Air Compressor Selection help please guys

[slammed]

i know this has been a billion times on here but i have never bought an air compressor before just stuck to my electric tools but now is the time where i need a compressor for the selection of tools and sprayin capabilities.

so here i need it to have great spraying abilities,(possibly hvlp worhty?)
and enough puff for useage of various sanding and general air compressor tools etc..

i have a budget of ideally £200-300 and have been looking at the machine mart range as i have a VAT free day on the 2nd jan 2012 so anything from the MM range i will conider i am flicking threough their site/catalouge and just dont know what to go for??

so can anyone help me out and guide me along?

trying to get my welder and all tools set up for the start of 2012 so i can crack on with the resto full steam on my prolonged mk1 cortina resto/mod had it 5 years and barley touched it, nows the year to pull my finger out..lifes too short lol!

thanks a lot guys i will be looking still and posting up links of potential compressors too.

Gav

 

[brightspark]

go for a 3hp belt drive 14cfm unit if u can aford it -not a direct drive

 

[slammed]

hi yup well out of my budget but the 2.5 hp seems in budget anyone else direct me to anything? anyspecs to follow so i know what to at least look for?

thanks for the help guys

 

[slammed]

oh forgot to ask why belt drive and not direct? does direct drive have more roomfor faliure than belt driven or can i get away with direct drive?

 

[tigler]

Belt drive units run the pump slower, therefore quieter and with less rapid wear. It's also easier on the motor as it has a gearing advantage via the belt pulleys.

 

[brightspark]

Belt drive units run the pump slower, therefore quieter and with less rapid wear. It's also easier on the motor as it has a gearing advantage via the belt pulleys.

and also has a better resale value and each component can be replaced seperately whereas a direct drive isnt worth repairing if it goes wrong

 

[roofman]

its asking a lot of any electric motor or engine "crankshaft connected" were high torque on start-up is requied...they seem to just not have any ‎
inertia power. Ive never had any comp problems with belt driven units but have had the exact same thing as whats going on here with direct drive units and for this reason i would'nt give one house room any more

 

[slammed]

right ok well from hearing the cheap normal direct drive compressors i think if a belt driven one is quiter and more effiecient as you guys say i will go for one of those, but seriously cant spend anything like £700 on one anythime soon.

would a 2hp draper belt driven unit be up for my jobs?

heres a link of what i have found..
http://www.toolbox.co.uk/draper-03237-50l-230v-15kw-13670-120659

would this be up for my tasks light spray work,mainly engine bay,underside, and inside, will use my dads huge compressor for the exterior, but as usual not allowed to use that for my car as its too big i will break it lol, plus will use too much elctric and be a waste for my minor tasks too

 

[blenkie1]

Don't just stop at machine mart, SIP, Sealey all have offers on now and again. In fact my local compressor place is actually selling compressors for a good bit less than all of them so don't discount them give them a ring. Best place for information and if anything goes wrong

 

[slammed]

Don't just stop at machine mart, SIP, Sealey all have offers on now and again. In fact my local compressor place is actually selling compressors for a good bit less than all of them so don't discount them give them a ring. Best place for information and if anything goes wrong

thanks for that will look on their sites now and problem is will they all be open because of xmas hols, might have to wait till 3rd then but no worries will look their too

 

[FranV8]

Both my machines are direct drive - kiss of death to say it but never had problems with either.

I guess if you're going for really heavy day in day out use, the extra investment is worthwhile. But if it's typical hobby use, I wouldn't dismiss them out of hand. I'd rather have a direct drive 3hp than a belt drive 2hp.

In terms of efficiency, there doesn't seem to be a difference between direct and belt drive, both do about 3cfm FAD/hp. Wear there will be a difference. Noise, if it's a consideration, then it'll be belt drive you need.

 

[brightspark]

Both my machines are direct drive - kiss of death to say it but never had problems with either.

I guess if you're going for really heavy day in day out use, the extra investment is worthwhile. But if it's typical hobby use, I wouldn't dismiss them out of hand. I'd rather have a direct drive 3hp than a belt drive 2hp.

In terms of efficiency, there doesn't seem to be a difference between direct and belt drive, both do about 3cfm FAD/hp. Wear there will be a difference. Noise, if it's a consideration, then it'll be belt drive you need.

as u say it depends on how much use u give them and how much u have to spend. i can kane mine for a few hours and work it hard continuously most people dont need to so direct drive will be ok

 

[slammed]

well as i say we got the big heavy duty belt driven one (my dads) for the exterior paint so thats is not a problem, i will literally be just using it a couple of hours a day most likely every sat and sun cause of work , and it will be used for the use of its sanding capabilities( roloc disks) the finger file here and there, odd bit of sandblasting (again not loads an odd bit) , DA'ing, and painting just the engine bay (possibly) but paining the inside and underside with it, and just the other general use impact wrench maybe?

this is pretty much exactly what i need one for as said we got a big'un for the main task

so a direct drive may be ok and for the money i can get a 3hp one too, neighbours well they will be fine with extra noise i guess not going to pay an extra £330 to keep them sweet when we already are not lol

so i think i will settle for a decent direct drive unit..

thanks i hope guys for the help as said i didnt have a clue when i posted this topic

 

[tysonn]

Just what was recommended in an earlier post.3HP belt driven,good CFM output and £100 cheaper then the Draper!
http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-axminster-awbdc30-compressor-prod795573/

 

[tigler]

Just for the record, there is at least one brand of direct drive, reciprocating compressor that is high quality. The Atlas Copco LE series. VERY expensive to buy new though.

 

[zzr1200]

Here is a "Wolf Air Compressor with some tools".

Now the painful bit...Wolf tools when bust sometime ago so theres no come back warranty wise, but you could end up with the tools and a compressor, on which you could replace the component parts if they should go wrong.

Generally most belt drive compressors suffer from 1 of 2 problems, the pressure switch fails (cheap to replace) or the oil level is never checked and the pump unit fails, both are replacable.....considering your funds plus its fairly local, contact the seller and arrange a viewing if its a plie of poo walking away

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Single-Ph...Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item3f11be5b8a


Or Even Better If Still Available:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/air-compressor-200-litre-2010-model-air-mark/93325546