rlitman
Well-known member
The end caps are generally made from thicker steel. Also, with a vertical tank, the weld isn't sitting underwater as it is in a horizontal tank. That's why I prefer vertical tanks.
Reminder : Drain your air compressor tank !
- Thread starter theoldwizard1
- Start date
The end caps are generally made from thicker steel. Also, with a vertical tank, the weld isn't sitting underwater as it is in a horizontal tank. That's why I prefer vertical tanks.
lbhsbz
Well-known member
What type of compressor do you have so I can make sure to avoid that brand? 10 year lifespan for a compressor tank seems absurdly ******.
welder4956
Well-known member
Please post a photo of the sticker. I have not seen this before.
I would think that if someone was worried about corrosion the tank could be hydrostatic pressure tested at 10 year intervals to 1.5 times the MAWP stamped on the nameplate, the same way that compressed gas cylinders for welding are tested.
The Fall
Well-known member
No one at the cabinet shop has ever thought about this issue. I know some of those compressors are from the early 1990s because my dad bought them new. They're still going strong and everyone is still alive. People regularly drain them, although they're transitioning away from pneumatic tools. It's the table saws that have done some damage. (Knocks on wood.) If you've been around cabinetry for more than twenty years, you lose a lot of the bravado because you've seen top-tier guys get injured. That's why I use SawStop table saws. It was always table saws and installers getting hurt on ladders. God, the former was the worst.
This is a good thread. It reminded me to check and drain water from my compressor. It is a 60 gallon Quincy, about 4 years old. I have drained it before, but should do it again. Easy to forget when about, when you don't use something a lot.
Rich1028
Well-known member
why do they not make them from Aluminum?
or even coat the insides to prevent rusting?
or even coat the insides to prevent rusting?
danski0224
Well-known member
Go to a big box store and look at just about any compressor, and you will see these "end of life" stickers.
sberry
Banned
Because failure is so rare. 100000 people die in cars and on motorcycles for every compressor accident. Maybe more.
It's a cheap Porter Cable. I'm sure the tank sticker is a liability thing more than anything else considering there's tons of similar grade compressors out there still in service much longer than that. The average person probably does not drain a tank ever. I've removed gallons of water from some in the past...
Not my picture, but the same exact sticker printed on a Dewalt compressor:
https://pixl.varagesale.com/http://...arge_uploader_thumbnail&w=640&h=640&fit=crop&
dutchgray
Well-known member
My cynical mind would suggest its actually a "We want to sell another compressor even though the last on is still good" sticker, though it may limit their liability if a real old one does blow up.
I don't like horizontal tanks although I have a couple small portable ones, much prefer a vertical, there is an old (1958) vertical at work, which is now the spare as there is a much higher output modern compressor that does most of the work, but its an English branded T30 pump on a tank made out 1/4" boiler plate with 5/16" ends, pressure tested to over 400 psi, runs on the slow end, quiet and you can run it all day without issues.
driz
Well-known member
Just stick an autodrain on it and let her go. Nothing to see but a stain on the floor. Cheap and simple is a great combination
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Good idea. I'll have to add that.
sberry
Banned
I see this thead for a few days, meant to do it but got distracted. Sanded and painted a big job a couple weeks ago. Keep posting, maybe I will remember.
oldmachinenut
Well-known member
Attachments
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lakeroadster
Well-known member
Some are press formed and some are spun from plate on custom machines. Some of the really big heads are welded together.
Check out this video:
http://brightontruedge.com/
Here's my 1993 Craftsman DeVilbiss. Should I be worried - it's 27 years old (my how time flies. I remember buying it brand new. Seems like yesterday).
If you don't have the means or desire to hydrotest just bash it in a few spots with a hammer. If its compromised it will crumple like a piece of sheet metal. Tanks that rip open violently are so thinned out you could of put a screwdriver through it.
sberry
Banned
Remind me again tomorrow to drain, forgot already.
