Help on Buying an Air Compressor

[viperbl]

I am looking at buying a cheap Air Compressor, it will be using for impact wrench, tyre blowing, air blow gun for cleaning things and maybe some painting ...

I am trying to work out what I need, but for example, here are two models

Airmaster Air Compressor - Tiger 8/44 - £87
Airmaster Air Compressor - Tiger 8/35 - £141

Now, as far as I can see, the cheaper one is better!!!!???

But, will this be enough for my needs or is going to keep running out of air and take ages to charge back up again??

I don't want to spend a fortune, but don't want to buy something thats not good enough for the job ...

Any advice??

cheers
Rich

PS, edited to say this looks quite good, with all the tools with it ??? Wolf Sioux II Air Compressor Kit

[MarkB]

The cheap one looks like it will do all the more expensive on does. For spraying you'll be on the limit on any of the ones you've listed.

[viperbl]

How about this one ...

Wolf Sioux 50L Air Compressor Kit

Looks the same, but bigger 50L tank as opposed to the other three? will this mean I am not so much on the limit??

[MarkB]

It all depends on how you plan to paint. The modern way is high volume low pressure. Neither will be any good for that.

I'd say a bigger tank will help you run tools better but again if you use them continuously all the cheap ones will have trouble keeping up.

[viperbl]

Right, so not great for painting, but should be ok for power tools, I imagine the air gun is going to be the most used out of the lot with just the odd little bit of painting, ie, a panel, not a whole car or anything

[MarkB]

I found that using a die grinder was one of the main tools that needs loads of air. Obviously because it's run for long periods of time. Sand blasting also uses loads of air

Most nut/bolt turning tools I've found are fine even with a small compressor. Air saws will also use a fair amount of air.

[viperbl]

Cheers Mark, think I might go for the 50L Wolf one, seems like the best for my buck, good entry level anyway

[JohnW]

don't get led by the size of the tank.
the important figure is the air delivery (cfm), or cubic foot per minute. You will find that things like drills and grinders need upwards of 4cfm.
Fortunately all those you listed show as being 7cfm. If you look at the spray gun you will see it is listed as being 7cfm, which is why Mark says it is marginal. It should be fine for a panel, but not a whole car unless you want to stop every now and then

I'm guessing based on what mine does, but for the compressor to charge a 50 litre tank from empty will be 30 seconds or so, so even if you do have to stop its not for very long.

[viperbl]

Cheers, thanks make sense for the spray gun ... I should know all about cfm with choosing my new turbo's! lol

[kies4]

Mine is about that power and i can hold the power ratchet from spinning in my hand. Might be a dodgy ratchet was from aldi.

[mikeyquattro]

Ive got a 160ltr tank running 15cfm. It does run out of puff when i'm using the angle grinder for long periods. Runs everything else well

[grizz]

I've just got one of these for the new workshop could be a bit OTT for u .

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/abac-GENESIS-7-5K ... dZViewItem

[viperbl]

Ah, no, that looks like the boy! I might see if they will do a deal for two, could do with one in the house as well ...

[mikeyquattro]

I've just got one of these for the new workshop could be a bit OTT for u .

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/abac-GENESIS-7-5K ... dZViewItem

Nice!!