There are certain tools out there that just make your life a lot easier. If you were to visit pretty much any high-quality maintenance facility or an expert’s workshop, one of the most important tools you would find would be an air compressor. These allow you to nail, staple, drill, and bolt things down with precision, speed, and power, and if you truly want to get the most bang for your buck, you need to make sure you get the best 60-gallon air compressor out there. This tank size will guarantee that you’ll never run out of the air, even if you work all day long!
However, finding a good air compressor is much easier said than done. You need to take into consideration how you intend to use it. There are lots of different variables to consider, such as the power source, whether the compressor is a single or dual stage, uses oil or is oil-less, and the available PSI. Now, if all of that sounds a bit intimidating, don’t worry! We have done all of the hard work for you.
We have spent hundreds of hours researching and reading through customer reviews to put together a comprehensive list of the best 60-gallon air compressors out there. If you already know what to look for in a compressor, you can go right to the table below and the in-depth reviews to find the right one for you. If you are new to the compressor scene, then be sure to check out our buying guide.
If you are in the market for a powerful, durable, and quiet 60-gallon air compressor, then this just might be the model for you. It is extremely well designed. The motor and pump assembly is especially well thought out. Even though this compressor can offer you a maximum of 175 PSI, the motor is designed in such a way that it is pretty much impossible for it to overheat.
This is really beneficial, since this pump is designed to be used by more than one person at a time. Its combination of high air pressure, quick pump, and cooling design make it perfect for a workshop that needs to run multiple tools at the same time. Even if three or four workers are using it simultaneously, there should be no drop in performance. It is also relatively quiet, which is surprising for a dual stage compressor.
However, this type of performance comes at a hefty price. You will also have to make sure that you have a good supply of oil in reserve as well, since this compressor utilizes oil to keep it nice and lubricated.
This is one of the most expensive compressors on the market, but don’t let that scare you away. It is a two-stage compressor, making it a perfect choice for a professional shop. It has a powerful, and loud, 5 HP motor that runs a four-cylinder pump at over 1,300 RPM. This, and the PSI threshold of 175 gives it the ability to complete pretty much any task that you and your workers need to get done.
However, all of this power comes at a price. It is very expensive but should last you a good long time due to its superior design and durability. This compressor is also one of the heavier models on the market, weighing in at about 600 lbs. If you do decide to purchase this model, be sure to have space in your workshop to keep it because once you have it in place, you won’t be moving it again.
When you install it, you will also need to keep in mind that it needs to be properly ventilated. While the power of this model is great, it can cause the compressor to overheat if it has not been installed carefully.
If you are looking for a powerful option for your home workshop, then this might be a good deal. Even though it is a single-stage model, it has a relatively high running PSI of 155. It achieves this by have three different cylinders and a 4 HP motor. If it also not a terribly expensive compressor, making it a good choice for a home workshop.
Even though this wouldn’t be the best choice for a large workshop, it still can run multiple tools at the same time, as long as they don’t need a huge amount of PSI. This includes tools for painting, nailing, or stapling. The only true downside of this compressor for home use is that it is a bit loud. If you are going to be using this tool in a confined space, then you really should make sure that you have hearing protection, as its 83 dBA is about as loud as a diesel train.
This tool also uses oil as a lubricant, making it a pretty durable model. The manufacturer also offers a two-year limited warranty on most of the parts, which is pretty long in the compressor world.
This compressor, which is manufactured by Ingersoll Rand, is another good option if you are looking for a 60-gallon air compressor for an industrial setting. It has a high PSI threshold, making it a good option for running multiple tools at the same time. It is a dual-stage compressor that is lubricated by oil, making it a nice and durable option. It is also a relatively light industrial-grade compressor, weighting about 430 lbs.
The pump and motor assembly are also of high quality. They are designed in such a way that it cools itself quite well, no matter where it has been installed. This makes it less likely that you will experience any breakdowns in the compressor’s performance, no matter how much it is utilized.
One of the biggest drawbacks to this compressor is that it does not have a sight glass for the oil level, which makes it a bit more difficult to check the level of oil. Not that this is the biggest deal, but it certainly is something to keep in mind before you make your final decision.
Let’s say that you aren’t looking for a huge, expensive, and overly powerful compressor for your home workshop. This model, which is made by Puma Industries, fits the bill perfectly. It is not overly large, weighing in at only around 300 lbs. While this might sound like a lot, it is relatively lightweight for an air compressor of this size.
This compressor is not the most powerful on the market, since it is a single stage model. Its motor only runs at 3 HP, making it one of the weaker models on the market. But this won’t make too much of a difference for a home workshop. It has more than enough power for any amount of nailing or painting that you might want to accomplish. Plus, the 135 PSI maximum is more than enough for pretty much any task that you will need to accomplish at home.
The slower motor also makes this one of the quietest compressors on the market today. This is another reason that this is a perfect compressor for even a smaller shop. Even if you are running it constantly, the noise level will not be too difficult to deal with in a confined space.
This is another high-quality compressor from Industrial Air that would be a good option for a home workshop. It is very similar to the previous model in that it is a single-stage compressor. It only has two cylinders instead of the three that the previous model has, which reduces the amount of PSI that it can run on. It has a maximum PSI of 130, making it a better choice for someone that only wants to run one tool at a time off of it.
While the maximum PSI is not quite up to snuff for running lots of tools at the same time, or powerful tools for that matter, it is more than enough for pretty much any tool that you would need to use in a home workshop. This includes any tools for nailing, stapling, or painting.
This is a really well-designed compressor. It is very easy to install and run. It utilizes oil as its lubricant, making it a nice durable model. The oil level is also really easy to check since the fill point is quite easy to access.
