Aldi compressor

[blueST]

Aldi have their cheap compressors back in next week. I thought I might pick one up to replace my crusty old 0.75hp Clarke one which is making a few unsavoury knocking noises these days.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thur-5-mar/p...

Before I do, just wanted to see if anyone has an opinion. Bear in mind that spending much more is not really on the cards, is there anything better for the money? I'm hoping that by going from 0.75hp to 3hp I'll be able to run an impact wrench.

It looks pretty much identical to this https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details... and this https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details... which are both substantially more expensive.

[blueST]

Hi, thanks for the feedback. think I might give it a go. My old compressor is probably on it's last legs, and at 4x the hp this one must surely be an improvement on that.

As for what I'll use the impact gun for. Mainly undoing seized/tight nuts that are a ball ache to do by hand. Wheelnuts, exhaust bolts, ball joints etc. do you think it'll be any good for that?

[blueST]

andyiley said:

As I said above for OCCASIONAL use, yes, it will.

It may only last for 30 seconds, but, yes it will.

I'll borrow an impact wrench to try, before I get one of my own, see how it copes.

[blueST]

kambites said:

Bear in mind that impact wrenches vary enormously in how efficiently they use the air supplied to them, so a good impact wrench with a poor compressor or a poor impact wrench with a good compressor might both work where the poor impact wrench with the poor compressor will not.

In other words don't assume just because the compressor wont drive an impact wrench that works fine on someone else's compressor, that it wont drive another impact wrench fine.

I also need to change snider my air hose is really long, which I understand reduces performance. May need to ource a shorter one.

[blueST]

Finally got round to picking one up yesterday. Became a bit of a spectacle at the checkout. All the usual clientele seemed completely bemused by what I was buying. Got it home and set up but can't use it because it uses a different type of course last my to my old one. Just need to pick up a couple of new couplings from toolstation tomorrow.

[blueST]

Coincidentally, I gave it a try with an air impact wrench last night. I borrowed an Aldi Workzone one. It worked ok for short burst to loosen 6 big 24mm wheel bolts on my tractor, didn't need to stop for a recharge. I used it with a 25m hose, 11mm bore.

The compressor itself recharges pretty quickly so it's not a long wait if you do,use the air up. I tend not to work in a hurry so that doesn't bother me.

I think better performance could be had by sticking to the euro size quick releas fittings that come with it, as they have a larger bore than the UK BSP ones I use. You can buy them in Screwfix and Toolstation.

So, I'm going to get myself an impact gun and probably an air ratchet too.

[blueST]

I don't suppose those 24mm bolts were that tight. They are on and off a lot, the threads are copper greased and I only do them up as tight as I can get them by hand. I could find anything really seized to try it on!

[blueST]

Just an update as I've had it a few months now. Been very pleased. Favourite use is with an air ratchet, don't know how I lived without one! Love it.

Limitations? Air die grinders are a no no. Borrowed one to try and there's nowhere near enough puff.

On the impact gun front, not so good either, but I don't know if my cheapo gun is going faulty or not. It seems less powerful than at first, and gun has started stalling. It is getting air but not turning even with no load on it.

On a related note, I'm sure I saw a thread in the past about optimising these cheap compressors by replacing the regulators and a few other tweaks. Can anyone point me to it or offer any advice.