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[Kernowcam]

My son has a nice 3hp 50 l sealey compressor . Direct drive v.
He wants to down trade to a 6 l smaller for tyres etc and I can have it for £100.
I have a decent garage with a 150 l 3 hp belt drivernolder compressor.
So
Do I take his and sell my monster?

[88inchthing]

The only air compressor advice worth listening to is:
Buy the BIGGEST
 

-Duncan

[Wittsend]

Keep your big compressor.

Your son should sell his on.
With the money raise he will be able to buy a hobby compressor from Lidl or Aldi for less than £100 and have change for a good meal out 



 

[Mowersman]

I wouldn't. Direct drive is likely to be more noisy too. I've got a 1960's Ingersoll Rand, hoping to supplement it with a Hydrovane soon as well
Andrew

[Kernowcam]

Both 3 hp , same pump size.  So it's noise and capacity.
I did drag my big oneb50 yards recently on castor wheels and def not portable.

[Formerlyjeremy]

Have a good look at the operating pressure.  Most air tools operate between 70 and 90 psi. Cheaper compressors operate at 8 bar max, better ones run at 10.  My 3HP direct drive one runs at 8 and is an absolute pain as I have to wait till the pump cuts in before tools will run properly.  Get a 10 if you can.

[Peter Holden]

Keep both make the large one fixed garage unit and use the smaller one as a more portable version, in compressor terms there is no substitute for capacity.

Peter

[oilstain]

 buy a hobby compressor from Lidl or Aldi for less than £100


 

I've had these and perhaps unlucky but mine had a short life with only light use, I do need a new one and the price of these is great but would prefer to get one with at least a 5 year life

[TimV]

Someone I know fired up their 'silent' compressor - wow, I couldn't hear it, but it certainly was working. If I had two compressors, I'd get a silent one.

[g6anz]

That would be me! It's a twin cylinder Jun-Air 12-50 with a large tank. http://www.jun-air.com/Gallery/Oil-lubricated/02_09_112_B_-_12-50_screen.jpg
As ^^get the largest capacity one you can.

[Kernowcam]

Son has dumped the 3hp 50 compressor on me. It's very nice and compact but on trying it even for simple air tools it soon kicks in to recharge.

[Formerlyjeremy]

No - keep the old one - If the direct drive Sealey is like my Clarke V twin it runs at 8 bar max - which is about 115 psi max.  If you're lucky your old one runs at 10bar - 145psi.  With tools running at 90psi it means that the old one will cycle on and off well above 90 - so you get a steady supply for your tools.  If the cycling allows it to drop below the tools tend to run slow.

[Sheepman]

I am looking to buy a compressor for my garage use, for inflating tyres, air line and the odd bit of spraying.
There are plenty out there but difficult to know what to get. I need it to be fairly quiet and not take up to much space- any recommendations?
 

[Mr Ed]

In my business I have a 10 HP screw compressor, and I can talk next to it without raising my voice.

They are very quiet.
Obviously do not buy a 10 HP, there are much smaller, the good thing is that they are very quiet and efficient with electricity.
  They are also more expensive than the piston.
 
If you need a quiet one and can buy a small screw compressor, you won't be disappointed.

Here is an example of this type of compressor.

http://www.grupocevik.es/productos/producto/compresor-rsx-3-100
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHDO5ruU7do