The right compressor: good air for pneumatic tools

There are compressors of different types. The motors of the compressors sold by bildhau for operating compressed air tools are powered by electricity.

Compressors also differ in terms of their performance and durability. This results from various factors: in addition to the design, these are primarily the quality and strength of the motor and the size of the air tank. They determine how much air can be drawn in, compressed and delivered in how long.

The quality of the motor is also important for how long you can work at a stretch: The motor of the compressor always starts when there is no longer enough pressure in the air tank. Once the preset bar number is reached, it switches off again. If intensive work is now being done and a lot of air is being extracted continuously (depending on the type of air tool, among other things!), the motor has a lot to do. Very high-quality motors are suitable for continuous operation; with others, work must be paused again and again.

Compressor and tool must fit together

If you want to work with compressed air, make sure above all that the output power of your compressor matches the air demand of your compressed-air-tool . If your tool requires more compressed air than your compressor can supply, you will not enjoy your work.

The output capacity of the compressor should therefore be AT LEAST equal to the consumption of the pneumatic tool. Roughly speaking, the output capacity (litres per minute) corresponds to two-thirds of the intake capacity or 100 times the power of the compressor expressed in horsepower (for specifications in KW: 1 KW corresponds to 1.36 HP). As a rule, pneumatic hammers require less air to drive them than, for example.For example, air grinders .

What else you should look out for when buying a compressor

There are various coupling systems that connect the compressor to the compressed air hose and this in turn to the air tool. Make sure that the couplings are compatible. Particularly practical are universal couplings (e.g. the one-handed safety couplings from Stürmer), which can be used with the various plug-in nipple systems from Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the USA.

When you buy a flexible compressed air hose, the diameter of the hose also plays a role: If you want to set up the compressor some distance away from your actual workplace, for example, you need a long hose whose diameter should not be too small so that enough air arrives over the long distance.

When the compressor is running, you usually can't miss it. There are differences here, too: Compressors with two cylinders are much quieter in operation than single-cylinder ones. Compressors with a larger air tank run less often and emit correspondingly less noise. Very simple compressors often need more idle time in order not to overload the engine – this also leads to less noise generation, but at the same time also to longer forced work breaks.

In order to have less noise in the working area, the compressor can also be placed e.g. in another room or – if you work outdoors – further away. In order to be able to regulate the air pressure remotely, we also recommend an maintenance unit that you can attach directly to your workstation.

The bildhau compressors are all powered by electricity. The particularly powerful ones among them require a 400 volt (= heavy current) socket to be connected. Please pay attention to the connection requirements when choosing a compressor.

How much maintenance does a compressor need?

Most units are low-maintenance. Normal work with a compressor involves emptying condensation and oiling the unit regularly. If you want to save yourself these tasks, you can also equip your compressor with a water trap and a lubricator.

Compressor accessories

At bildhau, in addition to compressors, you can also obtain the corresponding accessories such as flexible compressed air hoses, couplings, combined maintenance units, oilers, water traps, etc.