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Air Compressors
Irony - 12/1/11 at 12:11 PM

I need a air compressor. Mostly to power my Electostatic powder coating machine. I am building my kitcar so I am sure I'd find other uses for it. Sadly my budget is low (else I wouldn't be on Locost Builders, arf arf). There seems to be lots of cheap 25lr -50lr jobs on the bay of E.

2HP 8.3 CFM 50LTR 50 LITRE AIR COMPRESSOR BRAND NEW on eBay (end time 20-Jan-11 18:41:13 GMT)

What are peoples opinions of this locost option? Worth it? Is 50lr that much more useful over 25lr?

blakep82 - 12/1/11 at 12:16 PM

depends what tools you'll be running really. powder coating probably won't need much air, but if you're planning on and die grinders or anything like that, well, i've got a 3hp, 150 litre tank one, and it runs almost constantly when i use the die grinder with it

cliftyhanger - 12/1/11 at 12:18 PM

50 def better than 25, gives you a bit longer befor the air runs out.
Power etc depends on what you will use it for. The compressor figures always seem to be very optimistic compared with the airtools requirements.

Another consideration is noise. A belt drive compressor will be much quietre than a direct drive. Bit more expensive though.

Bluemoon - 12/1/11 at 12:31 PM

That's the same compressor as the Aldi ones that come up from time to time, but aldi ones are ~£65 with only 24ltr tanks though but come with blow off gun tire inflater, paraffin gun, hose etc.. I have two connected in parallel (on the high pressure side) to give >16 CFM and 48ltr tank...

[Edited on 12/1/11 by Bluemoon]

Irony - 12/1/11 at 12:50 PM

The powdercoating gun requires naff all air. One tank full is enough to powdercoat all day long. But I am building a car so in the future I might get some airtools etc. I just wanted to know what the thoughts were one these 'budget' compressors.

Bluemoon - 12/1/11 at 12:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Irony
The powdercoating gun requires naff all air. One tank full is enough to powdercoat all day long. But I am building a car so in the future I might get some airtools etc. I just wanted to know what the thoughts were one these 'budget' compressors.


Well my Alidi one is fine with the tools they sold most were ~4.3CFM and thus well matched to a single compressor for short busts of use (i.e. drilling holes ect). But if you want the compressor to run less two in parallel works really well if a bit noisy. In principle with 16CFM I should be able to shot blast, and spray but I have yet to try.

Obviously though you would be better with a belt driven compressor with a large tank, as these are not nosey, but they are not cheap..

Dan

[Edited on 12/1/11 by Bluemoon]

macc man - 12/1/11 at 06:33 PM

Bigger is always best if you can stretch to it. I have an Aldi compressor and is fine for small jobs but not
big enough to run my grit blas gun. Did a good spay job but runs out of pressure fast.