brock
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Post by brock on Oct 22, 2008 0:37:20 GMT -5
Air Compressors have come up in several topics from time to time. Since I am deeply imersed in building an air compressor from surplus parts: I have joined in all those topics. My part is to learn from others & share what little I have seen. In that quest a website with pure design in mind has surfaced! This site actually deals with belt & pulley systems; but does so in a way that helps match motor & pump. www.maskapulleys.com/images/supp/technical.pdfOn a more air compressor related note than the maska site above: Things I have learned about comercially sold units...... Advertised tank size is not an actual value. Take the challenge: measure the length & diameter of your tank & do the math. Across the board the tank is volumetrically smaller than advertised by a shocking amount. PSI is the only gauge we get. Jer pointed out the fact that CFM matters. . Even HVLP paint guns require a certain CFM @ a given PSI to really work well. I can only hope that the CFM ratings supplied with each store bought compressor are factual. Too many of these numbers are meer advertising points with no "real world" standards or regulations to adhere to at all. The typical end user just dials in what works for the job at hand. Keep it above 90psi for impacts & 40 to 35 for painting or the old school 90 for older paint guns. Letting the compressor catch up is generally a given. Break time!
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brock
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Post by brock on Oct 2, 2009 19:32:24 GMT -5
Here is an old pic of my "20" gallon beside the "120" gallon air compressor.
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brock
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Post by brock on Oct 2, 2009 19:49:47 GMT -5
A few steps closer:
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eckertc1
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Post by eckertc1 on Oct 3, 2009 8:19:07 GMT -5
Trade you both my compressors for the pump and motor off yours brock ;D When I first started out in the garage, I grabbed one of the el'cheapo 30Gal Sanborns from Menards. This compressor was actually pretty good to me all things considered but it was just not big enough for any serious work and after a few years of working with it, I think I was starting to go deaf do to the excessive amount of noise these things kick out. Once I got my Charger home and realized this was not going to be a weekend project, I ran out and got the bigger 80Gal belt driven Sandborn. It has been a great compressor for a small garage but the ratings they gave it are grossly over stated. I have since plumbed the two together for the extra tank storage and one more spot for water to drop off before it hits the end of the line. I used quick connects on the small tank which makes it a great portable air tank since it's on wheels. I can just unplug the hose and wheel it out where I need it.
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brock
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Post by brock on Oct 3, 2009 9:30:03 GMT -5
Trade you both my compressors for the pump and motor off yours brock ;D What would you use for a storage tank then Sounds like good planning. I can't see getting by for long without a portable unit, even if only for offsite work!
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eckertc1
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Post by eckertc1 on Oct 23, 2009 16:51:28 GMT -5
As I move further into the body work on my restoration project, I find myself using the air compressor much more then usual. Since I am using the compressor more, I tend to see more moisture coming through the lines then usual due to the tank heating up and cooling off alot more often. To try reducing the amount of moisture I am getting at the end of the lines, I made sure the lines coming directly out of the compressor out to the work area run uphill (so the water drains back to the compressor). In addition, I recently bought an auto drain kit from Harbor Freight to help keep the tanks dry. I installed the kit today and the first issue I ran into was the "T" fitting they send you is not the right size for the line on my compressor. No big deal, I just ran down to the hardware store and grabbed a compression "T" that was the right size and got back to installing the kit. In very short order I had the new kit installed and it looked to be working pretty good. No leaks, I could hear the drain open when the compressor shut down each time, and over all I thought I had a good thing going. That's when the trouble started...... I grabbed the air file to shape some body work and the compressor kicked in after a few mins of work (pretty normal), so I continued working for a few minutes and then I hear some loud hissing coming from the compressor. When I went to investigate, I found the plastic hose they provide with the kit had MELTED away from the "T" fitting for about 2" and the compressor could not kick off. I shut down the power to the compressor, mentally cursed Harbor Freight for selling this junk and went inside to figure out what I need to plumb this thing in with solid line instead of plastic. Lesson of the day............... Compressors create moisture because they get HOT and then cool off, causing condensation. Cheap plastic air lines and HOT do not mix.
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DynoDave
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Post by DynoDave on Oct 23, 2009 19:34:18 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about the difficulties you're having with this eck. But I appreciate you sharing this story with us. It does seem like a very worthwhile system, once you get the bugs out.
So are you going to replace that line with copper?
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eckertc1
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Post by eckertc1 on Oct 23, 2009 19:58:42 GMT -5
So are you going to replace that line with copper? That's the plan. I hate to buy copper at the price it is these days but it's for a good cause so it's gotta be done. Hindsight tells me I should have known better. That line gets too hot to touch when the compressor is running and I go tapping into it with a cheap plastic line. Not one of my brighter moments. Now that I have cut the line on the compressor I have no choice but to fix it, the compressor will still fill but the line I cut into is the line that kicks the pressure switch to shut off the compressor when it's full (kind of important), #doh# so I will stop by the hardware store again tomorrow and see if I can pick up the needed parts. When I get things done the right way, I will post up a few pics in this section to show the kit properly hooked up and working. ;D
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DynoDave
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Post by DynoDave on Oct 24, 2009 9:39:49 GMT -5
Sounds good. I look forward to seeing it.
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eckertc1
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Post by eckertc1 on Nov 3, 2009 22:37:52 GMT -5
finally got things up and going with the auto drain kit today. I ended up using copper tubing from the top line down to the bottom of the tank and had to buy a compression coupling to splice in a small piece of the plastic line on the bottom and connect to the auto drain. Here are some pics of the complete unit... pay no attention to the dates on the pics, my camera has no idea what day it is i guess..... P.S.... please take note of the little puddle of water under the compressor in the last pic. IT WORKS, IT REALLY WORKS!! #DancingBanana# #DancingBanana#
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