From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

Hi all, thought this would be a good place to get opinions on compresors - I haev come to the conclusion i'd like one, not for any heavy duty wrok like paint spraying but for ad hoc small tasks but including air-drying the bike
and various ad hoc usages when I've thought "which I had one of those"

<font color="#d6d6d6">I'm assuming there is a standard fitment so that you can attach accessories</font>
<font color="#d6d6d6"></font>
<font color="#d6d6d6">Anyone any real-world experience / recommendations?</font>
<font color="#d6d6d6"></font>
<font color="#d6d6d6">Would I be OK with something like a 24l Draper (1.5kw)
or perhaps a similar model from Hyundai? </font>
--
jeremy
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all, thought this would be a good place to get opinions on compresors - I haev come to the conclusion i'd like one, not for any heavy duty wrok like paint spraying but for ad hoc small tasks but including air-drying the bike and various ad hoc usages when I've thought "which I had one of those"

I'm assuming there is a standard fitment so that you can
attach accessories:

There are roughly three. Euro bayonet, BSI bayonet (longer) and
1/4" NPT (threaded). Adapters are easy to come by, although you may need
PTFE tape on threads to keep them airtight.

Mine has the Euro bayonet which means it's easier to swap tools while things are pressurised than with threaded. Some of my tools are threaded so I
bought adapters.

(one thing that caught me out is that aircon hoses often use ACME threads instead of NPT)

Anyone any real-world experience / recommendations?
Would I be OK with something like a 24l Draper (1.5kw)
or perhaps a similar model from Hyundai?

There are roughly two kinds on the market: 'silent' compressors (typically oil-free) and 'others' (may require oil). I only looked at silent ones
(~60dB, not silent but like a loud fridge) because the other ones make a
huge racket (about 95dB) - it's nicer not to need ear defenders and annoy
the neighbours when using it. Proper Garages build a soundproofed box to
put the compressor in and run air lines to where they're needed, but that's
a bit much for ad-hoc domestic use. The downside of the silent ones is you don't get as much CFM as a direct-drive non-silent one.

Many of the cheaper silent models (including Hyundai) are based on the same Chinese 750W pump: on the 24L versions they fit one pump and the 50L
versions they fit two (1.5kW). I think a lot of the brands are made by the same Chinese ODM.

I bought the 8 litre Hyundai (550W) but sent it back because it had
relatively little puff - you couldn't run air for more than a few tens of seconds because the pressure dropped and the motor kicked in to boost it
back again, at which point the pressure was weak.

I ended up with a 24L SGS (750W) - I get a couple of minutes of air before
it has to pump again, which is enough for basic spraying etc. When not
running at top whack (which you aren't when spraying) the pump is enough to keep the pressure high enough to not notice much drop.

I found these videos helpful when researching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wda1U4wUxsc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCX4jVy35Wg

Worth looking at deals from Hyundai and SGS on ebay - both have outlet
stores which sell off returns / cosmetically damaged goods. Mine was
roughly half price for having a cracked wheel, which can be replaced for -u5
on Aliexpress (if I could be bothered)

Undersealed the car with it and used it to blow solvent to clean out the
aircon system with no problems.

If you're using it for air tools (wrenches, sandblasting, etc) then you need
a certain PSI (pressure) and CFM (flow): https://www.sgs-engineering.com/help-advice/what-cfm-air-compressor-is-needed-to-run-air-tools

The smaller ones don't really have the puff to run high power tools, so
that's a reason why a bigger unit may be needed. Although once you're in
that league you start going beyond 3kW and into three-phase territory.

Theo
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 2 Mar 2026 at 11:04:25 GMT, "Theo" <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all, thought this would be a good place to get opinions on compresors - I >> haev come to the conclusion i'd like one, not for any heavy duty wrok like >> paint spraying but for ad hoc small tasks but including air-drying the bike >> and various ad hoc usages when I've thought "which I had one of those"

I'm assuming there is a standard fitment so that you can
attach accessories:

There are roughly three. Euro bayonet, BSI bayonet (longer) and
1/4" NPT (threaded). Adapters are easy to come by, although you may need PTFE tape on threads to keep them airtight.

<snip really useful advice>

Theo

Many thanks, very helpful.
--
jeremy
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 2 Mar 2026 10:14:28 GMT, jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all, thought this would be a good place to get opinions on compresors - I >haev come to the conclusion i'd like one, not for any heavy duty wrok like >paint spraying but for ad hoc small tasks but including air-drying the bike >and various ad hoc usages when I've thought "which I had one of those"

Theo has told you all you need to know, and a lot more than I could
have.

