Air compressor advice needed

[johnnymachin]

I've just got myself a used Taurus underpinner.It says 150 PSI(10 bar)max air pressure on the side.
Is there any particular air compressors I should avoid?
There is a used Bambi 150/500 compressor for sale online.Would this be suitable?
Thanks,Johnny.

[Graysalchemy]

Be careful of buying compressors of ebay a lot of them are cream crackered and will cost you too much to fix. Bambi's are fine for low air demand, but won't run continuously. I would have thought it would run your under pinner fine but if you were to add a saw or had two people operating an under pinner and say a stapler then you may have difficulties. I have a big hydrovane with a 200l tank now on friday with one person cutting on the saw and one underpinning that was running continuously which is what they are designed to do.

Bambi's can also be expensive to repair and service. The largest business sector who use Bambi's are dentists so most service engineers who specialise in bambi's charge prices they think a dentist can afford not what a picture framer can.

If you are planning on expanding and doing more commercial work which I suspect you are, get a hydrovane. If you are just doing bespoke then a bambi is fine.

You can buy very good re conditioned Hydrovanes from http://www.compressorman.co.uk.

[stcstc]

I have a 50L twin pot bambi

i run, gunnar cmc, cassese underpinner, 2 air guns, and a tab gun. and never had an issue with air supply


mind you the air guns empty the tank in a heatbeat. but they are not being used most of the day

[Graysalchemy]

A bambi twin pot not only can it not work continually it needs quite a long rest period as they over heat easily. To be future proof then a hydrovane is the best long-term option in my opinion.

[Framerpicture]

I can vouch for Bambi compressors overheating when pushed too or near their limit -
Hydrovane are the bee's knees and need no annual inspection as they don't have recievers, but come at a price

[John Ranes II, CPF, GCF]

Johnny, In this weaker economy, there does exist a great deal of used framing equipment on the market. If you are in a position to add equipment it might be a good time to do so. Silent Air Compressors are pretty expensive when new, but if in good condition, can be picked up at 30-60% of their original price.

Bambi - Silent Aire - Jun-Air all make similar silent compressors that are great for picture framers where the load is not typically continuous or heavy. I run an Pilm underpinner and a Valiani CMC on a small Silent Aire compressor. I have had this same machine in operation since 1999, and all that has had to be replaced (myself) was a leaky fitting/filter.

At full retail, I've paid about $75/year for this premium machine - a good value. Unless you have someone continuously on the CMC and you need to join 50-200 frames at the same time, I think this would be a good choice.

Did anyone mention how wonderfully QUIET these are?

John

[Graysalchemy]

I think Johnny you need to look at your needs. If you are planning to fulfill the contract you were tendering yourself, I think you are going to need to look for a saw as well as an Pneumatic Underpinner in which case a Bambi is not going to do the job. Even if you don't have a saw but are underpinning quite a volume of frames in one go then again the bambi will probably be at its limit. If you are going to use it for just small volume framing then a bambi is fine.

Just remember as with all compressors don't let them run out of air, drain the tank once a week and have it serviced. If don't maintain a compressor then it will break down on you just when you don't need it and because all your equipment needs air you are b*ggered. Happened to me last year when my 3 phase power supply decided to blow my motor in the Hydrovane. I was without one for a week and £600 lighter.

[johnnymachin]

Thanks all for your thoughts.I don't plan on very large runs to start off with but you never know.I will have a look round and see what's in the bank!

Cheers,Johnny.

[Steve Goodall]

FORGET EBAY - try Pete @ Framers Equipment - top guy on compressors!!!

[misterdiy]

All good advice on here about compressors. I bought exactly that model of bambi off ebay a couple of years ago to run my Alfamacchine MC underpinner and it struggles. Its knackered really and I too am looking to upgrade. I want to future proof since i would like a double mitre saw when I can justify it and Alistairs comments on hydrovanes are interesting. Are they very noisy? mine will be in the store room adjacent to the workshop.

[Graysalchemy]

Are they noisy, well they are not silent like a bambi and they are not clatter bang noisy like a piston compressor which sound like a thousand little men with sledge hammers inside the compressor. They are more like a vacuum cleaner really. They aren't on for that long using an air gun or pinner, but my 502 with a 200l tank is on a lot when I have the saw and under pinner going at the same time. A 200l tank fills from empty in less than 5 minutes up to 11 bar.

If it was in a separate room yes you would hear it but if you are planning on getting a saw at some point then in comparison it is not noisy. Saws are noisy and so our the dust extractor you will need to take away the dust, you certainly won't have a quiet workshop.

Hope that helps

Alistair

[Jonny2morsos]

I used a Brevetti saw at Wessex when they were in the old place in Croydon a few years back. Don't know what the situation is now they are in new premises but they always used to have a showroom with demo models of a good range of equipment.

Gary White is the man to speak to there.

[misterdiy]

Yes thanks Alistair, very useful information. I have a single bladed saw at the moment (Inmes) and that is in the workshop and so noisy that you can't hear the phone. The saw would be in the store room along with compressor and dust extractor though.

[Graysalchemy]

When I am cutting i can't here the phone either but if you are cutting a batch of frames the last thing you want is the phone going so I ignore it anyway.