Recommended Air Compressor

[coolas4k]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy an air compressor for various jobs at home ie. inflating cars tyres, spray painting fence panels, sanding and spray painting wooden chairs alongside other jobs. From my research a 2.5hp 50 litre air compressor would be suitable for my needs but the difficulty i'm having is identifying a reputable make/ brand and supplier. Most of my searches bring up a brand called SGS but when i delve in to independent reviews of their compressors, there are none to be found apart from the ones on their own site which i'm sceptical of. Can anyone offer decent recommendations?

Thanks

 

[SammyInnit]

I'm also after a compressor (for nail guns and odd jobs - another thread) and I've found the 2.5hp 50L SGS branded compressor. From what I can gather they're all made in China or somewhere like that, rebranded and sent over for us to buy from whoever depending on what colour we like most. The reason I'm keen on SGS is the fact they're registered in the UK so you'll have some consumer rights that can be backed up over here if it goes tits up.

That being said, I'd be very surprised if you get a duffer. A compressor is a compressor. Not a lot to go wrong. I think that's the one I'm going for anyway. If you want to spend a bit more money for pretty much the same thing I'd recommend Machine Mart.

 

[Roger928]

Most compressor units these days come from china.
Ingersoll Rand are the only company I know off that make supreme quality stuff. But three times the price. Their wheel barrow compressor is an interesting concept. I think most of their units have 100% duty cycle.
Some names that come to mind are Clarke, Sealey and SiP.
I prefer the cast iron twin cylinder units.

I found out the hard way that my chinese compressor lacks anything close to 100% duty cycle when I brought it to work and two guys hitched up two big framing nailers and burned it out.

 

[coolas4k]

I'm also after a compressor (for nail guns and odd jobs - another thread) and I've found the 2.5hp 50L SGS branded compressor. From what I can gather they're all made in China or somewhere like that, rebranded and sent over for us to buy from whoever depending on what colour we like most. The reason I'm keen on SGS is the fact they're registered in the UK so you'll have some consumer rights that can be backed up over here if it goes tits up.

That being said, I'd be very surprised if you get a duffer. A compressor is a compressor. Not a lot to go wrong. I think that's the one I'm going for anyway. If you want to spend a bit more money for pretty much the same thing I'd recommend Machine Mart.

I've just had a look at their refund and returns policy and it looks quite worrying to me.

I quote; "If for any reason you believe your product is defective please notify us immediately on 01332 576 850 or via email. If your product is faulty or covered under warranty any carriage costs incurred shipping the goods back will be refunded up to the amount of £5.30"...

Well, with the compressor alone weighing almost 40kg and being very bulky in dimensions, I doubt the £5.30 would knock much off the return postage! I can't believe that's even legal for a faulty received item before you've even used it...?

I've found a few reviews from customers regarding all of the items SGS Engineering supply on Trusted Reviews website and it's very hit and miss especially with their post sale customer service and various items albeit none of the ones i read were about air compressors... hhmmmm i'm really unsure now as if i bought the same compressor at a slightly higher price with a Clarkes badge from say Machine Mart, i get 1 years warranty with no return costs as there's a store near me but if i risk the SGS version, i get it cheaper with 2 years warranty but would have to foot the postage costs pretty much plus I may get a hard time processing my refund or replacement according to a few previous customers of theirs

 

[coolas4k]

I found out the hard way that my chinese compressor lacks anything close to 100% duty cycle when I brought it to work and two guys hitched up two big framing nailers and burned it out.

Did you check if the compressors pressure flow rate (CFM) exceeded the framing nailers operating CFM requirements first though as otherwise that would have been an inevitable outcome

 

[SammyInnit]

I've just had a look at their refund and returns policy and it looks quite worrying to me.

I quote; "If for any reason you believe your product is defective please notify us immediately on 01332 576 850 or via email. If your product is faulty or covered under warranty any carriage costs incurred shipping the goods back will be refunded up to the amount of £5.30"...

Returning faulty goods bought online
The Consumer Contracts Regulations are in addition to your other legal rights.