I've had one from MachineMart for 20 years, and it has been dead
useful, not least for pumping up tyres. I've got a few airtools as
well, including the ubiquitous 'rattle gun', but nowadays I think the
cordless electric ones are just as good, and cheaper and easier.

My old compressor is dead noisy, so if you can afford a 'silent' one,
that's probably worth it
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

Champ <neal@champ.org.uk> wrote:

On 2 Mar 2026 10:14:28 GMT, jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all, thought this would be a good place to get opinions on compresors - I >haev come to the conclusion i'd like one, not for any heavy duty wrok like >paint spraying but for ad hoc small tasks but including air-drying the bike >and various ad hoc usages when I've thought "which I had one of those"

Theo has told you all you need to know, and a lot more than I could
have.

I've had one from MachineMart for 20 years, and it has been dead
useful, not least for pumping up tyres. I've got a few airtools as
well, including the ubiquitous 'rattle gun', but nowadays I think the cordless electric ones are just as good, and cheaper and easier.

+1 I think air's days as a source of power are numbered - battery will do
it better. Even for paint spraying the airless systems work pretty well -
ok maybe not for car painting finish work, but for basic fence spraying an airless unit will probably do the job better and with less hassle, and a no-brand can be had for not-a-lot nowadays.

But they still win where you actually need to deliver air (cleaning, tyres, inflatables), or big bursts of power (eg nailing). And the tools are relatively cheap compared with battery, so make it feasible to expand to
those you otherwise wouldn't afford.

Lidl occasionally have compressors in and at the same time they have a good range of budget air tools. Can't speak for their compressors but maybe
worth filling a trolley with the tools when they are available. Just don't expect the earth if you don't have a big compressor.

My old compressor is dead noisy, so if you can afford a 'silent' one,
that's probably worth it

+1. I use it more, as I'm then not afraid of making a racket.

Theo
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 02/03/2026 16:35, Theo wrote:

Wotcha.

Lidl occasionally have compressors in and at the same time they have a good range of budget air tools. Can't speak for their compressors but maybe
worth filling a trolley with the tools when they are available. Just don't expect the earth if you don't have a big compressor.

My Lidl compressor failed last week - but it was just under 20
years old. Bought a similar one from Machine Mart which will probably
outlast me :)
--
^..^ Lone Wolf



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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 2 Mar 2026 10:14:28 GMT, jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all, thought this would be a good place to get opinions on compresors - I >haev come to the conclusion i'd like one, not for any heavy duty wrok like >paint spraying but for ad hoc small tasks but including air-drying the bike >and various ad hoc usages when I've thought "which I had one of those"

I've had one of these for about 10 years. It's VERY noisy but can hold
a 100 psi and pumps up tyres in a jiffy. And its vertical and on
wheels so doesn't take much room.

https://tinyurl.com/5fujapuy
--
Mark Roberts
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

In reply to "Mark Roberts" who wrote the following:

On 2 Mar 2026 10:14:28 GMT, jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all, thought this would be a good place to get opinions on compresors - I
haev come to the conclusion i'd like one, not for any heavy duty wrok like paint spraying but for ad hoc small tasks but including air-drying the bike and various ad hoc usages when I've thought "which I had one of those"

I've had one of these for about 10 years. It's VERY noisy but can hold
a 100 psi and pumps up tyres in a jiffy. And its vertical and on
wheels so doesn't take much room.

https://tinyurl.com/5fujapuy
--
Mark Roberts

Mine is a very old "oiless" beast from machine mart, 50 ltr, probably over 25 years now.
Still works well, for what I use it for, but it is "BLOODY LOUD!"
I've shoved it up in the rafters of my garage, and built a kind off insulated board box around it. Hole in the bottom that I can open to drain it when I think
about it.
It really is a very useful tool on the occassions it's
needed.
Greybeard

T-Bird - 1600
Bonnie T140V - 750
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 02/03/2026 13:49, Champ wrote:

On 2 Mar 2026 10:14:28 GMT, jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all, thought this would be a good place to get opinions on compresors - I >> haev come to the conclusion i'd like one, not for any heavy duty wrok like >> paint spraying but for ad hoc small tasks but including air-drying the bike >> and various ad hoc usages when I've thought "which I had one of those"

Theo has told you all you need to know, and a lot more than I could
have.

