Did a search as I'm sure this is a regular topic, but couldn't find specifically what I was looking for.
Basically want a compressor for tubeless tyres, car tyres and blasting dirt/dust off things. Want it to be semi-portable and trying to decide between 2 Hyundai compressors (known to be quiet). One has 8l tank and is smaller, lighter, while other is 24l and bulkier and on wheels. Price is not far apart, so my question is whether the 8l one will be up to the job, or should I go larger?
8 litres is tiny. Even my 24 litre sometimes needs a recharge when I'm doing very stubborn tires
What ever size you buy, the next size up will turn out to be the one you needed for the job you now want to do with it.
@sobriety. That was my fear, but I'm trying to keep to requirements rather than getting suckered into bigger, on a just in case basis (and then never really use it)
I've got the Hyundai 24l compressor, and I'd not want to go any smaller. Especially if using it for car tyres.
I bought it for pretty much the same reasons you stated and it's been perfect for what I want. It'll not be powerful enough to run most air tools or a paint spray gun, but it's great for inflating tyres and as a blow off gun. I'm planning to try an air brush with mine too.
I'm trying to recall if mine is 24 or 50l, it just fits under a normal sized shelving rack so it's out of the way.
If you want a compressor for the garage, go big, and get a longer air hose.
If you want a portable compressor, get a portable compressor.
I have a 24lt aldi compressor, bought a while ago and it is good for tubeless mtb tyres and vaguely semi portable to do the car tyres, but it's really really loud & you are not going to quieten it. Since then, I'd not bother with buying another compressor, just get an airshot (or DIY one, or buy a track pump with the same thing integrated), a portable 12v car inflator and an "air blaster" from amazon or your favourite Chinese reseller for dusting (muck off sell one for £120!.. I bought the same off aliexpress for £20.. and use it to clean computer internals & dust the house!)
I bought a titan sub £100 and around 20ltr tank a few years ago. Great for blowing dust around and can fit a scooter tyre once the tyre is ratcheted down on the rim. I wouldn't want to go smaller than this as it quickly looses pressure once you let the air out of it! 😉
Mine is 50 litre with a 15m air hose in a wind out / wind back cassette.
You can never have enough air.
Portable? SIP portable air receiver - charge from the 50 lire tank. Carry anywhere. In the house, bathroon extractor fan blades and housing etc.
I bought one of those smaller Aldi jobs a while back, and it's never been any assistance even in getting tubeless tyres on.
it is good for tubeless mtb tyres and vaguely semi portable to do the car tyres, but it's really really loud & you are not going to quieten it. Since then, I'd not bother with buying another compressor, just get an airshot (or DIY one, or buy a track pump with the same thing integrated)
Even quiet compressors aren’t really! The noise can be particularly annoying and going from zero to fully charged reservoir obviously takes longer (for same size pump) with a bigger tank, whilst a smaller tank will drop below pressure and cut back in more often. Trying to seat car tyres is different from topping them up; how often do you change bike tyres?
I bought one of those smaller Aldi jobs a while back, and it's never been any assistance even in getting tubeless tyres on.
I have the opposite feedback, I picked one up for £30 a few years back and I am yet to find a tyre it wont inflate. Valve core out and a bit of soapy water on the bead if it is really stubborn but often that isn't needed. I have been surprised how often I use it, not just for tyres.
Advice suggesting the 24l one, when my space/use requirements pull me towards the 8l version. I have an Airshot already, but with many bikes all seeming to need regular attention to either change tyres or top-up I find the Airshot routine a real palaver...
Removing core, pressurising Airshot, inserting airshot and releasing pressure to find a problem to then repeat first steps. Re-inserting core, taking pump off airshot to pump up tyre...
If the 8l one is just going to create different problems, then I will have to reconsider the space requirement to make the 24l work...
A random thought,
I wouldn't want to use a car tyre compressor to 'blast things clean.' Someone once brought a PC to me after they'd had the bright idea of taking it to a local garage to have them blow fluff out of it with their air line. It took me two days to clean out all the shit it'd puked everywhere.
Advice suggesting the 24l one, when my space/use requirements pull me towards the 8l version. I have an Airshot already, but with many bikes all seeming to need regular attention to either change tyres or top-up I find the Airshot routine a real palaver...
Removing core, pressurising Airshot, inserting airshot and releasing pressure to find a problem to then repeat first steps. Re-inserting core, taking pump off airshot to pump up tyre...
If the 8l one is just going to create different problems, then I will have to reconsider the space requirement to make the 24l work...
I briefly considered the 8vsl 24 litre. I chose the 24l for the following reasons:
- Not much more expensive
- Comes with regulator and water trap
- Comes with 2 air outlets
- On wheels
- Not much bigger - It is bigger but unless you're really pushed for space there's not that much in it. It's about 4cm, 12.5cm and 10cm bigger in each dimension.
https://hyundaipowerequipment.co.uk/compare/315/316/
To me the 24l was better value. One thing to note, the power cable is really short so you'll want to use an extension lead regardless of the model you go for.
Whilst it's not silent it is quiet. I've had an Aldi mains powered suitcase compressor, the one without a tank. It worked well for tubeless tyres and was ok for the car, but it was really loud. 98db IIRC. I gave it to my dad in the end.
My neighbour has a compressor which is much, much louder than the Hyundai I have, but it does have a higher flow rate so can run more tools etc. If I was using it in a non domestic workshop setting I wouldn't mind the noise, but for a residental garage in a populated area I'm happy to have the Hyundai.
Thx @drewd. Can I ask where you got a Presta valve adaptor from. The Hyundai toolkit seems to be for Schrader and I've never had much luck with converters.
I use one of these https://www.merlincycles.com/stans-presta-valve-adapter-84250.html
I bought an air tool kit from Aldi, which came with a basic air line, blow off gun, tyre inflator and a paint spray gun. I'm sure they're just generic air tools though. The stans presta valve adaptor works well in the tyre inflator for me.
Mine's only about 6 litres and has worked perfectly for what you describe for about 8 years. I've never once thought I needed anything bigger. Cost about 50 quid. Has regulator. I only turn it on when I need it.
My shed's about 50 metres from the garage and I can easily carry it back and forth.
I also bought the small Aldi one following a PSA on here. I couldn’t get it to seat a tubeless bead no matter what I tried. Still use it for car tyres but bought a 24l on sale from Machine Mart. Has been brilliant and never failed. As for presta adapters, I find the brass chucks useless. I chopped the end of my inflator hose and replaced it with a double ended track pump head.
I have the 24l, it's fantastic. I've never wished it was smaller, bigger if anything, although they start to get rather large
I have both connectors permanently attached to things. One to an extension hose to get out to the cars without moving the compressor and the other on a springy telephone cable style one with the blower attached. That gets used for the tyre adaptors and the nail gun
If you can fit it in, or around other things, defo get the bigger one
The Presta adapter that came with the Aldi one had a little bung in there which restricted the air flow greatly, once removed airflow was much better but I haven't used it to mount a tubeless tyre as I just use my fire extinguisher as an airshot.
