Portable air compressors with a 6 litre tank

The smallest air compressors in our range are carried by hand: they weigh 10 to 19 kg and plug into an ordinary 230 V socket. The six-litre tank covers short bursts of use with breaks in between — topping up a tyre, blowing dust off a part, firing a few staples. All but one are oil-free, so there is no oil to change or top up.

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What six litres can handle

At eight bar, a six-litre tank holds only enough air for a few seconds of blowing. Its main job here is to smooth out the piston pulses and let the motor switch off between short bursts. As soon as you draw air for longer, the machine runs flat out and what counts is its air output: 45 to 150 litres per minute.

That is why small compressors suit inflating tyres, balls and inflatable boats, blowing off dust, staplers or nail guns, and airbrushing. For an angle grinder or a spray gun for car painting they fall short — such work draws air continuously and a six-litre machine could not keep up. For a workshop, the better choice is a wheeled 24 litre air compressor.

How they differ

Oil-free or oil-lubricated

Seven machines are oil-free: the piston runs without an oil charge, so the machine can be transported in a car boot and nothing leaks from it. Only the ABAC L20N-1,5-6CM has oil, which lubricates and cools the piston. You can find the whole range of oil-free machines, including larger ones, among oil-free compressors.

Single or twin cylinder

Six machines have a single cylinder and a motor running at 2,850 rpm — they are the lightest, but also the loudest. Two cylinders at half the speed are used in the soundproofed series ABAC Super Silent OS: at four metres they measure 63 to 65 dB instead of 75 dB for the oil-lubricated L20N. We cover single-cylinder designs in more detail under single-cylinder air compressors.

Carry case or frame with a handle

At 10 kg, the lightest of all is the Suitcase compressor — pump and tank sit in a case that you can even stand on a car seat. The others use the tank as a base with a handle on top; the most air among them comes from the Black Wind BO-1,5-6PM at 150 l/min. The whole small range for a standard socket is listed under Black Wind.

Looking for a car air compressor?

The compressors on this page run on 230 V mains, not from a 12 V cigarette lighter socket. For the workshop and home, though, they are the better choice: they have a pressure switch, a pressure gauge and a quick coupler, so you can connect a tyre inflator, a blow gun or a stapler. An overview of all sizes, from small to industrial, is in our category of air compressors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a small compressor inflate car tyres?

Yes. Eight bar is more than enough for a car, but expect each tyre to take a while — the tank is small and most of the air comes straight from the running pump.

Can a small compressor handle longer jobs?

No. It is built for short bursts with breaks. In continuous use the motor overheats and the thermal cut-out switches it off; for that kind of work you need a larger belt-driven machine.

Why do small compressors only reach 8 bar?

It is enough for inflating, blowing off and small tools. With such a small piston, higher pressure would mean less air per minute and more heat.