Ideal compressor for Air Spade..

marlinspiker

Participating member
Location
Pennsyltucky
I would really like to get a compressor that can be truck mounted rather then towable. What is the smallest size compressor that I could get away with?
 
Marlin, somewhere in the specs for that spade should be the CFM it uses. Air tools in general are really more about the storage tank volume then the compressor itself. See if you can find that number. I know for my impact wrenches I could never get away with anything smaller than a 5hp with a 40 gallon tank. Hope that helps some what.
 
What compressor is needed depends a lot on the nozzle installed on the Air Spade. The Arborist/Landscaper kit from the mfg comes with either a 150 or a 225 cfm nozzle. I think both Baileys and Sherrill sell only the 150cfm model, and the mfg states that kit should be supplied via a 175 cfm or greater compressor. As far as the compressor, are you interested in a self-powered version or are you looking to go with a PTO? If you're looking for a PTO model, I really only have experience with one manufacturer, Vanair, but I can definitely say they've lived up to or exceeded my expectations. Heck, they make a PTO compressor for Super Duty F series that'll do up to 200 cfm in it's largest model.
 
Its a pretty small item and I don't think it needs to be dedicated to a trailer. With it being truck mounted this would free up our dump trailer for compost or other job materials.
 
I just got into the air spade/knife gig. Love the results, not so much love for the dirt flying down my shirt and pants. My worker said that the best place, best place in the world to get an tow behind air compressor is at construction equipment auctions. You can save an easy 50 percent on a decent used unit or even more. There's just a few things you need to do when you run it to see how reliable it is.
 

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