compressor

[Haze]

I'm looking to buy a compressor and I dont know much about them to be honest, ebay doesnt look very exciting, SIP and Clarke on offer but im dubious of the quality.

It will be used in my workshop for air tools, cutting, drilling, sanding etc. but it needs a certain degree of portability as I wish to use it to clean our Air Con units all over the building.

so if anyone can suggest the best compromise between size and performance then I would appreciate it greatly..

my budget I suppose is £400

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

do you have 240v and/or 415v available?

Not that I'm an expert, mines a basic 240v, 2HP, 25 litre, but the more knowlegable guys will want to know the voltage.

regards
Peter

 

[Haze]

although there is 415 around the building, most of it is 240v, and only plant runs on 415v so there are no useable sockets.

so 240v definately for me

 

[irondarren]

Actually the clarke machines are not that bad, and offer reasonable value for money.
Air tools eat air, orbital sanders are the worst. In an ideal world i would say a 3hp. similar to this
www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/.../path/diy-semi-professional-air-compressors-2

gives 12cfm displacement but that means about 8cfm free air delivery, enough to run air drill, spray, etc if used for prelonged periods might mean you need a fag break every now and then to let air build up.
Not sure if weldequip can do a deal on them, he is a clarke's agent, but seems to mostly sell there welders. Its possible and quite normal that he doesn't get enough discount on them to resell at a sensible price, even though he can beat most on the clarke welders. Different product, different discount structure, but worth sending him a pm to find out

 

[Wozzaaah]

Haze, Shiremoor might be worth a look, they have some reasonable stuff. I was going to buy one from them but bought a Clarke SE16C150 from MM instead, got it on one of their 'VAT free' days so it worked out really cheap. Not used it yet but it looks nice . I think a few people on here have them and say they're ok, cast iron cyl, 3hp, 14cfm displacement. Not sure what the FAD is though. If you want more info on any of shiremoor's, let me know which ones and I'll email you the catalogue pages, there's more info in the catalogue than on their website.

 

[yarpap]

Ive used a clarke for years with no problem i replaced my direct drive cheepo with a 3 hp 150 ltr clarke its quieter and never played up, needs 16 amp single phase
Dave

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

a quick look in the MM catalogue shows there's an Air Master 15/65 rated at 10 bar, 14cfm, 50 litre. It's shown at £434 incl. VAT so a bit over your price.

But what do others think of the Air Master range please?

TBH I think I'd stick with Clarke...

Regards
Peter

 

[zardoz]

Wozzaaah, that Clarke SE16C150 looks a beaut. I am officially jealous now. My sad and lonely airgun from my Garage days looks at me with an accusing washer. every time I open my big red tool box. ( not Snap-On cant afford it)

 

[rtbcomp]

I have a Clarke SE16C150 and it gets some real welly. Go for one with cast iron cylinders. Search the forum, there's loads on compressed air.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I knew someone else had one. Rtb, as a man who knows a thing or two about air equipment do you rate them quite highly for the price? What sort of FAD do you reckon it puts out?

 

[irondarren]

funny i thought i had replied to this, i must be going mad. normally if you go displacment x 2/3 (0.66) than gives your free air delivery, its only a rough guide mind, as things like air coolers etc make a difference. so a 15cfm displacement will give about 10cfm FAD.. Se16c150, would be 16cfm displacement and 10.5cfm FAD

 

[Mikey D]

If you or a friend has a costco account , they stock an sip unit , 3 hp 150 litre reciever 13cfm /9.1 cfm FAD Looks a good unit cast iron barrel and comes with a set of air tools (41 piece ) £352.42 inc vat
if i remember correctly it has wheels too so is fairly portable

cheers mike

 

[rtbcomp]

The Se16c150 is in fact 14 cfm displacement - I think the marketing boys had a hand in naming Clarke machines!

 

[inchpincher]

I notice in the MM catalogue that the SE16C150 "needs to be run from 30 amp supply min.".
Is this clarke covering themselves (like my 160T welder) or is it essential because it'll trip a 13a fuse when it starts?
Thanks,
ben

 

[yarpap]

I fitted mine with a 16 amp blue plug and it ( and the rest of the workshop ) is fed from an old cooker fuse on the main consumer unit,this feeds the workshops own consumer unit via 10mm cable, probably naughty but never any probs,i tried the compressor on a 13 amp plug and whilst it would run up to pressure i found it would take out the 13a fuse when it came on line, i think the name sc16 relates to the motor ie 16 amp not the cfm which is 14
dave

 

[inchpincher]

Thank you yarpap.

A good friend absolutely swears by this company...

I'm going to call in tomorrow lunch and have a chat. From looking at the website they look no gimmick and very well made. Hopefully a good time of year for a cash deal!

Ben

 

[malcolm]

I went for one of the shiremoor compressors from Wozzaaah's link - here are the pics. Came in about £300 delivered inc VAT. Seems very tidy - Italian made I think, belt drive 14cfm and seems to work off a 13 amp plug, though will be getting dedicated wiring shorty.

Can't believe how fast it charges up compared to my old and crappy 8cfm Airmaster. Not really mobile though - top heavy and ideally needs a remote filter/regulator.

 

[Tangmere]

I've just bought a SE16c150 Got it on their VAT free offer.
Haven't used it yet, waiting for the electrician to fit the new supply to garage. Looks a nice bit of kit.

 

[elebub]

Bit late now as Tangmere has bought his compressor but was wondering if anyone had any experience of the Axminster 3hp jobbo here - http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-AW30HP-3hp-Direct-Driven-Compressor-564885.htm
Looks a very reasonable price for a 3hp 10cfm FAD

Andy

 

[Wozzaaah]

Looks a nice little unit, cast iron cyls too. Seems like a good deal.