Asked by: Sena Isasondo
hobbies and interests painting

What size air compressor do I need to paint a motorcycle?

12
Air Compressor for Painting. I would recommend at least a 5hp two stage (if it is a piston/reciprocating type) compressor. You don't need so much air for your spray gun but a decent sandblaster requires a lot. I think the rule of thumb is 4.2cfm per hp.


Consequently, what size air compressor do I need for painting?

It's recommended that you go for a compressor with a capacity of at least 50 gallons. If you can afford it, buy an even bigger one. An air compressor with a 60 or more gallon capacity can handle painting most vehicles evenly in a single pass.

One may also ask, how many CFM do I need for a paint gun? In general, paint guns tend to require a higher CFM rating compared to other air tools. A spray gun normally operates from 0.3 to 12 CFM. It also means that you need a compressor which provides from 4 CFM to 19 CFM (both for touch – ups and undercoating).

Simply so, can I use my air compressor to paint my house?

Roller marks can ruin the looks of a room. Instead, use an air compressor and a spray gun to quickly apply an even coat of paint to the walls. Spraying the paint also will greatly reduce the amount of time you spend painting, leaving you time to do other things.

Can you paint a car with a 30 gallon air compressor?

As a rule of thumb most air compressors with an air tank capacity of 30 gallons and up and usually handle painting a car if you match the paint gun CFM to the CFM rating of the compressor for a complete buying guide visit AirCompressorsUSA. Most can be stored under a workbench and can paint an entire car no problem.

Related Question Answers

Georgiy Lotterer

Professional

Can you use a HVLP gun with an air compressor?

HVLP, which stands for “high volume low pressure,” are the most commonly used spray guns today. They are highly efficient and offer a controlled spray with little overspray. Some HVLP guns are powerful enough that they can be used without an air compressor, while others require a large air compressor to operate.

Estiven Godas

Professional

What is the best pressure for spray painting?

When spraying clear coat I like to up the pressure 2-3 psi for a little more atomization and better flow out. Setting the air pressure to about 28-29 PSI for clear will ensure you having great flow out. Most HVLP spray guns will use 10-14 scfm at 40 psi. This is volume of air pressure per cubic foot.

Ivanna Urigoiti

Explainer

How big of a compressor do I need to run an impact wrench?

Single tool use: If a 1/2" impact wrench requires 5.0 CFM @ 90 PSI, then the compressor should deliver between 6.25 - 7.5 CFM @ 90 PSI. Multiple tool use: If you plan to run more than one tool at the same time, you must add the CFM of each tool together to determine your needs.

Alexandar Donaldson

Explainer

How big of a compressor do I need?

For a typical garage air compressor, you need enough capacity and pressure to run all the air tools you will need. That will usually include a tire inflator, which needs just 1 or 2 CFM to put out the 32 PSI needed for most passenger tires. You may also have an impact wrench, for which will need at least 3 CFM to run.

Jinchai Thirlway

Explainer

How big of an air compressor do I need for a HVLP spray gun?

Many professional HVLP guns require around 9-15 cfm. But Don't worry, many Serious Hobbyists and woodworkers have small compressors. Many guns are rated to run on a 20-30 gallon/2-3HP compressor which run around $280 at Sears.

Gladys Temberg

Pundit

What is the best air compressor for automotive work?

TOP 5 Best Air Compressors for Automotive Air Tools
  • BOSTITCH BTFP3KIT 3-Tool and Compressor Combo Kit — Our Editor's Choice of the Best Air Compressors.
  • California Air Tools 5510SE Ultra — The Best Air Compressor With the Quietest Sound.
  • California Air Tools CAT-4620AC — The Best Upgrade Pick.
  • PORTER-CABLE C2002-WK Oil-Free UMC - The Best Air Compressor For Versatile Use.

Colton Carvajal

Pundit

How do you spray latex paint with an air compressor?

