Air Compressor brands

[SlowRide]

I'm looking for a solid air compressor that'll last as long as I do. My last one was a Super Cheap Auto piece of shyte - it's louder than an aeroplane and it seems to draw moisture into the line worse than any compressor i've ever used. A true POS. As the old man always said - buy nice, or buy twice. I'm hearing you now, Dad.

The thing is - go to a tool shop and nobody stocks the same brands, and every brand markets its products with different measures of pressure/power. There's no consistency. I've been in Perth for the last week and headed to every major tool barn I can find and no two stock the same compressor brands.

In my experience Peerless is the brand to go for, but if it is as good a bit of gear as I think it is, why is only one chain of outlets stocking it?

As such, i'm curious what compressors you guys use. If you can give your unit a good wrap I want to hear all about it. If you've had experience with particular brands that have been nothing but trouble I want to hear all about that too.

[SlowRide]

I should add i'm only after a true domestic compressor - 240V and 10A - a different buying spec to a workshop compressor. For my reckoning the Peerless P14 is the best option, but i'm open to opinions.

[Kevin B]

i bought a Aldi one for about $39.95 a year or so ago, thought to myself what the hell its only 40 bucks right!, well its is really good, well construted out of metal and very solid, its not that noisy and works well, not long after i was away camping with a mate who had a super dooper one that comes in its own toolbox and everything so we decided to do a side by side on them, took off his 2 spares, same brand and size 33's i think from memory and flattened them both then hooked each compressor up to a tire turned them both on at once, dont have all the specs on me now about times to each PSI mark ect but in the end from flat to 40psi it took the named brand one about 4 mins and the Aldi one about 6 mins, not to bad for some $350 odd dollar difference, now whether or not it would set a bead i dont know but as a pump i think its fine.

im not endorsing it just telling you my findings and for the ammount of time i use one it does me.

[Kevin B]

I should add i'm only after a true domestic compressor - 240V and 10A - a different buying spec to a workshop compressor. For my reckoning the Peerless P14 is the best option, but i'm open to opinions.


oops Sorry, missed this post, ignore my one about the Aldi one :rocket:

[Geedublya]

Peerless have a good reputation. I also like the Pilot K17SD and K25SDL they are slow revving heavy duty jobs. The K25SDL is 15A though.

It would be worthwhile having a 15A socket installed to use it. (I would just install a 15A plug as my house wiring is rated a 20A.

240 Volt Belt Driven - SUPERDUTY (http://www.pilotair.com.au/Products/ReciprocatingAirCompressors/240VoltBeltDriven-SUPERDUTY.aspx)

[Homestar]

As you have learned, you get what you pay for with compressors. It is a minefield out there. Do yourself a favour and check out this website - Compressed Air Association of Australasia (http://www.compressedair.net.au/). It has a list of members down on the bottom RH corner of this page maked 'Air Compressor Supliers you can Trust'.

It talks about protocol 2000 which basically is a way of getting manufactureres to spec their machines in the same way, so you don't run into problems like you have had. Manufactures that do this will put a sticker on the machines - the latest one is shown on that website, but it is similar to the one on mine from years ago. You should only be looking at Free Air Delivery (FAD) - not CFM or anything else. The FAD refers to the actual amount of atmospheric air (free air) that can be drawn into the inlet of the machine during normal operation.

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j443/Bacicat2000/78F06AC3-07BD-46A2-B67A-D942C18B0614-15283-00001188B757588F_zps71b51ecf.jpg

Personally, mine has been excellent - I use it pretty much every weekend I'm home - I turn it on first thing in the morning, and off again when it wakes me up in the middle of the night....:D

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j443/Bacicat2000/930A0EB1-829E-4659-B961-390A7AEC6CB6-15283-00001188B1834AB2_zps3d9cff76.jpg

This unit has an Italian air end and everything else from who knows where, but it is a nice, slow revving unit that keeps up with anything I have - including die grinders, spray painting, etc. it has. 15 amp plug on it, but I've checked it while running and it draws 11.2 amps when running, so maybe I filed the earth down and stuck it in a 10 amp outlet...:angel:

It makes the lights inside flicker when it runs...:D

Expect to pay good money for a good unit. Mine came bare, so if you buy one that does, buy a GOOD water trap for it, not a cheap arse one - again, you get what you pay for. I don't get any moisture at all in my lines or equipment.

