What do we think of these?

[Maddog]

Hi all,

I've currently got a clarke Clarke SE16C150 Compressor and was considering getting an Ingersoll Rand 231c 1/2" air wrench as my existing clarke one wont undo wheel nuts.

Has anyone used one of these and can you advise if they are any good or not? The details of it are as follows:

http://www.ingersollrandproducts.com/IS/modelcomp.aspx?am_en=33374

Max torque 600 ft/lbs (813) reverse bias (whatever that means)

These are selling from the USA on the bay for about £110 posted to UK.

Just wondering what you guys thought of them and if this looks a good deal.

Thanks.

 

[tigler]

Well Ingersoll Rand stuff is some of the best available so you won't be disappointed.
Couple of things to be aware of though, before you buy. The gun you are interested in consumes 22 CFM under load, if you will be doing alot of work with it is your compressor up to it ?
What bore air hose are you using on your existing gun ? Any smaller than 3/8" and performance will be significantly restricted.

 

[Maddog]

Hi mate, thanks for the reply.

i mainly use 1/2" hose anyway... It does say my compressor is 14CFM though.. will this be a problem?

This is my compressor..

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/se16c150-air-compressor

Cheers.

 

[tigler]

Good to hear you're using a good sized air hose.
Your compressor will only struggle if you use the impact gun heavily for long periods. Like on a production line. If it's only to loosen the nuts a couple of times per hour for example, the receiver (air tank) will allow the compressor to cope ok.
I remember in our business we had regular jobs to assemble lots of 4 bolt hose clamps onto hose assemblies, like orders of 200 plus lengths with 2 couplings per hose so 8 bolts. After 3 or 4 hoses our compressor, about the same size as yours but Atlas Copco, began to run continuously but the pressure still fell !! So, rather than buy a bigger compressor that would cost more to run on smaller jobs, we bought another the same size, connected it into the same air main and only turned it on when we needed the extra air. Worked a treat !

 

[shenion]

I have one of those. It must be 20 years old. Seems to work well. Does not have a lot of torque but i attribute it to being worn by a previous owner (I bet it was rarely oiled.)

My compressor is about 14CFM (have no idea as displacement is not speced on this side of the pond.) It is about 11CFM@90 PSI. It does take a lot of air when it gets spinning, otherwise it is about what the compressor can deliver.


In addition to large hoses, you need a good regulator. most that come on compressors are 1/4" or are just restrictive even if larger.

 

[Maddog]

Cheers fella.

I'm also thinking of installing fixed lines from the compressor to my pressure regulator.. Is 15mm copper up to the job, and am i better using solder or compression fittings?

I thought i'd come straight from the comp tap into the copper then around my walls into my pressure reg/water trap http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=27875 then a small filter/drier at the end of each rubber line.

Thoughts?

Cheers.

 

[tigler]

Plenty of people here have used copper for air main with good results. Personally I would use compression fittings for joints as there is less chance of a faulty connection, which on air is dangerous.

 

[brightspark]

22mm copper better for airline feeds .good heat disipation .lower velocity when in constant use . soldered or compresion are ok

 

[dannyp]

i've used copper, tbh the only joints i havent had a problem with are the solderd ones, compression fitings seem to work loose with heat/ pressure cycels and possobly vibration from the compressors

 

[Maddog]

Thanks guys.

Is there a proper way to do this? I've had a look around the web for a few diagrams and they all seem to have huge runs with drop pipes and ball valves for draining off water.

Do I need that as my reg has a water catcher in it.. although I don't quite know how it works... the inlet is 1/2" in the bottom with 2 x 1/4" outlets at the top. Seems to work tho.

Cheers.

 

[lee4206]

I've been using ingersol rand air guns for the last 15 years and as said they are in my opinion the best you can get. Have a look at WWW.marmax.co.uk for a uk supplier. For a little more than the 231c I can recommend the 2130xp its good gun and a few of the guys I work with use them in the tyre bay all day long with no problems.

 

[tigler]

In a small domestic workshop all that it unnecessary. The main reason it was done that way was because air main systems used to be galv steel pipe and the moisture caused corrosion The water trap in a filter regulator seperates the water in a cyclone by virtue of the water being heavier than air. The clever ones even have an auto drain when the system is depressurised.

 

[leeruddock]

you would be best off using a aluminium or plastic air pipe system such as john guest or sicomat. Also if you buy a frl that should be enough to take out the water in your system unless your running your compressor for long periods of time. As for the ingersoll rand air tool it depends on how often your going to be using it, as Universal Air Tool do a 1/2" composite impact wrench for a very good price and 1 years warranty.

 

[Maddog]

Thanks again for all the advice gents. Next question for a different forum is best sub £300 MIG?

Thats the next toy I want to learn in my workshop.. people ask what I want for xmas.. money towards my MIG is my answer.