Air compessors & Migs

[Aerenandmel]

I am looking at buying a new air compressor and know very little about brands and different types of compressors. I want a single phase compressor for my garage that I can use for painting, grinding, sanding, drilling, etc. I had a look a the different tools and I think I would be best off get a compressor that can handle 20 cfm at 100 psi. Any advise on brands and types of pumps would be appreciated. budget is around $1500, am I dreaming



I like the looks of the Lincoln SP170-T, any advice on this mig would also be appreciated

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalo ... sp?p=21657

[Spimon_NH]

Would 15amps be a problem? Although most of the 15amp ones I've seen are about 3hp with 50l tanks. They deliver about 10 - 15 cfm tho. I'm not sure how much bigger they get before going to 3-phase.

If this still isn't enough and what you want doesn't come in single phase, maybe you could look at an external tank and even 2 compressors.

(Our hot water heater crapped itself last week. When we replaced it I found it has a very conveniently shaped 170l tank, complete with threaded holes. Something like that could make a very nice air tank.)

[Damo]

I am looking at buying a new air compressor and know very little about brands and different types of compressors. I want a single phase compressor for my garage that I can use for painting, grinding, sanding, drilling, etc. I had a look a the different tools and I think I would be best off get a compressor that can handle 20 cfm at 100 psi. Any advise on brands and types of pumps would be appreciated. budget is around $1500, am I dreaming



I like the looks of the Lincoln SP170-T, any advice on this mig would also be appreciated

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalo ... sp?p=21657

They are a good machine. You need 15A supply though. But that is worth it if you are getting a compressor too, but you might find it a bit tough to fit that into your budget.

[cloughy]

Shhhh, just put it on a 10A plug

[Captain Carnage]

Shhhh, just put it on a 10A plug

Would this affect the welder or how it welds?

[LuxyBoy]

No but it will affect the way your house looks ei. charcoal remains.

Mate of mine is a sparky and says never to do this for long as the wires in the wall can get pretty hot
I never thought of it until he told me but makes sense

[Captain Carnage]

I like the looks of the Lincoln SP170-T, any advice on this mig would also be appreciated

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalo ... sp?p=21657

or would I be better off getting a more powerfull Uni-MIG or simillar for the same sort of money....$1250

[jav]

got myself a sp170 on the weekend, better then anything unimig will ever make. bloke who sold it to me said he's never had one come back for repairs.

[zer0]

i have the sp170 and would rate it over a uni mig anyday it can turn the most useless welders into champions with very little practice they are very versatile i recomend spending the money on the 170 well worth it best investment i made as for the price of the 170 they should not be much more than the $1000 if anything try http://www.tradetools.com.au/ that is where i got mine best part is that the 170 holds both the 1kg rolls of wire and the 5kg rolls so depending on wat u are doing take ur pick

as for the 15 amp shit i am a sparky there are a few things that need to be taken into concern but a normal power outlet the cables feeding it can handle the load that u will put onto it though i do not recomend this at all the best option is the following

and that is if it is getting installed into a shed, your shed should have its own power box so you could get a single 15 amp outlet installed dirrectly to the side of the circuit breakers inside your shed very easy thing to have done and would not cost that much at all if and i say if the submains run to your shed are big enough to handle the load if they are not then you may be up for more expenses than intially thought

Heath

[jav]

paid $1027 sp170

[cloughy]

Shhhh, just put it on a 10A plug

Would this affect the welder or how it welds?

No

[cloughy]

No but it will affect the way your house looks ei. charcoal remains.

Mate of mine is a sparky and says never to do this for long as the wires in the wall can get pretty hot
I never thought of it until he told me but makes sense

You use the same 2.5mm CSA cable on a 10A cct as you do a 15A, difference is the 15A will be on an individual cct where as the 10A will share the cct with others, the protection on your cable is there to protect your cable ONLY, NOT your appliance

I wouldn't recommend it either, but it'll work

[WRXZook]

I got my SP170T for $85o

We were running two Paslode framing guns today on a $93 GMC compressor from Bunnings.... But don't know how long it will last.

[Shadow]

(Our hot water heater crapped itself last week. When we replaced it I found it has a very conveniently shaped 170l tank, complete with threaded holes. Something like that could make a very nice air tank.)

hot water heater would be designed to hold a maximum of about 40 PSI when new.

An old rusty (inside) gal tank, even if its glass lined(they rust internally around the inlet/outlets) wouldnt hold more than about 35psi.

At 100PSI i wouldnt expect it to last very long at all.



