Compressor recommendations

[MrNorm]

For most of us hobbyists we don't need one that can run quietly all day for years on end, so I would not fork out extra dough for a belt driven - that gives you a lower motor rpm (less noise) and therefore higher durability.
So direct drive should be fine.
I totally agree FAD is what you need - to be honest IMHO nearly all other specs are incidental - does it matter if you have 120 or 150 psi? Does it even matter if you have a 150 litre tank? (it just takes longer to get up to pressure and takes up more room!). If you've got good FAD then you are set

I got THE compressor with the highest FAD on single phase of any compressor (believe me I looked). It was a direct drive SIP 3HP V-twin with 11cfm FAD (14 displacement). It was about ?300 but may have come down a little - I think its a Stratus (can check if nec).
It will just about run my sandblaster continuously - which I why I wnted the air delivery

Agree that SIP are good bang for buck, can't go wrong.

[Holly]

Thanks Gavin - I hadn't thought about the tank taking time to charge up, given that it'll be used one day a week at most having a small tank would /help/!

?300 is out of my budget, thats for sure. About the only constant use it will see might be for spraying ...

[Anonymous]

i never empty mine (150l) i just open the drain once a month or so to let the water out, then do it back up as soon as the water turns to air.

[latil]

Will,thats fine your compressor gets a touch more use than some. Mine =3-4 days a year ,yours ?300 days

[Anonymous]

my compy has been running every day pretty much since i bought it in 1994. It was a pretty decent one though, cast iron cylinder etc. 14.5 CFM i think.

really must get around to changing the oil (for the first time LOL)

came from this place
http://www.shiremoorcompressors.co.uk/

[latil]

Blimey

[Rebel]

came from this place
http://www.shiremoorcompressors.co.uk/

small world, I'm about ten minutes from that place