those cheap compressors are pretty good the biggest worry with a compressor for painting is getting oil in the air a new unit is a better bet than an unknown quality unit. all you need is squashed air and no addatives ie oil and water.. in qld you have to drain your compressor lots this time of year humidity is a curse... also recomentd a water trap for any use as the water will stuff up tools too..

There are lots of cheapo Chinese compressors about but you do get what you pay for, IMO.
I bought a SIP (Italian made) which is what the Chinese ones are copies of.
The belt drive ones are quieter and more efficient, do cost a bit more than direct drive though.
If spray painting cars, I'd get one with the biggest motor & air receiver you can afford.
Mine's a 2.5HP with 50L tank.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

got to totaly disagree with angus dog... why would metal rust more because it was used on a mini... its a simple chemical reaction its not make specific.. if you cant find any good metal in an old mini pannel we are all fluxed...danis cooper floor is bad toward the back but the donor deluxe is solid enough to teach elephants to tapdance in.. dam sight easier to use a part that is already the same shape and pattern... would you try a roof chop made from new metal???? na you use your old roof or another one in better condition..your own pillars etc.. probably makes no difference on a flat spot , but why go buy metal when you have the right thing at home and free.. there would hardly be anyone here who doesnt have a spare pannel or some old sheet steel around ..
on the cheepo tool kits from what ive asked lately you wouldnt want to use the guns on ya car probably fine for fences and house walls,,,, probably worth the investment in a better gun for car painting... well thats what our plan is..

I've a got a 2.5hp direct drive 50L tank "Super Works" from Super Crap for $169 in August 04. So far it's done everything I want. Haven't tried a nibbler or air chisel yet though.

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Mine runs fine with the SuperCrap air chisel.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Well, a sheet of 1.0mm steel in NZ is about $50 from memory. Roof chops etc is a different matter when you require the curvature or are replacing a panel, I was assuming you wanted to patch generally. Old metal panels are just that - old. You may have time to strip and rust treat old panels, but nothing saves time or makes welding easier than using new steel. It's dirt cheap, but not free, so that's what I do. If I lived in the UK, I'd buy replacement panels, not cut up a fridge.

With regard the point about metal "aging" i.e. heating up etc - that applies to engine blocks, not panels.

In terms of compressors, all compressors need to be drained - the compressed air is laden with moisture, so the tank will rust. You can minimise it by draining it regularly, but all tanks, no matter where you live, will rust internally. So the compressor's tank has a finite life. I have a chinese brand 3HP belt drive which is great and cheap. It keeps up with the tools when in use, isn't too big and noisy and if it fails, I'll buy another. I've bought some quality tools over the years, but they don't seem to be any more reliable than the cheaper versions, especially electric tools. They sometimes feel a bit better in use, but how much that's worth to you is down to you and your wallet. Incidentally, you might want to budget for a water trap to make your air tools last longer and make painting more reliable.

And as I've said before, check out the FAQ at http://www.hotrodders.com - loads of advice on all aspects of body work (and heaps on US muscle cars if you're interested). This is mostly my 2 cents, though some (moisture in compressed air) is fact.

perhaps you dont get the glutt of no name el cheapo tools we get in Australia .. my work has bought about 20 angle grinders in the last month and only one is still going.. mind you only paid $12 each good tool last longer.. well they do here.. what your comments on electric tools has to do with cheap compressor and tool kits is beyond me anyway.. also whats with the living in the UK
again that question was asked by someone in Queensland (which is in Australia) not the UK.. some local knowledge and you might have an understanding of the difference in humidity and how quick your compressor fills with water in summer here as opposed to winter.

i can attest to the humidity in brisbane was at scania getting the truck serviced was in a airconditioned room sleeping get up have a shower walk out to the truck and am sweeting like you would not beleive the persperation was like a water fall
...
danidad he is in un zed so i dont think the would get the same sorta heat you do up there
makka

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

Yup, I live in NZ, but if I lived in the UK, replacement panels would be considerably cheaper and easier than patching, that's all.

My point about the compressors vs humidity was that it doesn't matter where you live - the compressed air is laden with moisture and that's why the tanks rust and why you need a moisture trap to stop the water rusting the tools. An oiler is also worthwhile but you can just manually oil them.

And vis. tools: Well, everyone's opinion is different but the cheapo tools seem to work fairly well and I can't afford top brand tools. I do have a DeWalt angle grinder as I use that quite a bit. I also suspect there's a fair bit of brand-name "engineering" when it's the same unit inside...

steel is ferrous (Fe) dude and rust is ferric oxide Fe02 only need oxygen and ferrous metal to get rust . yes everywhere has moisture in the air, but it is particularly bad in the tropics and sub tropics this time of year. and the problem is not that having extra water in the air will cause rust in your compressor as any amount of water can offer free Oxygen as can air.. the point you keep missing is that this time of year in Queensland Australia you get humidity in the 70 to 100% region which can easily fill a water trap in a vey short time..
ie while yous still painting.. so the point was in QLD you need to watch your water and drain regularly. you do not have this situation in NZ i know as i have lived and worked there.
as the question was from someone looking at painting in QLD the point is very valid.. why you feel you have to argue is beyond me