There are a few compressors that would meet your requirements and still be single phase, but your going to need a 15 or 20amp outlet for it.

edit: it appears a single phase compressor at 20cfm doesnt exist. :(

[zer0]

No but it will affect the way your house looks ei. charcoal remains.

Mate of mine is a sparky and says never to do this for long as the wires in the wall can get pretty hot
I never thought of it until he told me but makes sense

You use the same 2.5mm CSA cable on a 10A cct as you do a 15A, difference is the 15A will be on an individual cct where as the 10A will share the cct with others, the protection on your cable is there to protect your cable ONLY, NOT your appliance

I wouldn't recommend it either, but it'll work

this is very true... tis wat i have done in my shed

Heath

[Captain Carnage]

what about the pumps for compressors,...Is a two or three cylinder pump going to be a better performer or quieter or last longer than a single cylinder pump???

The guy down the shop is just telling me what he thinks i want to hear and does not seem to know anything about tools at all........

[Shadow]

A 3 cylinder pump is going to be for more CFM, but your going to need a more powerful motor to drive it.

Most 3 cylinder's are 3 phase units with about 10hp motors.

Biggest single phase motor ive seen/know of is a 7.5hp and that motor can draw 25amps flat out.

If you can find a single phase motor at 10hp, and you can run a dedicated 25amp circuit to your garage, then you should be able to buy a 3 cylinder 20cfm compressor less the motor, and fit your own motor to it.

Do you have 3 phase in the street? Do you have above ground or below ground wires? If you have a sparky mate, it may not be all that dear to have 3 phase connected. My dad was quoted $650 by energex to have it connected to his house and he has underground wires. Might be much cheaper if you have above ground.

[cloughy]

Do you have 3 phase in the street? Do you have above ground or below ground wires? If you have a sparky mate, it may not be all that dear to have 3 phase connected. My dad was quoted $650 by energex to have it connected to his house and he has underground wires. Might be much cheaper if you have above ground.

Yea, then a new switchboard, then 3 phase submains to the shed, then another subboard in the shed, then a 3phase cct, then a 3 phase outlet

Mmmm, might turn out a little dearer than you think

[Shadow]

Do you have 3 phase in the street? Do you have above ground or below ground wires? If you have a sparky mate, it may not be all that dear to have 3 phase connected. My dad was quoted $650 by energex to have it connected to his house and he has underground wires. Might be much cheaper if you have above ground.

Yea, then a new switchboard, then 3 phase submains to the shed, then another subboard in the shed, then a 3phase cct, then a 3 phase outlet

Mmmm, might turn out a little dearer than you think

new switchboard? hardly.

And thats why i said "if you have a sparky mate"

[Dirty]

i have the sp170 and would rate it over a uni mig anyday it can turn the most useless welders into champions with very little practice they are very versatile i recomend spending the money on the 170 well worth it best investment

Each to their own. I am a novice welder and have had a UniMIG for near 10 odd years. It has seen about 8 large rolls of wire through it, has copped abuse from novice welders, kicked, dropped and carted and still works a treat.

There may be more expensive options out there that are technically a better unit, but I have no reason not to buy another one should the need arise. Welds steel and alloy without any trouble.

A better option to becomming a better welder might be to get some scrap metal and spend a few hours practicing rather than spend the extra cash on the unit. A good mask with the right shade lenses will make the task much easier also.

[cloughy]

Do you have 3 phase in the street? Do you have above ground or below ground wires? If you have a sparky mate, it may not be all that dear to have 3 phase connected. My dad was quoted $650 by energex to have it connected to his house and he has underground wires. Might be much cheaper if you have above ground.

Yea, then a new switchboard, then 3 phase submains to the shed, then another subboard in the shed, then a 3phase cct, then a 3 phase outlet

Mmmm, might turn out a little dearer than you think

new switchboard? hardly.

And thats why i said "if you have a sparky mate"

So you have room in your board for a 3 pole main switch and a 3pole isolator for the submains

[Shadow]

When we had three phase connected at our old house they fit it into a smaller than standard size switch box. That was 15 years ago. Are you telling me they have made them bigger since then?

The switch box at my old mans house is about the size of the ones they install into new houses. 900x600 or so. (50% bigger than the one at our old house). So yeh, im pretty sure it will fit.

[Rem 22250]

My mig is a MigoMag 265 very good duty cycle and on talking to a mig repair shop ( repairers not sellers ) in Geelong the also recommend the MigoMag.
I was looking at ESAB, Unimig, BOC and went migomag due to better duty cycle and relaibility.