Compressor recommendations?

[Mick Annick]

I had one of these and it was OK for what it was. Not sure where you are located but if in UK they are cheap enough too

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I sold it a few days ago after I bought my tandem compressor as 4x compressors is too many even by this forums standards

Thanks, I’m in France, so not all brands are available here. I forgot to mention the smaller the better - I might even look into a vertical receiver.

 

[timgunn1962]

For a bit of thread drift - I’m looking at a smallish compressor, just for tyre inflating and air dusting. I like the look of the Abac L30P Hockenheim 20L, I know it’s direct drive so a bit noisy and a small tank, but it should suit my needs. It’s a lubricated pump - I’m not keen on the oil-free but am open to persuasio.

The L30P seems to be the "pole position" or "Monte Carlo" lubricated direct-drive. The "Hockenheim" seems to be the OS20P Oil-less quiet model.

Personally, I'd be inclined to go for the quiet, oil-less Hockenheim for your stated use. Main reasons are that being oil-less, there's no need to worry about needing oil-removing (coalescing) filters for any "clean" application, and the low-noise aspect is pretty much a no-brainer. It's a 4-pole motor, which I always prefer.

That said, the Monte-Carlo lubricated compressors are not too bad for cheapies.

The L30P will provide a lot more air if that's what you need (though it doesn't sound like you do), at the cost of higher power/current draw: 3 HP (ISTR 230V, 20A sockets being the norm in France, so this may not be an issue) and noise. 73 dB vs 63 dB can be hard to understand for most normal folk. I struggle and I'm something of a geek. Effectively one 73 dB Monte-Carlo will make the same noise as ten 63 dB Hockenheims.

 

[Jack_K]

I am not familiar with what FAD those compressors would deliver?

I still say it's just basic knowledge on compressors that you want a big tank.

Pump duty etc plays into this. You would really need to have a pump which is correctly sized to meet or exceed anything you intend to use to reep any space or cost saving benefits for a small tank.

If that pump needs to run 100% when spaying a car for example it's life expectancy will likely be very short.

With a large tank and decent sized pump it will charge up, stop and cool off for a minute or two between spraying operations. This is critical down time.

The larger the tank the better your pressure will sustain itself also under load.

If cost and space was no consideration there is no doubt a tandem compressor is ideal as it provides a decent tank and enough oomph to power most all operations such as blast cabinets.

If anyone had tried to spray a car with a 50L or 100L single phase DIY compressor you will know what I mean here!

Modern scroll air compressors don't need a large receiver due to the large volume they can deliver so that's an exception IMO.

Summary - in an ideal world we would all absolutely be better buying a compressor with a nice slim receiver and a FAD which exceeds our current and future needs. In reality this is very cost prohibitive and ain't going to happen in most cases. So get a large tank and biggest pump you can and it will still be decent especially for the £. My opinion- 200L is min tank you want for a single phase domestic machine.

They are around 300 to 320LPM FAD. (around 90psi or something similar)

In the right application a larger tank will be ok. For painting you would want to make sure it has just finished refilling before starting painting otherwise you have used some air and then there won't be enough left before a possibly too small compressor cuts in.

Just make sure the use is within the duty cycle of the motor and pump. On my compressors I am sure the motors would burn out long before the pumps.

Some people just think tank size is what to look for but that is obviously not the case.

 

[Mick Annick]

The L30P seems to be the "pole position" or "Monte Carlo" lubricated direct-drive. The "Hockenheim" seems to be the OS20P Oil-less quiet model.

Personally, I'd be inclined to go for the quiet, oil-less Hockenheim for your stated use. Main reasons are that being oil-less, there's no need to worry about needing oil-removing (coalescing) filters for any "clean" application, and the low-noise aspect is pretty much a no-brainer. It's a 4-pole motor, which I always prefer.

That said, the Monte-Carlo lubricated compressors are not too bad for cheapies.

The L30P will provide a lot more air if that's what you need (though it doesn't sound like you do), at the cost of higher power/current draw: 3 HP (ISTR 230V, 20A sockets being the norm in France, so this may not be an issue) and noise. 73 dB vs 63 dB can be hard to understand for most normal folk. I struggle and I'm something of a geek. Effectively one 73 dB Monte-Carlo will make the same noise as ten 63 dB Hockenheims.

Thanks Tim, that’s educated me a bit more. There’re two versions of the Hockenheim available here - oil and oil-free, my only concern with the latter being the life of the bore coating, though given my age and the limited use it’s going to get I’m almost certainly worrying about nothing!

 

[AVI_8]

For a bit of thread drift - I’m looking at a smallish compressor, just for tyre inflating and air dusting. I like the look of the Abac L30P Hockenheim 20L, I know it’s direct drive so a bit noisy and a small tank, but it should suit my needs. It’s a lubricated pump - I’m not keen on the oil-free but am open to persuasio.

