Which air compressor for spray painting?

[wixy]

I'm looking to buy an air compressor for spray painting large speaker boxes mainly.

My budget is up to around $1,000 - $1,200, and it needs to run on single phase power.

Can anyone offer some suggestions? Or am I wasting my time with single phase units?

[rrobor]

Any compressor will do the job, What you need is filters to remove water and the like. The compressor is a standard contractors unit. No great drama.

[Ironwood]

When I was buying mine, the advise I got was to get at least a 17cfm compressor.
I got one that size and am happy with it.

[wixy]

When I was buying mine, the advise I got was to get at least a 17cfm compressor.
I got one that size and am happy with it.

I can't seem to find any 240v compressors with that high cfm, all I've seen are about 11cfm.

[Big Shed]

I have a 15cfm v twin compressor, at the time I bought it it was the highest cfm machine I could buy and still be a 240V machine. It needs a 15A outlet though.

[Ironwood]

I can't seem to find any 240v compressors with that high cfm, all I've seen are about 11cfm.

Mine is 17cfm, it has a single phase 3hp motor.

[BobL]

I have also been looking around for a new compressor as my $199, 2.5HP Trade Tools unit is having a hard time keeping up with what I'm asking of it. What I have found out is that many claims made by manufacturers about compressor flow rates are a bit like claimed electric motor HP - ie "what would you like it to be?". The flow rates quoted are often for the FAD (free air delivery) of the compressor whereas air tools require their flow rates at working pressures. As soon as the load goes onto a compressor (ie under pressure) the FAD will drop about 30%. I also learned that it is physically impossible to get more than 12 cfm under pressure from a conventional piston displacement 240V compressor running a 3 - 3.5 HP electric motor.

For $1200 I'd be looking at a twin or triple cylinder belt driven unit.

[beer is good]

G'day,
If all you are going to paint is speakers you might be interested in this spray system from Wagner.

Wagner Australia [Airless 115]

It suits oil and water based paint. I have seen a video at Bunnings were they used in to spray a room - looked good. And I think it uses an impeller to spray the paint rather than air pressure which means reduced overspray.

[BobL]

Bummer - I spoke too loud too soon - my compressor just died . It's not until it's died that I realize how much I use it!.

[China]

if you are going to go airles the Wagner 117 or 119 would be a better choice, when I made enquiries I was told the 115 is not suitable for lacquers, if you are going to buy a dedicated spray unit then you want to be versatile

[Vernonv]

I recently purchased a 2.5HP belt drive compressor from Repco, to replace/supplement my old SIP direct drive unit. It's a great little compressor, was quite cheap (between $300 and $400 if I remember correctly) and easily keeps up with the HVLP gun I use.

I'm currently using it to respray a vehicle.

[Batpig]

Dear Vern,

I recently purchased a 2.5HP belt drive compressor from Repco, to replace/supplement my old SIP direct drive unit. It's a great little compressor, was quite cheap (between $300 and $400 if I remember correctly) and easily keeps up with the HVLP gun I use.

I'm currently using it to respray a vehicle.

Uncanny!... I was just wondering about that very same compressor earlier tonight, because my Brother's got his eye on it for spraying one of his boy's cars. We're tossing up on whether he should get one of those Wagner 2-stage turbine-HVLP's for about $350 (including Gun), or that MechPro-brand compressor from Repco that you're referring to, plus a normal Gun, for somewhere over $400 I guess. I'm assuming that your SIP is belt-drive too, but I don't suppose you can quantify anyway just how much noise the MechPro-brand unit makes compared to your typical generic Direct-Drive compressor?

Many Thanks,
Batpig.

[Vernonv]

I'm assuming that your SIP is belt-drive too, but I don't suppose you can quantify anyway just how much noise the MechPro-brand unit makes compared to your typical generic Direct-Drive compressor?

Hi Batpig,
The SIP is a direct drive and not a belt drive and the belt drive MechPro is much quieter than the SIP. Also after having used HVLP guns now (for some time) I would not go back to high pressure guns.

[Batpig]

Dear Vern,

I recently purchased a 2.5HP belt drive compressor from Repco, to replace/supplement my old SIP direct drive unit.

The SIP is a direct drive and not a belt drive...

Yes... Well... That would make sense then, wouldn't it... (I'll, ahh... just go over here now...)

Sorry, I'll put it down to my Man-Cold, which has come back on me more vicious than ever! (I'm standing all day on terazzo and tiles at the moment in the course of redoing a shower-recess, so I can't seem to shake the thing.... Next stop - Paradise... Ahhh...)

But thanks very much for the info, Vern. Without meaning to hijack the Thread or put my foot in my mouth (again, that is...), I'll assume that you're talking about HVLP-Conversion-type Guns hooked up to the Compressor, as opposed to a dedicated HVLP-Gun running off a small vacuum-cleaner-sized Turbine like an Earlex or a Wagner...

Best Wishes,
Batpig.

[Vernonv]

Hi Batpig,
Yes I'm talking about a HVLP gun connected to the compressor. The one I bought was a cheapy, but has been surprisingly effective.