Who Knows About Air Compressors?

[VB-]

hey guys, just saw on another forum that those cheapies are down to $77 (the ones from supercheap auto). now what i want to know, is there any way to run both in parralel to one air line. maybe have each reg on the compressor, run hose from each comp to an external reg, then a single hose from that to tools/spray gun etc.

now what i need to know, does such a thing exist, the two in, one out reg? i would still like to leave to two regs on the compressor becaause i dont want to rely on any hose to hold full pressure from the tank, would like to have reg on the tank, maybe set them both 10psi above the 3rd, in line reg?

any idea on current draw also (hard tof ind date on the cheapies)? i've heard there can be issues with tripping switches if they both turn on at once, not sucha big issue for me, just worried about overall current draw?

cheers,

Ben

[Stinky Rooster]

Exactly what are you trying to acheive though?

Flow or pressure?

[stolly]

Ditch the regs. that come with the cheap compressors, run an air hose out of each tank into a brass threaded 'T' piece, screw a decent reg. into the other side of the 'T', and one outlet from there to your tools etc

[VB-]

Exactly what are you trying to acheive though?

Flow or pressure?

flow + tank capacity. mainly a decent free-air delivery rate, at a reasonable price (ie i'm a cheap motherf*cker)

i could run hose between the tanks and then a reg, but im just worried about running such high pressure through hose, i prefer to have low pressure through the hoses only... probly more a mental thing than anything, im sure you can get decent high pressure hose, but it'd still make me nervous lol

Edited May 14, 2008 by VB-

[benm]

Just some questions...

What are some decent brands on the cheaper end of the market?

What CFM is required for the common air tools?

Belt driven or direct drive and why?

[W0rp3D]

flow + tank capacity. mainly a decent free-air delivery rate, at a reasonable price (ie i'm a cheap motherf*cker)

i could run hose between the tanks and then a reg, but im just worried about running such high pressure through hose, i prefer to have low pressure through the hoses only... probly more a mental thing than anything, im sure you can get decent high pressure hose, but it'd still make me nervous lol

i have considered buying a couple of these second hand, pulling the motors off them and putting them on a gas tank from the wreckers, that way you would get the volume and the same pressure, maybe even change the gearing on the motors as well so it will fill the tank quicker.

[Stinky Rooster]

i have considered buying a couple of these second hand, pulling the motors off them and putting them on a gas tank from the wreckers, that way you would get the volume and the same pressure, maybe even change the gearing on the motors as well so it will fill the tank quicker.

For the love of crumbcake, DONT mess with these little cheap compressors, especially with changing gearing. They are not built for it and can blow up if messed with. Also, gas tanks use a completely different set of connections to compressed air, and this is for a very good reason. They are not meant to deal with the amount of water and thus rust that a compressed air system will generate.

If you are setting this up in a garage, a neat trick I used a few times in setting up compressors that were a little small, was to hardline the recievers to a ring main - ie a steel pipe running the circumfrence of the workshop that acts as a secondary reciever. You could easily put 2 cheap compressors in the circuit, with a cheap and simple reg between the compressor and the ring main, and then just bung in a couple of take off points.

Few things to consider when you do this, make sure the ring main isn't mounted dead flat, and have at least one drop leg at the lowest point for condensation collection.

Only ever take your air points from the top of the ring main to avoid any excess water getting to your tools.

Only use screwed fittings, not welded as they are a LOT less likely to sufer catastrophic failure (go bang) and are much easier to seal.

Use a QUALITY air dryer/lubrication set up AFTER the ring main. Don't go cheap here, as it will just cost you money and heartache when all your air tools start crapping themselves.

Make sure you drain both the tanks and ring main at the end of every day.

[W0rp3D]

For the love of crumbcake, DONT mess with these little cheap compressors, especially with changing gearing. They are not built for it and can blow up if messed with.

thats just an even better reason to try it

Use a QUALITY air dryer/lubrication set up AFTER the ring main. Don't go cheap here, as it will just cost you money and heartache when all your air tools start crapping themselves.

Make sure you drain both the tanks and ring main at the end of every day.

maybe use a dryer set up from a truck, they have a filter between the air compresor and the tank used for the air brakes.

[VB-]

whats the go with fitting more storage space, ie a gas tank? surely you could buy screw in adapters to make it all work without doing anything dodgy/dangerous?

[Stinky Rooster]

whats the go with fitting more storage space, ie a gas tank? surely you could buy screw in adapters to make it all work without doing anything dodgy/dangerous?

Not really, CNG and Nat Gas actually use their very own thread form to stop people from using the wrong spec fittings in them. Ever noticed how your BBQ gas bottle has a left hand thread...?

If this is definately the way you want to go, try an air tank out of a truck braking system or something similar.

[VB-]

yeah where would i look for something like that? dont really know of any truck wreckers, but im assuming thats all i'd need to find?

with LPG bottles, you should be able to get a fitting from somewhere, maybe just butcher one up?

semi-on-topic... i got a couple of fittings around to fill BBQ bottles with LPG (dont tell me it cant be done, im sick of hearing it, BBQ has been rejetted to suit), one of em even looks like a factory bit (ie not butchered). are automotive LPG bottles the same as BBQ ones? i cant think of any other possible place that it would come from?

[MBS206]

The air hoses will hold full tank pressure with out going bang.

We run ours at tank pressure of 180PSi.