Compressor.. big boy! Single phase and airfed..

[Twosugars]

Hi guys,


Really in need of some professional advice..


After traveling the forum I have seen many threads regarding compressor sizes and air fed set ups and I would love to hear your opinion on my potential set up.


I am setting up a spray shop (small one man band) after working in the industry for years. Unfortunately I’m out in the sticks with single phase power.. basically I have a 30amp supply/240v for my compressor.

I want to run my Devilbiss proviser and am limited as I can’t really get a single phase screw at the moment and am extremely tempted by some of the Clarke twin motor industrial compressors available on finance as I’m taking a leap of faith.


I also understand a few people don’t like the idea of airfed and piston compressors but even screw compressors aren’t completely oil free and I am limited..


I will be running :

An air dryer

2 stage initial norgren filtration

3 stage festo breathing air filters in the shop - which will lead to

3 stage a.n.i breathing air in the booth

10mm breathing air line

Devilbiss proviser with charcoal filter on belt 7-10cfm

Sata 12.7cfm rp gun (ditching my hvlp)


All of the above is purchased bar my compressor..


What do you guys make of the Clarke? Are there any other options that are worth a look like abac? Any first hand experience?


Before anyone mentions.. I’m aware of filter masks .. I’ve used them.. but air fed truely is the way to go and once you have used one you feel dirty regressing to a mask you can’t adequately assess the life of its filters..

I have two 150l comps but don’t really want to get into connecting them I would rather sell the one that’s mine (ones a friends) and find a proper one..

Thanks for reading look forward to hearing your inputs

 

[fizzy]

Nothing wrong with the Clarkes - British made and slow running which is what you want.

Next door to my warehouse is a pro paint shop. He does all sorts of top notch cars like Ferraris and Astons. He uses a 24cfm twin piston compressor and has done for years. Has a proper spray booth/oven.

Machine Mart in Swansea has a returns section - they often have big compressors in there with a few hundred quid knocked off - probably never been used.

 

[Twosugars]

Thankyou very much for your reply fizzy! Do you know if he uses an airfed with his 24cfm? That has definately reassured me..

Ideally I need to get a screw, I’ve looked into inverters etc but it’s just not cost effective until I start pulling in the trade.

I always thought Clarke were Chinese .. and poorer quality. I’ve read something about cast vs ally motors.. not sure if that’s something to look out for.

Thanks once again

 

[fizzy]

Most Clarke stuff is Chinese. But not the compressors or mig welders.
I assume he uses airfed will have to ask him but maybe not he has a great big chimney coming out of his spraybooth.

 

[Turbo]

I think the clarke compressors are built using Italian pumps & motors & they seem to be well regarded. The next step up would be something like an Ingersoll Rand but that is big bucks!

 

[rtbcomp]

I had a Clarke for over 10 years, it had daily use in my grit blasting business. You'll be fine with their industrial range (blue, belt driven, cast iron cylinders). IIRC the twin pump models are only available in the professional range.

 

[Ruffian]

I think Clarke are similar to sip range which would be nuair Italy. (But the budget range)

They are a good compressor.
It may also be worth looking at the sip.
But it may be you will have to drop to 2hp motors rather than twin 3's as it may spike and still take your breakers.

 

[rtbcomp]

I bought a SIP compressor to augment the Clarke. The SIP won't start in winter if there's any air in the tank. The Clarke never failed. The SIP was inside my workshop, the Clarke outside in a 'kennel'. The equivalent Clarke was £100 more than the SIP and in my opinion worth the extra.

AFAIK the Clarke twin compressors stagger the start to reduce the inrush current.

 

[Burdekin]

I bought a SIP compressor to augment the Clarke. The SIP won't start in winter if there's any air in the tank. The Clarke never failed. The SIP was inside my workshop, the Clarke outside in a 'kennel'. The equivalent Clarke was £100 more than the SIP and in my opinion worth the extra.

AFAIK the Clarke twin compressors stagger the start to reduce the inrush current.

I was wondering that but it says 30amp min for two 3hp motors and in the pic it looks like both would start at the same time: https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-xe29270---industrial-air-compressor-230/ Whoops, says in the link sequentially starting motors.

For single phase I always think it’s best to stick with single motor 3hp compressors, cheaper to buy multiple compressors and can set and offset start up load and if one compressor goes down not such an issue.

If you want to go the Clarke pro, I’d go for two of these instead: https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-xe15150-industrial-air-compressor-400v/

 

[rtbcomp]

[QUOTE="Burdekin, post: 1280998, member: 18507"...
For single phase I always think it’s best to stick with single motor 3hp compressors, cheaper to buy multiple compressors and can set and offset start up load and if one compressor goes down not such an issue.

...[/QUOTE]

Pretty much my thinking. If you only need a small amount of air for a job you only need to use one compressor, or if one breaks down you can get by with the other(s) until it's fixed.

 

[fizzy]

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-xe29270---industrial-air-compressor-230/

sequential start 30amp

28cfm

 

[knighty]

30 amps supply is 7.2kw or about 9.5hp (that's running not start up)

you should be ok with 2 x 3hp but much more will be pushing it


if I were you, and just setting out on my own... I'd get some cheaper compressors to start with... a couple of 3ho compressors on ebay... free up/leave money for other things and take a bit of pressure off

 

[Twosugars]

Thank you guys some really interesting feed back! I will need to check the power supply further.. I know I have a 30a available but not sure if I can get much more (one of the Clarke Comps is 45a Min).

