Best restoration compressor

Frosted · Jul 21, 2015

I am thinking of buying a compressor and not sure which one to go for.

I understand buy the biggest one with most cfm you can afford.

But in terms of makes who is the best out of sealy, Clarke, and the rest.

There is a huge 150l Clarke with 14cfm that is made in the uk at my local machine mart but it needs heavy duty wiring for 500.

They also have a v twin 50l direct drive with 14.5crm which is made in the uk buts 300quid!

I have been looking around on the net and I see the sealy ones but not sure if they are Chinese made. Saying that, does being made in China mean is crap? I just got a new makita drill and its made in China!

If anyone has recommendations on any, I appreciate the help.

brightspark · Jul 21, 2015

a slow running belt drive compressor is the best . in the long run. direct drive are rubbish and are not worth repairing if they go wrong

rtbcomp · Jul 21, 2015

Go for belt drive - quieter and easier to fix if it goes wrong.

I bought a Clarke SE16C150 about 10 years ago and it's been great. It gets used daily along with a SIP compressor for blasting.

If you go for Clarke go for the professional range.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/.../professionalindustrial-air-compressors-elect

cumbriasteve · Jul 21, 2015

Agree with the above... my little comp...great machine but it is direct drive and it's terrible being in the same workshop as it, am sure my ears bleed.

Frosted · Jul 21, 2015

The Clarke SE16C150 was the one I was thinking of getting. I know its not huge compared to the industrial one but for my mums garage its massive:-)

The guy in the shop sad they do vat free days but I'm not sure when they are at machine mart.

I would hate to buy it and not be able to run air tools without waiting for it to fill up. Need a DA multi sander and want to use it treat my chassis inside and out. Maybe even spray paint the panels.

cumbriasteve · Jul 21, 2015

Members here get VAT free vouchers at random intervals and we tend to hand them out among ourselves, so keep your eye open or start a new post asking for one, could save you a lot of dosh.

ford34/2 · Jul 21, 2015

Cant believe, Mine just expired on Monday, perhaps some one has a current valid one.
You need to be registered to get an E mail and a Vat free invite, so try and get registered, or watch the forum. Some one often starts a vat free thread.
Stan

Dear Email Club Member,

We just wanted to remind you that if you haven't already used your unique discount code you can still enjoy huge savings by shopping VAT FREE*† on the vast range of Clarke products, plus enjoy 10% DISCOUNT on all other branded products† until Monday the 20th July 2015 inclusive.

Even if you are VAT registered you too can SAVE OVER 16%* on the vast range of Clarke products plus enjoy 10% DISCOUNT on all other branded products. †

NB: Your barcode (00000000000000) can only be used once so remember, the more you spend the more you save!! (Barcode removed)

See below for 3 ways to redeem this great offer

* Actual discount at 20% VAT rate is 16.67%, equivalent to the amount of VAT you would be charged on our current catalogue ex VAT prices.

Frosted · Jul 21, 2015

That is a shame, maybe someone else has one that don't want.
I registered with machine mart a few weeks ago and they sent me a email to buy a Clarke stove vat free:-)

brightspark · Jul 21, 2015

Frosted said:
That is a shame, maybe someone else has one that don't want.
I registered with machine mart a few weeks ago and they sent me a email to buy a Clarke stove vat free:-)

ring em back and tell em u want a compressor instead

rtbcomp · Jul 21, 2015

Just turn up and say you forgot your card. They'll register you and let you in.

lazybones51 · Jul 21, 2015

I have a VAT free voucher that expires today at midnight.. could order online for collection in store (if they offer that?)

TurtleDude · Jul 21, 2015

I'm not going to get into this thread big time, since we're talking home user recips, but compressors are not measured in litres. Milk, petrol, diesel, and many many other things are, including air receivers. But never, ever compressors.

Free Air Delivery is what you're looking for, and efficiency after that (i.e kW in - m3/min out).

Since we're talking hobby recips, that's not an issue.

As for Machine Mart compressors being UK made. I'd say chinese parts assembled by some disinterested asylum seekers at best. You're not getting something hand crafted by Norman Engineer in his Clarke Workshop of perfection. Trust me.

rtbcomp · Jul 21, 2015

The se16c150 is a good compressor, I think mine was made in Italy. MM have a wide range of machines - you pays your money and takes your choice.

brightspark · Jul 21, 2015

TurtleDude said:
I'm not going to get I to this thread big time, since we're talking home user recips, but compressors are not measured in litres. Milk, petrol, diesel, and many many other things are, including air receivers. But never, ever compressors.

Free Air Delivery is what you're looking for, and efficiency after that (i.e kW in - m3/min out).

Since we're talking hobby recips, that's not an issue.

As for Machine Mart compressors being UK made. I'd say chinese parts assembled by some disinterested asylum seekers at best. You're not getting something hand crafted by Norman Engineer in his Clarke Workshop of perfection. Trust me.

a real good quality comp is out of most peoples reach so u have to compromise

and buy the best u can aford

TurtleDude · Jul 21, 2015

brightspark said:
a real good quality comp is out of most peoples reach so u have to compromise and buy the best u can aford

Good advice. Sadly the market for home/small workshop piston compressor is a minefield of Italian scrap, rebranded crap, Indian junk and Chinese funk.

Which is why I stay out of it.

Want to talk 160kW Oil Lubricated Rotary Screws? Let's talk. :drunk:

brightspark · Jul 21, 2015

TurtleDude said:
Good advice. Sadly the market for home/small workshop piston compressor is a minefield of Italian scrap, rebranded crap, Indian junk and Chinese funk.

Which is why I stay out of it.

Want to talk 160kW Oil Lubricated Rotary Screws? Let's talk.

i bought a nice broomwade screw comp with a 3 cylinder perkins engine for 150 quid. a 90 cfm. was only the head gasket needed chainging its 30 years old and this for 60 quid

dannyp · Jul 21, 2015

the worst are the direct drive oil free, they are brilliant at makeing noise and getting hot they also pump a bit of air for a while.

belt drive is better but there is belt drive and belt drive. workshops got one of those twin pump clarke industrial things in it at the moment and that dose ok but old ingersoll rand T30 outpumps it.

tho if you rally want air, diesle enignes attached to oil flooded screw compressors are very effective

TurtleDude · Jul 21, 2015

brightspark said:
i bought a nice broomwade screw comp with a 3 cylinder perkins engine for 150 quid. a 90 cfm. was only the head gasket needed chainging its 30 years old

Bargain!

The old piston machines are the best built you'll ever find. Sadly parts (lack of) availability makes them unrepairable much of the time :vsad:

Newer screw compressors almost (do) pay for themselves in efficiency terms. Well some do :whistle:

.

Low duty - go piston (that's most of us, you on here)

Flat out / industrial use - screw.

dannyp · Jul 21, 2015

brightspark said:
i bought a nice broomwade screw comp with a 3 cylinder perkins engine for 150 quid. a 90 cfm. was only the head gasket needed chainging its 30 years old and this for 60 quid

you seem hellish good at finding the bargains

brightspark · Jul 21, 2015

i did build a 90 cfm comp using a v twin broomwade pump powered by a twin lister 20 hp diesel engine for shotblasting but sold it on. it cost me 300 quid to build

Best restoration compressor

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