New Air compressor advice

[Jbo2231]

Hey everyone,
After a year of saving and finally getting in to a place with a garage and workshop i am able to put my money towards getting some decent tools and setting up my workshop. As I do quite a bit of automotive restoration i want a compressor to help things along and to start doing more work myself rather than paying others to do it for me.

I was wondering if any of you have any experience with the following compressors and could help me make a decision? (open to other suggestions not here as well).
I will be using it for media blasting parts such as suspension components, painting, sanding and pretty much anything you can use air for around a car. Having chewed through a "Cheap" SGS direct drive compressor in less than a month i want to buy the correct one that will last for years to come.

I am limited to single phase and a 32amp supply and have a budget of ~£1200 including VAT. it will be in a residential address so want to try and keep the noise down as much as possible, however it is a compressor so noise is a given.

I have researched the following and currently favour the FIAC, but wanted your input before going for it:


MAGNUM STX-30-270 : 270L tank : 30CFM (21 FAD) : single phase : ??amp : Cast Iron cyclinder : £1200

FIAC workhorse 2x3hp : 250L tank : 28CFM (18FAD) : single phase : 30amp : Cast Iron cyclinder : £1281

Clarke XE29/270 : 270L tank : 28CFM (??FAD) : single phase : 30amp : Alu cyclinder : £1246

Bonus 100L tank from the broken compressor (Motor has burnt out due to overheating)


Despite being the most expensive my theory is that the FIAC unit is the one that isn't pushing its motors or pumps to achieve better figures than the competition and so should be the most reliable while also meeting my requirements. It also benefits from on-site warranty (although im not sure this includes residential)
I know i could probably get by with a cheaper less powerful unit but was thinking the more powerful the unit the longer it should last and will be running less. It should also be plenty future proof if i decide to take my hobby further.

Any thoughts or corrections about the above? sorry if i missed any threads comparing the above but i could only find passing comments regarding them individually.

Thanks in advance!
James

 

[BenMig150]

Hey everyone,
After a year of saving and finally getting in to a place with a garage and workshop i am able to put my money towards getting some decent tools and setting up my workshop. As I do quite a bit of automotive restoration i want a compressor to help things along and to start doing more work myself rather than paying others to do it for me.

I was wondering if any of you have any experience with the following compressors and could help me make a decision? (open to other suggestions not here as well).
I will be using it for media blasting parts such as suspension components, painting, sanding and pretty much anything you can use air for around a car. Having chewed through a "Cheap" SGS direct drive compressor in less than a month i want to buy the correct one that will last for years to come.

I am limited to single phase and a 32amp supply and have a budget of ~£1200 including VAT. it will be in a residential address so want to try and keep the noise down as much as possible, however it is a compressor so noise is a given.

I have researched the following and currently favour the FIAC, but wanted your input before going for it:


MAGNUM STX-30-270 : 270L tank : 30CFM (21 FAD) : single phase : ??amp : Cast Iron cyclinder : £1200

FIAC workhorse 2x3hp : 250L tank : 28CFM (18FAD) : single phase : 30amp : Cast Iron cyclinder : £1281

Clarke XE29/270 : 270L tank : 28CFM (??FAD) : single phase : 30amp : Alu cyclinder : £1246

Bonus 100L tank from the broken compressor (Motor has burnt out due to overheating)


Despite being the most expensive my theory is that the FIAC unit is the one that isn't pushing its motors or pumps to achieve better figures than the competition and so should be the most reliable while also meeting my requirements. It also benefits from on-site warranty (although im not sure this includes residential)
I know i could probably get by with a cheaper less powerful unit but was thinking the more powerful the unit the longer it should last and will be running less. It should also be plenty future proof if i decide to take my hobby further.

Any thoughts or corrections about the above? sorry if i missed any threads comparing the above but i could only find passing comments regarding them individually.

Thanks in advance!
James

Honestly I don't think you would see a whole lot of difference between those 3 compressors they've very similar, I have the FIAC workhorse that you've listed there and I can say its a very good compressor and runs smoothly, I really can't see it having any issues anytime soon. Also its good for pretty much anything the only reason you'd need anything bigger is if you were going to run a sandblaster all day. They are very heavy though so if you order one make sure you have a good plan to get it inside lol.

 

[Jbo2231]

Honestly I don't think you would see a whole lot of difference between those 3 compressors they've very similar, I have the FIAC workhorse that you've listed there and I can say its a very good compressor and runs smoothly, I really can't see it having any issues anytime soon. Also its good for pretty much anything the only reason you'd need anything bigger is if you were going to run a sandblaster all day. They are very heavy though so if you order one make sure you have a good plan to get it inside lol.

Thanks for your input, i posted as i couldn't find many reviews on the workhorse and didn't want to fork out 1.2k on a lemon. Sounds like its a decent compressor though. I have an engine crane and some some car wheel dollies i can make a skateboard out of to move it about, i can also get it delivered within 20ft of where it'll be positioned to reduce the length of the battle. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[123hotchef]

have you looked at the hydrovane compressors?

