Compressors are one thing that is really good to pickup used. The compressor
that powered my air tools last summer, working at a farm equipment garage,
was absolutely awesome. They picked it up for 400$ out of another industrial
equipment garage, with a burnt out motor. Of course, the owner being
somewhat excessive, put a huuuge electric motor on it. The pump was a chunk
of cast iron, and had twin inline cylinders, but they were huge. It had
about 15 coats of industrial yellow paint. We used air tools that looked
something like a half sized howitzer a couple of times, especially when
dealing with large tractors, when removing wheels, and the compressor would
sit idle for 15 minutes, and then run for two, to recharge a huge tank. I
imagine that the thing will outlast the next three shops that employ it.
I'm too poor for an air compressor for home, but I do like airing up tires,
so...
I have an old air brake compressor off a freightliner (I think) that I have
been using as an air compressor, on a generic steel tank. The system works
pretty good, not enough air to run all kinds of huge tools (3/4" or 1"
impact, air grinders, etc), but what I was thinking is hooking the pump up
to the rover's PTO, and putting the tank tucked up under the body sides,
away from possible bashing, then plumbing in some lines. Maybe stick some
air fittings through a little door in the side of the body.
Of course, the beauty of this is you can cut the compressor in and out with
the PTO lever, and to regulate the pressure, run a bleed off valve set at
120 psi. As pressure builds to maximum, all the excess is released into the
atmosphere, making crazy whooshing noises like air brake equipped buses.
Crazy whoosing noises at stoplights when stopping next to jeeps would be a
big plus for me.
Pssssshhhhhhtttt!
J-L
----- Original Message -----
From: RON WARD <ronward@synovustrust.com>
To: <lro@Works.Team.Net>
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2001 2:20 PM
Subject: Re: LRO: Air Compressors
> I'd planned to run 220 out to my garage if necessary. Right now I run a
'frig, and some lights off the residential 110v service from the house. I
suppose a compressor, even wimpy, would draw enough on the 110v to throw a
breaker inside the house. Is this true?
>
> >>> konacoffee2@hotmail.com 04/19/01 02:07PM >>>
> We have horse power and we have horse power. The old line manufactures
have
> a very conservative way of measuring horsepower. 2 horsepower on a Quincy
> or Ingersoll Rand are very close to the 5hp compressors advertised by
Sears,
> Coleman, Devilbiss, etc. Check the amperage draw not the horsepower.
That
> will tell you what the output really is. As a for instance, believe
Quincy
> makes a nice 2hp 20 gallon portable unit that has the same amperage draw
as
> the 5hp Sears compressors. Another plus of the Quincy is its a really
cool
> maroon color and runs very quiet. My old home quality Ingersoll
compressor
> was a 2hp and worked very well for my use. Even though it was rated at
2hp
> by IR, it looked uncannily like the 5hp DeVilbiss, etc.
>
> If you are buying a home quality compressor from a retail outlet, look for
> at least 5 hp. The larger the tank, the better but at least 20 gallons.
Do
> not buy the oil less compressors because they are very very noisy.
>
> The compressors from the big guys like IR are really nice and really
> expensive. Their smallest compressors typically start at around $800.
Not
> only are the compressor pumps and motors heavy duty, but the tanks are
> better, also. They also require at least 20 amps and possibly 30 amps at
> 220volts. Does your garage have the juice to power one of these
compressors
>
> Do you need all that fire power in a compressor for occasional home use.
> Probably not unless you are going to do a lot of sand blasting or other
use
> that requires the pump to be on continuously. I compromised on a $400
> Coleman 6.5hp, 15 amp, 220v, 60 gallon tank compressor. Doesn't cycle as
> much as a smaller tank compressor and has the pressure to power all but
the
> most hungry of power tools. Another plus is its stationary. Don't have
to
> worry about friends wanting to borrow it.
>
> Last but not least. The home compressors don't have a super high quality
> tank. There have been a few reports of rusting out from the inside on
> compressors that have not had the air bled off, when not in use. Release
> the air pressure after each use. It also drains moisture in the tank and
> should greatly extend the tank's life. I replaced the PITA pet cock with
a
> street elbow a short length of pipe (nipple) and a ball check valve to
make
> releasing the pressure very easy. From experience, found that getting
down
> on my hands and knees and groping under the tank to find the valve, then
> trying to remember which way it had to be turned to release pressure,
always
> going the wrong way, bruising my fingers in the process, didn't encourage
> releasing the pressure on a daily basis. The street elbow and nipple also
> act as a reservoir so small amounts of water doesn't pool at the bottom of
> the tank.
>
> Aloha
> Peter
>
>
> >From: "Hope Peter" <hope_peter@bah.com>
> >Reply-To: lro@works.team.net
> >To: <lro@Works.Team.Net>
> >Subject: Re: LRO: Air Compressors
> >Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 19:07:38 -1000
> >
> > > Alan Richer/CAM/Lotus wrote:
> > >
> > > > It's not like I have a wimpy compressor either - 1.5 Hp running on
220
> >is
> > > > more than adequate.
> > > ajr
> > > Sorry AJR 1.5hp isn't even as good as wimpy. Wimpy starts at 2.5hp.
This
> > > probably why you have never come to love airtools.
> > > John and Muddy
> >
> >Have to agree with that.
> >I am not saying that you need a 10hp cast pump mounted on a 120 gallon
> >tank,
> >but 1.5 sounds like a pancake compressor used by roofers.
> >
> >For a home shop I would recommend 5hp minimum and a 60 gallon tank.
> >Shooting paint, using a sand blaster, or running a die grinder or sander
> >will suck down air very fast, but for a hobbiest the above size will work
> >well. I only spray small bits and panels at the house, use the downdraft
> >paint booth over at Hickham for bigger jobs. Anyway I have a 6hp pump,
but
> >only a 40 gal tank and it works, and it's on wheels. But I plan on
getting
> >a bigger tank in the furture.
> >Pete
> >
>
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