Thread: Thoughts on this air compressor?

That unit would struggle to run a spray gun. You really need at least 12 to 14 CFM - preferably 16 to get a really good paint job. It would be very good for tyres, small (3/8) rattle gun, air blower, etc.

If you want to paint, you'll have to spend some decent dollars unfortunately.

Is there such a unit that does 12-14 CFM on a 10A plug?

Maybe - just. I think you would find a 12, but anything above that will probably be on a 15 amp plug. I have a 17CFM unit with a 15 amp plug that draws 13.7 amps when running. It may have a filed down earth and be stuck in a 10 amp socket though...

It is also on the same circuit as the kitchen, so if someone tries to use the toaster or kettle while its running, the 20amp breaker on that circuit trips rather quickly...

If you want to spraypaint get an upside down spraygun(see ebay,low pressure sprayguns),they run on low pressure.That unit will run it ok.
It will run a rattlegun but will run out of air pretty quickly.

Andrew

I have a 12 CFM jobie with a 10A plug on it's own cct in the shed. It was as big as I could get (ATT) and still have the 10A plug.

I also have a (quite) large 2nd receiver that can be isolated. This lets the compessor pump up the main tank (only) if I need it for tyres or open up (and wait for it to build up) the big one to run the rattle gun,

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

If you want to spraypaint get an upside down spraygun(see ebay,low pressure sprayguns),they run on low pressure.That unit will run it ok.

Andrew

Yeah, but they are low pressure, high volume units. If your just after painting the outdoor furniture, no dramas, but if you want to run a primer surfacer or 2 pack through a 2mm or bigger nozzle, then your paint job will have 'I didn't use a big enough compressor' written all over it.

My 17 CFM runs almost continuously in applications like that.

Just a note for the ratings, the CFM rating can be misleading as it is the manufacturers rated volume at a given pump RPM, various companies assemble there own outfits, some using compressors from a common supplier, they then fit a drive of about 2HP and a pulley sized to allow the motos to run with les load and be compatible with a rated 10 amp supply given that the circuit is most likely protected by a 20 or 25 amp C/B.


You really need to know the units "Free Air Supply" capability or if you like the volume of air it can exhaust from the compressor out let to the tank, then compare this with the tools requirement.


As Bacicat says to get a good job you do need to have at least a 12 or a "Genuine" 10 CFM comp, my old V twin handles my HVLP gun "just", but if your careful it's sort of OK. I also run a HVLP 2.5mm tip resin gun for Gelcoats and have just sprayed around 3Kg's of Flow Coat through a Star pressure fed gun with a 3.5mm tip, it was a struggle and took a bit of setting up but wouldn't want to do anything major with it, although the inside of the cabin isn't exactly small.


If I had a bigger comp set up I would have a Cup Gun, 6mm tip, now that's serious!

Thanks for the advice all. Sounds like a unit that is built for spraying is out of my league for the moment, which is probably OK considering I don't have any spray jobs on the list and only 10A outlets in the shed (also only a single 10A RCD but that's another discussion all together). I'm going to check out the second hand one in my first post after work today.

Anything in particular I should check?