Dealing with air compressor condensation

[buggyman1]

Here is my current set-up.... PLEASE keep the snickering down to a minimum... Unit started out as a 2hp Craftsman compresser in 1973, with a 20 gallon tank. It now has a cheap-O 10 gallon on it and I have replaced the pressure switch. The box on the bottom allows it to run 10 minutes at a time unless you turn on a lighted bypass selector switch. So when a hose breaks you don't find that your compressor has been running for hours with a thick oil mist in the air.... don't ask me how I know about this. The second picture is where I drain the moister. I also use an inline water filter if I am painting. Just keep all my air tools oiled up good the rest of the time. I also added a large air filter on the intake years ago. Anywhilst, it may be ugly but it works....

lol, thats looks like some of my rigging, i like it when people have to ask me "what is that". You could tell people, its my still.

 

[kelloggguy]

One of the advantages of an oil lubricated compressor is that you have a very fine oil mist in the air that tends to coat the inside of the tank and helps prevent rusting. That's why the ASME code specification for tanks for non-lube compressors requires an additional corrosion allowance, or extra thickness, since there is no oil in the air to help prevent rust. If you have a non-lube compressor, your tank will rust faster.

 

[SPYDERLK]

99% that would be like a water pressure washer!

Probably more like 95%. It was 20Gal. Ran for about 3 seconds.
larry

 

[Ford tractor]

The factory little dinky valves stink, so I always put small ball valves in. Real quick and easy to just give a little turn and out goes the water.

 

[toxicjeeper]

My RK compressor has an automatic drain on it which opens up for a set period of time every time the compressor kicks on and then back off..Rather clever how it uses the air it bleeds off the cylinder head to open the drain valve at the bottom just long enough to get the water out...even with the auto drain if i am sand blasting i will periodically open the valve manually and watch the vapor gusier come out..

 

[MF 1532]

JerryK , that reminds me of a contraption I had when I first got married . We had a neighbor that was going to throw away a small compressor with a rotted out tank . He gave it to me . I cut the mounts off the tank , mounted motor and compressor on a pallet and plumbed to a tank . Was better than nothing ( and thats just what I had ):thumbsup:

 

[JerryK]

JerryK , that reminds me of a contraption I had when I first got married . We had a neighbor that was going to throw away a small compressor with a rotted out tank . He gave it to me . I cut the mounts off the tank , mounted motor and compressor on a pallet and plumbed to a tank . Was better than nothing ( and thats just what I had ):thumbsup:

Yup, I was all set to go out and buy me a new compressor until I saw what they were going for now. I bought this Craftsman about 1972 for about $170, and it came with a spray gun and sandblaster. As long as the motor and compressor keeps running, and I have used the ^%$#^ out of it for years, I will just keep throwing cheap tanks at it. I have a 7" Metabo electric grinder/cut off now, and don't use my air tools much any more. So a big tank compressor would just be a waste for me now.