help choose budget compressor please

[tom2207]

most folk dont sell compressors unless they are starting to give bother ,,, thats my experience ,,, they just leave them doing their job , until one day they dont , then they go onto gum tree and a new one is bought.

 

[frank horton]

u won't find a used one very easy but if u can weld it's not very hard to convert an older horizontal compressor.....
here's an example but modern one are stupidly expensive....
there's plenty of old CAST iron comps out there....most wont need any work other than a pressure on-off switch....

 

[indykid]

Echo the above, go for a belt drive unit, second hand is a viable option if you can find one that isn’t totally shagged.

If space is an issue nothing stops you taking the skid of the tank and mounting them in separate places, or repurposing the tank from your aldi unit.
You could even buy a really good compressor minus the tank, but it will be a bit outside your budget.

Cheap direct drive units are exactly as you describe, noisy and struggle, I don’t think replacing it with the same thing will drastically improve matters.
They are really just for airing up tyres and blowing off dust IME.

As above, don't be constrained by the idea that a compressor has to follow the standard pattern....a pump and motor....sat on a receiver.....all sat on wheels.

My frankenpressor started as a 2.5hp 50l belt drive pump that was scrapped at work because it wasn't building pressure (turned out to be a bad thermal cutout switch (£2.50)). The receiver got fully decommissioned with a hole torched in the side because 'rules' but the pump skid has lived on and now feeds an upturned oxygen bottle as a receiver. A propane bottle would work too, as would your 25l receiver.

The cardboard cowl around the pump just gives the pump a bit more effective cooling when it's running for extended periods spray painting (where I add in a 47kg propane cylinder as additional receiver) and the cardboard 'box' is a labyrinth silencer which is remarkably effective and could be added onto any compressor. It's got all sorts of furiously expensive industrial lego bits like the feet and the convoluted stainless transfer hose, but it coped with normal airline hose for a few years (except for spraying) until I happened on the stainless upgrade and it would just as happily sit on blocks of wood instead of the unistrut frame.

Have a think and see where you land, though I appreciate you might just be looking for a tool rather than a project.

 

[knighty]

no one has asked what you're using it for, unless I missed it?

I bought one of the Hyundai silent ones for home, it pretty much just blows up tyres here but it's nice and quiet

if I needed more air I think I'd run multiples of these, or buy a used hydro vane

 

[skotl]

3kw is at the top end of what standard 13A wiring can give you, but, that's going to be in bursts, and assuming no cowboys involved, everything should be built to give you full whack all day. So all good.

Only thing I would say is that you should consider having it on a C Curve MCB rather than a standard B Curve.
My 3kw compressor is on a 13A plug, never blows the 13A fuse in the plug, but won't start on a B MCB - the breaker trips immediately. No problem at all on a C.

 

[steveo3002]

no one has asked what you're using it for, unless I missed it?

I bought one of the Hyundai silent ones for home, it pretty much just blows up tyres here but it's nice and quiet

if I needed more air I think I'd run multiples of these, or buy a used hydro vane

odd bit of automotive paint , door bottom , bumper corner , wheel etc , nothing huge , space is limited and noise is a concern , just my own cars as needed at home in the garden , not running a garage

 

[6ply]

hmm was worried if i got a biggish one would it trip the elecs , so not even close to worry about?

My belt driven compressor (3hp, I think) will trip a 16A type B MCB on startup. I changed to a type C.

 

[steveo3002]

My belt driven compressor (3hp, I think) will trip a 16A type B MCB on startup. I changed to a type C.

yeah i cant be getting involved with elecs , i dont want to pay and cant mess with myself

 

[skotl]

yeah i cant be getting involved with elecs , i dont want to pay and cant mess with myself

Well, just be aware that if you do get a compressor with a larger motor you probably won't be able to start it if you don't change your MCB. I mean it might work, but would be an expensive doorstop if it doesn't...

 

[pedrobedro]

Toolstogo has some belt driven compressors at not too much money.

 

[steveo3002]

Well, just be aware that if you do get a compressor with a larger motor you probably won't be able to start it if you don't change your MCB. I mean it might work, but would be an expensive doorstop if it doesn't...

yeah not for me then

 

[keithski122]

I have the 50ltr hyundai, works well for what I use it for, stapler, sewing machine, pumping tyres and spraying glue. Amazingly quiet, with the garage door(insulated) closed you cannot here it outside.