Method 2 Prep the Compressor
  1. Turn on the air compressor.
  2. Adjust the regulator on the compressor to between 12 and 25 PSI (pounds per square inch).
  3. Attach the air hose coupling to the sprayer.
  4. Pour a small amount of paint thinner into the paint cup.
  5. Open the metering valve slightly.
  6. Prime the sprayer.

Marija Husson

Pundit

Is a paint gun worth it?

As long as you're into taping sheets of plastic on the walls and you've got a bottomless budget for paint, a sprayer is worth considering. It has its strong points, but it's not a truly practical replacement for the old brush and roller.

Edy Cagide

Pundit

Can I use my compressor as a paint sprayer?

Air compressors can be used for multiple things, but one thing that they can be really useful for is when you need to do some paint spraying. When you do use it for this purpose, you will discover that it can really save you a lot of time and it will also spray the paint very evenly.

Jiajia Tierraseca

Teacher

How much faster is a paint sprayer?

An airless sprayer is much faster than an HVLP sprayer (high volume low pressure) but uses considerably more paint. An airless can gobble up paint at a rate of two gallons a minute. HVLP sprayers are much more comparable to rollers regarding paint usage. However, the HVLP still uses more paint – maybe up to 20% more.

Valeska Attard

Teacher

What is a good paint sprayer for home use?

These top rated paint sprayers are considered better than others.
  • Graco Magnum 262800 X5 Paint Sprayer.
  • Graco Ultra Corded Airless Handheld Paint Sprayer 17M359.
  • Graco Magnum 262805 X7 Paint Sprayer.
  • HomeRight C800879 Power-Flo Pro 2800.
  • Wagner 0518050 Control Paint Sprayer.

Neeltje Cotarelo

Teacher

How much does a paint sprayer cost?

The top of the line Spray Guns like a Satajet 5000, Binks Trophy Spray Gun, or Devilbiss Millenium GTI Spray Gun cost anywhere between about $400 – $700 dollars. Clearly this is quite an investment for a spray gun and to be worthwhile will need to be justified.

Fengyun Friedel

Reviewer

Do all paint sprayers need an air compressor?

These motors are necessary for a spray gun to emit the right amount of paint in the correct pressure. Air compressor is the most efficient one of this, except airless sprayers and some units of HVLP spray guns every spray gun has the air compressor.

Helenio Tzschachmann

Reviewer

What do I need to know about spray painting?

Types
  • Airless sprayers work by pumping out paint at a very high pressure, fanning out droplets to evenly coat the surface.
  • Pneumatic air sprayers use compressed air to apply paint to a surface, producing a smooth and even finish.
  • HVLP sprayers carry droplets of paint on a steady but large volume of air.

Aifen Urigoen

Reviewer

What is the minimum CFM for spray painting?

Most people suggest you should set your gun at 10-15 PSI when spraying base coat. These guns use 5-7 SCFM (standard CFM) with the volume of air at 40 PSI.

Felton Kleinertz

Reviewer

What is the difference between SCFM and CFM?

In the simplest terms, here's how you can picture the difference between SCFM and CFM. CFM is Cubic Feet per Minute, while SCFM is Standard Cubic Feet per Minute. 2. SCFM is the volumetric flow rate against a standard, whereas there's no standard for CFM.

Nadiya Bastarrica

Supporter

What is the difference between HVLP and airless sprayers?

In an HVLP (which stands for “high volume, low pressure”), air pumped from an air compressor or turbine atomizes paint. In an airless sprayer, a piston pressurizes the material, which sprays out of an orifice smaller than that found on an HVLP nozzle. The high pressure and tight squeeze shear the paint into particles.

Guiseppe De Leon

Supporter

How big of an air compressor do I need for a paint gun?

It's recommended to pick yourself up a 60 Gal tank with a 5-6 HP compressor that put's out enough CFM that will supply your spray gun. Look for CFM in the ranges of 14-18 at 90PSI.

Zakariya Barenstrauch

Supporter

Can you paint a car with a 60 gallon air compressor?

It's recommended that you go for a compressor with a capacity of at least 50 gallons. An air compressor with a 60 or more gallon capacity can handle painting most vehicles evenly in a single pass.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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19th January, 2020

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