Coltri compressors

Dave
I have a Coltri compressor and have had no trouble with it. The delivery
wasn't exactly swift but the compressor is fine.

Keith


"David Walker" <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c2g7i2$qgr$1@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk...
> Hi
> We (Warwick Uni club) are getting closer in our mission to getting a new
> compressor to replace our 25 year old Bauer. Still works, but we want
> something a bit faster, and more importantly safer and easier to use.
> We've done a lot of looking around, and think the best we've found is a
> Coltri MCH16/ET Compact compressor from SMP for £4150. Seems to do
> everything we want, being a bit faster than our old one, much safer (as in
> not completely exposed, fan belts, hot stages and all), and far easier to
> use (the old one has 4 condensors to drain every 10 minutes, multitudes of
> knobs and handles, a pressure gauge that lies, and basically everythings
> manually operated - trying to teach our new members every year to use it
is
> a nightmare!).
>
> Anyway, the only thing we're unsure of is the long term reliability of the
> Coltri compressors - obviously this little Bauer has lasted us for years
and
> years, and is technically sound, just needs something a bit newer and
safer
> for us now. The doubts we're having are moving away from what is a very
> reliable little Bauer to something completely unknown. We could go for
> another Bauer, but the price differences seem to be quite significant so
> can't justify the extra at the minute just because we don't know about the
> Coltri's. However, if we find that they aren't good in reliability, then
> we'd start looking for others.
>
> Any ideas? Should we expect any relibility issues with a Coltri
compressor?
> Any other problems we should be aware of?
>
> Thanks!
>
> David
>
>
>

In article <c2igqv$ccf$1@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk>,
David Walker <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> May be - try this www.ide.de
>
>Ah yeah, we looked at those too.
>Having done a bit more research today and talking to a few people, I'm
>starting to think that the Coltri isn't too bad. Seemingly Coltri used to
>make the main block for Bauer compressors a while back, until Bauer started
>making their own.
>I've also heard some good stories about Coltri's running fine, after 15
>years or more without any problems. After looking at it, I think
>considering the variability in reports, there isn't much to really allow me
>to say that the Coltri would be a bad option for the club. With the Bauer
>equivalent at 50% extra cost, we can't justify the extra cost from the
>limited info available about them.

I own and run a little Coltri. Not many hours on it, but it has given
access to some diving we couldn't otherwise have done. It is the smallest
one, the "6", both with a little Honda motor and an el engine. I know
this is a different model; a lot smaller; but it may be a data point
for you.

The most important thing about Coltris is that the block and cylinders
are Aluminium, not Steel. This has two implications: it does NOT take
kindly to abuse, and is very sensitive to running without oil. You also
need to follow the maintenence program; after so-and-so hours you MUST
replace the cylinder rings. Aluminium for high pressure use becomes
toast at around 140 degrees. Steel can take several hundred more.

Parts are cheap, and they are pretty strightforward to replace; it is
just a bit of work. The first stage water/oil condensate separator
is also very good. I am amazed at how little condensate accumulate in
the other filters. Yes, and I have added more filters; it reliably
delivers O2-compatible air after ANDI standards (pretty strict). .

It seems designed for 220 bar, even if it goes to 300 without any
severe problems. It geta more noisy at around 230 bar, the speed
goes down and the air gets progressively hotter. With the electric
single phase engine it blows a 13A fuse at 225 bar; and is marginal
for a 16A fuse at 300. (this is the "6"). It gives 100-110 liters
per minute up to around 200 bar (on petrol), declining to around 70
at 300. On electricity it is a little slower, 10-15%.

>Looking at running costs too, it seems we can get a 330 bar, 265l/min Coltri
>compressor, semi-automatic, enclosed, clean air, with fill costs of around
>4p per tank compared to the 60p per tank with our current compressor due to
>much cheaper filters and lower servicing costs, and all for £4350 - think
>this'll be the one we go for now, just need to write up a proposal for why
>they should give us the money :O)

Add some filters. You may be able to resirculate some of the Bauer
ones you have, as very little condensate forms in them.
>
>Ta for the advice anyway, to those who contacted me both on here and
>privately.

-- mrr