Recommend me an air compressor

[anto]

Could you guys recommend an air compressor for me?
What makes to look out for both good and bad?
I have around £200 to spend and it will be used for a variety of things, painting, stapling, airgun etc
A good general all rounder if you like.

Thanks
Anton

 

[tigler]

My advice would be to buy an older compressor of one of the top makes off ebay. Ingersoll Rand , Atlas Copco , Broomwade , HPC. Most of the stuff sold new now is junk.
Go for belt drive.

 

[anto]

What capacity, cfm should i be looking for, for the tools/ work i do?
Paint spraying is only ever going to be a bonnet as the largest thing i would spray.

 

[tigler]

8 CFM upwards would be good although on a single phase supply you are going to be restricted to about 10'ish CFM. Make sure that it is FAD though , free air delivered , not just displacement.

 

[anto]

Whats the difference tigler?

 

[tigler]

Compressor specs are often quoted in just the piston displacement instead of the actual air it's capable of supplying. It's a bit like quoting just the CC of an engine without stating the brake horse power it can produce. Free Air Delivered or FAD is the important thing with a compressor.

 

[anto]

Right, good to know, so anything above 8cfm FAD is acceptable for my needs?

 

[anto]

Ever heard of Shamal compressors?
100litre 2nd hand for £200ovno. Trying to find specs on it at the minute.

 

[tigler]

No , never have. Problem is with compressors these days is most of them are just low grade generic units from China badged up with an importers name.

 

[tigler]

Having said that , Fiac aren't bad , Italian made.

 

[Mikey D]

Most of the half decent ones are italian made theses days ,your not going to get new for your budget , . unlesss its the aforementioned chinese junk
Try to get one with cast iron barrel , they are better than the all ali compressors .
If you have a 'costco' near you , they stock a SIP unit with 150 litre reciever decent quality and comes with a few air tools about £300 ish pounds i think .

cheers mike

 

[ytre]

I bought one from ERP, cast cylinder, great compressor, bought my welder there too. http://www.erpuk.com/index.htm

 

[anto]

ytre which one did you buy and what kind of money are we talking?
Also what kind of work do you be using it for?
If im not going new then the best bet is to look out for some 2nd hand from any of the makes tiggler mentioned on page 1?

 

[tigler]

Yes , any of those are good to go for as they are proper industrial quality , or , as I also suggested , Fiac are OK.

 

[anto]

What about sip tiggler?
Any good would they be on a par with fiac?
http://www.aircompressors.co.uk/Product/Workshop_Compressors/SIP_Airmate_Trade_Range/06242

 

[ytre]

Anto i went for this one http://www.erpuk.com/products/series petrol/enlarge/a15.htm, have it about 4 years, think i paid about £370 then.
i use it for removing car wheels, ratchet and air gun work,spraying, sand blaster (small) and numerous other items.