This compressor is another good option for the home workshop. It has a maximum PSI of 135, which is not quite as much as you would like to see in an industrial setting. Of course, if it is a relatively smaller industrial shop, this compressor would work well.
The best feature of this model has to be its motor. While it isn’t overly powerful, it is built to be extremely efficient. It only runs on 3 HP, but still has a high level of RPM, which helps to keep the tank full all of the time. If you choose this compressor, you will be able to work all day long with ease.
As you would expect from a compressor of this size, this is not going to be a portable model. Whether you choose this for your home shop or an industrial setting, you need to be sure that you have a secure spot to put it. Another great feature of this model is the built-in coolers that help with heat dissipation, no matter where you choose to install it.
As you can imagine, there is a lot to consider when you are looking for a good 60-gallon air compressor. In this section, we will go through everything that you need to know to find the right compressor for whatever job you need to complete.
When you are looking at a compressor of this size, you can either select a single stage or dual stage compressor. The type of compressor that you select will largely hinge on what kind of work you intend to do with it.
Single-stage compressors are named as such because the air is only compressed in a single stage. Once the air is compressed, it is then sent on to a storage tank. Single stage compressors are best used for smaller scaled jobs, such as nailing, sawing, and stapling. This makes them a great choice for a home workshop.
Dual-stage compressors compress air two times. Once the air has been compressed the first time, it is then sent through a smaller cylinder that both cools and compresses the air a second time. This helps to create a higher level of PSI, making dual stage compressors perfect industrial compressors or for automotive applications.
When you are choosing your air compressor, you can get one with one, two, or three cylinders. These cylinders will affect how efficiently the air is compressed. This will have a direct impact on how much it costs to run your compressor.
If you are only thinking of occasionally using your compressor, then a single cylinder will work just fine. It will compress quickly but may overheat if you try to use it on extended jobs.
If you want to inflate and run some tools on your compressor, then a two-cylinder model should do the trick. It can run a longer time without overheating than a single cylinder model.
If multiple tools are run off of your compressor at different PSI levels, then you will want to get a three-cylinder model. These models are the most cost-efficient to run, though they do cost more up front.
To ensure that your compressor is working properly, it will need to be well lubricated. To achieve this, you have two different options to choose from. You can either get a model that needs to be regularly oiled or an oil-free one.
With this type of compressor, you will need to add a bit of oil every once in a while to make sure that it is properly lubricated. Compressors that utilize oil are better suited to heavier use, such as in industrial locations.
Oil-free models do not require any oil to be added for lubrication. Instead, they usually have a band of Teflon that provides all the lubrication the compressor needs. Unfortunately, this will break down over time, making these compressors better suited to lighter applications.
Something else that you need to consider when you are purchasing your compressor is how you intend to power it. You can either choose from a gas powered or electrically run compressor.
Gas-powered compressors are more portable than electric models but are also costlier to run. Since you will regularly have to refill them for the compressor to run properly, the cost could become prohibitive if you are running it all the time. There is also the possibility of a gas spill, which is never a good thing.
While electric compressors are not as portable as a gas-powered model, they are generally a better buy. This is especially true if you are going to be operating out of one location, be that your own personal workshop or an industrial worksite. These compressors are usually more efficient and cheaper to run than gas operated models.
The amount of pressure that a compressor can create depends upon the number of stages that it utilizes to compress the air. Single stage models will usually have an upper limit of around 100 PSI, while dual stage models can go much higher.
The amount of PSI that you need is, of course, largely dependent on the type of work that you intend to be doing. If all you want to do is fill up the air in your car tires or run woodworking tools, then you can go for a model that provides a lower number of PSI. If, however, you need to run a ton of pneumatic tools, you might want to look for a compressor with a higher PSI threshold. Otherwise, you might not be able to run the type or number of tools you need to get the job done right.
No matter what kind of application you intend to utilize your compressor for, you will want to get one that is going to last you a good long time.
[wpsm_box type=”blue” float=”none” text_align=”left”]If you truly want to make sure that you are getting a durable model, then you should be sure to choose one that requires oil every so often. These models will generally last a bit longer than oil-less versions, since there is no limit to the number of times you can refill the lubricant.[/wpsm_box]
You’ll also want to pay close attention to the number of RPM for the motor of your compressor. The higher the number, the faster the compressor will be able to fill up with air. Conversely, the higher the number, the faster the motor might burn out.
No matter how durable the compressor you purchase is purported to be, you should always be sure to get a model with a good warranty. Even high-quality compressors can have parts that fail, and the last thing that you want to do is spend a bunch of money on a compressor, have a part fail, and have no way of getting it repaired for free.
You just need to be sure that you read the warranty as carefully as possible. Some companies will offer a long-term, limited warranty. The limited part is what you really need to watch out for, as this could mean that certain parts aren’t covered under warranty.
As you can see, there are tons of different compressors out there for you to choose from. Whether you are looking for an industrial model, a compressor for a home workshop, or want to get a good compressor on a budget, we have you covered. In this section, we will quickly review our top three picks to help make sure that you have the best 60-gallon air compressor for your needs.
Best all-around – If you are on the market to get powerful and reliable 60-gallon workshop or garage air compressor, we think the DeWalt DXCMV5076055 will fill the bill perfectly. It has great performance, rock-solid overhearing protection, and suits for simultaneous use of two tools.
Best industrial model – Of all the compressors that we looked into, the Quincy QT-54 2V41C60VC is by far the best choice for an industrial setting. It has a high PSI threshold, making it easy to run multiple tools at the same time all day long. It also has a powerful motor, which helps to keep the tank full.
