Compressor advice needed

[printcom]

I want to do a bit of blasting and my trusty 14cfm compressor is not up to the job so I am thinking that as I don’t have 3 phase that a road tow compressor would be my best bet, the problem is that my knowledge of the compressors used in these machines would fit on the back of a postage stamp.
It appears that 70-90cfm compressors can be found for reasonable money but anything bigger the price goes up massively . I was hoping the someone could tell me how useful one of these smaller compressors are and what I should look for when buying one of these things as I only have experience of piston type compressors.

 

[brightspark]

I want to do a bit of blasting and my trusty 14cfm compressor is not up to the job so I am thinking that as I don’t have 3 phase that a road tow compressor would be my best bet, the problem is that my knowledge of the compressors used in these machines would fit on the back of a postage stamp.
It appears that 70-90cfm compressors can be found for reasonable money but anything bigger the price goes up massively . I was hoping the someone could tell me how useful one of these smaller compressors are and what I should look for when buying one of these things as I only have experience of piston type compressors.

a 90cfm pump will do u fine with a pot using a 6mm jet .thats realy about min entry level for blasting at a reasonable speed and various size media . as for the comp u need to see them running for a reasonable time at full speed as all sorts of problems can arise i e boiling over bad starting when hot. oil vapour passing down the airline due to knackered filters . spairs for them aint cheap. they will be either hydrovane or a screw pump

 

[dannyp]

I had the same dilema a coupleof years ago and decided that whilst most of the time a pair of large singel phase compressors would do everything i needed but they didn't have a hope in hell when it came to blasting.

in the end sort of decided really needed to be abel to run a 6mm jet so as above your needing 90 CFM + i ended up goingfor 130 cfm as i allways like some headroom on capacity and disels running at MAXIMUM output tend to use a lot more juice and get a lot hotter than a slightly bigger one doing the same work,and not been new it may well be down on performance a bit.

problem is blasting isn't very nice to compressors both the air end and engine end so you need quite a sound unit imo. you may be better off spending more on a better compressor than haveing to repair a cheep one.

fpr how i use mine generaly lots then nothing for ages i decided to go for one with a deutz aircooled diesel, not the most efficent engine but they are tough long lived engines and they are simple, no waterpump, water pipes or radiator to fail and no waterways to gunk up , or antifreeze to checkor worry about in winter

 

[printcom]

Thanks for the info chaps, really useful. I have just heard of an ingersol rand 7-41 being sold locally thru a mate of a mate, going to have a look at it tomorrow evening, is there anything I need to especially watch out for.