Thread: Air Compressor selection

That thing will run pretty much anything you will want to use, Steve. Unless you're going non stop with a coil nailer or using one of these little air breaker-guns you'll be fine. Good price too.

Steve,
The smaller model would be fine for the nailing work but you'd be flogging it running the spray guns off it. I have though, successfully painted a large tractor, slasher and rotary hoe using the smaller $98 one. (It lived in the back of my work vehicle and I had a number of injuries that made it too painful to try to load up my larger compressor to take it to the job) The one you're looking at will be fine.

Mick

My little one lunger sprung a leak and I replaced it with a Warrior 2 pot belt drive for $299.00, Mitre 10 special, it runs quieter and less often and has the balls to run a spray gun, IMO worth a look for an extra $100.00.

My local Bunnies currently have the Eagle 2.5hp/36L (like this) for $199 or the Trade Air 2.5hp/40L for $196

Hi All,
Thanks for the advice. I was wary on the smaller units, but sounds like it will do the job.

Iain, I will have a look at the Mitre 10 jobbie, it may be worth it.

Hadamonia, The eagle was one of the units at Bunnings I was looking at whish was $189. For another $10 I can go for the 40L unit with a heap of accessories.

Cheers
Steve

Hi all,
Well I eventually purchased a compressor. Its not the one I wanted, but for the price Im sure I will get my monies worth out of it.

Supercheap have a special on at the moment. Their $200 compressor is on sale for $121 including a kit with a tyre inflator, air gun, degreaser kit, spray gun and the 5m curly hose.

I figured for $121 it will be fine for my needs. I guess if and when I need a bigger one I will get one then. Its got a 40L tank, but only delivers 112L a minute. Hopefully it will run my new coil nail gun to build my fence that I bought off ebay!!

For anyone interested in the compressor, see http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/www...Page&catid=175 Its on the front page of the catalogue and sale ends 28APR07.

Cheers
Steve

Originally Posted by Ausyuppy

Its on the front page of the catalogue and sale ends 18APR07.

Cheers
Steve

Posted 24 April 07

My mistake, ends 28th April. I have fixed the post!!

Bummer, I really felt like flaming someone after a crappy week, bugger, you've let me down
I neber make mitakes........

LOL you sound like my wife

Originally Posted by Ausyuppy

Hi all,
Well I eventually purchased a compressor. Its not the one I wanted, but for the price Im sure I will get my monies worth out of it.

Supercheap have a special on at the moment. Their $200 compressor is on sale for $121 including a kit with a tyre inflator, air gun, degreaser kit, spray gun and the 5m curly hose.

I figured for $121 it will be fine for my needs. I guess if and when I need a bigger one I will get one then. Its got a 40L tank, but only delivers 112L a minute. Hopefully it will run my new coil nail gun to build my fence that I bought off ebay!!

Oh well my "NO" response has come a bit late

The idea that selling compressors with HP and storage capacity as the criteria is cr*p.

Compressors sold "professionally" advise the how much it can deliver in airflow and continuous flow. My s/h compressor is 12cu ft (340 litres) and can deliver this rate until the tank need to be replenished then it can sustain a continuous flow of approx 280 litres.

This 12cu ft (340 litres) is a reasonable capacity for most tools, but when or *IF* you want to use tools such as a spray gun or die grinders with the unit you purchased it will quickly run out of puff. An air powered die grinder (like a dremel moto tool) generally uses about 6 cubic feet or 170 litres of air to run. Even with MY 12cuft compressor it quickly drops down in speed - THIS is where the continuous flow IS important. Mine (340 litres) is usable but ONLY JUST! A 15cuft around 420 litres compressor should be ok and the continuous flow should exceed the air used by a die grinder.

A nail gun is a different device, in that it is an intermittent use tool. The pressure builds up and then discharges as it drives the nail and a nail gun does not continually "discharge" air in the same way as a spray gun or die grinder.

A compressor is a wonderful device. Now that I have one, I don't know HOW I managed without one

When you have had your money's worth out of this unit, I recommend you go for something bigger if you want to use air tools at their best.

After owning the compressor I decided to invest in a few "useful" tools, such as a die grinder, right angle die grinder polisher, 3/8" square drive rachet handle for driving sockets (GREAT!), sheet metal shears (cheap ones from auto cheap, they work - just- I would not recommend these shears), 2 litre spray gun - remote pot (the spray gun attaches to the paint pot with a 2m paint hose - GREAT!), 250ml touch up spray gun, rattle gun for doing the car's wheel nuts, air chisel and an air powered hacksaw (like a pad saw).

Im gonna love renovating, I can justify all these new tools.

Take advantage of THAT NOW and buy a better compressor while you can more easily justify it to SWMBO. You can probably prove its need by the limited capacity of the current compressor.

HTH

Originally Posted by Hadamona

My local Bunnies currently have the Eagle 2.5hp/36L (like this) for $199 or the Trade Air 2.5hp/40L for $196

It's rather amusing that your link shows a $199 crossed out and replaced with $225! Some web edting needed I think?

Originally Posted by journeyman Mick

Steve,
The smaller model would be fine for the nailing work but you'd be flogging it running the spray guns off it. I have though, successfully painted a large tractor, slasher and rotary hoe using the smaller $98 one. (It lived in the back of my work vehicle and I had a number of injuries that made it too painful to try to load up my larger compressor to take it to the job) The one you're looking at will be fine.

Mick

Quite so Mick. You OK?

Originally Posted by Ausyuppy

Hi all,
Im looking at investing in a air compressor in the short term. I move to Brisbane in a month and will need to erect new 6' timber fencing around the whole yard. I was at Bunnings earlier as I have some vouchers to use and found a 40L 2.5HP air compressor for $190 with hose and fittings. Im pretty sure it deliverd somewhere around 140L/min.

Will that be sufficient to run a nail gun to nail all the palings onto the fence? Also in the longer term I may use it for painting / varnishing. This compressor wont be used in the commercial environment and wont be used all that often.

I know bigger is better, however I still need to shell out for a cement mixer as well Im gonna love renovating, I can justify all these new tools.

Any experiences people have had would be appreciated.

Cheers
Steve

Just go for the biggest air tank you can buy