I need a compressor but am clueless..sort of!!

[cumbriasteve]

Hi

I have bought a gravity feed tanning spray gun off good old Ebay and it works great for spraying my ornamental steelwork...BUT

My Aldi comp which in all fairness is spot on and manages the job well is driving me mad with the noise level, I have some nice crisp £ notes heading my way so thought I would treat myself to a new comp or good second hand one..but what????

I have seen the clarke silent thingys but not sure how they will perform and know I will probably have to accept some noise, but hopefully at least half that of the Aldi comp

So I need your views on what you have and what you think of it, for spraying only, no air tool use and no spraying that demands a high quality finish

Any views, comments appreciated..I don't want to spend my money on the wrong comp...Looking around the £400 mark if possible

 

[superfly]

I don't if it is possible but if you only problem is the noise, maybe you can move the compressor outside the garage in a small garden shed for example.

It could give you a bit more storage place and could certainly be done for £400.

My compressor is pretty noisy too, so I just move it in a small shed attach to my small garage.

If only I was leaving in my own house the garage will be big

 

[cumbriasteve]

I have loads of space and was thinking about something along those lines..perhaps a box as others have mentioned before... cant decide though..time will tell I suppose.

OH..and AOL in Cumbria is rubbish tonight, so apologies if it takes me a bit of time to reply to anyone kind enough to comment

 

[rtbcomp]

Is the Aldi direct drive? If so you're better going for a belt driven one.

Those Clarke Shhhhhhhh compressors are as quiet as a fridge - they use fridge compressors.

I have a few broken ones of that type (not Clarke) that have overheated and seized, also they need special (ie expensive) oil. They don't produce very clean air either.

 

[tigler]

It's screw, vane or enclosed piston if you need low sound levels.

 

[mike 109444]

If you do any mig welding you may already have a pub type co2 cylinder. If so, via a suitable regulator you can use one of these. Cost of refills (I pay about £15). Some Airbrush kits come with a small can of co2 (just as bad as the disposable welding ones). Not sure how long a pub cylinder would last on you mini spray gun, but worth a pop IF you already have a cylinder. Failing that look for medical or dental compressors on ebay. There was one last night when I was browsing. You need to have spec for your gun, namley flow rate in lts per min when shopping for compressor. I did make one years ago for airbrush use from an old fridge pump, but prob not enough flow for your use.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Thanks guys.. could not get broadband working until this morning to read your comments, you have been helpful...I suspected the fridge comps were susceptible to problems.

As RTBCOMP states..mine is direct drive and I think thats the main problem, although I dont really have the need for 'a good un' I think if I am going to spend my hard earned then it will be for a belt drive that could be used for other purposes if the need requires

I will start Googling and see whats on offer...may be back with a couple of..'what do you think of this' questions.

Thanks

 

[Chipper]

My 3hp comp is at least as noisy as the little Aldi, don't think you would lose noise by going to a normal belt comp. But could get a bigger comp with the £s, and sound proof a bit. Isolating it from the floor (rubber mounts or even just mat maybe), basic boxing in, different (extended) air intake seems the kind of thing to do - but this is just instinct, haven't done it.

 

[cumbriasteve]

My 3hp comp is at least as noisy as the little Aldi, don't think you would lose noise by going to a normal belt comp. But could get a bigger comp with the £s, and sound proof a bit. Isolating it from the floor (rubber mounts or even just mat maybe), basic boxing in, different (extended) air intake seems the kind of thing to do - but this is just instinct, haven't done it.

Yeah sounds like what I will be doing, going to get the plywood cut and make a box for the Aldi first..see if that helps... looks like I will have to live with it or spend a fortune on one of those Bambi 4 pump jobs.