Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: JasonH on 31 January 2008, 08:56:56
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Could someone give me advice on air compressors....
I think I'd like to invest in an air impact wrench and compressor. I'd be able to pop my wheels off just like Kwik Fit ;D
I think a 50litre tank will be comfortable and a compressor with at least 5cfm. The Sealey offering looks good:
http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Compressor-50ltr-Direct-Drive-2-0hp-Sealey-SA2250-2
But what about couplings, hoses, oil etc.
Do they need special compressor oil or will good old Vx semi do the trick (I have a fair bit of that!).
Do I want a rubber hose, coiley hose. Big bore hose or small?
Then do I need to buy air tool oil for the wrench too.
It's all adding up....all advice welcome.
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Worth checking out Machine Mart too. They have a good range. Have just invested in one of the Tiger ones myself.
As to couplings I'm still working that out. All I can say it that it's easy top buy incompatible ones!
I find the coiley hose that came with mine a pain and will probably ditch that in favour of some normal hose. Oil was supplied with my compressor and, whilst you can buy compressor oil I don't see why VX semi wouldn't do the job. I can't imagine any special properties are required. It's a piston engine that runs without fuel after all.
Kevin
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That's my feeling about the oil too, but there (obviously) seems to be a push to keep to expensive "compressor" oil supplied by the manufacturers.
Hope you get on alright with yours. I think I'm going to try to standardise on 1/4 BSP fittings...
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I think I'm going to try to standardise on 1/4 BSP fittings...
That's what I thought but there appear to be several different tapers inside the unions which aren't compatible! ::) I'm thinking I need to get a set of quick release couplings.
Kevin
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I've just spoken to Sealey technical support:
Apparently I must use SAE40 compressor oil (and the compressor only uses 0.16 litres) so good job I didn't order 5 litres of oil!
Their air tools use 1/4BSP parallel but some couplings aren't parallel and it's quite likely they won't go all the way in. The chap says don't worry it will seal just fine.
He recommends using 10mm dia hose for the best airflow.
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Yep, decent 10mm rubber hose.
I find the PCL type fittings the best of the bunch (you can get boh the PCL's and the clarke pattern items from Machine Mart) and I have standardised on them. They are available to fit onto 1/4 inch BSP so easy enough to fit with adaptors for a few pence for odd sizes, use a bit of PTFE to get it to seal well.
You idealy want a filter/dryer and oiler for air tools and just a filter/dryer plus a seperate clean hose for spraying.
I personaly have one of these compressors:
(http://www.airlink-compressors.co.uk/images/Abac%203hp%20150ltr.jpg)
Its a cracking bit of kit but may be a bit OTT for you.
I do like the Clarke range of compressors as well, they tend to be well put together and reasonably priced to (even better on VAT free nights!)
Do put the right oil in the compressor, its not like you have to change it very often.
I use semi synth for tool lube....
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Yep - meant to mention - buy something small from Machine Mart and get on their books, then wait for a VAT free night. They seem to have one every couple of months. :y
Kevin
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Thanks chaps I'll do a bit more shopping around then get ordering..
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Sory, my kbord isnt woking vey well becse I was drooling al ovr it...
I would love an air compressor, any type.... :'(
I was looking at some yesterday while at Costco....
Sadly, living in a flat in London an air compressor is not an option. Even if I manage to convince Mrs MJ (which I doubt), and then solve the problem of getting a very long air line from the flat all the way out to the street, I don't think this contraption will be a hit with the neighbours... :(
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I fear mine is not exactly a hit with the neighbours and it's in a detached garage. :-/
Keep finding new uses for it though. Worried it was just an expensive tyre inflator when I got it, but at the weekend I defrosted the freezer and noticed dust caked all over the condenser at the back. Out with the airline and it was gleaming in minutes. :y
Kevin
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Could someone give me advice on air compressors....