I’ve one of these 2.5 HP, 24 litres, it’s generic and pretty much similar to the one joe mentioned earlier, mine lives in a wheelbarrow so it’s ideal to move around to blow up tyres or operate a nail gun, they regularly come up on gumtree for around £40-50
Noisy bar stewards though.

 

[Oldbanger]

Buy one and see how you go, if you need another then get it. Get a 14cfm belt drive if not upgrading the electrics.

You will need two most likely if using a air fed mask and doing big jobs.

I've been driving myself mad in recent days looking at various options and scouting classifieds for bargain compressors. I did find a clarke xev16/150 that cuts out and needs reset for 100 quid but I think my best bet is to reorganise the workshop, save a bit more money and buy a tandem compressor that will run on single phase. I've already spoken to an old customer who happens to be an electrician and it won't be too much of an issue to sort a 45a outlet.

 

[JOEPRO]

I've been driving myself mad in recent days looking at various options and scouting classifieds for bargain compressors. I did find a clarke xev16/150 that cuts out and needs reset for 100 quid but I think my best bet is to reorganise the workshop, save a bit more money and buy a tandem compressor that will run on single phase. I've already spoken to an old customer who happens to be an electrician and it won't be too much of an issue to sort a 45a outlet.

I think this is wise.

Buy cheap, buy twice. Or 4x times in my case. The used Tandem one is my 4th compressor and really I need that to serve my needs of blasting etc.

You can never have enough air for alot of tasks and running small compressors IMO makes air tools a horrible experience. Using a decent compressor, high flow fittings and 10mm bore hose etc and the experience is fantastic / night and day difference.

If you can be patient then Tandem is 100% the way to go and skip buying smaller ones then having to sell on and people looking them for nothing.

A 32amp supply is sufficent though and this can double as a welder supply if you wish. I used 6mm cable and a type C MCB which is important to avoid false trips.

EDIT: 32Amp supply is for 3Hp motors. I see some Clarke models are 4hp motors which would require 45amp supply. But would be VERY heavy duty I suggest a tandem 3hp unit

 

[Oldbanger]

I think this is wise.

Buy cheap, buy twice. Or 4x times in my case. The used Tandem one is my 4th compressor and really I need that to serve my needs of blasting etc.

You can never have enough air for alot of tasks and running small compressors IMO makes air tools a horrible experience. Using a decent compressor, high flow fittings and 10mm bore hose etc and the experience is fantastic / night and day difference.

If you can be patient then Tandem is 100% the way to go and skip buying smaller ones then having to sell on and people looking them for nothing.

A 32amp supply is sufficent though and this can double as a welder supply if you wish. I used 6mm cable and a type C MCB which is important to avoid false trips.

EDIT: 32Amp supply is for 3Hp motors. I see some Clarke models are 4hp motors which would require 45amp supply. But would be VERY heavy duty I suggest a tandem 3hp unit

I had actually been looking at the fiac workhorse range because the have been quoting fad figures.
Couple of my options below
The wrt30-250s with 21.4 cfm fad and the wrt 28 with 18 cfm fad
Clarke only offer a 1 year warranty where as the fiac range comes with 2 years. After much of the discussion on here I now realise that they will be identical compressors so it's really a question of warranty, price and which colour I prefer

 

[Farside]

I had actually been looking at the fiac workhorse range because the have been quoting fad figures.

I have a FIAC 150L, it's been rock-solid so far, but I'd be the first to admit I've not been using it day-in, day-out, just hobby-ist.
Still, it's impressed me with its quality of construction and, so far, reliability. Half the noise of the direct-drive I was using before.

 

[lotus_esprit_s1]

I had one of these and it was OK for what it was. Not sure where you are located but if in UK they are cheap enough too

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I sold it a few days ago after I bought my tandem compressor as 4x compressors is too many even by this forums standards

My friend is running a part time tyre business with a full blown tyre changing machine on one of those Sioux 25’s!

 

[Mick Annick]

Fiac, Abac and Chicago Pneumatic are all owned by Atlas Copco, the larger / better machines are still made in Italy, the lower end stuff is Chinese.

 

[Oldbanger]

Does anyone know the difference between the fiac wrt30 and the wrt28 models?
The wrt30 has a higher cfm fad but seems to be the exact same compressor from all the info I have read.
I think that the wrt28 will be more than sufficient for me but now curiosity has gotten the better of me???

 

[Burdekin]

Does anyone know the difference between the fiac wrt30 and the wrt28 models?
The wrt30 has a higher cfm fad but seems to be the exact same compressor from all the info I have read.
I think that the wrt28 will be more than sufficient for me but now curiosity has gotten the better of me???

From the pics it looks like the 30 is a bigger pump so maybe runs slower for the similar CFM but puts out a larger FAD.