lurker
Le dullard de la commune
Has anyone got opinions one way or the other about the air tools and compressor that are on sale again?
Lidl next week
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I've got a compressor of a similar size and type as the Lidl one and it works well enough with my blasting cabinet but it's very noisy. Given the choice I'd spend a bit more and get a belt driven one as I've been lead to believe they're quieter.
graduate_owner
Established Member
I bought a belt driven 3hp compressor from Ukhs, they work with Amazon. I have found it very useful and not noisy. They are still available (Wolf Dakota) at £230 or so plus £20 carriage. It does have a limited duty cycle of something like 12 starts per hour, something the advertising blurb fails to mention, and I don't think for one minute that the name Wolf bears any relationship to those great Wolf power tools of the 60's . However it has not let me down, apart from an O ring on the tank drain valve. I put an ordinary half turn tap instead. I use it for inflating tyres, blowing through this like carb jets or radiator fins, and on an impact wrench. Have not tried spraying yet.
These are considerably dearer than Aldi / Lidl small compressors but I thought those might be a bit too small for me.
K
These are considerably dearer than Aldi / Lidl small compressors but I thought those might be a bit too small for me.
K
MMUK
Established Member
Screw compressors are the way to go. Shame the cost is probably more than most people's tool collection combined.
hi, the compressor will likely be pretty noisy and have a low duty cycle, fine for the odd use here and there. It will produce lots of water in the receiver so a decent water trap or two will help. Probably not the best for spraying paint or sandblasting without good water separation.
The air tools will work well enough and last if oiled daily but I recommend not using them for long periods as they will be poorly balanced and you will feel the after effect at the end of the day.
I have a few workzone (aldi) air tools, I like the metal shears and use them a lot. The saws and drills tend to have less oomph than the pro tools I use at work (MAC, snapon, CP) and can stall leaving you to try and free them from the work piece.
I use air tools a lot and balanced ones are miles better in my opinion.
You have not mentioned what tools you are thinking of or their uses but the impact driver is a good useful tool for stubborn nuts and bolts. The air ratchets will scream at you all day long.....and you will scream back at them when the lack of torque control causes them to smash your knuckles into the surroundings. Cheap DA sanders vibrate like mad. I have an AMTECH one for £8 ----rubbish but took the backing pad of it and the rest in the bin. I also have a SIP £30 and cant really fault it.
Hope this helped.
The air tools will work well enough and last if oiled daily but I recommend not using them for long periods as they will be poorly balanced and you will feel the after effect at the end of the day.
I have a few workzone (aldi) air tools, I like the metal shears and use them a lot. The saws and drills tend to have less oomph than the pro tools I use at work (MAC, snapon, CP) and can stall leaving you to try and free them from the work piece.
I use air tools a lot and balanced ones are miles better in my opinion.
You have not mentioned what tools you are thinking of or their uses but the impact driver is a good useful tool for stubborn nuts and bolts. The air ratchets will scream at you all day long.....and you will scream back at them when the lack of torque control causes them to smash your knuckles into the surroundings. Cheap DA sanders vibrate like mad. I have an AMTECH one for £8 ----rubbish but took the backing pad of it and the rest in the bin. I also have a SIP £30 and cant really fault it.
Hope this helped.
graduate_owner
Established Member
Hi cammy,
Have you tried the Lidl needle descaler? They are £20 this Thursday. I'm not expecting trade quality, just occasional use, but I don't want to spend on rubbish.
K.
Have you tried the Lidl needle descaler? They are £20 this Thursday. I'm not expecting trade quality, just occasional use, but I don't want to spend on rubbish.
K.
custard
Established Member
Compressed air in a workshop is incredibly useful. Spraying, cleaning off workpieces (and yourself!), operating nailers and tackers. But even if the compressor itself isn't too expensive it's a huge commitment because of the accessories and workshop layout implications. Plus the noise isn't something you can ignore, wrongly sited it will drive you round the bend.
I've worked in workshops that had compressed air and really appreciated the benefit. But when setting up my own workshop I concluded it was too big a commitment to do it properly, and I was better investing the money and space in other things.
Saying "no" to exciting and attractive offers is the fundamental woodworking skill!
I've worked in workshops that had compressed air and really appreciated the benefit. But when setting up my own workshop I concluded it was too big a commitment to do it properly, and I was better investing the money and space in other things.
Saying "no" to exciting and attractive offers is the fundamental woodworking skill!
