Recommend an air compressor

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COA

COA

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I am thinking of buying an air compressor to use on my landy. The job that I want to use it for is to spray on the waxoyl or similar gunk when I redo the chassis this summer. I am sure I woudl also use it to blow up tyres and some other jobs.

Doing some research shows there is a huge range available. I was wondering if the ones that come in around 100 quid are worth it or if you have to spend a little more to get something worth having. Any recommendations?
 
machine mart 8cfm for around £140 is as small as you would want to go most air tools need 14 cfm depending on how long at a time your using it ie gun undoing nut would manage short bursts enhanced if you put old empty gas cylinder in line as extra reservoir ,da sander no chance ,air operated paraffin gun with waxoyl and thinner mix perfect for under vehicle ,wait till you try it you will be surprised
 
Buy the best you can afford. You want at least a 2hp rated machine but a 3hp one is better. The larger the air tank the better for air hungry tools.

Once you get used to owning a compressor you'll find loads of jobs to use it for and you'll always want a bigger better one.

Having said that the smaller ones are good value for money but they dont last for ever as the compressor bits tend to wear out.
 
I've got a 25litre 3hp 12 or 14cfm, and it's not enough for what I want to do with it. It's good for spray painting and you'll find it good for your undersealing, but it's woefully inadequate for my sand blaster and a couple of other tools which need some fair amount of torque like an orbital sander and impact driver.

Mine cost about 140. I think it'd be OK if the tank was a fair bit bigger, but it runs out way too quickly.
 
I bought a 2hp one from Screwfix. It works well and can run air impact wrenches etc

I do wish I'd spent more however and will upgrade, as it's issue is continuous running, getting hot and then cutting out - a real pain when you're part way through spraying 300ft of fencing!

As ever, buy the best you can afford.

I also added quick fit connectors to everything, and as Shifty comments, I use it far more than I ever thought I might.

When you come to adding tools - I've found you do get what you pay for. My £90 impact wrench is so much better than the one I got in a 4 part £50 set
 
put an old gas cylinder or similar inline increase reservoir capacity it helps + you can use it as portable air when needed away from compressor ,i use a y connector so its plug in like air line or tools
 
Nice idea James - thanks

Have an old Butane cylinder laying around - using quick fit connectors to give a portable air source is a superb suggestion:)
 
tombardier said:
If anyone actually tried that, then the world might be safer without them ;)
Click to expand...

You remove the top of the tank, unscrew the valve, that way you don't have pressure just the fumes in tank to burn off. have seen this done on big storage tanks before they move them. A pressure tank is a pressure tank it's what is in them that you have to deal with. The tank will then burn like a bic lighter. Just repaint the tank and mark low pressure air.:D:D
 
tombardier said:
I'll be doing something similar to make a wood burner, but intend to fill it with water first :)
Click to expand...

It's tough to torch steel tank with water in it. Won't let steel get to temperature so you can cut with torch, if you use a grinder then you have a shock hazard. Do what i suggested,it'll work got 40 years of welding experience :D:D
 
john winsemius said:
You remove the top of the tank, unscrew the valve, that way you don't have pressure just the fumes in tank to burn off. have seen this done on big storage tanks before they move them. A pressure tank is a pressure tank it's what is in them that you have to deal with. The tank will then burn like a bic lighter. Just repaint the tank and mark low pressure air.:D:D
Click to expand...
Fooked if I'd light the top of an open propane bottle. Even if it seems empty. Why ???

Take a coffee tin and punch a hole in the lid with a nail. Fill it with butane from a cigarette lighter and fit the lid. At this point there is no pressure involved as the coffee tin is open to the air via the hole you made in the lid. A bit like your open gas bottle.

Then light the butane fumes that are coming out of the hole in the lid. Stand well back because as the fumes burn off and the fuel to air ratio gets to the sweet spot the flame will flash back into the tin and explode sending the tin lid skywards and often splitting the tin. Too much like lighting the top of a propane cylinder which wont split but will explode as there is no lid to pop off.

Anyone who's been in the army will know this is how to improvise a demolition charge when you dont have any ordnance but plenty of Jerry cans to replace the coffee tin.

I use a propane tank as the receiver for my compressor and even after two years of use the air still smells of rotten cabbage from the propane residue. Just vent the thing to air, flush it out with air or water if you choose, then using standard BSP air/gas fittings connect it to your compressor with quick fit connectors.
 
Yeah, I agree.

Fill it with water. F*ck setting fire to an old gas cylindar.

Landyzone doesn't have a Darwin award section for people that have killed themselves following advice on here, but maybe the mods could start one for anyone who tries that. :eek:


Regarding the compressor though. I bought a 3HP 50Ltr Sealey one a couple of years ago. It was about £230 if I remember correctly. It does do everything I need it to do, but I cant help wishing I'd got a bigger cylinder. 150Ltr maybe.

It was pretty much all I could afford, but the smaller cylinder means that the motor part has to work so much harder. You'd hardly use a tool and the compressor would need to kick in.

Also, I wouldn't recommend using an air rifle as a source of compressed air. An air rilfe cylinder typically contains something in the region of 200 bar. Air tools typically need something less than 10 bar. That's a dangerous difference.
 
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