Time to upgrade the compressor

[paulmitchell1984]

Ayup.
Right my little lidl Compresssor has finally given up the ghost, iv been toying with an upgrade for a while but now I need to.

I'm now wanting to be able to comfortably run air tools (which I have at work) and be reasonably quiet.. I'm not talking hydrovain quiet but need to keep her indoors happy (garage is attached to house) plus garage door is always closed so it echoes abit.

I'm not sure what to opt for whether it be belt driven or motor style thing

Tools I'd like to use is die grinder, impact gun, air drill, occasional orbital sander and down the line small shot blast setup and painting of small panels

All the above are air hungry I know so guessing 150-200 tank tools need 8cfm to run efficently

So guys I'm up for suggestions budget cheap as possible but region of 5-800 is that reasonable?

Cheers and sorry for bambling

 

[brightspark]

a decent belt drive unit 3hp 14cfm minimum. this looks good https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-industrial-air-compressor---xev16150-23/

 

[WorkshopChris]

You can't go wrong with a clark blue line range, for a small garage a https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-xep1550-portable-industrial-air-compres/ might be worth a look always available on a VAT-free deal unless they have added them to the excluded list now.
Alternatively, I have heard good fings of some of the SGS stuff https://www.sgs-engineering.com
My money would go on the Clark all day long, proven track record, fit and forget kit.

 

[skotl]

Can't comment on the Clarkes but I would say that my Wolf Dakota, which I love and think is excellent value for money, really doesn't like air tools.

So that's an anti-recommendation!

 

[Domdom]

I have one of those Clarke industrial 14cfm units and all it’s ever had in 15 years are oil changes and belts. Drives a 6 inch DA sander without issues. Needs the anti vibration feet and some kind of noise enclosure if you don’t want to go deaf. Also needs a 16 amp supply as it will blow 13 amp fuses for fun.

Edit. If you have 3 phase then a secondhand one would be cheap and powerful.

 

[indy4x]

I had a Clarke 14cfm jobbie which I foolishly sold, it was about 15 years old and just nice and reliable. In a fit of madness I decided to sell it and go for something with a slightly smaller tank but about the same cfm (allegedly) and it really wasn't one of my better ideas

I should have used the Clarke pump and motor and attached them to a 19kg gas bottle instead

 

[pedrobedro]

Anything single phase is going to struggle to keep up with die grinder type tools or shot blasting setups. I bought the Wolf Dacota 3hp and it's a good compressor for general work like spraying, nailing and inflating and it will run a rattle gun but if you want to run a cheap die grinder be ready to spend time waiting for ther tank to refill. I had an email from uktv saying it's on offer at £249 which is good for a 100ltr 3hp compressor.

 

[paulmitchell1984]

I wouldn't say the tools are cheap as there all mac but this doesn't mean it isn't a cheap item re branded lol

 

[RWD3M]

I have a 28CFM Clarke single phase unit and I swear by it. It has 2 x 14CFM compressors but a single one would be sufficient for your needs. D/A will draw about 10CFM, the rest a bit less so as long as you don't want to use them all at the same time...

 

[brightspark]

I have a 28CFM Clarke single phase unit and I swear by it. It has 2 x 14CFM compressors but a single one would be sufficient for your needs. D/A will draw about 10CFM, the rest a bit less so as long as you don't want to use them all at the same time...

i have a twin unit one 28cfm it runs the small blast pot perfectly with more air than needed. got it for 75 quid with one duff motor and the guy didn't know how it was wired . 90 quid for a new motor and it works fine

 

[RWD3M]

i have a twin unit one 28cfm it runs the small blast pot perfectly with more air than needed. got it for 75 quid with one duff motor and the guy didn't know how it was wired . 90 quid for a new motor and it works fine

£75!!! What an absolute bargain!

 

[brightspark]

£75!!! What an absolute bargain!

the garage guys a right greedy person and gets stuff for next to nothing and charges a hell of a price selling or fixing stuff . he pratted on with the compressor for ages and got nowhere he asked me about the wiring on it and I just said I didn't know a month later its outside on the scrap heap so managed to get it off him cheap . they sold me a duff mobile comp for 150 quid . it was overheating . fixed the leak on the rad power washed all the core new diesel filters and its running fine . they were a bit narked when I fixed them and got them cheap but that's life

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

a decent belt drive unit 3hp 14cfm minimum. this looks good https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-industrial-air-compressor---xev16150-23/

I have the same one...or close to it.....very happy with it.

I think mine has 3 cylinders...dunno the model.

 

[chris pruteanu]

I have an abac twin tank, direct drive 3 hp motor with a vtwin pump and does everything i ask of it: drives die grinders, impact tools and most power/air hungry tools with ease ! I wish the tanks were bigger than the 11+11 liters but it would not make it portable or compact anymore ! Well worth the 60 quid i paid for it at the time with a missing pressure release switch ! Well recommend Abac air compressors...

 

[RWD3M]

the garage guys a right greedy person and gets stuff for next to nothing and charges a hell of a price selling or fixing stuff . he pratted on with the compressor for ages and got nowhere he asked me about the wiring on it and I just said I didn't know a month later its outside on the scrap heap so managed to get it off him cheap . they sold me a duff mobile comp for 150 quid . it was overheating . fixed the leak on the rad power washed all the core new diesel filters and its running fine . they were a bit narked when I fixed them and got them cheap but that's life

Good for you mate!

 

[fizzy]

I have a Clarke 14cfm 3hp with a 50L tank on wheels. It will run happily on a 13amp plug.
It is fine with air tools. Will just about cope with a small sand blaster but ideally bigger for that.
Go for belt drive - much quieter.

Some of the bigger Machine Marts have a returns section where you can often find compressors that have never even been used with £100 or more off. I saved £130 on mine just because it had a small dent in the guard.

 

[paulmitchell1984]

Cheers guys it's looking like the xev16 just need to work out if I can fit a 200litre tank or just a 150.

 

[Wedg1e]

I have a 100L 3HP single-phase SIP 'Workshop' model that was second-hand when I got it nearly 20 years ago and I've pulled the puddings out of it - it just keps going. The pump's one of the ABAC models. It will keep my sandlbast cabinet puffing away albeit the motor ends up running all the time.
I'm guessing the OP doesn't have 3-phase in his garage which is a shame as I have a lovely 270L 30cfm advertised on the 'for sale' page...

 

[Ali]

Same bag, thanks for posting this thread. What does everyone do for keeping them quiet?

 

[Matchless]

you could also keep the tank from your duff compressor for extra air,