I'm an electrician and got a free used pancake air compressor and air hose. It only needed a new cord, so I replaced it, and I also replaced the gauges on the manifold. But, I don't know much about what pressure/volume air tools need to run.

The compressor is an older 4 gallon Campbell Hausfeld, with a 1.5HP motor, and the pressure reaches, and holds at, 125psi. Will it be able to run a light-duty impact gun to rotate my tires at home?

 

I think you will be way short on volume .
But it will be good for airing tires or a nail gun.

 

what you need to look at is your cfm's. you have to make sure the flow is there. I agree with bigfoot. i dont think that a 1.5 hp motor will keep up with the volume you need for tools that require a higher cfm such as an impact or air ratchet. if you have a strong enough impact with a high enough torque rating you might be able to do 4 or 5 lugs before there is just not enough air left to drive the gun.

 

Ya.. I doubt you'll be able to rotate your tires... But might be alright to bust a nut loose here and there but thats about it... Good for nail guns and stuff..

 

It will work for a few lugs, but your compressor will be running alot to keep up with demand. However, if you can find a larger volume tank you can use the compressor to fill that and run tools off the large volume tank.

 

That's ironic. It has a quick connect on the regulator, But, there's another one on the high pressure side of the regulator too. I wonder if someone who had it before me had a second tank they connected for additional supply?

I looked up the manual online and it is a 3.4CFM @ 90psi compressor. I'll try it and see what happens.

 

I've used my pancake compressor for changing tires, running framing nailers when I didn't have 220V for my big compressor and it will work, quicker than by hand, but it'll only shoot a half stick of nails or break loose 3-4 lugs before needing to catch up on air again.
Make sure if you're using it with the impact for tires that it has90 psi or more for tightening, or check the lugs by hand afterwards. Much less psi than that and you won't be getting the lugs tight enough.

 

Thanks for the info. I tighten the lug nuts with a torque wrench, and 3-4 at a time is still faster than by hand as you mentioned. I adjusted the pressure switch to come on at 95psi, and go off at 130psi.