Air compressors - is this good?

[Phoenix]

Repco has on sale for $299 (ok, $300 basically) an air compressor on sale at the moment, and i've no idea if it would be any good for what I want.

I'd be using it for painting, airing up tyres, probably a rattle gun, and possibly a nail gun down the track. Maybe even some small scale sandblasting.

It's a SRI Air brand by tyhe looks of it, it's 2.2 hp, 40L capacity, belt drive, 149L/min at 700 kpa. it comes with a 5 piece accessory kit comprising of what looks like a puffer thyingo, tyre inflator a hose, I think a spray painter and what looks like a little oil can with a blower attached (looking at the catalouge).

Crap or not bad?

[PhilipA]

Nobody wants to answer you!
I have a direct drive 2.5HP for which I paid $199 about 4 years ago.

Theoretically a belt dive is better because you can replace the motor.
BUT these things are really throw away if they break, so I do not see any advantage in paying extra for a belt drive.
Mine has gone perfectly for 4 years for typical home use.
The only problem I have had was the rubber diaphragm in the regulator moved out of position. When I worked it out, and reseated it , it was fine.
So I would buy a cheaper direct drive one. They are everywhere for less than $200.
Mine is a SIP but they look like they all come from the same Chinese factory.
Regards Philip A

[loanrangie]

I agree with Phillip, you can get a direct drive 2.5hp 40ltr comp for around $150, the air tools you get with them in the pack are crap but you can get a decent air tool set (rattle gun, air rachet, air chisel) for under $100 and then you just need a spray gun or 2.

[Phoenix]

Ok, so belt driven isn't wirth the extra cash, but what sort of storage and airflow should I be looking at getting for air tools??

[incisor]

depends on the tools mate...

a decent spray gun or 1/2 rattle gun needs a 13cuft/min compressor or a small compressor with a huge tank or two and you dont get them for 100 bucks...

[Quiggers]

These little things aren't real good for spray painting, Phoenix, I know, I've tried. The motor will cut in after about 20 seconds to start tank replenishment....when it is already low on output volume.

But for other things get a real cheapie. Various auto shops knock em out for a hundred bucks, often with lotsa gear to do stuff....

Have fun!

GQ

[Blknight.aus]

you can tweak the pressure valve that turns the motor on and off, I did..

Much better the motor runs for longer and starts sooner, (while the pressures still up at effective rattle gunning levels)

the other advantage of belt drives is you can bolt on a petrol motor later or a 12v starter motor for the ultimate in off road air compression...

just dont tell swmbo im already looking at doing this to mine and getting another compressor to replace it with....

[PhilipA]

Mine is a 2.5 HP with 40 litre tank, supposedly 12Cu Ft per min.

It runs a rattle gun,drill, grinder and nibbler well, and struggles a bit with an air blower which seems to use more air than anything. Blowing up tyres of course is easy.
Havent tried it with a spray painting gun yet. I bought a HVLP gun a while ago, and was all set to use it this morning on "dry seal" on the camper trailer. Opened the can and the stuff was paste. Five hours and blisters later it was finished with a brush.
I think the 12cu ft is about the biggest of the cheapies so I do not know where you go from there.
Regards Philip A

[Pavo]

You can have a look at www.gasweld.com.au

There is a catalogue out now too (downloadable) with some compressor specials on the front. Comes with a kit of some sort too.

No affiliation - just saw a hard copy version of it at my parents the other day.

Pete

[Ralf_the_RR]

I got my 2.5hp 15cfm 55L compressor from Gasweld (selling tools - not toys) quite a few years ago.
Salesman repeatedly stated made in Italy.

Well - it's not that good.
I found out later - Italian made means cr@p.

So maybe they do sell toys!

[LandyAndy]

A direct drive compressor is no good for spraypainting unless you dont mind a real dodgy job,the tank is too small,the air is too hot wich means alot of moisture is in the air,because of the airtemp a moisture trap wont get much of it.You will end up with plenty of moisture bubbles in your paintjob!!!
Andrew

[loanrangie]

10cfm and 40 ltr is about minimum for air tools and spraying.

[loanrangie]

A direct drive compressor is no good for spraypainting unless you dont mind a real dodgy job,the tank is too small,the air is too hot wich means alot of moisture is in the air,because of the airtemp a moisture trap wont get much of it.You will end up with plenty of moisture bubbles in your paintjob!!!
Andrew

I disagree, direct drive or belt drive most have the same size tank unless its a commercial size compressor, i have sprayed many cars in acrylic and enamel with a direct drive with no problems.

[Tank]

Repco has on sale for $299 (ok, $300 basically) an air compressor on sale at the moment, and i've no idea if it would be any good for what I want.

I'd be using it for painting, airing up tyres, probably a rattle gun, and possibly a nail gun down the track. Maybe even some small scale sandblasting.

It's a SRI Air brand by tyhe looks of it, it's 2.2 hp, 40L capacity, belt drive, 149L/min at 700 kpa. it comes with a 5 piece accessory kit comprising of what looks like a puffer thyingo, tyre inflator a hose, I think a spray painter and what looks like a little oil can with a blower attached (looking at the catalouge).

Crap or not bad?
Close coupled compressors have problems with overheating, the electric motor transfers it's heat to the compressor and vice-versa, if you want something to play with occasionally and not continous use as in spray painting, get a close coupled compressor. However if you wish to spray paint without having to stop all the time to wait for the compressor to catch up and the same goes for air powered tools you will need AT LEAST 55L tank and a 15cu. ft/min belt driven compressor, if you intend painting (cars, 4WDs) spend some extra money on good quality professional air pressure regulator, filter and drier and mount them off the compressor and higher, Regards Frank.

[Mick-Kelly]

And expect everyone to want to borrow it then :)

[RichardK]

I bought one of the cheapies a couple of years ago from Repco for $199, it lasted around a year and stopped........permanently. I had used it fairly well but I didn't consider it value for money. I've now got a 16 cuft three cylinder unit bought for about $650 and it is a good buy, plenty of capacity and hopefully will last many years.

[Mick-Kelly]

Just as a query but if it was only a time to time use would renting one be a better option?