Air compressor recommendations...how big?

J

Jpostal

Excellence Auto Gallery
Up until recently I have been detailing out of the trunk of my Mazda3 sedan...by the time all of my gear was loaded into it I was left with no room for an air compressor. I finally got a van (Mazda MPV) with much more cargo space and would like to get a compressor for doing interiors. I currently have a little 100psi compressor that is too small...it runs constantly and has limited pressure. Any suggestions on the size of compressor I should get? Keep in mind that it still needs to be portable.



Also, besides blowing out air vents and other nooks and crannies, what do you guys use your compressor for when detailing interiors?
 
I've used it with air powered DA sanders and it has a tough time keeping up. Not sure on impact tool? Great for interiors though.
 
David, what is the best/fastest way that you have found for cleaning air vents that have really heavy stubborn dust build up? I typically spray it with APC and then use a detail brush to loosen the dust and then a MF to finish up but often times once it drys there will be some dust left behind and I have to hit it again using the same process. Is there a faster way? I do mainly volume work and time is $...any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
JPostal said:
David, what is the best/fastest way that you have found for cleaning air vents that have really heavy stubborn dust build up? I typically spray it with APC and then use a detail brush to loosen the dust and then a MF to finish up but often times once it drys there will be some dust left behind and I have to hit it again using the same process. Is there a faster way? I do mainly volume work and time is $...any suggestions would be appreciated.
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You can also try using a low gloss interior dressing after the APC. Something like Meguiars Water Based Dressing or 303 is great for that. It's what I used when I did a lot of high volume work. Most the time the dressing offers enough cleaning ability and an APC is not even needed unless they are really dusty.
 
JPostal said:
David, what is the best/fastest way that you have found for cleaning air vents that have really heavy stubborn dust build up? I typically spray it with APC and then use a detail brush to loosen the dust and then a MF to finish up but often times once it drys there will be some dust left behind and I have to hit it again using the same process. Is there a faster way? I do mainly volume work and time is $...any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Not to interject here, but I do a LOT of dusty / dirty interiors and experience the same problem you do. Typically I'll pre-spray every vent with APC and let it settle as I vacuum. Then, I'll hit it again with my Tornador, spending about 10 to 15 seconds, per vent. I also have the cone brush attachment for my Tornador, so I also agitate as much of the vents as possible. Even with this method, sometimes a little dirt or streaking of dust remains that you simply can't get at. An aerosol spray dressing is really handy in this case.



AeroCleanse said:
The volume of air is also very important, esp if you want to use something like a Tornador.
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Yep. I have a 20-gallon Mastercraft compressor and it will handle a single Tornador no problem.
 
WAS said:
Not to interject here, but I do a LOT of dusty / dirty interiors and experience the same problem you do. Typically I'll pre-spray every vent with APC and let it settle as I vacuum. Then, I'll hit it again with my Tornador, spending about 10 to 15 seconds, per vent. I also have the cone brush attachment for my Tornador, so I also agitate as much of the vents as possible. Even with this method, sometimes a little dirt or streaking of dust remains that you simply can't get at. An aerosol spray dressing is really handy in this case.





Yep. I have a 20-gallon Mastercraft compressor and it will handle a single Tornador no problem.
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Would you say that the Tornador is a "must have" for interior work. I don't have but after watching the demo video I think I want one...is it worth the money (will it clean faster and better than more traditional cleaning methods?)
 
JPostal said:
Would you say that the Tornador is a "must have" for interior work. I don't have but after watching the demo video I think I want one...is it worth the money (will it clean faster and better than more traditional cleaning methods?)
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Check out these threads:



http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-de...whitehorse-auto-spa-1998-pontiac-sunfire.html



http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-de...ehorse-auto-spa-ford-explorer-sport-trac.html



http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-de...-whitehorse-auto-spa-2006-toyota-corolla.html





All those details were done using the Tornador. Yes, the Tornador does save time, and it does clean very well. Does it clean better than the traditional APC and paint brush method ? It depends on what's soiling the vinyl / plastic. It has some problems getting things like oil and hydraulic grease off, but for the general interior, yes, it performs just as well as the traditional method. A very important factor, in my opinion anyways, is how little product you end up using per vehicle. One quart of the diluted cleaning solution will last me anywhere from 2 to 4 vehicles, depending on the size of the vehicle and how dirty it is. One diluted quart ends up costing about $3 USD. The tool itself cost around $130 USD, which is pretty cheap, and the brush cone add-on cost around $15 USD.
 
Hey guys,



I've just recently been growing my weekend warrior company (currently running out of the back of a pontiac g5- buying a truck soon). I have finally gone out and bought myself Husky 8-Gallon Air Compressor from home depot for only $150!! it was on a special sale so I thought I couldn't go as I could try it out and if I wasn't happy I could just return it! But I have to tell you this is one of the best Investments I've made! It has phenomenal blowing power and is perfect for cars, it also came with a nailer, paint sprayer, impact gun, and a bunch more. - I really specifically went out and bought the air compressor to do the interiors of vehicles BUT! The very next day I went and bought this - High performance vac w/cart - 16 gal - RIDGID Professional Tools *USED off some guy from craigslist for only $30 (I don't think his head was on right), its practically brand new! I tried out the blower feature and believe it or not but it has more volume and air pressure than the 8 gallon Husky air compressor.



