going to buy a air compressor for home use. never owned one, but have decided on 2 models. which one is best. dewalt 15gallon will deliver 5.4 cfm@90psi. or a kobalt 26 gallon 4.0cfm@ 90psi. so basically is having the xtra 11gallons and losing 1.4 cfm more important than having 1.4 more cfm and 11 gallon smaller tank. my air tools are 3"buffer on an angle tool, 3"grinder, impact wrench, air pressure to blow out garage, ect. which one would you guys buy?

How are you going to use your air tools? Will you be using your grinder for more than just short uses? If so you need to look at a MUCH larger compressor. I've got an 80 gallon compressor that is rated @ 12.7 CFM @ 60 psi and 10.3 @ 90 psi. It will not keep up with my die grinder for more than 2 minutes of continuous use. I do some port and polishing on cylinder heads and other various jobs pretty regularly, and I wish now I would have spent the money on a 2 stage compressor that would have done the job. If your only going to be using it for routine maintence and your impact, I would get the bigger tank size for storage reserve. Impacts use alot of air real quick.

Listen to THEFERMANATOR. Air compressors are like engines - bigger is better. If you can afford it, and have power available, go two stage with a 80 gallon tank. You will never regret it.

check at sears, they carry some real nice 2 stage compressors that are fairly cheap. and yes you need bigger.

Tank size has to do with volume and reserve. The larger the tank, the less the motor will run. If it is a cheap motor and you try to use the compressor a lot, the motor will burn up.

My compressor is only 33 gallon from Sears. It suites my needs. I use mine mostly for the impact to change tires and to clean air filters on the equipment.

Summary: Bigger tank will give you more volume of air between compressor cycles.

My dad has an older dewalt wheelbarrow that we bought to run nailers, impact guns, etc... much smaller than what you need, but that thing is indestructable.

Where I used to work we had a single 80 gallon two stage compressor for the entire shop, must've been at least 40 years old... I don't know the brand though. Once it got filled up, you couldn't run it down nomatter how hard you tried... put out a sold 180psi.

I wish I could remember the manufacturer, but it was an 80 gallon 5hp belt driven... definately worth it if you're going to do alota continuous work...

Look in the yellow pages under "Air Compressors" for companies that sell and service them. They often take older units in trade, refurbish them, and sell them at atractive prices. A good way to get a large capacity compressor at a good price.