Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Jimbob on 16 December 2009, 09:05:58

Title: Air compressors
Post by: Jimbob on 16 December 2009, 09:05:58
collague has just ordered one of these,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wolf-Apache-3-2HP-Compressor-8-1CFM-115PSI_W0QQitemZ370270931754QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors?hash=item5635de0b2a

looks good value, anyone any experience of em?
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 December 2009, 09:32:35
At first glance, judging from the bit of the business end that can be seen poking out from under the cowling it's identical to the Tiger 8/44 I have from Machine mart, but considerably cheaper and with a selection of air tools too. I suspect they came over on the same boat from China and got branded differently.

Obviously, it's not the most powerful in the world but I've had no complaints about mine in the 2 years or so I've had it for light usage.

Kevin
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: tunnie on 16 December 2009, 12:06:15
thats a good price, something i need as well. Might have to wait until next month though
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: Jimbob on 16 December 2009, 12:07:31
Claims to be British too  ::)
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: tunnie on 16 December 2009, 12:08:52
i had that on a little mini usb hub for my phone, said UK seller, dispatch notice from Hong Kong arrived after i bought it. 14 day delivery  >:(
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 December 2009, 12:20:19
Quote
Claims to be British too  ::)

My *rse!  ;D

Kevin
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: unlucky mark mv6 on 16 December 2009, 12:28:13
The old man has a drill made by wolf,and its as old as the hills,and hes had it about 30 years. :o
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: Jimbob on 16 December 2009, 12:30:02
been a few times ive fancied one.....depending on what its like when he gets it, I could be tempted...
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: hotel21 on 16 December 2009, 12:55:40
Looks like the twin of the one I have in the garage, albeit mine is yellow and anon branded.  Came from Aldi or Lidl complete with the tools as shown.  Normally seventy quid or so, they have them a few times per year.  If you have waited this long, wait another few weeks and get one there.

They struggle to drive hungry air tools but fine for general odds and sods around the garage - tyres, blowing dust and crap away, light sandblasting, spraying paint and parrafin/gunk and the like...   :y
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 16 December 2009, 13:18:31
The air tools limitiation will be due to 2 things

1) The small reservior

Eeasily fixed with an old propane cylinder connected on the output to give a bigger store, this will take longer to fill but will allow for good long bursts on the tools and will let you do spraying pretty effectively.

2) The CFM is probably only achieveable at very low pressure

I would wait for the Aldi deal to come round......

As you know, I use my compressor a LOT....and hence why I spent serious wedge on it to get a 100 litre belt driven 3hp 13.6cfm lump (Its a re-badged ABAC one) which is I expect a bit over kill for your needs.
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: Ken T on 16 December 2009, 13:47:23
Yeah, my Hydrovane compressor was struggling to feed both a 6cfm spray gun and 4cfm air mask at the same time. Mind you its only rated at 4cfm ;D

Interestingly enough, it has a 1.1kw motor, doing 1400 rpm. The next one up produces 8cfm; it uses the same compressor bit, the only difference appears to be the motor is 2.2kw and goes at 2800rpm.

Anyone got a spare 2.2kw motor ?

Ken
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 December 2009, 13:58:09
Another thing worth bearing in mind with these compressors is that they are far from continuously rated so not only will you have to stop from time to time to let the reservoir fill up but you also don't want to be running the motor continuously.

Stop for a cup of tea when you start to smell hot varnish, in other words!

They are also seriously noisy.

However, for what I've needed so far (inflating tyres, blowing the dust out of equipment, parts washing, light use of air tools, nailing, powering a desoldering iron, spraying small items etc.) mine has been fine.

Kevin
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 December 2009, 14:00:58
Quote
Anyone got a spare 2.2kw motor ?

Well, actually....

My garden shredder died a year or so ago and I saved the motor more because I didn't want to throw it away than because I had a use for it, so yes. I think it's 2.4 kW.

It will need the reduction gearing removing but you're welcome to it if you think it might be useful. Only problem is it's heavy.

Kevin
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: TheBoy on 16 December 2009, 18:16:47
and decent hoses needed for constant 8cfm...
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 16 December 2009, 18:24:02
Trouble is that the 8cfm is likely to be at around 50psi....which is the real limiting factor
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: TheBoy on 16 December 2009, 18:29:20
Quote
Trouble is that the 8cfm is likely to be at around 50psi....which is the real limiting factor
is the gauge on the tank a decent indicator of things, even when powering guns etc?
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: Ken T on 16 December 2009, 19:03:00
Quote
Trouble is that the 8cfm is likely to be at around 50psi....which is the real limiting factor

 Its rated at 10bar working pressure. They're quite good, Hydrovane.  :y

Ken
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 18 December 2009, 09:47:39
Quote
Quote
Trouble is that the 8cfm is likely to be at around 50psi....which is the real limiting factor
is the gauge on the tank a decent indicator of things, even when powering guns etc?

Only once the tank has dropped in volume
Title: Re: Air compressors
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 18 December 2009, 09:48:32
Quote
Quote
Trouble is that the 8cfm is likely to be at around 50psi....which is the real limiting factor

 Its rated at 10bar working pressure. They're quite good, Hydrovane.  :y

Ken

Even a hydrovane wont deliver full volume at full pressure Ken, as good as they are (but require very good miantenance).