So what I'm trying to say here is I don't think its exactly necessary to go out and buy a air compressor if you havent tried out the blower feature on your vacuum! especially when like in my case you can use your BEAST of wet/dry/blower! vac that can do just as good if not a better job than the air compressor.



Cheers!
 
JPostal said:
Would you say that the Tornador is a "must have" for interior work. I don't have but after watching the demo video I think I want one...is it worth the money (will it clean faster and better than more traditional cleaning methods?)
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I'd have to say no. I don't really care for them. Not enough aggitation, too bulky and you still need conventional compressed air to get into the tighter places.



jetwash said:
Hey guys,



I've just recently been growing my weekend warrior company (currently running out of the back of a pontiac g5- buying a truck soon). I have finally gone out and bought myself Husky 8-Gallon Air Compressor from home depot for only $150!! it was on a special sale so I thought I couldn't go as I could try it out and if I wasn't happy I could just return it! But I have to tell you this is one of the best Investments I've made! It has phenomenal blowing power and is perfect for cars, it also came with a nailer, paint sprayer, impact gun, and a bunch more. - I really specifically went out and bought the air compressor to do the interiors of vehicles BUT! The very next day I went and bought this - High performance vac w/cart - 16 gal - RIDGID Professional Tools *USED off some guy from craigslist for only $30 (I don't think his head was on right), its practically brand new! I tried out the blower feature and believe it or not but it has more volume and air pressure than the 8 gallon Husky air compressor.



So what I'm trying to say here is I don't think its exactly necessary to go out and buy a air compressor if you havent tried out the blower feature on your vacuum! especially when like in my case you can use your BEAST of wet/dry/blower! vac that can do just as good if not a better job than the air compressor.



Cheers!
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I don't think you can compare what compressed air can do with what a vac can. Especially with an upgraded air blower. Your 8 gallon compressor is way too small for detailing and will be cycling constantly. Nail guns don't require a high volume of air for continuous use like something for interior detailing does. I'm sure it's better than nothing, but you'd be amazed if you upgraded to something with a larger tank.
 
David Fermani said:
I'd have to say no. I don't really care for them. Not enough aggitation, too bulky and you still need conventional compressed air to get into the tighter places.
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Fine, fine, we'll fight about this one ;)



I agree they're a bit bulky and need some getting used to. They are quite heavier than a standard air blow gun. I wonder why you say not enough aggitation ? I could understand this with the brushless cone that the tool comes with, but with the brush add-on, I find it just as good if not better at aggitating than a standard interior brush. As for still needing compressed air, yeah, but don't you need that with an air blow gun too ?
 
Hard to imagine that a Tornado can produce equal or better results then isolated brush scrubbing via APC. There's much less friction and much more uncontrollable wetness with them. It's a tool that has a place, but I would never be able to do 100% of an interior with one. I feel the same about steamers. Decent for general easy cleaning, but practically impossible to clean an entire steering wheel, behind door handles, between seats, radios, inward sections of dash, etc.. Again, this is my opinion based on my own experience. I've become accustomed with my regiment over the years.
 
As far as an air compressor goes, the one thin I can tell you is don't go cheap. Get a good one. You'll want at least 30 gallons for serious work, If your a weekend guy Im sure Fermani can point you the right way to go for a smaller more powerfull unit like he has. On the lines of a tornado tool. I have owned 2 of them over the years and love them to death. It is not the end all tool for interiors. WAS while I value your opionion I personally feel there is no way it can compete with straight compressed air and good old fashion hand scrubbing. David has it right here.In all seriousness I can make the worst interior look brand spanken new with a APC, bucket, bottle with sprayer, a few brushes, and compressed air and a shop vac!!
 
David Fermani said:
Hard to imagine that a Tornado can produce equal or better results then isolated brush scrubbing via APC. There's much less friction and much more uncontrollable wetness with them. It's a tool that has a place, but I would never be able to do 100% of an interior with one. I feel the same about steamers. Decent for general easy cleaning, but practically impossible to clean an entire steering wheel, behind door handles, between seats, radios, inward sections of dash, etc.. Again, this is my opinion based on my own experience. I've become accustomed with my regiment over the years.
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Barry Theal said:
WAS while I value your opionion I personally feel there is no way it can compete with straight compressed air and good old fashion hand scrubbing. David has it right here.In all seriousness I can make the worst interior look brand spanken new with a APC, bucket, bottle with sprayer, a few brushes, and compressed air and a shop vac!!
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I definitely won't say that the Tornador does a "better" job than the regular brush + APC method. I don't know though, I find I can get nearly everything cleaned the same way as the traditional method (behind door handles, etc). Again, I have to say that having the cone brush add-on for the Tornador is a MUST, the Tornador on its own certainly just doesn't cut it. There's two things I like about the Tornador, that's the massive reduction of product used, and the speed at which you can do interiors with. Instead of a brush, bottle of APC, air gun and MF towel, you're down to an MF towel and the Tornador.



I suppose it also depends what kind of interior you're dealing with. If your interior is already clean and you're trying to get that single grain of sand out of a screw hole, then yeah, probably spot cleaning the traditional way is better. I'm sure you've both seen some of my details that have been posted, so you know what I'm up against.
 
Barry Theal said:
Why are you using a microfiber for interiors?
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because he can suckas~!!!! (JUST KIDDING!!!)



hmm starting to itch to get my own air comp now =[...question i see mentions of people using air pressure to clean out cars---but i mean....doesn't that blow dust around to resettle around the car? what exactly do you use it for?
 
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