Compressor for garage use?

[Muncher]

I'm considering getting a compressor to use at home for working on the car, I do quite a bit of work so it would get a reasonable amount of use.

However, space is really at a premium, the plan would be to house it in the bike shed, sheltered from the elements but maybe a little damp and then run a fixed pipe into the garage next door with a quick fit coupling and then plug the hose into that when I need to use it. Is it possible to use it like that or will I have to keep emptying it of any water?

Which compressor would you guys recommend? Someone has suggested the Clarke Boxer 55 which is a 50 litre, 3hp, 12cfm unit. I don't want to buy another compressor anytime soon however so it needs to be able to handle all you could reasonably throw at it.

The main thing I'd use it for would be to power an air ratchet, die grinder, maybe a sander.

[pikeyboy]

I fyou want to power an air DA sander you'll need a ball'sy compressor with a large receiver. I use a clark 3hp single phse jobby think it has 150 ltr receiver ok for painting and sanding etc. Geta decent water trap and make sure you drain it before you use it. Also worth mentioning on start up the current draw is a lot and i had to wire mine into a 30amp supply.

[King Herald]

Muncher said:

... but maybe a little damp and then run a fixed pipe into the garage next door with a quick fit coupling and then plug the hose into that when I need to use it...
... Is it possible to use it like that or will I have to keep emptying it of any water?


The main thing I'd use it for would be to power an air ratchet, die grinder, maybe a sander.

You'll need about 12cfm to power most all air tools. Anything less would run out of air pretty quickly. 12cfm is the theory, but about 8-9cfm actual air will come out of it.

You can buy auto drains to go in the bottom of the compressor reservoir, but you still need to pop out and check the oil level occasionally.

Or you can leave the drain screw underneath cracked open a touch so any water does dribble out.

I forgot to turn mine off once when I went offshore and the bloody thing must have been stopping and starting for a whole month! Wifey never heard it as it is in the workshop at the end of the garden, so make sure you have some way to easily see if your has been turned off.