Looking for a quality diesel air compressor for your shop or business takes time and effort. If you know what you’re looking for, you can complete the task more quickly and with less stress. But you need to consider all aspects of your business.
For example, you want a diesel air compressor that can handle the capacity of tools and needs at your shop, but you also need a diesel air compressor that you can afford. You also need to have the physical room for a commercial-grade diesel air compressor.
So how do you know what to pick? You begin with the basics. When you have finished reading this article, you will know the basic things to look for when you’re purchasing diesel air compressors.
Table of Contents
1. Look At Grades
Air compressors come in a variety of grades, determined by their applications and capacity. The more PSI your compressor can put out, the higher its capacity and higher its grade.
A commercial air compressor comes in contractor grade. These are portable in that you can wheel them around. You can also mount them to a small vehicle or cart.
Mobile air compressors work well if you need to connect your pneumatic tools on the roadside. So when you need an air wrench, you have the compressor right there.
Commercial air compressors are essential for business uses. They provide a steady supply of compressed air. They can withstand wear and tear because of their heavy-duty nature.
Commercial air compressors can also power multiple tools at the same time. You can transport mobile ones from the shop to a ship or an oil rig easily and keep powering multiple tools.
2. Consider Your Tools
Audit your tool selection before your purchase a diesel air compressor. If you’re going to use multiple tools at the same time on the same diesel air compressor, you need to know how much pressure they will need to run properly.
Do not purchase a compressor that barely meets your requirement. You will most likely need an even bigger one in the future as your business grows. If your compressor does not have enough power, then you will end up overheating it.
Such overwork will lead to costly repairs down the line. Then your operation will shut down temporarily as you wait to fix your air compressor.
So figure a larger-than-needed compressor into your budget when you’re figuring out diesel air compressor cost.
To come up with a more precise number, you should add up the CFM for your pneumatic tools. Take that number times 1.5. This final number will give you some cushion in case you ever add more tools to your collection.
Then figure out what the highest PSI requirement is for any one of your tools. Then increase that number slightly so you give yourself margin again. So if a tool requires 90 PSI, figure it in at 100 PSI.
Then you can begin shopping for the right air compressor. You need the CFM that you figured out as well as the PSI.
3. Consider Compressor Types
Air compressors come in single-stage and two-stage models. Single-stage compressors are smaller models with a lower capacity. You can move them manually if you need to.
But you do not typically use a single-stage compressor for commercial purposes. Your commercial business should use a two-stage air compressor. This works well for manufacturing facilities and garages that need to power multiple tools at once.
Single-stage air compressors are low capacity and the smaller models can be moved manually. These are for applications like airbrushing, for small shops and homes. They have varying capacities and may also include a small storage tank for compressed air in larger models.
Two-stage air compressors are for garages and manufacturing facilities and can provide enough power to simultaneously run several air tools. Two-stage air compressors also typically come with larger-capacity tanks. This means your compressor can hold more air and will use less power than the single-stage compressor.
4. Portable or Stationary
Consider the needs of your business as well. Do you need a portable air compressor or a stationary compressor? The stationary compressor works best for an in-shop production environment.
If you do your work in several locations, though, then you should purchase a portable diesel air compressor. This includes working on roadsides, oil rigs, and ships as well as in shops.
The cost and output of these compressors vary greatly. Portable air compressors are usually powered by diesel since that is a portable fuels. Stationary air compressors, though, receive their power from an electric motor.
Thus, if you’re wanting a diesel air compressor, you want to look at the mobile or portable versions.
5. Consider Shop Needs
The type of compressor you need ultimately comes down to what your shop needs. If you’re not sure what you want or need, look at what shops like your own use. This will help you know if you need a big, small, portable, or stationary diesel air compressor.
If you’re replacing an old air compressor, do not automatically go back to what you had. Since air compressors have a fairly good lifespan, you’re most likely replacing an old compressor. Stay open to new brands and types of air compressors.
6. Air Quality Needed
Some facilities cannot tolerate oil. If you have such a facility, look at the oil-free type air compressor. When you have an oil-lubricated compressor, you will find particles and oil in the compressed air.
Filters such as liquid separator filters, particulate filters, oil remover filters, charcoal filters, and high-efficiency filters can reduce the amount of oil and particles you find in your air.
Consider if you need very dry air as well. All air has some amount of moisture in it. Compressed air has even more.
If you need very dry air, you will also need drying equipment with your compressed air system.
7. Tank Size
As you look at diesel air compressors for sale, you’ll quickly discover the tanks come in a variety of sizes and types. Your compressor will have an air receiver tank.
This tank will store compressed air, allowing you more air for the multiple tools that will use the compressor. If your power fails you, then you’ll still have the compressed air you need for your tools.
Also, an air receiver tank will buffer pressure. It creates a more stable environment and steady air release when you need pressured air.
The tank will also pre-dewater the condensation. Water droplets will form in the compressed air. An air receiver tank will deposit that water to the bottom of the tank, and then the water will drain out through a drain valve.
An air receiver tank is to store compressed air and can maintain a steady and constant supply to your production process.
You should purchase an air storage tank with a volume between 10 and 20 percent of your air compressor’s airflow. Fifteen percent is the sweet spot here.
Key Features
While these seven items give you food for thought, whatever diesel air compressor you pick, make sure it has the essential key features.
- Air filter: the part that makes your compressor last longer because it prevents contaminants from getting into the machine.
- Thermal protection: the system that turns off the compressor when it gets too hot
- Drain valve: the valve at the bottom of the tank that allows you to drain condemnation and prevent corrosion
- Pressure switch: the switch that turns on and off automatically to help the machine maintain pressure
Regardless of their size or type, all diesel air compressors should have these key features.
Diesel Air Compressor Air Costs
The cost will often drive your decision. So it’s worth noting exactly what you can expect to pay for your diesel air compressor.
In general, you should plan on spending as little as $750 for a diesel air compressor that produces 125 PSI and as much as $30,000 for the heavy-duty turbocharged compressor you’ll find used on heavy-duty construction sites. The greater the PSI you need, the more you will spend.
With that said, many companies sell used diesel air compressors. Use the same determiners to buy a used diesel air compressor as what you’d use to buy a new one.
Choose a Diesel Air Compressor With Confidence
Now that you know what to look for, you can choose a diesel air compressor with confidence. Evaluate your shop needs, calculate the PSI you will need, and start shopping for a diesel air compressor.
Remember that you can purchase a used machine with just as much value as a new one.
Are you looking for a diesel air compressor? We can help. We have a vast supply of both used and new compressors in our inventory.
Contact us today, and let us help you.
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