Compressor Question

Wes

Well-Known Forum User
Hi All,

I'm wanting to buy a decent air compressor and wondering what numbers I need to look for.

It's be used for spraying, some sand blasting and maybe running some air tools.

Don't want to spend £100s but also don't want to buy something under powered.

Cheers,

Wes
 

rallymanDP

Well-Known Forum User
Wes - I don't think that you will be able to buy the Compressor that you need for less than around the £600 mark - at least, not a new one.

If you want to spray more than one small panel at a time, and also to do any sandblasting, you need one with at least a 14cfm output, and with a tank big enough to store the quantity to do the job you intend to, otherwise you are always waiting for it to catch up every couple of minutes That rules out the small units, and if you check the Machine Mart or similar websites, they are priced from at least around £500 upwards. If you don't get the right unit for the job, it will be a waste of money.

I suggest that you ask the counter staff at one of their Branches for their advice - they ( usually ) know what they are talking about.
 

Throttleton

Well-Known Forum User
It will be hundreds Wes.
The numbers your looking for on your air tools is CFM usage.
A decent pro air DA sander will kill off the biggest single phase compressor air supply quickly.
A second hand 12 CFM compressor (that's not free air delivery) will still be a few hundred quid.
Have you got 3 phase?
 

Wes

Well-Known Forum User
No 3 phase here! I'll look for a decent second hand one I think!
I don't need the air tools particularly but sand blasting a painting defiantly!

Wes
 

andrew muir

Club Member
Unfortunately its the painting and blasting that require the larger amount of air.
You can paint with a smallish compressor you just need to go real slow and on smallish panels. Blasting is a definate no-no with a small compressor uses lots of air.
I learned the hard way back in Oz no substitute for CC's
 

Stevie P

Well-Known Forum User
Its not about pressure, its about volume to keep the contant flow of air through the blaster.

Steve
 

Throttleton

Well-Known Forum User
Wes you need 3 phase if you want to do proper blasting.
I can't remember the exact figures as I'm getting old but single phase will only run to a 4 mebs 5 hp motor which will not be enough for you. You can get twin engine single phase comps. but they are expensive.
Can you time your jobs well enough so you can rent a mobile diesel comp?
I used to have a little Hydrovane diesel on a trailer which would chuck out 80CFM, You could get one of those for a weekend I would have thought for blasting and painting reasonably .
We have a 385 CFM Hydrovane comp at Ashington, It has a 250 AMP start up load and costs 30 quid an hour to run, you can borrow that if you want! We don't use it for those reasons!!
 

Wes

Well-Known Forum User
Thanks Craig,

Sounds like I'll rent if any big jobs come up. Lots of farms around here so might see a petrol/diesel based one come up at sometime as I've got space to keep it outside the garage.

Wes
 

Mr.G

Club Member
I've seen good condition second hand units which could tackle most garage jobs go for around £250 on ebay and less if you're lucky.
 
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