The Peerless units are good - I almost bout one myself but they didn't have the P17 available when I bought mine - they were out of stock. That's another thing - if you can stretch your budget, go the P17, not the P14 - I know the P17 needs a 15 amp plug, but the extra few CFM you get make a big difference when it comes to spray painting in particular - the P14 will barely keep up. If you want to do any decent work with a die grinder, then you will be thankful for the bigger unit too.

All the best - Gav

[DoubleChevron]

I think it's impossible to buy a compressor that's too big ... Make mine the Airmac T20-H 240V thanks:

240 Volt | Airmac - Premium Quality | Reciprocating Air Compressors | Glenco Air & Power (http://www.fusheng.com.au/reciprocating-air-compressors/airmac-premium-quality/240-volt)

I purchased a Clisby aussie made 17CFM compressor about 20years ago (aussie pump, aussie electric motor, aussie made receiver etc). Other than changing the oil every couple of years... It's never been touched and still works as well today as it did 20years ago. I've never even adjusted the belt on it.

Buy right the first time and it should last you a lifetime of DIY :)

seeya,
shane L

[Homestar]

I think it's impossible to buy a compressor that's too big ... Make mine the Airmac T20-H 240V thanks:

240 Volt | Airmac - Premium Quality | Reciprocating Air Compressors | Glenco Air & Power (http://www.fusheng.com.au/reciprocating-air-compressors/airmac-premium-quality/240-volt)

I purchased a Clisby aussie made 17CFM compressor about 20years ago (aussie pump, aussie electric motor, aussie made receiver etc). Other than changing the oil every couple of years... It's never been touched and still works as well today as it did 20years ago. I've never even adjusted the belt on it.

Buy right the first time and it should last you a lifetime of DIY :)

seeya,
shane L

They are some nice units....:)

[33chinacars]

I have 2 Peerless compressors. P17 & P12 ( I think, too long ago to remember). The last one I bought I've only had for about 10 years. Both have given excellent service. Highly recommended.. As Gav said go the P17. You wont be sorry.

Gary

[SlowRide]

I think it's impossible to buy a compressor that's too big ...

That's for sure. I work offshore and the air compressors on most pipelay/construction vessels are as big as petrol station LPG tanks. Even most workshops I have access to have 10hp compressors at the ready.

Might be worth investigating 415V in the shed. I mean, I don't need a workshop sized compressor to cover my needs, but nothing will **** me off more than continual timeouts for pressure to catch up or to drain off moisture. And if i'm willing to pay $1K I might as well pay $1.5K and be happy forever.

[crash]

I think it's impossible to buy a compressor that's too big ... Make mine the Airmac T20-H 240V thanks:

240 Volt | Airmac - Premium Quality | Reciprocating Air Compressors | Glenco Air & Power (http://www.fusheng.com.au/reciprocating-air-compressors/airmac-premium-quality/240-volt)


seeya,
shane L
This is what I have now - the biggest 15amp I could afford at the time. It does seem to collect alot of moisture though - it has a handy drain tap at the bottom of the tank - I always open it up after use to drain any moisture out of the tank. the Air Macs are used alot in the orchards around here so they can take a bit of abuse.
When you do get a new compressor you can always join the two together and gain abit of performance that way.
Have you thought about buying a bigger compressor and motor and attaching that to your existing tank? May be a cheaper way to go.

[Tank]

Have you considered building your own, say from a VW engine, there are kits you can buy to convert a VW engine into a really good compressor, mate had one, it used to run a 90lb. jackhammer all day, Regards Frank.

[stallie]

Bought the McMillan 3hp compressor when I swapped the gearbox. Has a 15 amp plug so cost another $300 to wire in.

Magic. Rattle gunning off the flywheel bolts was a breeze.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Want a good air compressor, get an Automan from Atlas Copco, its what they do.

http://www.atlascopco.com.au/auus/products/navigationbyproduct/product.aspx?id=1518870

[roverrescue]

I have an old Peerless single phase, single cylinder 60L tank jobbie I picked up at auction for a steal...

Its old
Its rusty (because Im lazy and only empty the 15L of water out once a year)
Its noisy

Deep deep down I want it to die so I can upgrade to something big and grunty (hmm I wonder how a Pratt and Whitney radial would pump air given the chance????).... but it wont die so instead I have chucked it out side the shed in a concrete bunker so it doesnt annoy me and run the outlet into an out of date 45kg gas cylinder to up the ante when using my air-hog of a die grinder....

I think the point is

Peerless seem to make adequate compressors.

Steve