I think I'd like to invest in an air impact wrench and compressor. I'd be able to pop my wheels off just like Kwik Fit ;D
I think a 50litre tank will be comfortable and a compressor with at least 5cfm. The Sealey offering looks good:
http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Compressor-50ltr-Direct-Drive-2-0hp-Sealey-SA2250-2
But what about couplings, hoses, oil etc.
Do they need special compressor oil or will good old Vx semi do the trick (I have a fair bit of that!).
Do I want a rubber hose, coiley hose. Big bore hose or small?
Then do I need to buy air tool oil for the wrench too.
It's all adding up....all advice welcome.
I use one very similiar ..For home is adequate..
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Sory, my kbord isnt woking vey well becse I was drooling al ovr it...
I would love an air compressor, any type.... :'(
I was looking at some yesterday while at Costco....
Sadly, living in a flat in London an air compressor is not an option. Even if I manage to convince Mrs MJ (which I doubt), and then solve the problem of getting a very long air line from the flat all the way out to the street, I don't think this contraption will be a hit with the neighbours... :(
The sound for those compressors are enormous ;D
Impossible to use in an apartment.. :(
And I dont think a silent model exists..
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.....Keep finding new uses for it though. Worried it was just an expensive tyre inflator when I got it, but at the weekend I defrosted the freezer and noticed dust caked all over the condenser at the back. Out with the airline and it was gleaming in minutes. :y ....
Also good for cleaning out Dyson tubes.....
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I fear mine is not exactly a hit with the neighbours and it's in a detached garage. :-/
Keep finding new uses for it though. Worried it was just an expensive tyre inflator when I got it, but at the weekend I defrosted the freezer and noticed dust caked all over the condenser at the back. Out with the airline and it was gleaming in minutes. :y
Kevin
Using an appropriate paint spray nozzle these can be used for painting also..
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.....Keep finding new uses for it though. Worried it was just an expensive tyre inflator when I got it, but at the weekend I defrosted the freezer and noticed dust caked all over the condenser at the back. Out with the airline and it was gleaming in minutes. :y ....
Also good for cleaning out Dyson tubes.....
Animal Cyclones :y
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If you can still find them a company called Bambi (unlikely name I know) make several sizes of compressor that are identical to but approximately half the price of Machine Mart versions.
I bought one of their smaller ones for paint spraying etc. and it has worked perfectly for over 6 years, once you have one you wonder how you ever did without it (excellent for making felt piano hammers look like new again).
Problem is now cellulose paint becoming virtuallly impossible to buy and I may have to stop my hobby as 2 pack is lethal and water based paints are cr*p.
Also I was told years ago that the oil is specially formulated for the high pressures that occur in compressors and standard mineral engine oil can explode under these conditions, if that is correct better not risk using it!
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I've ordered the Sealey compressor and will use compressor oil based on the advice here.
The air tools will get Vx 5W30 synth 'cause that's what's in my oil can.
Just need to reorganise my garage now......
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...... as 2 pack is lethal and ......
Only if you breathe the fumes .... ;) I know someone who does 2 pack in his garage & just uses a full face mask with a filter, so far he's still with us. :y
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I must admit I have used 2 pack myself with a carbon filter face mask and it smells great and goes on nice and shiny! Trouble is it gives off cyanide which is not good so should really use a face mask fed with a positive pressure air supply from outside the fume area really cumbersome and expensive. Mind you if the weather is good you can spray it outside and turn the lawn an interesting colour (and the neighbours washing if you are not careful).
Other proplem with the 2 pack is it's so wasteful on small jobs as once mixed it goes off quickly so you have to throw the excess away each time unlike the good old celly which you can using for ages. Real pain if you are spraying lots of intricate small parts using both ordinary spray gun and air brush in combination.
Rant over, got that off my chest so to speak!
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Cant say I have had any problems getting hold of cellulose.
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Can you get metallic colours? My local paint factors in Chichester can now only get a limited range of solid colours.
I must admit that I haven't tried spreading my net yet but it looks like I may have to start.