I've had one from MachineMart for 20 years, and it has been dead
useful, not least for pumping up tyres. I've got a few airtools as
well, including the ubiquitous 'rattle gun', but nowadays I think the cordless electric ones are just as good, and cheaper and easier.

My old compressor is dead noisy, so if you can afford a 'silent' one,
that's probably worth it

What Champ said. Mine is a Clarke from MachineMart.

I never run mine for long as being a former member of the Institute of Acoustics I agree with the 'dead noisy'.

It has the puff to inflate the tyres on my Fiat Ducato at home as I hate trying to use garage airlines on that, as I can never see the gauge or
hear the beep. The snazzy little 12v brick sized pump I keep in the car
is fine for that and a bicycle track pump is enough for the motorcycles.

The air tools (impact wrench and chisel) I have are cheap Clarke ones.
Also, an Aldi or Lidle ( I misremember) set of attachments including a
nozzle which is would probably be lethal if used injudiciously.

I have used the compressor a couple of times to dislodge stuck brake
caliper pistons - with care and suitable containment precautions!
--
Moto Morini 2C/375
Gilera 175 Sport, Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen
Honda CB250RS (Not Waynetta!)
"Do not adjust your mind, there is a fault in the reality"
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 02/03/2026 19:48, Peter Fisher wrote:

What Champ said. Mine is a Clarke from MachineMart.

I never run mine for long as being a former member of the Institute of Acoustics I agree with the 'dead noisy'.

Yup, I'm a small aldi compressor which I got with an air chisel to
remove some crimes from the garage from the place I moved into a decade
ago. I cracked the output trying to convert it from euro to something
else but it still works fine even with a very small leak, oopsie.

I use mine wearing ear defenders to pump up tyres and run a needle
scaler which is very handy for the rusty scottish shit I like to attempt
to restore. It's useful for shifting swarf out of the mill and lathe and
into my pockets and eyes :P

I lust for battery kit, but battery ecosystem scares me a bit. I kind of
prefer my power tools on a wire because at least they don't wear out or
become vendor specific.

I'll leave that feed line for the usual suspects to be stupid with.

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

Greybeard <greybeard@pirate.ship> wrote:

In reply to "Mark Roberts" who wrote the following:

On 2 Mar 2026 10:14:28 GMT, jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all, thought this would be a good place to get opinions on compresors - I
haev come to the conclusion i'd like one, not for any heavy duty wrok like >> > paint spraying but for ad hoc small tasks but including air-drying the bike
and various ad hoc usages when I've thought "which I had one of those"

I've had one of these for about 10 years. It's VERY noisy but can hold
a 100 psi and pumps up tyres in a jiffy. And its vertical and on
wheels so doesn't take much room.

https://tinyurl.com/5fujapuy
--
Mark Roberts

Mine is a very old "oiless" beast from machine mart, 50 ltr, probably over 25
years now.
Still works well, for what I use it for, but it is "BLOODY LOUD!"
I've shoved it up in the rafters of my garage, and built a kind off insulated
board box around it. Hole in the bottom that I can open to drain it when I think
about it.
It really is a very useful tool on the occassions it's
needed.
Greybeard

The oiless types are _incredibly_ loud. I have an older style ~41
year old piston pump type driven by a belt from the motor, which
while a big loud is nothing like as loud as the oiless ones. When
my neighbor across the street got an oiless type it was so loud
I couldn't carry on a conversation in my own garage if both our
garage doors were open.

https://www.amazon.com/Campbell-Hausfeld-VT6104-Compressor-Horizontal/dp/B071911K35

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all, thought this would be a good place to get opinions on compresors - I haev come to the conclusion i'd like one, not for any heavy duty wrok like paint spraying but for ad hoc small tasks but including air-drying the bike and various ad hoc usages when I've thought "which I had one of those"

Can't offer any very specific suggestions, being as I'm on the wrong
side of the world 8-) but I'd offer a couple of experiences:

There's a huge difference between filling tires and running air tools.
For tools of any substance get the biggest compressor you can afford and
house.

Personally, I'd look for a used, oil-lubricated piston compressor that
runs at relatively low speed via a belt drive. Most air tools need a
few CFM at least, and 90 PSI _at_the_tool to give rated performance.

