Will my compressor power air tools?

Rabbit Wolverine · Oct 7, 2015

I have a SIP compressor (http://www.sipuk.co.uk/sip-airmate-tn-3-50-d-oil-lubricated-air-compressor.html) with a 50 l receiver,now I want to get an air wrench for it for occasional wheel nuts (https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-cat131-professional-heavy-duty-12-air)

Will my compressor be man enough for it or does it need a bigger receiver? If so, I have an old propane bottle (19kg) in the back of the workshop, could I plumb that in, if so, what fittings will I need?

roscoe erf · Oct 7, 2015

Doubt it but it says 14 cfm which sounds a lot for that

Forever Fendt · Oct 7, 2015

i would forget the gas bottle idea unless you are fed up of life

Kidds · Oct 7, 2015

Forever Fendt said:
i would forget the gas bottle idea unless you are fed up of life

I used a 47kg propane bottle as an extra receiver for long enough. Works very well but the smell never goes away.
Not sure why you think it would shorten your life.

mo! · Oct 7, 2015

It will work, but you may have to wait for it to recharge between nuts.

Forever Fendt · Oct 7, 2015

Kidds said:
I used a 47kg propane bottle as an extra receiver for long enough. Works very well but the smell never goes away.
Not sure why you think it would shorten your life.

sounds dangerous to me 2 guys killed local to us maybe 25 years ago when the tank on the compressor blew up it could be ok but not something i would take a chance on

Mursal · Oct 7, 2015

Good size gun, so it will need a bit of air to loosen stuff ..............
But spinning stuff in and out wont take much air, so depends on what volume of work you are going to do?
Fill the gas bottle with water to degas for a good few weeks, fittings from plumbers supplies or the like ...........

Kidds · Oct 7, 2015

I believe the burst pressure of a calor bottle is well beyond what a domestic air compressor is ever going to reach. (If it has a 50litre tank as OP stated it is going to be domestic size).
If you are still worried then put it where it can't do any harm if it does burst, seperate shed, outside round the back where nobody goes, surround it with a stack of tyres etc etc.
No more likely to burst than any other tank used.
Fit a pressure relief valve, but there is bound to be one on the compressor anyway.

As for standing full of water for a while, mine was empty with no tap on it for well over 12 months followed by weeks of full of water. Still stinks.
I believe the key is to store them without a tap, open end down for a while.

Right-arm fast · Oct 7, 2015

Made a diesel bowser out of a bulk propane tank. To get rid of the horrible smell let it stand for a month with all the plugs out then put half bottle fairy liquid in it and filled it up, drained and went again - the smell almost went.

Its had diesel in it for 12 years now so one smell replaced by another!

Netherfield · Oct 7, 2015

Only 9.5 cfm free air delivery,will struggle without more storage.

ACEngineering · Oct 7, 2015

I have an older sip in my van thats of similar sized air volume output and 50litre tank. It will power a 1/2 gun but not very well. Okay for the odd little job. What you could do it buy two compressors and tee them together so you have double the out put and storage with out spending alot of money on a decent big compressor which then becomes non portable if say you wanted to take it off farm or somewere for a little job.
Also if one breaks you will still have the other to keep you going while you buy another.
A little while back lidl had a 50litre compressor cheap.

MF-ANDY · Oct 7, 2015

used to use a clarke 50l compressor with a vee twin pump 13cfm iirc and a 3/4" gun. ok if you plan your job. slacken 4 wheel bolts, jack up tractor, slacken other 4 bolts, swap wheel, tighten 4 nuts, swap jack to other side, tighten other four nuts.

new-engineering · Oct 8, 2015

This will work as long as you have the pressure set on the compressor about 10 to 15% higher than the wrench operating pressure and be prepared to wait for the receiver to recharge when tightening or initial slackening. Short bursts will work well.

MF-ANDY · Oct 8, 2015

no need to wait if you plan you job as above.

Steevo · Oct 9, 2015

I might be going off on the wrong tack here, but would a cordless impact wrench not be a better, safer, more mobile and useful option?

I agree it won't be quite so cheap though.

Landy Nick · Oct 9, 2015

Had a 50ltr 15cfm compressor for years, which will power a nut runner ok. But not constantly, as they are air hungry. Although the compressor is man enough to for my drills and die grinders.
Normally most hobby diy compressors, the cut off pressure is about a 100-110psi and they cut back in at about 80 or 90psi.
Which are no good for most air tools that requires a steady regulated 90psi. So they usually need tweaking up a bit to cut off around 150psi and cut in about 120psi.

ACEngineering · Oct 9, 2015

Steevo said:
I might be going off on the wrong tack here, but would a cordless impact wrench not be a better, safer, more mobile and useful option?

I agree it won't be quite so cheap though.

tried to do a deal today with folkstone fixings for the 3/4 drive Milwaukee impact! still waiting to hear back if they will match a slightly better price I have found so I can give ffx my business instead of another trade supplier I never bought off before.

MickMoor · Oct 10, 2015

A larger receiver is not the answer. It lasts longer , but takes longer to build up to pressure once the air has been used. We looked into it years ago, because we tighten hundreds of nuts in one go. For a half inch nut runner, working continually, you would need the equivalent of a small towable compressor. Your fingers will also be very cold after you've done a hundred or so! Picture was taken before we had digital cameras!

Pan mixer · Oct 18, 2015

I doubt that the propane cylinder will pass the insurance inspection, or am I the only one who has this?

joe soapy · Oct 19, 2015

Gas cylinder will be way way safer than the cheap junk they use on consumer compressors.
Key to good tool performance is big hose and big fittings. the standard Schroeder ones ?? are way too restrictive in air flow, the fittings is one place where cheap is best for airflow

Will my compressor power air tools?

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