Opinions on the Clarke Raider 55V ?

[Weldinator]

Today i have been sent a Machine Mart VAT free day voucher and i'm thinking of upgrading my compressor, the old one is a dry, 25ltr cheapo.

Im thinking of upgrading to this one http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-raider55-v-twin-compressor

This is the most i can spend at this time, im fed up with the cheapo one i have now and really need another better version.

What are people opinions/experiences of this compressor, it has a high CFM which is more than what i need it for.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I wouldn't have said going from 25l to 50l was a worthwhile upgrade, a 50l one is still very small.
I'd save a bit longer and get something decent like this.

 

[the snooper]

it all depends on what you want to use it for if you have tools that require more air then your current comp produces then its for you if you are simply buying it for the extra 25 ltr its a waste of money.
either way you can add storage capacity with an old gas bottle

 

[Wozzaaah]

either way you can add storage capacity with an old gas bottle

The displacement is more or less the same on both compressors so that's a good shout, a 47kg propane cyl would make an excellent receiver.

 

[the snooper]

agreed if the cfm is the same keep your cash and aquire a gas bottle

 

[Wozzaaah]

The displacement's actually slightly better on the raider, 14 vs 14.5 cfm.

 

[tigler]

That difference would be unnoticable in practice. However, keeping your existing compressor and running the 2 in tandem would be a good dea.

 

[FranV8]

I've got the old version of this compressor. Seems a genuine 9 cfm fad machine from my tests. Noise is halfway between the single cylinder dry machine I have and a belt drive unit.

Only thing is, mine is a 10 bar unit, which works so much better than the 8 bar machine the single is. Means the comp cuts back in well above the pressure you're using the tools at.

At price you're paying, I'd look for a 10 bar machine, ideally on belt drive too.

 

[Weldinator]

My current dry 'cheapo' one is giving me trouble after trouble and want to be done with it tbh. I will only be using the new one for small paint and air tool jobs, so i wont need a 10bar version for my overall needs.

The thing is, i only have the room in garage to keep this sized compressor right at this time and need a working one right now, my project has been set back once again due to the cheapo compressor problems i keep getting.

So because of the above reasons i cant or wont wait or save any more cash, as said that is the limit i can spend and the limit in size of the compressor right now. In a few months time then yes i will have more money and space, just not right now, so i dont really have much choice.

If anyone has any links to other compressors in that price range that is a better machine then please post them, otherwise i think i'll go for this one with the VAT free.

 

[Weldinator]

That difference would be unnoticable in practice. However, keeping your existing compressor and running the 2 in tandem would be a good dea.

Do you think the bigger new one would be best to use first then the small one as a back up tank ?

 

[tigler]

This looks like pretty much the same unit at a much better price !

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Rhyas...Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item3cb144d3c1

 

[Weldinator]

Thanks a lot tigler, you've been a great help again, that is a much better price. Although ive never heard of that name before.

I hope the reduced price doesn't mean its a lesser quality tool, does anyone know if spares etc are easily available for that compressor ?

I guess if i do get to fix the old 25 ltr compressor i have had trouble with, i can connect it to the new one as a back up ?

Ive changed the cylinder, piston, piston seal on the broken one yet it is still not holding any pressure.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Their feedback is pretty good but that machine is also for sale in a shop owned by a forum member, Airsupplies, for just a little bit more than that and you have the advantage of knowing that if you get any issues he's on here.,
Worth sending a PM and seeing what he recommends, you never know, he may have something in stock he can do you a deal on.

 

[Weldinator]

Great thanks Wozzaaah, that may be just the ticket i need

 

[Weldinator]

Pm now sent, thanks again.

 

[Weldinator]

Ive just found their web site and the same model is around £80 more expensive inc VAT, which is out of my budget tbh. I hope he will reply and maybe do a deal on collection or something.

Cheers.

 

[tigler]

Thanks a lot tigler, you've been a great help again, that is a much better price. Although ive never heard of that name before.

I hope the reduced price doesn't mean its a lesser quality tool, does anyone know if spares etc are easily available for that compressor ?

It's a generic compressor that will be imported and badged by various companies.
Spares wise, pose the question to the seller before you purchase. It should be supported with parts and service from some UK importer.
Also, if machine mart are selling it they will have a source of parts

 

[Weldinator]

Ill check MM now, i dont remember them selling the same model as your ebay link though.

Thing is with MM is, if there are any problems, all i have to do is pop down the road to them and get any problems sorted quick, even if that means its £60 more than the ebay one. Plus the MM one i linked has copper pipes to the tank instead of the cheapo pipes the ebay one has. I Have searched the net and found the same MM model for over £325 inc VAT, so although its cheaper than MM with the added VAT, its still more expensive than MM with the free VAT.

 

[tigler]

I don't think those pipes are cheapo, aluminium rather than copper, thats all. Actually, if anything, aluminium has better heat dissipation than copper.
The whole compressor looks pretty much the same to me.

 

[Weldinator]

Yeah the only reason i said cheap is because the cheaper machines at MM have the alu pipe but the more expensive machines has the copper pipes. With people using copper pipes for their compressor set ups with filters etc, i thought the copper pipe would be slightly better. I know the alu pipe on my cheap machine is quite weak and maybe the reason it wont hold pressure. I cant feel any leaks but then the motor fan does blow lots of air out like it did when the valve plate had broke, so i guess ill find out when the engineer looks at it tomorrow for me.

If it is the pipe and he can fix it cheap N quick, then i can use it to spray the zinc primer on the floor pan this week, then use the new one next Sunday for the stonechip and engine bay lacquer

Is it a simple case of fitting a pipe to the old tank to the new machine so i get 75 ltr sized tank ?

Can you tell me the best or right way to go about it, ive not attempted to connect to tanks before ?