Compressor recommendation

[topcat]

Hello all and merry Christmas.
I want to buy a new compressor and don't really know where to start. Ideally I'd like an 100L, oil free and quiet-ish piece of kit. Any advice on ones to buy or avoud, what sort of money I should be looking at, etc. In the past I've had a couple of fairly cheap smaller ones from ebay but with my wife joining the business we'll need something larger and a bit more reliable. Also, if anyone wants to explain the pros/cons of oil lubricated and oil free that would be grand. Many thanks. Tom

[Gesso&Bole]

I'm also in the market for a larger compressor, so I would also be interested in recommendations, and comments regarding oil free or not.

The one I am currently looking at is this one. Does anybody have any comments or suggestions for alternatives? I run a CMC, large underpinner, and various air guns - needs to be quiet enough to carry on talking when it fires up.

https://www.airsupplies.co.uk/bambi-bud ... itres-1-hp

I currently have 2 smaller compressors, that are both available for sale to make room for my new one

1) Clarke Shhh Air 30/9 0.88cfm 9Litre 0.25HP Quiet Run Compressor (230V) this is perfect to run a CMC, but too small for a hungry underpinner like mine. They're about £320 inc VAT new. Looking for £120

2) The other is a Clarke Airmaster Tiger 11/250 Turbo. This has not had much use, is quite capable, but quite noisy. If no takers, I shall probably keep this as a back up machine. They sell for about £130, Looking for £80

[Not your average framer]

I too have a Clarke 25 litre compressor which is probably much the same model as the tiger in the previous post. I am not desparately worried about the noise level, the price was the primary consideration when I bought it. It has been adequate for my needs and has performed well since I've had it. If you don't like the noise, buy a long air hose and put it in a another room, which considerably reduces the noise.

[vintage frames]

Always an interesting subject about compressors.
First of all, if you want a quiet compressor that can be used inside the workshop, then it has to be a Bambi.
For most framing workshops where the underpinner is used only on a more occasional basis, then a medium range Bambi is ideal. It is however wise to invest in the highest spec you can afford as you will always want to drive it harder than you initially expected. A higher rated machine will last much longer than a smaller one that has to kick in every 5 min or so to keep up with demand.
And these machines are expensive.

Otherwise it's back to the traditional piston compressors. If you choose the cheap and cheerful, it will clatter away happily but in trying to keep up with your increased demand will soon cause it to burn out. And they do make a lot of noise.
Go for a belt driven compressor where it will 'phutt-phutt' instead to clatter-clatter and last a lot longer.

But the best investment is to buy a Hydrovane. These machines live to be run all day. Where that's important is if you are a production framer and the underpinner is in continuous use all day.
And if you're fortunate to have a rotary palm held sander, a hydrovane will happily push out all the air you'll ever need. And they're not all that noisy al all. Just a determined whirr.