What size of compressor do I need?

[skotl]

I was seduced by the Aldi special and bought the following;

2.5HP motor
Air displacement: 270l/min, 9.5CFM
Rated voltage: 230V~/50Hz
Air received volume: 24 litres
Maximum pressure: 8bar

Then excitedly went out and bought a bunch of tools, including a shot blaster, impact wrench and cut-off tool.
All of these behave as if I was just blowing into the hose, pretty much grinding to a halt when shown the slightest bit of provocation.

I like the idea of air tools, though, and having now subscribed to the "buy cheap, buy many times" philosophy I'd appreciate any advice on what specs the next compressor should have.

Is CFM/air displacement the key measure? Or max pressure? Or...?

Thanks in advance.

 

[bc30se]

CFM is more important than max pressure in your case, 8 bar is just enough. 270L is only in theory, I believe it will be something like 200L/m of real flow. Tank capacity is 24L and the thing should be fast, either there is something wrong with the compressor or they just lie about the true output.

Depending on how your are going to use it, 330L/min of real flow is advisable, better still 550L/min

 

[Daz1968]

I had a similar compressor as my first and also found it didn't operate air tools at all. I ended up buying a Clarke se16c100 and that runs what I need fine, it is about minimum requirement for blasting and at the top end of what will run on a single phase supply, if I need more air will have to look into adding a second compressor

 

[skotl]

Good stuff - thanks, guys

 

[mr migwire]

i had the little sip 24l job and it was ok but not enough guts to run bigger tools, ive had a couple of 50L comps but decided recently to get the wolf 100L 3HP 14Cfm,
plenty of air for the impact gun, die grinder and needle gun. not overly expensive for the size and sits nicely under the bench at the back of the garage.
there was a couple of not bad ones on gumtree fife when i was looking a while back so may be worth having a check......

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Dakota-150psi-Cylinder-Compressor/dp/B007VOLOHG

 

[gordon stephenson]

Your problem at the moment is most likely caused by too small a bore on the hose or regulator, Particularly for the impact gun and shot blaster. A larger bore would give you far better performance. But not for very long with your size of compressor and tank.

 

[gavuk]

,By pass the regs,put a larger 10mm+ hose direct from the tank,it will behave very differently , I have an aldi 24l myself (loaned out) and a clarke 50l which i had joined together,if you really want to use tools frequently go as large and poweful as you can with the compressor,I ended up with a 18cfm 200l tank which I'm very happy with ...aldi compressors will run most of the tools they sell,albeit for shorter periods of time due to tanksize and displacement , and although better with a bigger hose will probably not deliver the stated torque on the impact wrench etc.....

 

[skotl]

Thanks, guys. Already have a 10mm hose but I didn't think to try that on the unregulated outlet. Will give it a go but, as Gordon says, I doubt I'll get much runtime out of the tank.

Gumtree saved-search created!

 

[gavuk]

Best bet is to remove the plug on the reciever and connect a ball valve...try and avoid restrictive quick disconnect fittings,and attach the hose to the valve ,I used 1/2" bore hose , others have increased their receiver size by using propane cylinders , but if the pump needs to run too often you could exceed the manufacturers duty cycle

 

[optima21]

I've managed with my aldi compressor by turning down the pressure down on the regulator when using a cut off saw, and grit blaster and needle scaler. my grit blaster is designed for low cfm compressors though. they can be used continiously for an hour before the thermal cut out works. I norally operate high consumption tools at 70psi rather than 90psi, then the compressor is able to maintain pressure

 

[julianf]

You could 'borrow' a 47kg tank off calor as a receiver.

I have a largeish 1ph compressor (largeish meaning close to the limit of a 13amp supply) that does, i think 14cfm, but im considering buying a smaller compressor, as, for lot of quick air jobs, a small compressor (that you can run on the end of an extension lead) is useful.

Also, i figure, if i want to do some blasting, i can then link the two, for increased flow.


