This unit provides the same CFM and PSI output as its competitor, but at a lower HP. You find two suitable units, one has a horsepower rating of 3.5, the other 7.8 HP - which one is better? The HP rating describes the level of work that the compressorвЂ™s internal motor emits at a given PSI (for more information on how a compressor works, check out my article here).ДЇor example, you know that your shiny new nail gun requires 2.6 CFM at 90 PSI - so you seek out compressors that have this capability. To be honest, a compressor could knock out a megatrazillion horsepower, and still be completely useless. Read any substandard online 6 gallon air compressor reviews, and youвЂ™ll believe that the greater the unitвЂ™s horsepower - or HP - the more impressive the machine must be. For more demanding units, such as air-powered drills, youвЂ™ll need about 4.0 CFM or higher - exemplified by the Metabo HPT EC914SM. For light DIY pneumatic tools, such as airbrushes and small nail guns, a CFM of around 2.6 will be sufficient. In general, machines with a higher CFM rating makes them suitable for running larger pneumatic tools or those with significant air demands. To make the comparison between different machines more straightforward, manufacturers usually declare the CFM output at an industry-standard pressure of 90 PSI. And, it has an inverse relationship with the pressure, usually measured in PSI, output - in that as PSI decreases CFM increases, and vice versa. Get it wrong, and your machine may not drive your air tools - and youвЂ™ll have a useless lump of pancake metal sitting on your garage floor.Д¬FM - or Cubic Feet per Minute - describes the amount of air that a 6 gallon air tank compressor can produce at a given pressure. Undoubtedly, the most important factor when selecting your ultimate pneumatic powerhouse. That said, bear in mind that due to their compact reservoir volume, theyвЂ™re best suited to short-burst operation - youвЂ™re not going to be rotary hammer drilling with a six-gallon model. Typically knocking out 2.6 CFM or greater at 90 PSI, they can drive a multitude of pneumatic hand tools. However, for more committed and serious home users, a six-gallon unit is optimum. So, if your greatest compressor demands include nothing more than filling your tires or putting air into Little JimmyвЂ™s inflatable unicorn - opt for a tankless electric machine instead. While these units are the stepping stone into the вЂrealвЂ™ world of air-driven equipment - theyвЂ™re by no means the most basic and can be considered overkill for genuinely low-intensity use. If you own, or plan on purchasing, pneumatic tools for light-contractor work, DIY projects, or home improvement - consider a six-gallon machine. Using water to damp down dust on floors and surfaces to reduce airborne particles.

Frequently cleaning your operating area.Elevating air throughflow with an electric fan when inside.Always drill or demolish in a well-ventilated area.Wearing a contractor-grade respiratory mask.When selecting your ideal machine, consider: Whether you plan on wielding an airbrush, firing nails, or riveting metal - the six-gallon compressor is the consummate machine for the dedicated DIYer or light contractor. And, being wallet-friendly, they permit the most frugal of home-improvers to have a brawny powerhouse at their fingertips. Pleasingly compact, these units can comfortably fit into the smallest of garages or workshops - or be conveniently stored away in a cupboard. When you need serious pneumatic grunt to power your mighty tools, but donвЂ™t have the space or requirement for an industrial-grade machine - itвЂ™s time to consider a 6 gallon air compressor.