I have an old eco air 150l.. and there’s a Clarke boxer 150 there.. is it worth linking them? Il have to find the specs on the motors.

I guess this is my down fall.. I lack the knowledge of how to link etc control two compressors.. just buying a big burther would suit me down to the ground but perhaps there’s a way I can make it work.

It’s not the only power supply issue I have either.. my extraction fan choice is pretty limited too.. bloody single phase..

Thanks again for your time.. a lot to think about..

 

[rtbcomp]

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/spray-painting.htm

As far as controlling them, just set the cut out pressures about 5psi apart.

 

[WorkshopChris]

It’s not the only power supply issue I have either.. my extraction fan choice is pretty limited too.. bloody single phase..

A fair size single phase fan will move a lot of air. What size had you been looking at? If its big then this will be limiting you compressor size if you are on the same 30a supply.

 

[knighty]

I have an old eco air 150l.. and there’s a Clarke boxer 150 there.. is it worth linking them? Il have to find the specs on the motors.

I guess this is my down fall.. I lack the knowledge of how to link etc control two compressors.. just buying a big burther would suit me down to the ground but perhaps there’s a way I can make it work.

literally just join them together with a bit of pipe! :-)

I'd give those two a try first and see how they do.... they'll probably cover everything you need... you can buy another pretty quick if you need some more air?

 

[brightspark]

I was wondering that but it says 30amp min for two 3hp motors and in the pic it looks like both would start at the same time: https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-xe29270---industrial-air-compressor-230/ Whoops, says in the link sequentially starting motors.

For single phase I always think it’s best to stick with single motor 3hp compressors, cheaper to buy multiple compressors and can set and offset start up load and if one compressor goes down not such an issue.

If you want to go the Clarke pro, I’d go for two of these instead: https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-xe15150-industrial-air-compressor-400v/

i have the twin pump model you show in the 1st link . there is 2 ... 3 hp motors on it and a 10 second delay timer on them . one starts 1st then the other so run on 30 amp no problem it will do everything you want it to do and has a large tank don't get hung up on it being a piston pump just because you want air fed. I use mine for air fed mask sometimes when im blasting with the diesel comp or or I sometimes use the diesel comp for air fed but using that the air is quite warm so I hardly use it . just get a good set of filters and your good to go . I bought my comp for 75 quid not working put a new motor on one pump and rewired it . got it for a steal

 

[RWD3M]

i have the twin pump model you show in the 1st link . there is 2 ... 3 hp motors on it and a 10 second delay timer on them . one starts 1st then the other so run on 30 amp no problem it will do everything you want it to do and has a large tank don't get hung up on it being a piston pump just because you want air fed. I use mine for air fed mask sometimes when im blasting with the diesel comp or or I sometimes use the diesel comp for air fed but using that the air is quite warm so I hardly use it . just get a good set of filters and your good to go . I bought my comp for 75 quid not working put a new motor on one pump and rewired it . got it for a steal

This is a great machine. Had mine for about 10 years now and wouldn't be without it. They're not cheap new but do pop up on the secondhand market occasionally.

 

[MetalMonkey]

If you have the space, I would keep the two and join them.
Handy to have a spare if one dies and generally one will kick in before the other which means less of a spike on startup if you are limited on your supply.
I prefer the cast-iron pumps, they do them in a 2 (V) or 3 (W) and they are pretty well regarded.

I've got a 3 cyl AIE one coupled with an old Sealey with an Italian pump. Both rated about the same @ 10 CFM FAD - the difference is the Sealey screams its guts out to do it (I keep meaning to downrate it and make it a bit slower).
I run them both from a 32A supply via 16A MCBs and couple them in to the airline with ball valves so they can be isolated if necessary. They have different cut in and cut out pressures so it staggers out the load on the supply.
Both are small enough I can get them under a workbench as well, so I don't lose too much space.

I feed them into cooling matrix made from copper, and then into hardline around the workshop, 22mm ring with 13mm drops to a filter/reg and drain. Never seem to get any water out of the drains and the air is nice and dry.

I only run both if I need the air for masks or the blaster, most of the time I just run one for general use, which cuts down on the noise. Either compressor can fill the tank of the other, so you can still make use of the tank capacity even if it isn't running.

Works for me anyway and it would save buying a huge compressor if you already have them.

 

[Twosugars]

A fair size single phase fan will move a lot of air. What size had you been looking at? If its big then this will be limiting you compressor size if you are on the same 30a supply.

i have the twin pump model you show in the 1st link . there is 2 ... 3 hp motors on it and a 10 second delay timer on them . one starts 1st then the other so run on 30 amp no problem it will do everything you want it to do and has a large tank don't get hung up on it being a piston pump just because you want air fed. I use mine for air fed mask sometimes when im blasting with the diesel comp or or I sometimes use the diesel comp for air fed but using that the air is quite warm so I hardly use it . just get a good set of filters and your good to go . I bought my comp for 75 quid not working put a new motor on one pump and rewired it . got it for a steal

Thanks again guys for your input much appreciated, just out of curiosity what is the model you have brightspark??

I am looking at running a belt driven single phase fan from airflow it’s 600mm.. but again the power it needs looks quite a lot..

Has anyone had any experience with the Powerstar electric extractors? I’m not convinced.. but they are reasonable..

Thanks guys