Best Air Compressor for Sandblasting in 2024

Sandblasting is like a cleaning job, a deep one at that. By moving any abrasive elements over a surface at high speed, workers remove all the stains, oil, color, or rust from it. It is a lot harder than it sounds. Choosing the best air compressor for sandblasting is not an easy job but you would love to have the best one.

Even though it is one of the most common air compressor applications, most compressors are not properly suitable for the job. It makes finding the right air compressor for abrasive blasting pretty hard.

But rest assured, as we have searched them for you. Go through our list of the best heavy-duty air compressors and pick whichever seems ideal to you-

5 Best Air Compressor for Sandblasting Reviews

01. DeWalt DXCMH9919910 Two-Stage Industrial Air Compressor

A great air compressor means something that provides enough ratings for literally all types of jobs. It is literally how DeWalt DXCMH9919910 Two-Stage Industrial Air Compressor is. You may find it hard to find a comparison for this.

Featuring a colossal air tank that holds 120 gallons of air inside, this air compressor naturally needs a high pressure to fill that up. Hence it has a 175 PSI max air pressure limit. It provides tremendous performance.

Do not worry about getting enough airflow. This air compressor flows air with a speed of 33.6 CFM at 175 PSI and 35 CFM at 100 PSI. As a result, it handles all high-duty tasks with ease.

It is pretty easy to charge it up using an electric cord with 230 or 460 volts. You figured it right. It also has a large power rating. Its 3-phase system makes the airflow more smoothly compressed. The motor can create ten horsepower.

To avoid oil-overheating, there is also an oil-reservoir. You can start it up with the magnetic starter. For sandblasting, this is the ideal machine to go for. Compare Dewalt's other air compressor.

02. Quincy QT-54 Splash Lubricated Reciprocating Air Compressor

Offering a monstrous outcome to all types of high-demand projects, the Quincy QT-54 Splash Lubricated Reciprocating Air Compressor packs quality features. Available in blue, this machine offers a medium range of PSI, CFM, and power ratings. It will be a highly beneficial item for you.

You may know this, but reciprocating air compressors like this specializes in power-intensive projects. That trait is backed by the 175 PSI of maximum pressure this machine is capable of generating. Its 60 gallon vertical tank gets filled within some seconds.

This air compressor excels at providing a large number of airs to its applications. The rate is 15.2 CFM at the maximum pressure and 15.4 CFM at 90 PSI.

Being splash lubricated, this machine delivers more versatility in critical situations. However, it only has an oil-carrying rate of 5 PPM. Meanwhile, the pump has a high lifespan of 30 thousand. There is a drain valve that features manual draining.

It’s a two-stage air compressor with a voltage requirement of 230. With an outlet size of 1/2, it accepts most applications. Getting this air compressor is an ideal choice.

03. California Air Tools 10020C Ultra Quiet Oil-Free Air Compressor

Making it easier to complete your sandblasting project, the California Air Tools 10020C Ultra Quiet Oil-Free Air Compressor is a top tier product. To make it worth the purchase, the manufacturers added everything necessary to this item.

Suitable for your household or industrial jobs, this air compressor can easily go up to an air pressure of 125 PSI within some seconds. As it has a 10-gallon air tank, you can get a quick recharge time. This high pressure provides a better outcome.

It is not possible to do sandblasting without at least 5 CFM of airflow. Hence, manufacturers gave it a high airflow rate of 5.30 CFM at 90 PSI and 6.40 CFM at 40 PSI.

Normally a heavy-duty air compressor makes a loud noise. But this machine works being so quiet with a noise level of 70 dB only. Its pump is oil-free, which makes it easier to provide maintenance. It can run up to 30 to 60 minutes.

Its powerful motor gives 2 HP to the machine while drawing only seven amps. Use this device at any place at any time. It is the perfect item to buy.

04. Campbell Hausfeld 80-Gallon Vertical Two-Stage Air Compressor

When you see a product is manufactured by Campbell Hausfeld, you know that it is of the maximum quality. The Campbell Hausfeld 80-Gallon Vertical Two-Stage Air Compressor grants you the option of working with any application you need.

Thinking about the high-duty projects that the consumers may need to do, the manufacturers granted the machine 175 PSI max pressure. It is no wonder that the 80 gallon tank fills up so quickly.

Add that to the high airflow of 14 CFM at 90 PSI, and you get a complete set of the highest ratings from a machine. Thus, you need not worry about any task.

