What compressor to get?

[kramdra]

Decided to get one. It will save me a lot of time fitting tires. I have 3 to fit in the next month, 5-7 a year, occasionally help out others. Most don't need it but the stubborn ones (Michelin, you cunts! please make the bead a tighter fit) can waste several hours with only 12v compressor.

Prefer vertical standing and with a flat top for putting other shit on. Space is important, who the fuck designs these sloped/knobbly topped shits? I live off the road, prefer not to be carrying a the whole unit between garage and house.. want detachable air receiver, prefer 3kw rating. They do not make this combination Modify one, easy? or buy smaller 1kw/6L portable compressor. It will do 90% of what I want, twice as expensive. Most usage will be a single blast of air, air tools occasionally. 6l detachable air receiver would also fit in top box with all my fitting tools.

Thanks.

[Kickstart]

Hi

With a compressor, get the largest you can. Mine is 8cfm with a 50L tank, and that isn't really up to what I need. Fine for pumping up tyres, but really struggles with powering an air powered impact wrench (for example).

I would say to just put it where it is convenient and then build a shelf over it for storage. Then invest in a few long air lines.

All the best

Katy
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[-]

I bought one of the cheapie Aldi ones about 8 years ago. It had enough CFM rating and a decent sized tank.
The problem with them, is that the hose and quick release couplings are some odd Euro size and not a very wide bore, so it couldn't cope with high air flow tools.
I bought a load of standard UK couplings (BSP?) and a couple of decent rubber hoses from Screwfix and Toolstation and it performed a lot better.
I used it to 2K Paint all the panels for my campervan conversion and it did very well, never struggling for air.
The different bore hoses and couplings really do transform these Aldi/Lidl ones.
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TZR250 2MA road, TZR250 1KT road, TZR250 2MA race, TDR250, YZF-750R Boost colours.
Jaguar S Type 3.0 V6 Sport R, VW Transporter T5 GP LWB Shuttle 140ps DSG.

[ADSrox0r]

Ditto on the size matters. Go as big as your workshop area will allow, piddly compressors are a ballache.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[Islander]

I'd recommend you go for a compressor with a decent free air delivery (FAD) figure as well as the biggest tank size your workshop will be able to accommodate. I have a 3HP compressor with a 50L tank and that can cope with heavy use of an air tool like an impact wrench. I'd have preferred a 100L or 200L tank though.

You can buy portable receivers for off site use. IIRC Toolstation do a 25L one.

Go for a decent brand too - I can recommend SIP. Avoid oil-free if possible.

[kramdra]

What I have noticed they all have little motors and small displacement pumps, as its cheaper to make. Tank size is much cheaper than a decent pump. Most seem to be 1.5hp or less, about 5cfm. Some are 2.5hp, 9cfm. 3kw models give 14-18cfm but quite expensive.

Various reasons I think upright/vertical compressors are better. It would mean the drain is on the bottom, not somewhere in the middle of the tank. Take less floor space and be easier to move around. Probably cheaper to make.
However you pay a premium for this, double the price, and only available with small 1.5hp motor.

[G]

My 12v compressor does tyres fine if you've used tyre soap, but it is quite chunky...
https://www.devon4x4.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/650x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/b/a/ba_2641.jpg

You could also consider getting a 'bead blaster'...
But a 240v compressor is certainly nice to have.

50l as a base, but bigger is certainly nice if you've got the space.

[BTTD]

For a detachable air receiver you could search ebay for an empty gas canister, clean it out put a new valve fitting on top and there you have a portable air tank. There are various you tube vids on converting them. I think the US posters refer to them as "air pigs".

I did one myself, but rather than use it as an air pig I used an old fridge motor to make a silent compressor. Very slow to fill, but good enough just for airing up tyres.

[G]

I was planning to do something like that for my 12v one for trackdays etc.

However, also want to get a pressure gauge with switch to turn the compressor off when it hits max pressure, as the compressor isn't designed to do that.

I got a gas canister and removed the valve, but found it used a tapered thread, so need to get a male tapered thread to plug it into the rest of the stuff.

[mudcow007]

Ive got one you can have if you want it?

I was given it last year, used it once an its sat ever since...