Any but the crudest use needs cool, bone-dry air. The water separator
together with the regulator should be at the business and of the air
hose, not the compressor end. In a pinch good-quality garden hose has
adequate strength and far less pressure drop than the quarter-inch
stuff used in most shops. Put the compressor where the noise won't
bother too many people, run the garden hose to where you're working
and add the separator/regulator with a short, flexible hose to the
tool/nozzle.

Big hoses make a small compressor bigger, small hoses utterly strangle
a big compressor. For filling tires, a good 12 volt portable works fine.

Apologies for verbosity, I had a setup as described as a teenager and
it worked superbly. It went away in the course of moves and I now get
by with a 12 volt portable for tires and hand tools.

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska


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cat <cat@where.here> wrote:

I lust for battery kit, but battery ecosystem scares me a bit. I kind of prefer my power tools on a wire because at least they don't wear out or become vendor specific.

Look up battery adapters on Aliexpress. For under a tenner you can get adapters from roughly any battery to any tool brand. If you pick a major
brand of battery then they're unlikely to go obsolete, and the adapters can make it fit any brand of tool.

Batteries will wear out in time, so if it's just occasional DIY use you
might want to budget for a new battery every decade or so. But if it fits
all your tools (whatever brand it happens to be) you can get decent use out
of it.

Theo
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 02/03/2026 23:31, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all, thought this would be a good place to get opinions on compresors - I >> haev come to the conclusion i'd like one, not for any heavy duty wrok like >> paint spraying but for ad hoc small tasks but including air-drying the bike >> and various ad hoc usages when I've thought "which I had one of those"

<SNIP>

Big hoses make a small compressor bigger, small hoses utterly strangle
a big compressor. For filling tires, a good 12 volt portable works fine.

Apologies for verbosity, I had a setup as described as a teenager and
it worked superbly. It went away in the course of moves and I now get
by with a 12 volt portable for tires and hand tools.

My next door neighbour is a mechanic by trade and has a fixed compressor
in his garage. On the one occasion I could have done with taking
advantage of it, his brother-in-law had borrowed his long extension
hose. One issue with the tyres on the Ducato is the stupid wheel trims
the camper van convertor fitted make getting most 'clip on' tyre
inflator attachments on the valves impossible without getting the trim
off. I keep meaning to buy a screw on extender. So I borrowed just his professional standard inflator/gauge attachment and was able to use an
adapter to connect that to my compressor. I now have a cheaper double
ended push-on thing that I have yet to test.

The 12v 'brick', charged by USB jobby, is rated to 100 psi. https://musthaveideas.co.uk/products/inflatemate

Problem being the typical lift up lever connection is too chunky with
the wheel trims on the van. One valve may be accessible enough to try a
test though. What could possibly go wrong?
--
Moto Morini 2C/375
Gilera 175 Sport, Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen
Honda CB250RS (Not Waynetta!)
"Do not adjust your mind, there is a fault in the reality"
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

In reply to "Mark Olson" who wrote the following:

Greybeard <greybeard@pirate.ship> wrote:

In reply to "Mark Roberts" who wrote the following:

On 2 Mar 2026 10:14:28 GMT, jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all, thought this would be a good place to get opinions on compresors
- I
haev come to the conclusion i'd like one, not for any heavy duty wrok like
paint spraying but for ad hoc small tasks but including air-drying the bike
and various ad hoc usages when I've thought "which I had one of those"

I've had one of these for about 10 years. It's VERY noisy but can hold
a 100 psi and pumps up tyres in a jiffy. And its vertical and on
wheels so doesn't take much room.

https://tinyurl.com/5fujapuy
--
Mark Roberts

Mine is a very old "oiless" beast from machine mart, 50 ltr, probably over 25
years now.
Still works well, for what I use it for, but it is "BLOODY LOUD!"
I've shoved it up in the rafters of my garage, and built a kind off insulated
board box around it. Hole in the bottom that I can open to drain it when I think
about it.
It really is a very useful tool on the occassions it's
needed.
Greybeard

The oiless types are _incredibly_ loud. I have an older style ~41
year old piston pump type driven by a belt from the motor, which
while a big loud is nothing like as loud as the oiless ones. When
my neighbor across the street got an oiless type it was so loud
I couldn't carry on a conversation in my own garage if both our
garage doors were open.

https://www.amazon.com/Campbell-Hausfeld-VT6104-Compressor-Horizontal/dp/ B071911K35

Sounds about right! :-)
I am thinking about a newer, quieter one, but I don't use it a lot so I can't justify the need.


Greybeard

T-Bird - 1600
Bonnie T140V - 750
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