Well, to make that high pressure and airflow, that machine doesn’t need a high input. You just need to provide it with 230 volts of electricity at 60 Hz. Its motor draws 22 amps. Created from the highest-grade materials, the pump lasts over 12 thousand hours.

Being vertical, it takes less space to stand. Since it definitely will match every requirement from any task, you can pick this machine without any worry.

05. NorthStar Portable Gas-Powered Air Compressor

Securing its position at the top of the air compressor market, the NorthStar Portable Air compressor not only looks smart but works smart too. This air compressor is properly designed yet easy to understand and operate.

Sandblasting projects have never been easier, thanks to the maximum 130 PSI that this item can sustain. Its pump helps it to keep up the cycle and provide longer runtime. Experience the performance never seen before.

In addition to that, the air flowing speed is also high. By creating 13.7 CFM at 90 PSI, your high-duty tasks won’t feel hard or time-consuming anymore.

Giving it tremendous strength, manufacturers added the Honda GX160 OHV engine to this machine. It is powerful while taking low oil to turn off. The machine has high heat-protection, with the pump being fully cast iron.

Lower vibration means steadier work. This device gives you just that with the LVT feature. You can easily control the pressure using the regulator. There is a large flywheel that helps the machine stays cooler. You must have a look at all the features it provides. We ensure that you will like it.

Buying Guide for The Air Compressor for Sandblasting 

In case you didn’t know, the market for air compressors are filled with products. It is understandable since there are a large number of applications air compressors get used on. Different of these jobs require different features and stats from an air compressor.

So, not all compressors are suitable for every task. It makes the common problem of not finding the ideal product for your job. A compressor may meet all your requirements but lacks something that doesn’t suit your workstyle.

The only solution to that is to know the traits of a great compressor. These points given below indicates a good air compressor for sandblasting jobs-

Pressure and Airflow

Your first task while choosing an air compressor for a high-demand task is to check the pressure and airflow. Sandblasting needs a high amount of air. So, to avoid a long tank refill time, your air compressor must have at least 125 PSI max pressure.

CFM is the unit of how much air passes from the machine to its application. Sandblasting is a heavy-duty job that needs at least 5 CFM at 90 PSI.

Oil-Free and Oil-Lubricated

To reduce the friction among the internal mechanism, an air compressor pump comes in two types. One of them is the oil-free type. They are made with smooth components that make less friction. So, they are cheaper to buy and repair.

Oil-lube air compressors take oil to be lubricated. But their friction is even lesser, making the device take fewer damages. They are a bit costly yet give better performance.

Size

Since you already know that sandblasting needs much air, you should go for the air compressors with large tanks. Even if you want to do the work gradually, you will need at least a 20 gallon compressor. But 60-gallon is an ideal size.

Reach

When it comes to getting enough reach, it completely depends on your workplace set-up. You can get a high reach using an air hose and cord. However, we suggest going for a long air hose than a long cord since a long electric cord is risky.

Power

Your air compressor gets its power from its motor. Make sure that the motor has any thermal overload tackling system. For sandblasting, look for at least 5 HP for single-stage air compressors or 2 HP for two-stage air compressors. If the motor can’t start up during cold days, then that is a high issue. So, check it carefully.

FAQ's

What Kinds of Air Compressor for Sandblasting?

An air compressor intended for sandblasting should have some good unit ratings. These ratings include pressure of at least 125 PSI, the least airflow of 5 CFM at 90 PSI, or over 5 HP of motor power. It must be tough and durable. These traits are mostly found in hotdog air compressors. All the products reviewed above meet all these points.

What is the best size air compressor for sandblasting?

The perfect air compressor for all your generic sandblasting tasks falls within the ranges of 10CFM – 20 CFM. However, if you are faced with larger projects and need more power, then you will require a compressor of a range between 18CFM to 35 CFM. The higher end industrial grade reach a CFM of 50 – 100!

What sand do you use for sandblasting?

Sandblasting is an abrasive, efficient, and cost-effective method of removing the unwanted outside layer of the surface. It can be used to strip paint from a sign or any number of other surfaces. Silica sand is mainly used to blast because it is affordable, durable and safe to handle.

Conclusion

If you think you have found your ideal product, read everything on the product description page or manual. Otherwise, you may not even know some features of the machine. Sandblasting is related to dust. Hence, try to find an air compressor with a drain valve to remove any dirt from the device.

With special innovative skills and experiences, many air compressors are built differently. They may seem alternative. For example, oil-free air compressors are naturally loud. But some of them can still be ultra-quiet because of their unique built design.

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