Compressors

[Anonymous Poster]

I beleive that would be kind of like a water pump-- twice the pressure at half the volume or twice the volume at half the pressure.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

You have it figured out!

 

[em14]

I went the "I only need the compressor for ...." route and I soon found the same as others, it was to small .... I then broke down and bought an 80 gal with a two stage compressor 175 psi, 26 cfm, 220v, ... I use this for almost any thing I need ... glass bead cabinet, sand blasting outside, airing up: soccer balls, bikes, cars, tractors, and operating many air tools ... the uses go on and on .... but once in a while it would be nice to have a larger compressor and motor, but not often, ..... Good Quality will last a life time ... get the very best that you can afford ... Use black pipe (the best and safest way to install ... PVC is a risk I would not take nor most copper) for your heavier duty Air Compressors. ... Go to "www.TipTools.com" ... call them ... they are good people to deal with from my experinces with them ... more than happy to answer your qustions ...

Where can you find an used air compressor ... Old service stations ... buildings with elevators being torn down ... classified ad in news papers ... industral sites being modified or torn down ... ask everyone ... if you get an industial one be sure your power can handle it ... I would stay with a 220 v single phase motor ...

 

[RobertN]

I rusted one out, partly because the little teeny valve was impossible to get at.

On this upright compressor I got a couple years ago, the first thing I did was fix that. I took the teeny little valve out of the bottom of the tank. I used a 3/8 pipe into the tank. I put a 90 on that. Then I used another short piece of 3/8 pipe to come out towards the side of the compressor. On the end of that, I put a regular hand squeeze blower end. It sits just where it is protected, but I can still get my toe on the blower lever.

Now, every time I use the compressor, I quickly and simply drain the water from the tank.

My Dentist has this setup on the compressor at his office. I saw it and thought it was cool. Thier compressor runs a lot when they dril and grind on folks teeth, so it has to be drained daily.

 

[OkieG]

To all of you lucky enough to have a stationary compressor:

Do you release all the air pressure at the end of the day, or just leak enough air to blow out the water collected at the bottom of the tank?

OkieG

 

[Thomas]

Automatic blow valve in which you can set the time can save a new tank in the long run.

 

[em14]

I have a valve between the tank and the main air line that feeds the shop ... I turn that off so that the compressor does not come on due to small leaks in the line ... this just waste electrical ... and I blow the tank at least once a day after use and sometimes twice ... just depends on the water in the air ... if I do not use the compressor, I see no need in blowing the tank more than once a week or sometimes once a month ...

 

[OkieG]

Thomas and em14,

Thanks for the rapid response. Sounds like there is no problem leaving the tank pressurized. I always unplug and depressurize my 20 gal. oil-less portable after each use, but it kind of makes sense leaving the bigger tanks pressurized and just blow out the water, as necessary.

OkieG

 

[bgott]

Most trucks with air brakes have a fitting in the tanks that has a cable attached. When you walk around the truck and check the tires you give the cable a pull and it blows the water out. You can get these from a parts house that carries truck parts. I don't know what the parts book name is, I always called them a spit valve. I imagine the technical term would be an air tank drain valve.

 

[Wingnut]

I have an automatic valve on mine that works whenever the tank is depressurized. It was pretty cheap, as I recall. Installed it and forgot it ... guess I'll have to check and see fi it's still functioning.