Adventures with Air Compressors

[MoparTrucks]

At the beginning of last fall my el-cheapo 26 gal Job Smart air compressor that I got for about $65 at a yard sale (brand new, still in the box) blew the regulator all apart which also destroyed the cast manifold and the cheap pressure switch. I ended up getting a Kobalt 30 gallon (really happy with it) and just forgot about the Job Smart one.

Then I got offered a free Campbell Hausfeld 60 gallon compressor with a blown compressor motor free just for hauling it off and I think I am going to use it for a tandem tank for the Kobalt and move the whole lot up to my auto shop which leaves the other shop without air.

The damn broken Job Smart mocked me every time I went out into that shop so I cobbled together some pipe fittings from the Farm store, a Condor pressure switch from a Porter Cable compressor, a Campbell Hausfeld regulator, and a Sears replacement intake with filter to quiet the thing down some. Its has a 125psi tank and the pressure switch I bartered for was a 135 psi switch so I picked out the silicone from the adjusting screws and adjusted it.

The old Job Smart crappy compressor now works better than it did new and the 60 gallon tank for free was a plus...free is a good price. I just can't believe how much I have been dealing with compressors lately.

 

[theoldwizard1]

All of the "hobby" compressors use pretty much the same pressure switch, check valve, relief valve and regulator. These are readily available on eBay and are CHEAP !

You can almost always make up a manifold from a bunch of 1/4" brass plumbing parts. A couple of tees, some close *******, and elbows and you are done.

I have given up on teflon tape and other thread sealers and use Loctite 567 on air fittings. You do have to let it sit for awhile to get it to fully cure. After that you had better use a propane torch to heat it up or you will use twist brass or aluminum !

 

[MoparTrucks]

All of the "hobby" compressors use pretty much the same pressure switch, check valve, relief valve and regulator. These are readily available on eBay and are CHEAP !

You can almost always make up a manifold from a bunch of 1/4" brass plumbing parts. A couple of tees, some close *******, and elbows and you are done.

I have given up on teflon tape and other thread sealers and use Loctite 567 on air fittings. You do have to let it sit for awhile to get it to fully cure. After that you had better use a propane torch to heat it up or you will use twist brass or aluminum !

Yup, I am so cheap I can make $10 last for a month. The only thing I bought was a couple of pipe fitting adaptors. I bartered for the pressure switch (I traded an old axe for it) and the regulator I had from a job I did cleaning out an old barn (I got lots of useful stuff that the old boy let me take). I haven't made a manifold for the Job Smart yet and as you can see just have the single quick connect fitting screwed into the regulator; I'll probably borrow your idea and make one out of brass.

By the way, I have had excellent luck just using the white pipe dope on the fittings, no air leaks.

 

[Richard Cranium]

me also, I normally just use the Teflon tape around here.

 

[bigcreek]

Last summer I was working in the shop when I heard a loud bang/pop which also made a bright flash of light which about made me jump out of my skin. I look over toward the air compressor and the motor is on fire and it was a 5 hp Baldor so after spending almost $500 for a new motor I was back in shape. I to use teflon with good results.