So, if your goods are faulty and don’t do what they're supposed to, or don’t match the description given, you have the same rights under the Consumer Rights Act as you have when buying face to face.

Any terms and conditions that say you must cover the cost of returning an item don't apply where the goods being returned are faulty.

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/i-want-to-return-something-bought-online

They can say what they like. The law is clear.

There are a few machine marts dotted about. There are identical units to what SGS have on ebay if you fancy your luck with another retailer.

 

[Burnerman]

I'd go for the Machine Mart stuff again - they have a good spares back up, although the need will probably be unlikely - and they have a good range of accessories like hoses and filters or whatever.
Always choose a compressor that has a greater capacity than what you think you'll need!
John

 

[DaveHerns]

Friend bought a trolley jack from SGS, it was defective and he had a hell of a job getting a refund from them.
I've got a 2.5hp 25l compressor from Aldi , complete with air tool kit etc for a bargain price of £69.99 8 or 9 years ago and it's still going strong. OK I broke the air manifold as it's only made from monkey metal but they're easily available on Ebay now. I'd like a Sealey etc but the cost would he hard to justify for DIY use

 

[Tigercubrider]

I have a sealy bought from a sealy van at a bike show and to be honest, I would think there is little difference between lidl aldi and sealy' s bottom end. I guess it is all Chinese and after a few years if it goes wrong just buy another! Not very green but there you go.
Mine runs out off puff quickly and if I could buy a spare cylinder cheaply to add more reservoir it might be handy but generally no need

 

[coolas4k]

Think I might pop to Machine Mart first before I decide. I can ask what thier returns, replacement and general warranty policies are and make a judgement call from there hopefully.

 

[coolas4k]

Friend bought a trolley jack from SGS, it was defective and he had a hell of a job getting a refund from them.
I've got a 2.5hp 25l compressor from Aldi , complete with air tool kit etc for a bargain price of £69.99 8 or 9 years ago and it's still going strong. OK I broke the air manifold as it's only made from monkey metal but they're easily available on Eay now. I'd like a Sealey etc but the cost would he hard to justify for DIY use

According to their returns policy it states that strictly all original packaging must be in tact and resealable when they receive it back. To me, that sounds very dodgy as firstly I can't be responsible for the courier service damaging it but also I can't prove they did it and secondly I have to open the packaging on arrival to check the compressor in the first place which may inevitably damage it which automatically makes my return void. Excuse me for my cynical view but I can't help but think thier returns policy is set up to avoid processing refunds which a lot of people seem to have a problem with on the Trusted Reviews website.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/uk.trustpilot.com/amp/review/www.sgs-engineering.com

 

[SammyInnit]

Think I might pop to Machine Mart first before I decide. I can ask what thier returns, replacement and general warranty policies are and make a judgement call from there hopefully.

The same as everyone else's, as I've said above. Machine mart is a stone's throw do you just take it back to them if there's a problem.

 

[SammyInnit]

According to their returns policy it states that strictly all original packaging must be in tact and resealable when they receive it back. To me, that sounds very dodgy as firstly I can't be responsible for the courier service damaging it but also I can't prove they did it and secondly I have to open the packaging on arrival to check the compressor in the first place which may inevitably damage it which automatically makes my return void. Excuse me for my cynical view but I can't help but think thier returns policy is set up to avoid processing refunds which a lot of people seem to have a problem with on the Trusted Reviews website.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/uk.trustpilot.com/amp/review/www.sgs-engineering.com

Have you ever been shopping on the internet before because you sound very green?

 

[Doggit]

I've got a machine mart 50L (not sure of the HP, and it's been great for everything apart from the frame nailer; I could only get about 5 nails in, then it'd have to recharge, but If I'd got a bigger unit, I wouldn't have been able to carry it anywhere. Next time, I'd go for a gas nailer, and a smaller compressor.

 

[coolas4k]

Have you ever been shopping on the internet before because you sound very green?

Have you not read the reviews on the Trusted Reviews website? There are lots of people complaining about this company flouting the customers rights and making it very difficult to process and claim refunds as DaveHerns has also stated above. I understand what the law states but if a company doesn't abide by them completely or makes it really difficult, that doesn't help matters.