The air compressor is the foundation of modern society. Nearly every nail that is driven is done so with pneumatic power. Even on construction projects that use metal framing, the pneumatic drill is ever present, making short work of tasks that used to take days to complete. Thanks to economies of scale, the homeowner can now buy a scaled-down version of the same tech that construction workers have been using for decades. It’s affordable, robust and reliable.
Sometimes you can even get air compressor combos that come with a compressor and a nailer at one low price. Whether you are shopping for an air compressor for yourself or a loved one, this guide will help you decide how big of a compressor you need for nailing brads. Visit https://kylesgarage.com/ to know more uses of air compressors.
PSI and CFM
PSI and CFM are the two ratings that you need to be sure to match. All tools and all compressors have those specifications marked.
The tank size also plays a role in your choice of an air compressor. The larger a tank that you buy, the less the compressor will need to run. With a larger air reservoir, the compressor can efficiently build a reserve and allow you to work without a noticeable pressure drop.
On smaller tanks (under 3 gallons), you may find that you have to pause briefly to allow the compressor to catch up and provide you with enough air to complete the task – especially when using something more substantial than a brad nailer.
Brad Nailers Are Idea For Light Trim Work
Brad nailers are one of the Smallest air tools in the toolbox. The brads that shoot into the wall are a very thin wire with no head. They are great for quarter-round as they leave the smallest mark and do not require you to come back later with wood putty and fill in holes.
The downside with a brad nailer is that it cannot do much more than very lightweight trim. The thin wire with no head that it shoots are apt to pull out when used on large trim into drywall. It is excellent for quarter round and other small trim pieces. If you are trying to do much more than that, you will need a finish nailer.
Believe it or not, at 18 gauge, it is not the smallest nail gun, with the 23-gauge pin nailer coming in for the “smallest nailer award.”
What Size Compressor For A Brad Nailer?
The air requirements for a brad nailer are minimal. At the most, you only need 1 Cubic Foot Meter (CFM) of air flow, and as little as 60 PSI. You could almost blow at the end of it with your mouth and shoot a nail out!
Ok, so maybe not quite that extreme, but definitely on the smaller end of nailing requirements.
Any 2-gallon air compressor should offer more than enough power to run your brad compressor. Double check the ratings, but all but the smallest compressor will be able to produce 1 CFM with 60 or more PSI.
You’ll Likely Use The Compressor For More Than Just A Brad Nailer
Since the brad nailer is so limited on the type of work it can perform, it is highly likely that you will also be using other tools. A finish nailer is a little bigger. It uses slightly thicker nails, and they have a small head on them for more holding power.
Larger than the finish nailer is the framing nailer. The framing nailer is what you use to frame walls with. The finish nailer also gets a lot of use in home construction.
Something to consider is that you might want to get a compressor that is large enough to run all of these tools. That way if you need to rent a framing nailer (the most “air hungry” one of the bunch) you’ll have a power source for it.
There are some great air compressor sizing charts that help you determine the estimated CFM and PSI requirements of most tool types. Here’s an example of an air compressor sizing chart: https://www.tooltally.com/what-size-air-compressor-do-i-need/
For these bigger nailers, you don’t need much more CFM. Two CFM is typically more than enough. However, they do use more air, and they do require a higher PSI rating. Most Framing nailers seem to work best at around 120 PSI – twice that required of a brad nailer.
In most cases, if you step up to a compressor that has a 3-gallon tank, you will likely have enough power to be able to handle any small job. The challenge arises when you are moving too quickly. If you are working rapidly with a framing nailer, it can drain the tank and force the air compressor to work more to catch up.
For most DIY jobs, it is unlikely that you would overwork the compressor to the extent that there would be cause for concern. If it worries you, step on up to a 6-gallon compressor as the added air reserve will solve that problem. If you plan on doing a lot of hardwood flooring, you’ll be using more air and will appreciate the more substantial tank size.
Why A Small Compressor Matters
Small Air Compressors can get surprisingly heavy. It can be frustrating to lug a 50-pound compressor around every time you need to move your air supply. Going with the smallest compressor size that will support your needs makes it much easier to move it around.
If you need the expansion capabilities of a larger compressor, you can always look into getting a longer air hose. A longer air hose will allow you to work at a further distance from your compressor without needing to move it as frequently.
A smaller compressor also requires less of an amperage draw on the circuitry. This reduction in amperage can be nice when you are working in a house where the refrigerator and microwave might also be putting a load on the circuitry. You are less likely to trip a circuit breaker when using a small compressor.
