Portable air compressors can serve a variety of purposes. Some are used at home for small projects such as spray painting or inflating tires. These models really add ease to inflating your household and recreation items, such as inflatable beds for camping and rafts for the beach or river. Some portable air compressors are found in medical settings. However, they are most commonly used on the job site. Construction workers use air compressors to power a variety of power tools and other equipment. Painters use portable air compressors constantly. In addition to having a variety of uses, portable air compressors also vary in what they offer as far as power, convenience, etc. Portable models may not have the power of heavy duty stationary models, yet they offer many advantages and still retain sufficient power to get most jobs done efficiently.
Portable air compressors can be either electric or gas. Electric ones are portable with respect to not being stationary. However, they are subject to a limited range defined by the extension cord. This is obviously because they require electricity from an outlet to be powered. Yet, gas models are not confined to this restriction and are usually more powerful. There are several types of air compressors; however, portable models are usually either rotary screw or reciprocating. Rotary screw portable air compressors use screws to compress air thereby reducing its volume and increasing the pressure. The reciprocating models have pistons for the compressing process. Rotary units are often more popular because they are smaller and quieter. Nonetheless, both types are used for a wide variety of applications. Many portable models are easily carried and designed for easy operation. Others that are a little larger yet still portable incorporate wheel kits for transportation. This definitely adds to mobility making even massive compressors easy to move around.
Overall, portable air compressors serve a variety of needs and are a very popular device in numerous businesses. Choosing the right match can be difficult; yet considering what you are using it for will narrow your choices. Rotary screw models are usually a little better if you are looking for a smaller quieter model. However, if those factors are not important and you are simply looking for a maximum output, then you may want to consider getting a reciprocating model. Those are more efficient and offer a higher pressure.