Is there a difference between twin cylinder and 2-stage compressors?

by Bob Wallis
(Conway, AR USA)

I'm shopping for a compressor for my shop.

I have seen compressors that say they are twin cylinder...and some that say they are 2-stage. I saw one the other day that said it was single stage, two cylinder.

I had assumed that two cylinder = 2 stage. So I thought I'd better ask!

Thanks, Bob

Comments for
Is there a difference between twin cylinder and 2-stage compressors?

Click here to add your own comments

Feb 24, 2011
 single stage vs 2 stage
by: Larry

Hi,I really hate to disagree with the expert but compressors have been my interest/hobby for a lot of years.You said single stage compressors have lower cfm at higher pressure,it's the other way around,single stage are usually 125 to 135 psi max,and 2 stage are usually 175 psi and I am pretty sure a single stage of same HP as a 2 stage has higher cfm. Larry Fontana,Santa Clarita,Ca.
Dec 11, 2009
 Not the same
by: MEP1

Twin-stage compressors are typically two-piston, but twin-piston compressors ar not ultimately two-stage. The "stage" referred to is when air is compressed by one piston, then is sent to the other piston to be compressed again before it enters the tank.

In larger commercial compressors this is done both to achieve higher pressures and for consistent CFM.

Small two-piston single-stage compressors produce a lower CFM at higher pressures. In this case, each piston pumps directly to the tank.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Ask