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Building an air compressor?

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GeneMO

12-23-2007 16:36:59




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Saw a twin cyl. compressor at Harbor Freight and it gave me an idea. I have a good 5 HP elec. motor on a silo unloader that is no longer used. If I could come across a good sized tank I would have the major components for a large compressed air system. Any thoughts?

I would be a little afraid of a Chinese compressor from Harbor Freight. It was less than $200. Can an American one be had reasonably?

I have two smaller compressors for tires etc, but I would like to sand blast, do a little painting and be able to get some basic air tools. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks, Gene

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GeneMO

12-25-2007 20:59:29




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to GeneMO, 12-23-2007 16:36:59  
Man I got a lot of ideas out of this one post!!!


Thanks, Gene



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NcNE

12-24-2007 17:51:32




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to GeneMO, 12-23-2007 16:36:59  
Gene, from past experience I would recommend taking into account the amount of water your compressor puts out. A drainage and filtration system is a must. If you're thinking of putting in an air system for your shop definately gooseneck connections and make drain points at the outlets as well. Hope this helps.



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335LP

12-24-2007 09:02:47




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to GeneMO, 12-23-2007 16:36:59  
Saw someone mentioned Surplus Center good place to look too. You will probably find none are really made here anymore on pumps. We have a local electric motor repair shop that sells most any compressor you could want and aftermarket parts for less than others so that's where I go. He tells the truth where they are really made and that part was disappointing. You find might a dealer like that local too just asking around some. I've seen many use old anhydrous ammonia or propane tanks for larger air storage and compressors but you need to do it right and pay attention to work ratings of tanks and keep your working pressure below that on the safety cutoff switch. Need at least one preferrably two or more safety pop off valves on larger tanks. A inlet check valve also. Best to have a tank with a fitting for bottom moisture drain too. Yes Grainger sells new replacement tanks and compressor parts too. I found a nice newer Speedaire tank cheap from a military surplus contractor and used it. The motor was gone off it and pump had thrashed but the rest was almost new.

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old

12-23-2007 21:00:52




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to GeneMO, 12-23-2007 16:36:59  
Gene, BTDT a few times. If you still have my phone number call me and I can tell you how if it can be done. If you don't have my number e-mail me and I'll give it to you again. I'd tell you here but I don't want the flack from others about how I do it and what I use to do it. I have also toyed with calling you and stopping by a few times when I was up in Columbia

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KEB1

12-23-2007 20:37:59




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to GeneMO, 12-23-2007 16:36:59  
Don't have any experience with harbor fright compressors, but there's a couple things you might want to check on the motor before you get in too deep. First, compressors turn in the opposite direction of most everything else. Not a problem if the motor is reversible, otherwise you may have to be a little creative in mounting it so the compressor turns the right way. Second, compressors take significant torque to start, even with an unloader. Just make sure its a capacitor start motor and you should be fine.

Also, check the actual horsepower requirements for whatever compressor pump you select. Most consumer compressors are rated at peak power, not running power. For example, the maximum you can run on a 20 amp, 120 volt circuit is a little over two horsepower, but yet you routinely see compressors advertised as "3.5 hp" that run on 120 volts. Running a bigger motor isn't a problem.

Keith

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iowa_tire_guy

12-23-2007 19:55:21




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to GeneMO, 12-23-2007 16:36:59  
Surplus center has compressors that are pretty good.



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Gerald J.

12-23-2007 18:49:54




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to GeneMO, 12-23-2007 16:36:59  
Last I looked W.W. Grainger had all the parts you need sold separately, but the individual parts even with the "free" motor may cost more than a whole assembly on sale at HF or one of the home centers or car part stores (maybe even a farm store).

Gerald J.



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TractormanNC

12-23-2007 17:46:55




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to GeneMO, 12-23-2007 16:36:59  

Don't forget a safety relief valve. We want you and your posts around a while longer.



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John T

12-23-2007 17:32:16




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to GeneMO, 12-23-2007 16:36:59  
Gene, Ive built a few so dont forget when you start plumbing from the compressor to the receiver to use an unloader (if not already so equipped) so when the motor starts its NOT looking at high pressure and a check valve. I bought parts from Graingers n as I recall they sell a Combination Load Genie which is an unloader PLUS a check valve. Dont forget to isolate vibration by air line loops or flexible hose etc. I think the Graingers catalog has diagrams n specs etce as to what HP a certain compressor requires and CFM n Horsepower requiirments and they sell pressure switches n alllll lll that neat stuff. That motor you have is likely a capacitor start for high torque start requirements n dont forget motor thermal overload protection n a plug n cord connection or a disconnect at the unit.

Theres alllll l kinda stuff to think over but its a funnnnn project

John T

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glennster

12-23-2007 17:22:40




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to GeneMO, 12-23-2007 16:36:59  
gene where you at in missouri ? i might have what you are looking for. got a 120 gallon horizontal compressor, i think its a quincy, 4 cylinder pump, but the pump needs rebuilding.it has either a 7.5 or 10 hp 220 motor also. tank is good. its buried somewhere in my barn. i'm up towards chicago. if you get up this way anytime lemme know, i can dig it out and load it up for ya.



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comfortking

12-24-2007 04:32:23




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to glennster, 12-23-2007 17:22:40  
I have often thought of building a compressor out of a big cube gas motor. I thought I would use a motor with a manual 4 speed and hook it to the pto on a tractor. I think with the trans. in first you could run the engine at 2000 rpms or so. Removing the push rod from the exhaust valve would keep it closed and the intake valve would work normal. I would need to put check valves in all of the spark plug holes to keep compressed air out. This unit would be good for blasting and other high volume jobs. Not a shop compressor. Will this work?

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shannon from ohio

12-24-2007 15:47:07




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to comfortking, 12-24-2007 04:32:23  
If you build one from a "reciprocating" (car or truck engine),You need to divert the intake air somehow so it don't put gasoline vapors in the system from the cylinders your using? Because as long as the intake valve opens and closes on a carbureted engine,those cylinders for compressing air will draw in raw gasoline "UNBURNED which can become EXPLOSIVE!!"



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Chris(WA)

12-24-2007 09:12:32




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to comfortking, 12-24-2007 04:32:23  
Yes. I have seen set ups with a V-8 running on four and pumping on 4,four cyl driving a 4 cyl on a common crankshaft, V-8 used as an 8 cylinder compressor and vacuum pump driven by a truck pto and a four cyl engine driven by an electric motor. Not sure where they came up with the cams and valving but they all worked well.



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Chris(WA)

12-24-2007 09:45:11




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to Chris(WA), 12-24-2007 09:12:32  
Schramm! That was the name of the outfit that builds them.



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bva

12-24-2007 05:18:02




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 Re: Building an air compressor? in reply to comfortking, 12-24-2007 04:32:23  
Just set her up to run on 4 and pump on 4 . Many a big compressor is set up this way. there are kits out to convert one bank of the VW motor to pump and it puts out a lot of air.



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