What air compressor should I buy?

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

I've spent quite some time on Amazon looking for what I think is the correct connect. I have some candidates such as this .

But I'm really not sure.

Would someone be kind enough to point to an actual product (don't care from where) or point to a specification.

This is probably not hard to you men of the world, but to an air virgin, it's truly daunting.

Iain

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Your link looks OK

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Some late comments.

Schrader air line fitting are still used in industry, in both 1/4 and 3/8 BSP, at least . I prefer them to PCL or Euro.

If you want to find the sizes /pitches for BSP fittings, look at Zeus charts.

American National pipe fittings (NPS or NPT ) differ both in thread form and pitch; 60 degree (Instead of the 55 degree Whit form of British Standard Pipe ) and the pitch also differs, so they are non interchangeable. i.e. 1/4 BSP 19 tpi 0.508" diameter. 1/4 NPS 18 tpi, 0.540 diameter.

Howard

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

This is not going well.

I ended up buying this. Mainly because I thought it was the right thing, but more that I could get it the next day (bless, Amazon, bless).

I have one bit of bad news and one bit of half bad news.

The bad news is that the connectors from the tool kit I got do not work with the allegedly Euro set purchased from Amazon.

The tool kit connectors are exemplified by the one on the tube. The kit connector is exemplified but the male connector at bottom left. They are quite different.

the picture below shows the innards of the Euro connector and the one on the compressor.

Quite different!

The half bad news is that the screw thread on euro connectors sort of matches the thread on the compressor. Sort of because it only screws in part way. Certainly less than the existing connectors. Which makes me think that the female thread is also tapered. And I'm not sure I can (Per a comment above) reliably use a non tapered male with a tapered female.

I'm stuck for what to do next. I don't know what the two mystery connectors are (the one on the tube and the one on the compressor connector). I've also struggled to find any male tapered connectors on Amazon (at least without paying a substantial price -and amazon includes BSP in searches for BSPT it would seem).

So. If anyone knows what the actual connector is on the compressor I can attempt to find a convertor. If anyone can recommend a supplier of BSPT connectors (at a reasonable price) I can replace the current connectors.

I'm still a bit stuck with what sort of tools to get. The ones I have already (as per the connector on the tube) or the Euro ones which Lidl/Aldi will provide cheap tooling for.

I really am stuck here, so any input would be appreciated.

Iain

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

There is some cross-over between the standards used by couplers. There are couplers made by PCL that will connect with Euro, ISO B12 and XF according to Air Technique Ltd. Have a look at https://www.air-compressorsdirect.co.uk/pcl-coupling/multi-fit-couplings

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Your tube is likely a Chinese 'looks like a Euro connector' copy. If the connector does not freely swivel on the tube it will knacker anything you plug it into fairly quickly or the tube will twist up badly.

From the same seller alleged maker Dandlionsky you can have this Euro set, except the connectors look nothing like your Euro set by the same maker.

Be prepared to change the connectors on every air tool you buy, I do, but then I buy PCL and connectors bought in the last century still fit todays connectors.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Wait until tomorrow and go to a motor factors and buy proper PCL couplings. What you have, at that price will be nothing but trouble and leaks. They look like chromed mazak. Buy good quality hose that is a type of rubber, NOT pvc, in winter pvc and cheap hose will not bend. If you invest in good gear it will serve you well and last for years. I bought a CP 1/2" air impact wrench OVER 40 years ago,not cheap, it's never needed repairs. I was recently given a cheap copy, looks the same but has HALF the power – you get what you pay for ! Good luck. Noel

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

I use menda hose in Glasshoughton near Castleford. They have everything you will ever need under one roof. Great & helpful guys too.

Steve.

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

OK. A bit more Internet research and I think what I have are hiflow couplers. More specifically automatic hiflow couplers. Automatic means that you don't pull the sleeve back to insert the plug. Something I've been doing because, well, it seemed right.

It turns out that I can push both types of connector into my outlets, though I've not yet discovered if they actually seal and supply air – midnight is a tad late to pop out to the shed (especially in the current near-zero weather conditions!)

This has been the most useful site so far, but it's taken a lot of time to get this far! I will report on if the connectors actually work, tomorrow.

Iain

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

The connectors actually work!

I've plugged in the air gun to the coil and successfully blown air at things. The coiled hose is fairly useless at distributing air – despite it being 5 metres uncoiled, I feel it's not really meant to be stretched that much.

As my next step on the route to being producer of air (hot or aromatic as you choose), I've ordered what I think is some straight pipe which is enough to reach round my shed (and some), which is enough to experiment with, albeit not where I want to end up.

Whilst the compressor seems to work nicely and isn't too loud (I could have a conversation without needing to raise my voice), the mains cable is ridiculously short, so I need to sort out some wiring (a suitable extension cable).

In the medium term, I'm thinking of running a pipe round the shed to the workbench, mill and lathe.

Whilst this seems simple enough (some pipe, some T connectors and some sockets), the options and language is still a bit beyond me.

I may well talk to Mendahose, Steve, and see if they can cut through the ….

Still, up and running!

 

Iain

Edited By JasonB on 29/12/2020 17:20:02

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

A lot of the noise from a compressor comes from the air inlet/filter. Adding some more pipe could reduce the noise, it is all a matter of experimentation.

