Thread: Home Air Compressors

I've got a couple of Peerless and are very happy with them. I would probably go for a 15 CFM compressor tho. If your going to do a bit of spraying you will quickly run out of air other wise

Gary

I have been recommended to go no less than 12CFM. This also seems to be the biggest you can go on a 10amp plug.

I bought a 8.2cfm twin cylinder compressor, figuring that should see me right! It's not bad and I've done a bit of spraying without running into lack of air problems - just doing bits and pieces like tray drop sides and headboard, fuel tanks, etc. I suspect if I was trying to spray a large surface in one go I might run into problems, but I'm a patient type so would just work slower.

Where the choice of compressor is now impacting on my plans is I want to set up a sand/bead blaster. I've used a small sand-blaster rig using the air comp and it runs out of air REALLY quickly when you're sand-blasting.

BTW, even though it was only 8.2cfm it was fitted with a 15A plug, so check - don't just assume it'll be a 10A plug because someone else's 12cfm was a 10A plug.

Got the sparkies to put in a 15amp plug, so will be going for a bigger compressor now. Hope to buy one this weekend. Looking a 17cfm now, never too much air.

17 CFM Thats the GO Good allround size Should have enough air for most jobs

Gary

That sounds heaps better if you intend to spray with it. Don't forget a GOOD water trap if you want a decent job. I can't remember what brand mine is - I just went to have a look, but there is too much crap in the way at the moment. It is a 17CFM triple cylinder job - had it for years, and it is great. Keeps up with spraying, 1/2" rattle gun, etc no problems. Just be careful with what you buy - cheaper units generally come out of China now, but there are decent ones around if you look. Don't expect to be paying a few hundred bucks like you would in Bunnings, my setup cost over $1K but I know it will be with me for years.

If choices are limited, you could look at adding a large-ish extra air tank. - Did it in a mechanic's workshop, 95 litre tank and he's very impressed. - Sure, the compressor runs longer to fill the extra, but for short to medium bursts there is NO discernable pressure-drop. He was hinting heavily for a bigger compressor, but now is more than happy. -Extra Tank located close to point of useage, not back with the compressor.

Same idea, ie, doubling storage volume of a Rangie's Air Suspension would make it work better and faster... apart from frying the (already marginal) 'Original' compressor

Was going to suggest the same as above. I have the compressor plus two tanks from dead setups. So the main compressor is at one end of the garage, the two tanks are in each corner, running into the looped pipe I also have twin regulated, trapped outlets around the garage (boxed lot from hare and forbes, 5 for $10-).

Only have a small direct drive compressor but as each tank is fed seperately to the loop for the outlets with non return valves there's no discernable pressure drop. It's a complex system but the extra tanks cross over their feed so as the pressure is pumped from the compressor once one tanks full it feeds the loop and the fill is diverted to the empty tank.