 

[Jbo2231]

have you looked at the hydrovane compressors?

I have just had a brief look and i cant find anything of any significant FAD, did you have a model in mind?
Thanks

 

[BenMig150]

Thanks for your input, i posted as i couldn't find many reviews on the workhorse and didn't want to fork out 1.2k on a lemon. Sounds like its a decent compressor though. I have an engine crane and some some car wheel dollies i can make a skateboard out of to move it about, i can also get it delivered within 20ft of where it'll be positioned to reduce the length of the battle. Thanks for the heads up!

No problem, parts are quite easy to find for them too which is always good. I got lucky I think finding a used one for £650 its only a few years old and almost like new so I couldn't pass up that deal! The only thing I would say is they are quite noisy but I would say its no louder than the SGS 100L 3hp (I also have one of those) and the belt driven motors kind of softens the noise rather than the piercing noise of a direct drive. I'd love a "silent" compressor but then they're serious money for something with as much air delivery as one of these, so I'll stick to ear plugs!

 

[123hotchef]

I have just had a brief look and i cant find anything of any significant FAD, did you have a model in mind?
Thanks

no i dont know tht much about them but they are quieter. or there are the screw type compressors too

 

[brightspark]

trouble with hydrovanes there very pricey and need regular services and parts are expensive. a good belt driven set up will do fine and all parts can be had individually

 

[Jbo2231]

Thanks everyone for your input. I am going to order the FIAC next month as i want to let the idea sit with me for a while before i make an impulse purchase. I looked in to the hydrovanes and for a model capable of 18cfm FAD i would be looking north of 3.5k which is quite frankly ridiculous, although im sure they are impressive bits of kit. So Unless my neighbours want to put the remaining 2.3k up to save 5db of noise and get a three phase power supply fitted then i think an extra layer of insulation in the compressor room and lining the walls with something thick and dense would be more economical. I'll see what the noise level and run time are like and then spend the few hundred helping to reduce the noise pollution if needed.
I certainly dont want to become that neighbour, im lucky enough to be on very good terms with my neighbours and want it to stay that way!

As a side note i just wanted to say how friendly and active this forum is, its a bit of fresh air from the rest of the internet.

 

[fizzy]

Some of the bigger Machine Marts often have a returns section. I had my compressor from there - saved about £200 - never even been wired in! Not open for browsing at the moment I don't think but should be soon.

 

[vw1]

My friend over the road from me has the Clark one you mentioned in your post.

He's had it over a year and he's had no problems with it and I can hardly hear it when it starts up in his front garage with doors open while he uses his air tools on the front drive.

I'm actually going to buy one myself soon well other half will when I convince her it's best thing on earth apart from my son and her . Also Parts are readily available.

Best of luck in finding your dream compressor.

 

[Melvyn Best]

Which ever one you get I would suggest not putting it inside your workshop for several reasons, noise being one, safety another especially if carrying out car restoration. A mate of mine was draining a fuel tank in his workshop when his compressor started up igniting the petrol vapour and burning his workshop to the ground.

 

[brightspark]

Which ever one you get I would suggest not putting it inside your workshop for several reasons, noise being one, safety another especially if carrying out car restoration. A mate of mine was draining a fuel tank in his workshop when his compressor started up igniting the petrol vapour and burning his workshop to the ground.

he shouldn't have been draining it in any building and building up fumes . turning a light switch on just kicking something over or static can ignite it

 

[Jbo2231]

Which ever one you get I would suggest not putting it inside your workshop for several reasons, noise being one, safety another especially if carrying out car restoration. A mate of mine was draining a fuel tank in his workshop when his compressor started up igniting the petrol vapour and burning his workshop to the ground.

Thanks for the heads up. My workshop is a seperate building to the garage, and the garage is separated in to two different rooms. I have always been overly safety conscious and so will be converting my garage in to a sealed booth with explosion proof extraction fans capable of 12000cfm through 3 stage filters for whenever I am doing anything involving fumes such as welding, or spraying etc.
It wont give me brilliant results in terms of paint because I will treat it as a multipurpose room. But my intention was to keep myself and my neighbours safe.
I am also always wearing ear plugs whenever I am doing anything remotely noisy. I'm only 27 and intend to keep my sight, hearing and limbs for as long as possible!
I may be the only person on the planet who takes his fire extinguishers in to work with him when they get them tested.
Thanks for your concern and I'm sorry regarding your friends incident, but as brightspark put out, he should have done a sensibility test beforehand (known as a risk assessment by most). Saying that everyone makes mistakes and I hope he is okay and everything got sorted.

 

[RWD3M]

I have the Clarke (albeit the 2009 version), great machine.

Can't speak for the others though.