Hi All

I Have my eye on a certain compressor, its a sealey unit, 3 HP, 12.75cfm, 8.75 f.a.d. and a really good price, my only issue is its a direct drive where I would prefer a belt.

Now my question is I can get this compressor in a 50l or a 100l. The 100l is £85 more than the 50. Is it worth the extra moolah or will I not notice the capacity for general spraying, air drill, die grinding etc?

Cheers
Steve

The same size pump on both versions means that it will either be on more often for shorter periods with the small tank or the tank will empty slower but take longer to fill with the larger tank. I have a SIP V twin about the same as the one you are looking at and to be honest you are going to struggle to run a die grinder for any useful length of time and for a drill you will use more power and make a lot of noise topping the compressor up than using an electric drill. I use mine for spraying, inflating, the occasional impact gun, nailer or air hammer. I bought a die grinder thinking it would be useful but it just got on my nerves waiting for pressure and the tool freezing up in cool weather.

There's nothing to stop you using an old gas cylinder as an extra reservoir, just tee it in on the main output, when you have finished shut the valve and leave it pressured.

I have a 3hp direct drive, it fills its own tank quite quickly but does not run many air tools for long, okay for a painting and rattle guns, anything that needs a lot air such as a grinder, drill or sander kills it very quickly.

It was very cheap and has held up for 5 years now.