Choosing an air compressor advice

[radion_auto]

Hi all,

Go easy on me as i'm new, hope i'm posting this in the correct section etc.

I'm looking at investing in my first compressor, i've previously used my fathers compressor but since moved out and got my own place. I have in the past painted wheels and a couple of panels using his HVLP gun and used some 2k clearcoat. I'm well aware of the risks (more so now!) so want to take the proper precautions and get the proper kit. I used a filter mask and painted in the open air before and to be honest don't want to do it again after reading a few threads on here.

My question is this, is there a compressor i could buy (for not insane sums of money) that could drive a HVLP paint gun and have another output for a air supply? I don't want a physically huge compressor as i've not got loads of space, hence i definitely don't want to buy 2 compressors!

I don't mind spending money on a proper mask / suit / filter etc as i'll get some use out of it - i just want to buy the right compressor first time and not find out that it's not up to the job!

Cheers
Charles

 

[brightspark]

hi there it depends on your budget. 14cfm 3hp comp would be the norm for most folk . the biggest u will get is a 18cfm comp with a 4hp motor on single phase .heres a few ihttp://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/range/guid/F66D51F7-C8A4-4C4D-B99D-771D9D884A8Cor if 2 pricey go for the diy range

 

[radion_auto]

A little pricer than i was thinking, but i could stomach it.

Would a 14CFM compressor run an air feed and a gun at the same time, assuming it had dual outputs?

 

[lshigham]

A little pricer than i was thinking, but i could stomach it.

Would a 14CFM compressor run an air feed and a gun at the same time, assuming it had dual outputs?

Not really, they are more like 7-8cfm actual output which is only really enough for one or the other. Recon on 2-3cfm per HP output, rather than he misleading ''displacement" often quoted.

 

[radion_auto]

So is what i'm proposing actually doable without having a huge compressor with a massive receiver?

 

[brightspark]

So is what i'm proposing actually doable without having a huge compressor with a massive receiver?

what size and make of compressor were u using at your fathers??along with the spray gun ??did it cope easily enough with spare capacity air ??without running constantly . that will give u some idea if it will run both at once . i cant help as i run larger compressors for blasting and airfed helmet that can well cope

 

[radion_auto]

Well he has a cheapo HVLP gun that (for some reason) needs 3bar operating pressure, i'd be buying a different gun anyway so i've got no means of comparison. I've just looked at some pictures and i think it's a 100L receiver, very old device though - at least 15 maybe 20 years old. It coped with the gun just fine although i've not painted any huge panels with it yet.

 

[brightspark]

there should be a few members about that have run both gun and mask of there comps but some run 2 compressors . the post is still young.someone will be along to give advice who have actualy used the gear and not just quote figures

 

[radion_auto]

Haha, cheers

I was actually pleased enough to get any response so quickly!

 

[lshigham]

The lowest cfm air fed mask I can find uses just under 6 cfm, I used to use one of the 3hp ''14cfm'' compressors to spray entire cars which ran pretty much constantly so recon on needing about 14 actual cfm. You can't bank on using a large receiver to make up for the lack of capacity with an air fed mask as sooner or later it'll run out and you'll be breathing fumes

Is noise an issue? Two small reciever direct drive 3hp compressors would cope and not cost too much (450 or so) but would be very noisy to say the least

 

[radion_auto]

Noise would be an issue, but i could live with it as it's not like i'd be painting day in / day out. That said - i'd really prefer to buy a single compressor rather than 2 smaller ones, even if it ends up costing a bit more. My garage is packed with car parts and projects and the missus is very against this spilling over into the house!

 

[Daz1968]

I can say from experience that my se14c100 compressor runs my airfed mask and a devilbiss sri pro with ts1 air cap ok, it runs approx 50% of the time when running just mask but as the spraygun is low air use and not run constantly I have managed ok.
To help matters I reduced compressor to cut out at 8 bar so it doesn't get as hot and with my drop legs and filters I remove any moisture. I have never had the whistle on belt pack cut in so all good so far. Not ideal for constant use but for what I am doing it's not worth buying another compressor unless I need a full sized gun.

 

[aaran]

my monster compressor runs fairly often with a devilbiss gti hvlp and the airfed mask. its 10hp, 35 cfm and has a 250lt receiver. from a full 175psi load in the tank i can spray for around 5 mins then the compressor kicks in at 100psi (takes about 2 mins to refill it form that point when using the gun with the mask running constantly), if it kicks in at any less i get a psi drop at the gun+mask from 2 bar down to around 1.5 bar. remember you need a triple stage line filter setup to get safe air you have to add to the kit and that does add a nice large pressure drop in the system (you need a water trap, then a coalising filter then the super fine carbon filter) no point using compressor air as that unfiltered is almost as bad as 2k

 

[radion_auto]

Daz: that sounds like the sort of setup that would work for me. What compressor that which you listed? se14c100 seems to suggest a 14CFM flow rate and a 100L receiver - but what brand? I googled the code and drew a blank!

Thanks

 

[Robotstar5]

Daz: that sounds like the sort of setup that would work for me. What compressor that which you listed? se14c100 seems to suggest a 14CFM flow rate and a 100L receiver - but what brand? I googled the code and drew a blank!

Thanks

Probably one of the Clarke (machine mart) models no longer sold?

 

[radion_auto]

I think you're right, a current equivalent would be something like this then i guess?

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-industrial-air-compressor-se16c100

 

[Daz1968]

Sorry my mistake is se16c100 as in this link
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-industrial-air-compressor-se16c100
I have a 5micron pressure regulator followed by a coalescing filter then the carbon filter in belt, i have the devilbiss airfed mask, first time I used it the compressor got quite hot, but I spoke to a specialist and they advised me to reduce pressure so that cut in is slightly above what I needed as it would help keep compressor cool and since I did this it has been fine, ok with my sri pro gun, but defo wouldn't feed a full size gun without adding another compressor though. I just couldn't warrant the hassle of two compressors so compromised on my gun no regrets though.

 

[Robotstar5]

I think you're right, a current equivalent would be something like this then i guess?

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-industrial-air-compressor-se16c100

There's a few on here got that or similar models and no problems, just wait for a VAT free day for a decent saving.

 

[radion_auto]

Sorry my mistake is se16c100 as in this link
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-industrial-air-compressor-se16c100
I have a 5micron pressure regulator followed by a coalescing filter then the carbon filter in belt, i have the devilbiss airfed mask, first time I used it the compressor got quite hot, but I spoke to a specialist and they advised me to reduce pressure so that cut in is slightly above what I needed as it would help keep compressor cool and since I did this it has been fine, ok with my sri pro gun, but defo wouldn't feed a full size gun without adding another compressor though. I just couldn't warrant the hassle of two compressors so compromised on my gun no regrets though.

Great information, thanks!

I don't do loads of painting and intend to buy a decent HVLP gun so it shouldn't have huge air consumption. I guess if i get a decent compressor like this it would be able to run things like air sanders without issue too - that would be a bonus. I was thinking a gun along the lines of a Devilbiss FLG or maybe a GTI, i tend to paint smaller panels and wheels normally so i think these would be fine.

 

[Daz1968]

It won't feed a gti with a mask an sri only uses about 3cfm, but I have a da sander and that runs ok but if in constant use the compressor never cuts out although the pressure never drops so it just supplies enough air.