Recommendations On Air Compressors.

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

Hi All

 

I'm looking at getting an air compressor for the garage at home so I can do my own painting and to also run air tools. I've been having a look in a few catalogues at work but I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking for. Can anyone recommend me one that they use for these sorts of jobs please. I have a budget of up to £500.

 

Many thanks, Dave

[welshpug 1,657]

Get the biggest tank you can fit in there, if possible have it in a separate shed, sound insulated.

 

Go for a recognised brand with decent backup so you can get spares if required.

 

this looks ideal as its on special offer, just something I found googling.

 

http://toolstoday.co.uk/product/81124/sip-airmate-3hp-200-srb-200-litre-3-0hp-air-compressor-230v-06294?cat=2288

Edited February 23, 2013 by welshpug

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Aim for something around 14CFM, this will mean you have a compressor that will keep up with air sanders etc which use a lot of air.

[glenwah 20]

Totally agree with Tom, I bought a sealey 50L with 5 CFM, it empties itself in about 15 seconds if using tools and takes 5 minutes to build back up, higher CFM the better.

[Baz 421]

I have a 50l 14CFM cheapy (circa£200) that runs my air tools and tyre machine perfectly. I would however go for a slightly higher max working pressure next time, my old lower CFM 50l compessor had higher (10bar iirc) and although the new one is fine and capable, it was a little better for it at times.

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

agreed mine is only 6cfm and a 50l tank and it struggles with air tools but coped fine with my spray gun when i did the whole car.

 

it was running constantly but still kept up

 

only paid 50 notes for it anyway so for 500 you should get a real nice one

[Kezzer30 40 1 Cars]

Ive got a 50ltr 3hp one about 14.1cmf for 230 and its perfect for painting

[TooMany2cvs 65]

For something that's only going to get used every now and then, I'm not convinced about the "big a tank as possible" line of thought. Never leave a compressor alone full - there's moisture in the compressed air, and you'll rust the tank out. If you're going to shove it on one side for weeks, empty it and use the moisture drain in the bottom of the tank. 'course, when you find out you've got a soft tyre or just need to blow some dust out or whatever, you'll have to wait for it to fill again. And that takes quite a while.

 

I've got one of the Lidl/Aldi/WhicheverGermanPikeyMarketChain occasional-offer cheapies. It's solidly built enough, built by "Wolf", and realistically about as big a compressor as you'll run off a 13A socket, and a 25l tank. Nominally 9.5cfm, 2.5hp. I've not tried spraying with it, but it'll run a 1/2" rattlegun quite happily. And it cost £70. Can't argue with that. It's a similar spec to the roughly twice the price Machine Mart ones.

 

If you go that route, bin the connectors that came with it and get some PCL ones from Machine Mart. Ignore the pikeymarket accessories, and get good used rattlegun etc from fleaBay, or hose/blowgun/schutzgun from Machine Mart.

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

Thank you for all the advice guys.

 

I've been having a look round keeping your advice in mind and I've decided to go for this little beauty-

 

http://www.sipuk.co.uk/tools/info_SIP05302.html

 

 

It's on sale so now seems like the ideal time to get one.

 

I'm pretty new to this compressor lark so if anyone can think of any issues with this model can you please speak now or forever keep your peace

 

 

Now being as I'm treating myself to an air compressor I thought I'd have a look at another piece of equipment that I need.

 

While looking at the SIP website and being impressed with the prices I came across this-

 

http://www.sipuk.co.uk/tools/info_SIP04791.html

 

Looks pretty good to me. Does anyone have any experience with this of any advice before I buy one?

 

Cheers, Dave

[TooMany2cvs 65]

Have an ask over on mig-welding.co.uk - they'll give you plenty of comments on the welder (SIP aren't well thought of over there), but they also have an air forum, too.

[Lan 24 1 Cars]

Thats a pretty big compressor, what are you doing? I would have said this would be more than adequate for home use http://toolstoday.co.uk/product/42614/sip-airmate-tn3-0-50-d-50-litre-3-0hp-air-compressor-230v-06242?cat=2285