Is This Compressor Up For The Job?

[d19z]

Hi guys

Great community here, I've been having a mooch around the forum and learn't all sorts of info that isn't readily availible anywhere else on the net!!!

I bought an air compressor a while back to use it to complete an alloy wheel refurbish I've been, initially I thought I read enough to decide what kind of compressor I needed for the job at hand... but it seems the one I choose is on the weaker side and I don't know if it'll be up for the job.

I bought an used "SIP Airmate Cirrus 34025"

The fact sheet is on a PDF I've found on whilst googling the model number as It came bare without any instructions, i'm a really newb when it comes to this sort of thing.

The PDF is listed here ; http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/103757.pdf

I just need some help with what kinds of spray paint guns will work efficiently with this compressor, I know the tank is quite small but im only looking to spray intermittently as the area i'm covering is quite small, I've been digging for some guns and I've found a few that I think will work, but I have no expertise to distinguish the better ones from the worse.

I've found these ;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160389379854&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380143983927&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380069337988&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330372646636&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290355019630&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170389118189&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320470022277&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160335151824&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300385624954&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:

All the guns above operate at relatively low volume, but im still not sure wether or not my compressor will be up for the job, any recommendations?

Thanks for any help

 

[tigler]

My prediction is that it will struggle. They are claiming 3hp from the motor , if thats the case it will have to draw more than 2.3KW from the mains. So check the power consumption , if it's lower than that , they lie !!
These small direct drive units always have exagerated performance claims. The rule of thumb for compressor output is 1.6 CFM FAD per HP of motor , that would put this one at 4.8 CFM , they claim 7.5 !!!

 

[d19z]

I have a 16A outlet so the power shouldn't be saturated, but that sounds like really small air delivery

does the CFM go up as the pressure goes down? is there a formula for this?

 

[brightspark]

the cfm goes down when the presure drops

 

[malcolm]

I'm confused as always, but did once run a hobby 1.5hp compressor. For spraying it is important to avoid the cheap "professional guns" as the nozzles are too big.

I was quite happy with a 1.4mm nozzle on mine. It could spray a whole panel before waiting for it to recharge. Yours has a bigger compressor but less storage so I'd guess you would get on well with the 1.4mm jet too.

I use the same gun on my new 3hp compressor - probably a bit more of that power is transferred into air for the gun in mine and I can spray a side of a car with the 1.4mm jet before the pressure gets too low.

 

[Chipper]

Reckon it's nearer 3cfm per hp though? Mine is 14 displacement, 9.5 delivered, off a 3hp motor.
If thats right then the FAD is OK for a conventional gun. The tank's a titch but depends what you're spraying. So not bad - you got reasonable power just a small tank, could piggy back more capacity later.

Its best to stay below the comps delivered cfm, first in the list wants 9cfm with a .8 setup, I've got one. There's plenty of conventional guns at or below the 7-8 mark, especially mini guns (e.g my cheapie is around 4cfm).

Cheap guns, it's a bit of a lottery... got one thats OK, had one that got binned. You can get lucky s/h - I got a Devilbiss for a beer voucher.

 

[tigler]

the cfm goes down when the presure drops

Otherway around For a given compressor , as the pressure of the air it is required to deliver falls the amount of air it can pump increases.

 

[d19z]

the cfm goes down when the presure drops

thx lol

I'm confused as always, but did once run a hobby 1.5hp compressor. For spraying it is important to avoid the cheap "professional guns" as the nozzles are too big.

I was quite happy with a 1.4mm nozzle on mine. It could spray a whole panel before waiting for it to recharge. Yours has a bigger compressor but less storage so I'd guess you would get on well with the 1.4mm jet too.

I use the same gun on my new 3hp compressor - probably a bit more of that power is transferred into air for the gun in mine and I can spray a side of a car with the 1.4mm jet before the pressure gets too low.

All the ratings on the different guns confuse me, then theres the quality factor, determining the finish I suppose, 1.4mm I think will be too big for the area I'm working on, it won't I allow me enough control over the area, if you've managed to use that gun with you're 1.5hp unit that gives me hope

Reckon it's nearer 3cfm per hp though? Mine is 14 displacement, 9.5 delivered, off a 3hp motor.
If thats right then the FAD is OK for a conventional gun. The tank's a titch but depends what you're spraying. So not bad - you got reasonable power just a small tank, could piggy back more capacity later.

