Body shop
Compressor for body shops
Screw compressor for body shops - dry, filtered air for painting, continuous flow for sanding. 2-year warranty, 15-year parts, technicians and dealers in the UK.
In a body shop, compressed air drives everything: orbital sanders, blow guns, primer guns and, above all, the paint spray gun. A body shop compressor does not work in fits and starts: it runs from morning to night, and the slightest drop of water or oil in the air shows up in the colour.
What a body shop expects from its compressor
- Dry air. Moisture in compressed air ends up in the spray gun. A refrigerated dryer at the compressor outlet eliminates the problem at source.
- Clean air. Filtration captures particles and oil aerosols before they reach the bodywork.
- Air flow that never falters. During a long sanding job or a paint application, the pressure must stay stable.
- A machine built to run. A screw compressor is designed for continuous operation, whereas a piston compressor needs rest periods.
Which compressor for a body shop? The 7.5 kW 4-in-1
The Screw compressor 7.5 kW 4-in-1 combines the compressor, a 420 L air receiver, a refrigerated dryer and filtration on a single frame. For a body shop, it is a complete installation: set it down, connect it, and dry, filtered air arrives at the workstation.
If the workshop has several sanding bays and a spray booth running at the same time, the 11 kW provides the extra capacity needed, combined with an air receiver and a dryer sized for your network.
Built to last in the workshop
AIRSTAHL compressors are supplied with their manual and documentation, carry a 2-year warranty, with spare parts available for 15 years and a stock of consumables in England. Service kits are grouped by model: just one part number to order for each service.
Typical tools in this trade
| Tool | Consumption | Typical number |
|---|---|---|
| Orbital sander | ≈ 350 l/min | 2 |
| Paint / varnish spray gun | ≈ 350 l/min | 1 |
| Primer spray gun | ≈ 300 l/min | 1 |
| Blow gun | ≈ 150 l/min | 2 |
| 1/2" impact wrench | ≈ 300 l/min | 1 |
Indicative average consumption. The configurator calculates your exact demand.
Recommended air quality
Painting and finishing — Dry, filtered air for paint and clearcoat spray guns.
Calculate my demand for this tradeFrequently asked questions — Body shop
Which air compressor is best for a body shop?
A screw compressor, because in a body shop air runs from morning to night for sanding, preparation and painting. For a workshop with one spray booth, the 7.5 kW 4-in-1 screw compressor combines compressor, 420 L air receiver, dryer and filtration. With several sanding stations and a spray booth running at the same time, the 11 kW combined with a suitable air receiver and dryer provides the necessary reserve.
How many sanders can I run off one air compressor?
An orbital sander uses around 350 l/min and runs continuously during work, so it counts fully in the calculation. Add up the sanders used at the same time, add the spray gun and the blow gun, then compare with the compressor's actual air flow, with a safety margin. The configurator on our website does this calculation from your tools and the number of people.
Why does my piston compressor overheat in the body shop?
Because sanding needs a continuous air flow, whereas a piston compressor is designed for intermittent use with rest periods. When run constantly, it overheats, sends more moisture and oil into the network and wears out quickly. A screw compressor, designed to run continuously, is the right answer for this pace of work.
What causes craters and bubbles in car paint?
Very often, compressed air contaminated with water, oil or particles. Moisture condenses in the hoses as the air cools and ends up in the spray gun, and oil aerosols cause craters. A refrigerated dryer at the compressor outlet, suitable filtration and a filter at the painting station solve most of these defects.
Can one compressor supply both sanding and spray painting?
Yes, provided the air flow is sized for all the workstations used at the same time and the air is treated for painting. The dryer and filtration at the compressor outlet serve the whole network, and an additional filter is fitted just before the painting station. A correctly sized air receiver keeps the pressure stable when a workstation starts up.
How much does it cost to maintain a body shop compressor?
Routine maintenance is limited to consumables: filters, oil and, on a screw compressor, the air/oil separator, to be replaced according to the operating hours stated in the manual. At AIRSTAHL, each service corresponds to a single service kit per model, which makes ordering simple. Over time, the biggest cost remains electricity: avoid leaks in the network and switch the compressor off outside workshop hours.
The recommended models
7.5kW
K 75Screw compressor 7.5 kW 4-in-1
Compressor, 420 L air receiver, refrigerated dryer and filtration combined on a single frame.
11kW
S 110Screw compressor 11 kW
The power to supply several workstations at the same time, without losing pace.
Other trades
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