One tip, get a bigger tank, the compressor will run less and last longer. Look for as many CFM at 90 psi as you can get, with a 6hp it should be at least 9 or 10 cfm. That sounds like a lot but isn't. A decent orbital sander will suck 4 cfm easy, and a cheap one will pull twice that. Which leads to tip two...

Second tip, buy quality air tools, with the lowest CFM requirment you can find. I was shopping with a buddy the other day, he just purchased a compressor. He was looking at air powered tools. He was comparing these two cut-off tools and was going to buy the $30 one over the $60 cause they looked just alike. Then I pointed out that the cheap one required 8 cfm while the $60 one only required 3 cfm. Thats a huge difference, his compressor would have run full time to power a 8 cfm tool.

Third tip, drain the tank often.
Fourth tip, drain the tank often.
Fifth tip, drain the tank often.

(Got that?)

Sixth tip, plumb in a good water seperator and external regulator, MANDATORY if you are going to paint.

Seventh and last tip, DO NOT get one of those big tool oilers that mount with your water trap. It will oil your entire hose down and you will have to keep a clean hose around to paint with. Make a tool oiler out of a short whip of hose and an inline oiler with a couple of quick disconnects. This way you can move it from tool to tool easily and only the little whip hose gets oil in it. Putting an swivel on it also helps out on wear and tear.

Best of luck. (Ok, one more tip) If you don't need a portable compressor consider a vertical model with a large tank, 60 gals or so. In reality very few people need portable models, air hose is very cheap, you could buy a couple hundred feet for less than $50.

Exactly - What he said!!!!!I know you said "light duty" I've personally have gone thru this. As time goes on you'll find yourself doing more & more with the compressor. It won't be long before you'll wish you had more tank, more volume, etc. Do yourself a favor & do it right the first time.