Do you have to bolt an air compressor to something?

[mike758]

I bought a 60 gallon vertical Husky air compressor, and had to take it off the skid to fit it under the shelf I put it under. I don't want to bolt it to the concrete because I may have to occasionally move it a little bit, but the instruction manual says you must bolt it down and people online say you have to bolt it down. The thing is though, I've been running it as is and it hasn't been walking and vibrations have been minimal, I also don't have kids to climb on it. I was thinking of putting a rubber mat under it just to dampen the vibrations, but do I have to bolt it down?

 

[James-W]

Well, those things have the motor and the compressor mounted on top, which means they are very top heavy. If it should fall over and someone is in the way, there could be some serious injuries.

 

[BlkSlvrdo129]

Don't have to bolt it down, I have mine on rubber pads and it doesn't move a bit. You can knock into a vertical one and it can fall and injure someone, which is why it's safest to bolt it to the ground, but that's just a cautionary warning.

 

[md21722]

Nope - do not need to bolt it down. Some vibration pads ($7/ea) or a rubber mat would be fine.

 

[larry_g]

Bolting down is a safety thing, not necessary for operation. That said if it is near the wall where it is convenient then run a strap around it that is connected to the wall. Doesn't have to be tight, just contained as you would a acetylene cylinder.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[redmondjp]

You can also use a seismic restraint kit intended for a water tank, or some plumber's tape to secure the top of the compressor to an adjacent wall. My 60-gallon upright compressor has been on its original pallet for the past 27 years (moved 3 times in that period) and it's never been bolted down. Right now there are a couple hundred pounds of scrap steel using the dead spaces around the tank, so that does help to keep it stationary

 

[BonzoHansen]

My 80g is sitting on leaf spring bushings. Its never moved, but it sits under some built in wooden shevling so i cabled it to the shelving and a wall stud. But it has never moved. And its way quieter than my old oiless one, and also quieter than when i had this one bolted to the floor.

Never mind the mess. Stupid ipad, sorry about the sideways pic.

 

[gungatim]

I bolted mine to hockey pucks. works great.

 

[Cope]

Mine is attached to the pallet it came on 27 years ago. Been thinking about pads but haven't done it yet.

 

[Cahark]

It will probably be OK if you don't bolt it down. However, if you did want to bolt it down and retain that it would be easily movable you could use wedge type machine screw anchors. You're basically installing a thread into the concrete so when you remove the bolt you can easily slide whatever you want to move out of the way. There are no studs sticking up whatsoever.

 

[MikeF2316]

I would suggest restraining it to prevent it from falling over. Putting something under the feet to absorb vibrations, if possible, is a good idea too.

 

[toyotadriver]

Mine is also on the original pad it came on. Definitely makes it more stable.

 

[jptbay]

I bolted mine to hockey pucks. works great.

Hockey pucks here too ($1 each). 60 gallon upright 5hp. Carriage bolts up through the bottom of the puck and tightened enough to countersink. Doesn't move.

Game on.

 

[ttpete]

Mine sits on 3 Ford Taurus liquid filled transmission mounts. They have a stud attached to the top and I used nuts to secure them to the feet.

 

[BobsurUncle]

Once you accidently pull it over with the hose, you'll wish you had bolted it down.

 

[usa#1]

As others have said, bolt it to a pallet. There is no way it will fall over if the pallet is a decent size .

 

[Marctrees]

Just tie off to wall. Marc

 

[vettex2]

None of mine are bolted down. I have 3 "big" ones.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

Mine is attached to the pallet it came on 27 years ago. Been thinking about pads but haven't done it yet.

so is mine, I think it's been 21 years