Compressors When you are shopping for a new compressor there are a few factors that you’ll need to consider.[ Even before you can come to a decision on the compressor size you require, you must think about what it will be used for]. Let's suppose you have a workshop and need an air compressor to drive your pneumatic tools. Consult the documentation for your tools and find the amount of air necessary for each tool. The manual for a nailer for instance might say “air consumption - 3.0  10 nail