size of the storage tank attached to the compressor. A bigger tank can hold a higher PSI for much longer. Tank size is measured in gallons, and ranges from 60-200.
• Horsepower (HP): this measures the power output of the compressor’s motor. More horsepower means more PSI, period.
• Duty Cycle: this is the time needed for the compressor to reach maximum PSI. Once the duty cycle is complete, the machine will automatically shut off until the pressure drops below a certain limit.

4. Pick the Right Grade of Diesel Air Compressor

Now we’re getting down to the good stuff. It’s important to remember that air compressors come in different grades, and this will help you decide what kind of compressor is best for your job.

The three grades are: consumer, contractor, and commercial. Let’s look a little more closely at these grades, and see what they’re all about:

Consumer

This grade of air compressor is about what you’d expect. It’s for hobbyists and weekend warriors, and is designed for small projects that don’t require continuous use of air.

These compressors are usually reciprocating piston types, with a CFM of up to 10 and about 90 PSI; they’re small, very portable, and not likely to be diesel-powered.

Contractor

This is where diesel-powered compressors start to flex their muscles. The contractor grade is suited to businesses that need reliable, consistent, heavy-duty air compressors, usually in the 60-250 CFM range.

For construction crews, mechanics, tire services, utility companies and others, a good contractor-grade portable diesel air compressor is a must-have item.

Commercial

The commercial air compressor is the heaviest-duty of the three grades, with CFM ratings that can go up to 1800 or higher. They tend to be of the rotary screw type, and are designed for industrial applications where maximum power is mandatory.

This type of air compressor isn’t for your average DIY project, and the price tag is no joke. Most customers probably won’t need the heaviest-duty, commercial-grade diesel air compressors.

5. Find the Best Brands

Once you’ve figured out the type of air compressor that’s best suited to your business, you need to choose a quality brand in order to find a product you’ll be pleased with.

Among the noted manufacturers of diesel air compressors are Ingersoll Rand, Sullair, and Doosan. Swift Equipment Solutions carries all of these brands, so be sure to browse our catalog of new and used diesel air compressors for sale.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the right kind of air compressor for your job can be intimidating. Using this brief guide will make the task a little easier, and set you on the path to finding the right machine.

And once you’re ready to buy, just give Swift Equipment Solutions a call. Our trusted experts can help you find the best used and new portable diesel air compressor for what you need.

We’ve got the selection, we’ve got the expertise, and we’re a cut above the rest.