Which Air Compressor? SGS vs Clarke vs SIP

[Scott0713]

As a DIYer, I have spent some time looking through various air compressors, and their varying ratings. Free Air Delivery seems to be the consistent measure of performance for them, but not all of them are stated in the same way.

I was looking for something oil free (low maintenance) and quiet, budget of around £200 - £300 for 50L or £350-£450 for 100L.

I have tried to bring my research below into a common table for comparison

Model	Link	Size (L)	Noise (dB)	Displacement (cfm)	FAD (cfm)	Weight (kg)	Horsepower (HP)	Pressure	Oil Free	Current Price
Clarke SHHH 50/350 16.9cfm 50L	Clarke SHHH50/350 Shhh Air Max Twin Pump 16.9cfm 50 Litre 3.5HP Low Noise Oil Free Air Compressor (230V) - Machine Mart www.machinemart.co.uk	50	66	16.9	5.45 (155l/m div 480l/m mult 16.9?)	46.5	3.5	116	Yes	£334.80
SGS pro Super Silent 9cfm 50L	https://www.sgs-engineering.com/sgs-pro-super-silent-50l-air-compressor-15hp-9cfm	50	55	9	9	39.5	2	115	Yes	£249.99
SIP QT DD 50L 16cfm 50L	SIP 05493 QT AIR DD Ultra Low Noise Compressor 3hp 50 Litre SIP 05493 QT Direct Drive Air Compressor SIP QT Air direct drive compressor provides excellent performance for a range of air tools with ultra low noise levels, ideal for everyday use within workshops and garages. With oil free design the compressor provides a clean air flow and lower... www.sipuk.co.uk	50	62	16	13	52	3	116	Yes	£399.59
SIP DD 3HP Direct Drive Air Compressor 50	SIP DD 3HP Direct Drive Air Compressor 50 / 100 Litre SIP Direct Drive Low Noise 3HP Air Compressor The SIP DD 3HP air compressor comes fitted with a 3HP 2 pole brushless motor, with an improved air flow the compressor is reliable for a range of everyday tasks within a workshop or garage. The direct drive pump on the SIP DD 3HP compressor offers a... www.sipuk.co.uk	50	67	15	12.6	41	3	116	Yes	£269.99
Clarke SHHH 100/350 16.9cfm 100L	Clarke SHHH AIR MAX 100/350 Twin Pump Low Noise 100L Oil Free Air Compressor (230V) - Clarke International - Clarke International www.clarkeinternational.com	100	86	16.9	Not Published	66	3.5	116	Yes	£430.80
SGS pro Super Silent 13.6cfm 100L	https://www.sgs-engineering.com/sgs-pro-super-silent-100l-air-compressor-15hp-136cfm	100	60	13.6	13.6	69	3	115	Yes	£399.99
SIP QT DD 13cfm 100L	SIP 05494 QT DD 3HP Low Noise Air Compressor 100 Litre SIP 05494 Low Noise Air Compressor The SIP QT 3HP 100 litre compressor provides 13 CFM of free air delivery and 16 CFM of piston displacement and features an integrated pressure switch and air regulator. A max working pressure of 116 psi. This compressor is low noise at just 62 dB operation... www.sipuk.co.uk	100	62	16	13	70.35	3	116	Yes	£467.76
SIP DD 3HP Direct Drive Air Compressor 100 Litre	SIP DD 3HP Direct Drive Air Compressor 50 / 100 Litre SIP Direct Drive Low Noise 3HP Air Compressor The SIP DD 3HP air compressor comes fitted with a 3HP 2 pole brushless motor, with an improved air flow the compressor is reliable for a range of everyday tasks within a workshop or garage. The direct drive pump on the SIP DD 3HP compressor offers a... www.sipuk.co.uk	100	71	15	12.6	60	3	116	Yes	£367.19

Happy for your feedback and thoughts, feel free to add any other make and models to this.

 

[Bullet2012]

what will be your main use for it ?

 

[iNf]

The sip 50l is £277 with the voucher code in halfords atm, which is about £1 cheaper than I just paid for the clark from machine mart with a vat free voucher. They are the same compressor.

 

[Scott0713]

what will be your main use for it ?

a mixture, steel nibbler, spraying underbody, maybe a needler, feed for plasma cutter.

 

[julianf]

all ive done is looked at the sgs/sip/clarke names

dont get sgs
i know very little about sip
ive got a clarke unit in the garage thats donkeys years old and still running

 

[Scott0713]

The sip 50l is £277 with the voucher code in halfords atm, which is about £1 cheaper than I just paid for the clark from machine mart with a vat free voucher. They are the same compressor.

Great shout, Halfords currently have the SIP ultra quiet models 25% off using code PARTS25, so £277.50 for the 50L, and £379.50 for the 100L

 

[dave h 2]

As I'm sure you are aware FAD does not ever equal CFM so anything that does is a lie.

 

[tigdlo]

I tried to order a compressor from halfords, there was an error on the last page, the order wasn't completed but payment is pending in my banking app, called customer service, it will be sorted out in 5 to 7 working days, hopefully the offer will still be on if they cancel the order and refund.

 

[Smallfry]

I can't see any of these low noise things being around in 20 years time, if that.

As already said, FAD NEVER equals displacement, and the other thing to consider, is that most tools seem to be rated at X cfm consumption, but is in actuality 15 seconds in every minute, so actual constant use consumption is around four times what is quoted.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

My first compressor was a direct drive...it was loud....very loud!

Second is Clarke industrial XET19/200 from MM...it's been great.