Edited By old mart on 30/12/2020 20:44:12

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

Tool Station carry a good range of fittings in low price range – I used their blue pipe + plastic fittings to route air to near bench but noise of my compressor in a small cellar workshop makes any use unpleasant

Edited By Frances IoM on 30/12/2020 21:17:39

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

If you are going to run an air main around the shop, consider the condensation that is inevitable when air is compressed.

If possible, filter /drain it at the compressor delivery.

If you really want to make a thorough job of the air main, take offs should be vertically upwards, ideally with a drain and MT cock, pointing vertically down. Hopefully you will not feed moisture into anything that you connect.

This is particularly important if you have any ambitions to spray paint. Water droplets on the work spoil the finish and one's temper!

Howard

[Brian MorehenParticipant @brianmorehen85290]

.Most compressors over 25 Lt Air storage capacity are like Steam Boilers they require Insurance Cover and a yearly inspection together with a certificate that is valid for a further year. Always assuming that you get it insured ….

I had this problem for many years because it is classed as a pressure vessel. like steam boilers and stills.. Worth checking if the law has changed. Its at least 10 yrs since Ii striped any thing for inspection

Now retired regards.

Bee.M

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by Howard Lewis on 31/12/2020 16:29:29:

If you are going to run an air main around the shop, consider the condensation that is inevitable when air is compressed.

If possible, filter /drain it at the compressor delivery.

If you really want to make a thorough job of the air main, take offs should be vertically upwards, ideally with a drain and MT cock, pointing vertically down. Hopefully you will not feed moisture into anything that you connect.

This is particularly important if you have any ambitions to spray paint. Water droplets on the work spoil the finish and one's temper!

Howard

And it stops grit flowing in some blast guns

[Neil GreenawayParticipant @neilgreenaway71611]

Just to clarify in relation to Brian M's comments 're insurance, if used in line with the Health and safety at work act, and hence PSSR legislation then an air receiver on a compressor requires a suitable report of examination under a written scheme of examination once pressure x volume is greater than 250 bar litres (ie a receiver of 25 litre volume and rated for 10 bar. Hence hobby use most likely excluded. If it were a club application then risks to personnel are different and liability different…..could be classed as commercial usage.

A typical period of inspection would generally be around 24 months. With steam boilers it would be 12 to 14. A steam heated vessel such as a still which received steam from a separate boiler would be inspected 24 to 26 monthly intervals.

Requirement for inspection is not an insurance requirement, but a legal requirement under health and safety at work act, however generally insurance engineering companies provide the service of inspection by a competent person.

Hope this helps. It is still good practice to check receivers internally and externally for corrosion or deterioration and to replace a safety valve or have it tested to make sure it protects against overpressurisation.

Neil

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

Hi, Howard

I wonder if you could give me some more details on the set up you are recommending for the air line.

Assume (correctly) that I know nothing!

For example is this the sort of thing you mean for the filter drain?

Also, I used 'MT cock' as a search term in Amazon, but I don't believe that any of the results would help with an air line….

Iain

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

No Ian

This one, you don't want a lubricator and one of these because the regulators and all the joints tend to leak and it saves filling the tank from scratch every time.

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

So the filter goes in line, I need some tube (some arrived today) so Tee connectors which fit BSP and or the tube.

I would like to find a T OR a euro connector which has a bracket, but so far I've failed. Both toolstation and screwfix seem to focus on PCL rather than Euro. Any ideas on that?

And toolstation appears to have a higher class of product. MT cock there provides a much more family friendly search!

Many thanks, Dave.

Iain

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

What tube are you using?

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Iain,

It's all plumbing fittings, if you want a bsp tee your local plumbers merchant call them black iron fittings.

You are making your own brackets, metal conduit clips with packing will hold the pipe to your brackets on the compressor.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

With regard to air line take offs, the advice that I was given by our Millwright was.

Each take off point is a 4 way connector.

The horizontal connections constitute part of the ring main. The connection pointing upwards is used as the air take off. The connection pointing vertically down is extended and fitted with a simple cock at the bottom end, so that that any moisture / condensation in that section can be drained. The moist air and condensation run down to the drain, whilst the upward pointing offtake, hopefully remains moisture free.

MT cock is an abbreviation for Empty Cock; the sort with a square spindle, often used in domestic plumbing to drain the system whether cold water, hot water, or central heating. Obtainable from any builder's merchants, Scxrewfix, or Toolstation branch..

Howard

i

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Just dont get a gate valve, they can barely hold water with a 12ft head never mind air pressure.

Howard means the ones with with the hose fitting

Edited By Dave Halford on 04/01/2021 16:31:29

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

Jason – I've ordered and received this from Amazon. It's bendy pipe and quite cheap, Mainly, I was expecting to cut it into bits and use some barb connectors (with Jubilee clamps).

I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't have been thinking something more rigid – either 15mm copper pipe or there seems to be some plastic which claims to be good for air.

One of the reasons for that is that it seems to be much easier to find fitments for copper pipe (e.g. there are MT cocks in toolstation, but they all seem to be solder shanks (or bigger threads).

I'm actually fairly comfortable with plumbing soldering, though having flexible pipe would probably be easier to route in my rather busy shed.

Iain

[Maurice TaylorParticipant @mauricetaylor82093]

Hi, put “john guest air fittings” in ebay ,I think there is everything you will need.

Maurice

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