CGT80
Well-known member
Manchester tanks can be bought from McMaster's with an epoxy lining. When I replaced a 1947 Westinghouse tank, I opted for the unlined version but installed a timed drain valve that opens when it is first powered. It is tied to the pressure switch on the compressor so that it drains every time the compressor runs, but never when the compressor is shut off. This is great for home or occasional use. My 5hp 80gal Westinghouse compressor is set to drain for 45 seconds at each cycle. It is plenty to keep up with any moisture, I can hear it working without ever having to check on it, and it never bothers me when I'm not working in the garage. Win, win. Also, I added spacers between the casters and horizontal tank, on my two, so the tank slopes slightly to the drain.
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American Locomotive
Well-known member
A buddy of mine bought a brand new Husky 60 gallon from Home Depot ~3 years ago, and it doesn't have one.
If would cost them another few dollars they don't want to spend.
sberry
Banned
They make premium compressors where a "few dollars" wouldn't be a deal breaker. Still don't do it.
Then I'm stumped.
Wrench97
Well-known member
And when the coating starts to flake off and plug up air tools/fittings/hoses...............
This ^^^
And I imagine that tanks lasting a few life times would put them out of business. Sales ya know?
I went and looked at a used 60 gallon Speedaire a while back and I asked how it was used and if it was ever painted with. Seller didn't use it much so he loaned it to his buddys dad who used it in his shop. Didn't think that anyone ever painted with it.
I asked him to pop the drain on the bottom and it started gushing white milky water... Never painted anything white with it right? Air filter was also white. No thank you, good luck with your sale! Looked like his buddies dad wasn't all that honest with him. I felt bad about his garage floor and the big white stain he now has to deal with.
Went through that when i had a pressure relief area for rebuilding relief valves. Inspector would pass through every 2 years, also check the compressors. We sold the relief pressure side of the valve business. When i dismantled all the tanks for the guy who bought everything. Rust sludge was pouring out. The look on his face was like
American Locomotive
Well-known member
Almost every compressor I've ever drained has water that came out looking milky. It's going to happen - especially from the dissimilar metals in the compressor system. (Copper, aluminum, brass, etc...).
I'm also not sure why using a compressor to paint would matter at all? So what if there was some paint in the air-filter. That's what it is there for.
Industrial steel tanks are epoxy coated inside all the time without having a problem for decades. It's just you have to properly clean and prep the tank before applying a coating. It takes time and costs money.
sberry
Banned
Ok, I finally did it!
4 FN 27
ALLIANCE MEMBER
driz
Well-known member
Thanks sberry.
Now I can quit checking the Obits and I will sleep better tonight.
So was it an ounce or a gallon[emoji1786]. Inquiring minds just gotta know[emoji3061]
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Agreed. It's not uncommon to see a slight milky white color when draining the water. It's the condensation mixing with oil in the tank. A bit of oil from the pump will get into the tank. Not sure how milky the water was, if excessive then there may be excessive blow by but some is normal.
I would be more concerned seeing the drained water a rusty color than whiteish.
engineer2
Well-known member
When I work in a factory in the 70's, we noticed the air compressor was cycling more frequently than usual. Found out nobody had drained the tank for about a year. I filled one and a half 55 gallon drums. It was probably a 120 gallon tank. Ironically, we manufactured air dryers (which was after the compressor) and timed drain traps. I think we added a drain trap to the compressor after that.
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sberry
Banned
I am not sure how much came out since I have it all plumbed to a common hose thru the wall and I can't see it.
wafrederick
Well-known member
I do this after use with my little portable one.
4 FN 27
ALLIANCE MEMBER
sberry you better check the septic tank. Probably full. You don’t want that to explode.
Sounds like the last time I ate cheap Mexican food...
PhantomEB
Well-known member
I drain mine in fall and in the spring religiously when I swap tires and do maintenance on the fleet. Lines also got driers and filters.
4 FN 27
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Back in the early 80's I worked in a shop that had a 250 Gallon Accumulator Tank mounted on the Ceiling. It had one of those Football shaped auto-drains on it plumbed with 1/2 inch Copper to a drain along a wall. The drip end was always dry.
One day a guy hooked up an Air Grinder to a drop along the wall and all he got was water. We dumped the air system and pulled the auto drain off. The Tank was half full of water. Who knows how long it had ben that way.
New auto drain and everything was good.
The Compressed Air system there sucked. They had a 100 HP Sulliscrew Compressor. I bet 50% of the air was created to fill leaks. All black iron pipe.