60/80 Gallon Air Compressor Question

[Jeep Monkey RTR]

I saw a post where someone mentioned taking a water heater tank and building an air compressor with a Harbor Freight Pump and 5hp motor. Now, I’m not interested in using a water heater tank but if you had the ability to get a genuine air compressor tank at a low cost, Would you outfit it the same way? Trying get the biggest bang for the buck I like his creativity.


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[hans109h]

If you're getting a good deal on a tank then use the money you save to get a decent head. I don't have anything against the HF pump,but I've never used one. I'm sure there are quieter, more effecient units around though.


Whatever you decide, be safe and don't use a tank that isn't rated for the pressures you are using it at.

H

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[The Cobbler]

the bits & pcs can add up quickly to near new cost.
just as an example
tank $200
Pump $200
belts/ pulleys $75
Motor $250
pressure switch $30
misc plumbing $30
belt sheild $ 30
and there's more

 

[Doc1976]

the bits & pcs can add up quickly to near new cost.
just as an example
tank $200
Pump $200
belts/ pulleys $75
Motor $250
pressure switch $30
misc plumbing $30
belt sheild $ 30
and there's more

what he said.
seriously, just fork out the $1000-$1500 or so and get a good new one. you will be happier in the long run. look into C-AIRE, I got one almost two years ago and couldn't be happier with it.

 

[themiller]

IR SS3L3 3HP 60 Gallon is usually $700ish. I got the 5HP version. Love mine. Got it used, I think it's about 13 years old. Use it about once a week.

 

[Poodlehead]

I bought a 2 stage Bellaire probably 15 years ago. Wasn't cheap, but reasonable, and never regretted it...

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[Jeep Monkey RTR]

Thanks for the responses. I assumed that would be the case but was curious if a built unit could exceed the performance (cfm output) of a purchased unit at similar price point.


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[joe_padavano]

My experience was a little different. I sourced a used 80 gal compressor tank for $75. Got a RolAir K30 pump for $150 (23 SCFM). Bought a brand new Leesom 7.5 HP single phase motor for about $500. Throw in the little parts (mag starter, new blow off valve, new check valve, and piping parts) and I'm still at about half the cost of a brand new compressor with the same flow rate.

 

[bczygan]

Find an old school horizontal 60Gal 5HP 3PH for cheap (I got a Speedaire for $100) and switch out the 3PH motor for a used 1PH. (Usually $250 or so). Might take a bit to find the 1PH motor, but worth the wait.

Bill

 

[Lenny B]

I recently went down the same road you are. In the end, the cost to piece a unit together versus buying a brand new unit (same pump and motor) is so close, it doesn't make money sence to piece it together. In my case I bought a good used Kellogg 80 gallon tank for $150. I priced an Eaton 5HP Inline Two Stage w/flywheel for $550. The 5HP NIDEC or comprairable motor for $400. The motor Pulley $50. Belts $50. Pressure switch, starter, air lines, etc.... easy $150+. A brand new complete unit with warrenty sells for $1600. I would decide what your needs are and then shop for the best deal for a brand new complete unit.

 

[Citation]

I've got some experience with the HF 3hp pump. It's flow numbers aren't impressive (10cfm, 145 psi max) but it's reasonably quiet. Do keep in mind that much of the pump noise is related to the air intake design.

 

[HarrisFD]

I bought a dead 80 gallon IR T-30 (2475) with a cracked flywheel off Craigslist for $150. I sold the 3-phase baldor motor for $200, then spent about $800 rebuilding the pump, buying a new single phase baldor motor and new flywheel. Runs great and it was a pretty easy build. Sold my nearly new chicom 80 gallon porter cable and kept the IR , quieter, more air, and I can get parts almost anywhere.

Point is, it can be pretty cost effective to just rebuild a older industrial grade compressor that has components engineered to work together rather than piece one together.

 

[Lucid Moments]

I wonder how much could be gained by someone knowledgeable working over an inexpensive compressor. Porting and polishing. Port matching etc. I would note that I am not the knowledgeable one to do this. Never done any of that kind of work but I know power can be made in an internal combustion engine with that kind of work so it stands to reason that airflow gains could be made in a compressor.

 

[TonyJ]

I wonder how much could be gained by someone knowledgeable working over an inexpensive compressor. Porting and polishing. Port matching etc. I would note that I am not the knowledgeable one to do this. Never done any of that kind of work but I know power can be made in an internal combustion engine with that kind of work so it stands to reason that airflow gains could be made in a compressor.

If something is being majorly restrictive then yes a little gain could be made but also you have to remember that a pump can only put out the same amount of air that it can take in. Combustion engine that is worked over has gains because of combustion, air compressors have no combustion therefore won’t see the same kind of gains. Easier flowing and lower running temperatures sure but higher flow rates minimal at best


Tony

 

[sberry]

There is a lot of safety engineered in to a listed comp, some little stuff so simple often overlooked. All this makes me wonder, I am going to look back at a unit I built way back.

 

[908Jim]

I wonder how much could be gained by someone knowledgeable working over an inexpensive compressor. Porting and polishing. Port matching etc. I would note that I am not the knowledgeable one to do this. Never done any of that kind of work but I know power can be made in an internal combustion engine with that kind of work so it stands to reason that airflow gains could be made in a compressor.

Very little. Ultimately, you're limited by physics (e.g. - the amount of "work" required to compress the air) and the pump engineers that all these chinese pumps are cloned from determined that it's easier to just make the valves larger than having to worry about squeezing every last drop of performance out of the system.

There's a reason you wont find a 15amp 120v compressor that puts out more than 5 to 6 cfm@90 psi. Unless you can start making frictionless pumps and somehow prevent heat transfer, this number will never change.

 

[908Jim]

The only way I'd do this is if I had an existing pump that was so valuable that a new compressor for the cost of the remaining components simply couldn't compare.

Basically any US made pressure lube pump in working order would be a decent place to start.