Its best to stay below the comps delivered cfm, first in the list wants 9cfm with a .8 setup, I've got one. There's plenty of conventional guns at or below the 7-8 mark, especially mini guns (e.g my cheapie is around 4cfm).

Cheap guns, it's a bit of a lottery... got one thats OK, had one that got binned. You can get lucky s/h - I got a Devilbiss for a beer voucher.

Thanks for that, I'm going to stick to the lower cfm rated guns, if all else fails I might fork out for another compressor...

How was the final result with the cheapie 4cfm gun?

 

[brightspark]

Otherway around For a given compressor , as the pressure of the air it is required to deliver falls the amount of air it can pump increases.

i quite agree fad but high volume lower pressure still isnt any good

 

[Chipper]

The little un is OK, I use it quite a lot, bikes, a tot rod, bits of my Landy and misc bits & bobs etc. Everything on here, forks, screen, engine, candy cans etc was with the tiddler.

What is it you're wanting to spray?

 

[pedrobedro]

I run a non hvlp gravity gun on my SIP 3hp single phase compressor at 40psi and it will fill the 50ltr tank while the gun is still running so would not need to stop to replenish the tank but I still do as the noise "gets on yer nerves" a bit

 

[eil]

Trouble with the direct drive compressors very few of the sellers state the duty cycles of their machines, ie they don't tell you that they should run for say 15 mins then cool off for 15 mins before being run again, or they wear out quicker.
Seeing that you are only doing your alloys you can manage one at a time with what you've got I should think, make sure you have a good water trap/filter.

 

[d19z]

The little un is OK, I use it quite a lot, bikes, a tot rod, bits of my Landy and misc bits & bobs etc. Everything on here, forks, screen, engine, candy cans etc was with the tiddler.

Ahh thats good, what I've got is comparable to what you have, so hopefully it should be ok, I'm not too bothered if it takes a while, time is something I've got plenty of atm

What is it you're wanting to spray?

I'm looking to use a 2" DA sander, Primer, Paint and Lacquer a set of alloys

I run a non hvlp gravity gun on my SIP 3hp single phase compressor at 40psi and it will fill the 50ltr tank while the gun is still running so would not need to stop to replenish the tank but I still do as the noise "gets on yer nerves" a bit

Yes I've been looking around, I've found a few guns that go by the name of LVLP but I can't find anyone who's actaully used one, and it seems like a marketing moniker, on the plus side they only operate at 2-5cfm

Trouble with the direct drive compressors very few of the sellers state the duty cycles of their machines, ie they don't tell you that they should run for say 15 mins then cool off for 15 mins before being run again, or they wear out quicker.
Seeing that you are only doing your alloys you can manage one at a time with what you've got I should think, make sure you have a good water trap/filter.

Thanks, i'm going to have to take care of that before I start painting, but thats still quite a while away as I've not stripped them down yet. Is the water trap to stop any water getting into the air feed? as the temperature of the air will get quite high in the compressor and becuase of condensation in the tank, water will gather?

 

[eil]

Those little direct drive units spin at 2 to 3 times the rpm of belt driven so naturally create more heat, couple that to a small receiver means more condensate in your line which could or more likely ruin your paintwork. If you need to get a filter perhaps you should think of replacing the regulator with a filter reg which has a bigger bore so as to prevent air delivery problems that the fitted regulators have.

 

[Chipper]

For the spray gun you can get mini filters to attach to the gun, as well as using reg/water trap. You'll do wheels fine (sorry, brain failure reading OP) with that comp and a mini gun of the right sort. I've done bike ones with a mini gun (and an airbrush get to real tricky bits).

 

[d19z]

Thanks for the advice guys!

I've found this gun http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?gotonode=ViewProduct&method=mViewProduct&productid=8203 it fits my criterea, is thisand the CFM rating of my compressor but will it work well?

 

[Chipper]

Looks OK, would still go with a mini for wheels meself. Easier to wield around the recesses etc. Could save some £s too, no need for anything too flash for wheels.