Shop air dilemma

toolmanmike said

115 volt about 3 horse. 220 and 7.5 horse is the limit. 3 phase probably 15 horse or more. Most automotive tools are rated (rpm or power) at 90psi. Like many have mentioned, volume is your friend. The 175# ratings are just to get the numbers up and make them more impressive to the unknowing consumer. 175# of air through a die grinder that spins 20,000 rpm @ 90 psi is a hand grenade. Think about that. A sand blaster will use the most air in your shop.

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That's a very important point. People forget that although the tank may support having 175 PSI, you're tools won't. All the higher pressure does is allow you to squish MORE air in and thus cycle less. More pressure means more air in the same volume of space, that's it. And you're not usually going to push the tank that hard anyway. Mine is rated for 175, but the cutoff is set to around 145. Tanks are tested hydrostatically to about the rating +30% as I recall. They test that way because it's not a violent failure. A compressor tank failure that's been over fullre is an EXTREMELY violent failure and you don't want to be anywhere near it. i wouldn't want to be in the building at all.

Also, and I know someone will say "but I did it for 400 years"... do NOT use PVC of any kind to run air. A single failure will grenade and throw sharp *** shrapnel across your shop and possibly into you. Facts is facts...