How Portable Compressors Work

A piston compressor works by forcing air into the cylinder through an intake valve, and the reciprocating motion of the piston compresses the air. Once it has compressed the air to the desired level, it activates the discharge valve, which sends it out to power the tool or any attachments the unit will be connected to.

Single-stage compressors have a single valve and piston assembly. This makes them smaller, lighter, and more portable, but limits the amount of power the unit can deliver. As a result, they are most commonly used in garages, workshops, construction sites and other applications where you can sacrifice continuous power for value or portability.