Anyone got the compressor below. If so any good??

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I started out with one like you are proposing to buy, I thought it would be big enough. Depends on what you want one for. Some air tools are mega hugry for air. If you keep to light air consumption tools then it is fine.

However I now have a Sealey SAC2276B, Compressor 270ltr, Belt Drive 2 x 3hp with Cast Cylinders.

I also have the 50L receiver of the original compressor added to the capacity of the system.....

And I still find some of my favorite air tools run out of air and I have to stop work till the compressor stops cycling (otherwise it cuts out on thermal overload). Without 3 phase I cannot go any bigger dam it!

As said, it depends on what you want to run.
My Sand blast cabinet makes my 3Hp 15CFM with 150L tank run continuously once the pressure drops, but it does the job.
It was the biggest Clarke industrial (Blue) I could run off a ring main. (Needed a 16Amp spur / switch - due to start up currents - cant be run off a a 13 Amp plug, as they MELT!!)

WAIT for a VAT free day at Machine Mart... its worth it!

If its just a blow gun, and a tyre gauge than a small one will do.
The trouble is once, you get an air line, you start to appreciate how much easier and time saving it can be.
Not to mention how much less your hands and arms ache after a good session in the garage. (not a problem for the seasoned daily mechanics on here)

Tools I use the most are:-

Blow gun.
Air gauge. - I changed ALL the family push bike inner tubes to be car sized valve units. With 3 cars and a trailer and a caravan, its worth having! (only got 2 cars and the trailer now)

BIG 1/2" ratchet gun. Excellent for large nuts or even rusted ones (where you can often snap the bolt) But you need a set of Impact sockets to match.

Hi speed rotary tool... very fast and works well, use 3" discs to get into cramped corners, better than angle grinder for those jobs. ie a Hi Power Dremel! Watch your fingers with these... you will lose or severly damage them!

90 degree Air drill, cheap clarke one does well up to about 8mm hole, then runs out of torque. excellent for getting into tight corners where a std leccy drill wont go!

Sand Blast cabinet - dont use much now, home built cost £25 for the metal.£25 for the gun, £10 for a bag of grit, and some time with the welder.
cheap to make. Oh and a light fitting, and a scrap hoover to extract and filter the dust.

3/8" ratchet, works well, but dont use it a lot.

Air Riveter, was brill when biding the car. Try to borrow one for the build.

Hope this helps.



EDIT:
Cast Iron Cylinder in the pump = Better quality
Steel Liner in the pump = Cheaper quality.

That one is 3Hp, and I doubt if it will run off a 13Amp plug. The Start-up current will blow a 13A fuse.
You will want the 16A Blue Caravan type plug and socket as a minimum and a separate fuse holder/box to feed that. I would not try it off a 13Amp household plug.

I know that 3Hp=2100Watts = 8Amps. But its the start-up rush current that screws you over.
Finally Always disconnect at night. My pressure switch failed, and melted the motor on a previous cheap model that I had.
I was lucky it didnt start a fire in the garage.

Hence buying the Clarke Industrial model. I've had this one about 12 years now, and its been excellent, Completely rebuilt 2 Land Rovers, and built the Viento using it.
Certainly no complaints, and easily obtainable spares via Machine Mart.
Finally.... Securely CHAIN it to a Wall and bolt to the floor... Not that it wil wander around the workshop when its in use. BUT they are desirable items for thieves.



[Edited on 26/12/2012 by wilkingj]

I have run 3hp compressors for years off a 13A plug. Never had an issue with a fuse, they are slow-blow I reckon.
3hp as big as is realistic at home, but I guess the twin 3hp should work off a single 30A ring.
BTW 3hp=2.25kw approx. Same as a kettle.
and 90litre is a decent size. Will cope with spraying, rattle gun and a low consumption DA sander. That sort of thing.

I have a wolfair 2hp 50 litre at the moment, but it's noisy as hell and doesn't have enough puff!!!!!

I have a 3hp direct drive one, okay for spraying but not any good for greedy tools but only cost £120 I think.

I may get another the same and plumb together, this should then give me the volume I need.

It was very noisy until I put a much better inlet filter on it, this quietened it down a lot.

[Edited on 27/12/12 by mark chandler]

I have an old 3hp direct drive SIP which has been good for years, spraying cars and inflating tyres, running a rattle gun for stubborn nuts etc and the Wolf is the one I would look at to replace it if it went wrong. I have air tools but they are not used a lot as the electric equivalent are quieter and cheaper to run and don't freeze your hands to your gloves.

Piston compressor will be noisey.. I started off with a 5.5hp ABAC, about £700 3 phase and gave me 19cfm.. Used it for 2 years and was truble free..
I then up-graded to a Renner screw compressor which is awesome.. 35cfm and you can take a phone call whilst its running unlike a piston one.. Down side was the £4.5K to buy it Plus side tho is loads of cfm and dry air..

My compressor only gets used for blowing tyres up, and occasional joddler use. It's a 50l SIP and works fine, but has no capacity.


I've used the windy gun twice for a difficult crankshaft pulley nut, but most of my air tools are unused.


Using the nibbler was impossible, so I'm a convert to 240v tools and picked up a Mikita nibbler for £40. It just works......

You need one like mine....

Like this..

Sealey SA1020/3 200litre 230v Single Phase Air Compressor.

[Edited on 5/1/13 by coozer]

No good for taking off tight bolts without it being on all time n couldn't spray my car that well.

Get the sip 150ltr I love that one....