David Hendley on wed 6 dec 00
After reading these detailed tips about air compressor
selection and use, I thought you might get a kick
out of hearing about my air compressor.
I may be the 'Junkyard Dawg' to Tony, but I've got nothing
on my neighbor, who built it for me.
The air storage tank is a small discarded electric water
heater tank. The actual tank only; the insulation and sheet
metal cover are gone. The heating elements are still
in place, but without the wiring, just to occupy the holes
where they are inserted.
The compressor is from a junked refrigerator. He welded
some little angle iron brackets on the tank to mount the
compressor. The coils are cut off of the compressor, and
a little piece of foam rubber is taped around the intake pipe
(the intake air filter). A piece of rubber hose runs from
the output pipe to the water inlet nipple of the water heater.
The power for the compressor runs first to an old pressure
switch from a well pump. This allows you to set the pressure
for when the compressor starts and stops. There is also
a pressure gauge from a pump.
A 20 foot outlet hose is clamped to the outlet nipple of the
tank. A quick-connect fitting on the other end allows quick
connection of a spray gun, tire inflating fitting, or whatever
you need.
I completed the project by mounting it in a 'little red wagon', so
it can be wheeled where needed. It just happened that my
kids had outgrown the wagon at just that time, and didn't want
it any more.
This is a 'low volume' air compressor. It takes a good 5 minutes
to go from 0 to 80 p.s.i.
I don't spray a lot of glazes, but it is perfectly adequate for
what I do with my 'Critter' spray gun.
This compressor will not work for an application that requires
a lot of air for a long period. It is not suitable for sandblasting
or applying ITC to a large kiln. You end up having to wait several
minutes for it to catch up every 15 seconds.
Support your local junkyard,
--
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com/
Kenneth D. Westfall on wed 6 dec 00
For all who like to tinker and use those great found junkyard jewels. In
reading Davids posting about building a air compressor I fail to see one
extremely important and frequently missed Item. A Pop Off safety valve
that will automatically release excess pressure. Electric control can and
will fail, leaving the compressor running till it build up pressure enough
to rupture any tank. Pop Off valve are factory set to open at a specified
pressure and stay open till the pressure drops . I seen the results of a
tank rupture and you don't want to go there.
Kenneth D. Westfall
Pine Hill Pottery
R.D. #2 Box 6AA
Harrisville, WV 26362
pinehill@ruralnet.org
http://www.pinehillpottery.com
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