Hobby and garage air compressors

A hobby compressor is a small machine for a standard socket, made for occasional work in the garage or home workshop. There are ten of them here, with 0.75 to 2.2 kW, all for 230 V — nine Black Wind models and one Base Line.

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What a hobby compressor can handle

Inflating tyres and balls, blowing dust off parts, running a stapler or nail gun, and short bursts of spraying with a small gun. Nine machines have the motor directly on the crankshaft and run at 2,450 to 2,850 rpm. They heat up quickly, so they need to rest between uses — all-day work is not for them.

What you'll find here

Oil-free with a 6 or 24 l tank

Five machines without oil: the Black Wind BO-0,75 and BO-1,5 and the Base Line B15-1,1-6CM. With a six-litre tank they weigh 15 to 17 kg and are carried by hand; the BO machines measure 56 to 67 dB at four metres. More small machines of this type are among our portable air compressors with a 6 litre tank.

Oil-lubricated with a 24 or 50 l tank

Five oil-lubricated machines Black Wind BL, BV and BB with air delivery of 121 to 257 l/min. The most air is delivered by the twin-cylinder BV-2,2-50CM and the belt-driven BB-2,2-50CM; the latter is the only one on this page that runs at low speed, 1,050 rpm, and reaches 10 bar. At four metres, the oil-lubricated machines measure 71 to 77 dB. You'll find the whole range at Black Wind.

Choosing the size of a garage air compressor

The deciding factor is how much air your tools use, not the tank volume: the air output should exceed that consumption with some margin. Any machine on this page will do for inflating and blowing off; a stapler or spray gun needs more air and a bigger tank. A step-by-step approach is described in our article Which compressor to choose for a workshop.

When a hobby machine is not enough

For frequent and longer work, there are semi-professional compressors with a belt and lower speed. Machines of all sizes, from small plug-in units to industrial ones, are available in the compressed air compressors overview.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a hobby compressor enough for inflating tyres?

Yes. Even the smallest machine with a 6 l tank will top up car tyres; a larger tank is handy when you inflate several wheels in a row.

Oil-lubricated or oil-free hobby compressor?

An oil-free one is lighter, has no oil to change and can travel in a car. The oil-lubricated machines here have a 24 or 50 l tank, so the motor cuts in less often.