What im saying is -

When you get your new unit, dont just pass on the old one, as there may be times when it comes in (more) useful than the larger unit.

 

[Pinky]

i had the little sip 24l job and it was ok but not enough guts to run bigger tools, ive had a couple of 50L comps but decided recently to get the wolf 100L 3HP 14Cfm,
plenty of air for the impact gun, die grinder and needle gun. not overly expensive for the size and sits nicely under the bench at the back of the garage.
there was a couple of not bad ones on gumtree fife when i was looking a while back so may be worth having a check......

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Dakota-150psi-Cylinder-Compressor/dp/B007VOLOHG

Hi I have just bought this bit of kit last week, and I must say I'm really impressed with it value for money or what, 190 pounds 3 hp 14 cfm belt driven

Love it

Pink

 

[vw1]

Hi I have just bought this bit of kit last week, and I must say I'm really impressed with it value for money or what, 190 pounds 3 hp 14 cfm belt driven

Love it

Pink

Am thinking on buying this unit myself .. is it on 13amp plug ?

 

[Pinky]

Am thinking on buying this unit myself .. is it on 13amp plug ?

When I first got it I put a plug on it with a 13amp fuse it worked fine,
However I have hard wired in now
I don't believe there is a safety issue putting a plug on it, annoying if the fuse keeps blowing

My own personal thoughts on it,is ----- the 3 horse power compressor is on the edge of not blowing the fuse,
Some people have problems, others don't, depending on the quality of the cable/ fuse box etc in your own property

I had the same problem, re buying a compressor, bought a smaller compressor first useless.

14 cfm compressor cope's well with air tools,
but it struggles with spraying/air mask, I bought the wolf and conected it to my clark, got it sorted now loads if air,
Happy bunny

Hope this helps pink

 

[mr migwire]

vw1 i run mine from a 13amp supply and dont have any issues with blowing fuses, runs all my air tools and my underseal gun, hevent tried painting with this one yet.

 

[julianf]

I can run my compressor fine if i plug it in directly, but, the moment i run it on an extension lead, it blows fuses.

Id imagine the situation would be different at different locations also, with mains voltage fluctuations.

 

[monkeymark]

I have an Aldi one though id have to check what hp it is.

Seems fine for everything ive used it for so far.
Also got the filter to go with it and the retractable hose reel and accessory kit.

Only complaint is the quality of the air hose in the kit as its leaking at both ends and hasn't had the hardest of times so far.

As an aside, I took my Aldi compressor into work when setting up the air lines in the new motor vehicle workshop as the 3ph supply wasn't in for the big compressor.
It did a grand job for testing the lines and the 12 or so outlets spread along what must be 50 meters or so of pipe and purging the system after a pressure test with water. It did get a little hot when ran for extended periods of times but performed admirably.

 

[NewtoMig2014]

i had the little sip 24l job and it was ok but not enough guts to run bigger tools, ive had a couple of 50L comps but decided recently to get the wolf 100L 3HP 14Cfm,
plenty of air for the impact gun, die grinder and needle gun. not overly expensive for the size and sits nicely under the bench at the back of the garage.
there was a couple of not bad ones on gumtree fife when i was looking a while back so may be worth having a check......

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Dakota-150psi-Cylinder-Compressor/dp/B007VOLOHG

I've just got the wolf dakota also last week,my first air compressor.Very impressed with it,not too loud with it being belt driven which is a bonus,excellent value for money imo.Work's all the air tools i've got so far ie drill/da sander/die grinder/air hammer,the only one that test's it is the die grinder if in continuous action.All the other tools will run continuously if needed. As above they come without a plug fitted so i fitted a heavy duty plug.Not had any problems so far with it.

 

[Alicia C. Christopher]

Its informative

 

[KemppiFrog]

Running condensor start motors off extensions, one needs min 2.5 section cable. The starting amps can be 3X the rated load, so an over long or small section extension cannot deliver the amps to get it moving. So the fuse blows at the prolonged high amps.

BTW, welcome to you Alice.