Virgin compressor owner seeks experienced compressor owner to show him the way...

[armalites]

There are many different names and brands. I always had PCL19 which we all know as standard PCL. I converted to PCL XF which cost me a fortune. Screwfix is the cheapest place that you can go and collect. I did a bulk order with a supplier and got some good prices. One thing I would say I've noticed about PCL XF is in static situation sometime they need a quick twist or they can bleed a little. Never noticed that the PCL19

The probes cost pennies and there is a difference in buying PCL compared to the cheap one.

The PCL XF style is often referred to as a Euro but technically a Euro is a different fitting.

The Prevost couplings you mention are really nice, they are expensive but from a safety point of view they are the best.

PCL19 is probably the most common out there, I have convertors both ways which can be a simple as PCL coupling with a PCL XF probe screwed in it. I also have a short hoses with conversions on.

 

[Tangledfeet]

Well I know you are a Techie teacher but maybe you should speak to your colleagues in the English department. Either that or stop relying on predictive text

Dammit, you caught me out! Think this was pre-coffee...

The Prevost couplings you mention are really nice, they are expensive but from a safety point of view they are the best.

Yes, I'd not have considered them if Archie hadn't shown me them yesterday.

 

[Turbo]

I would also recommend the euro/ pcl xf type couplings. Stay away from the parkside euro couplings as they are made of cheese!

On the other hand the swivel couplings are very useful, especially on items like spray guns & die grinders. An inline regulator is also great on the die grinder to control speed.

When I first set up my airline I used plumbers tape on everything & had loads of leaks! I redone everything with loctite 577 & leaks cured. Now I rarely use tape, loctite for everything. You can get it on ebay for £10 a 50g tube.

 

[Tangledfeet]

I would also recommend the euro/ pcl xf type couplings. Stay away from the parkside euro couplings as they are made of cheese!

On the other hand the swivel couplings are very useful, especially on items like spray guns & die grinders. An inline regulator is also great on the die grinder to control speed.

When I first set up my airline I used plumbers tape on everything & had loads of leaks! I redone everything with loctite 577 & leaks cured. Now I rarely use tape, loctite for everything. You can get it on ebay for £10 a 50g tube.

Haven't thought about a die grinder... yet! Thanks for the advice on the regulator.

Have an inkling that I have some red Loctite somewhere... whether its 577 I'm not sure!

 

[gaz1]

air hungry tools

die grinder
drill
belt/finger sander
sprayer

 

[Turbo]

Haven't thought about a die grinder... yet! Thanks for the advice on the regulator.

Have an inkling that I have some red Loctite somewhere... whether its 577 I'm not sure!

Very useful item, especially for grinding out & tidying bad welds - mine gets used a lot!

They also produce lots of sharp fine slivers of steel, the type you can feel in your hand but cannot see!

Buy the best one you can afford, the cheaper ones are less efficient & waste air.

 

[Turbo]

air hungry tools

die grinder
drill
belt/finger sander
sprayer

I have an air drill & tbh it's only been used a few times to drill out aluminium pop rivets. I find a cordless battery drill better & more powerful.

 

[Bill Edwards]

A good (emphasis on good) air drill is more compact than a cordless and at least as powerful.
Try stopping mine and it would rip the skin off you hand without even slowing, but never really gets used as the cordless is perfectly adequate for most jobs and has no airline to drag around.

Cheap air tools rarely perform well and they really guzzle air.

 

[armalites]

A good (emphasis on good) air drill is more compact than a cordless and at least as powerful.
Try stopping mine and it would rip the skin off you hand without even slowing, but never really gets used as the cordless is perfectly adequate for most jobs and has no airline to drag around.

I agree, I have a couple of Chicago Pneumatic air drills, both old but very deceptive. Very compact and loads of grunt, if I had loads of holes to drill and had easy access to air i would use them over my battery drill.

 

[TigTigger]

Although PCL FX and Euro connectors are, I understand, technically not the same, although they look alike, are they interchangeable.

 

[sardine]

I hope your compressor finds the love and PSI it deserves.

 

[eSCHEn]

In fact there seems to even be one made specifically for you

View attachment 182811

When more confident move onto the "never gettin' that off yer hons in time for dancin' tonight" stag red

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I have an air drill & tbh it's only been used a few times to drill out aluminium pop rivets. I find a cordless battery drill better & more powerful.

Prefer my electric die grinder too.
Only got a little compressor though but always felt underpowered in comparison

 

[BarrieJ]

air hungry tools

die grinder
drill
belt/finger sander
sprayer

Agreed, plus add in a shot blasting gun and a needle scaler. Our 3 phase 7 h.p x 270 litre twin would be running almost continually.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Whatever you do...don't buy a cheap brass barb connectors from eBay and hook your compressor hose up with that...

Have you thought about moisture filters yet?

 

[Turbo]

When more confident move onto the "never gettin' that off yer hons in time for dancin' tonight" stag red

That was all we used on steam washers 25 years ago. Great at sealing, especially when hot but allowing you to dismantle it afterwards. Very similar to red hermatite & as you say, impossible to get off your fingers. This was back before decent nitrile gloves were available so my hands were often ingrained with black soot & red stag!

 

[Tangledfeet]

Whatever you do...don't buy a cheap brass barb connectors from eBay and hook your compressor hose up with that...

Have you thought about moisture filters yet?

Nope, PCL and Prevost connections on order; and I have thought about filtration - certainly once I install a ring main in the workshop if not sooner. Cheers!

 

[Tangledfeet]

Order from Spray Guns Direct arrived today so hooked it all up with some La-Co pipe thread compound from Screwfix, only air tool I have so far is a wee Prevost air blower.

Fear not avid readers; I made sure to connect up the hose in the right direction, like speaker cable, so the writing starts at the source end!

 

[gaz1]

watch out for aldi air blower comes on and off sales every now and again

i got mine last year for 10 quid

 

[Tangledfeet]

watch out for aldi air blower comes on and off sales every now and again

i got mine last year for 10 quid

Cheers - I bought this wee one with the hose, was only a couple of quid more;