I have been picking up pieces to build a larger compressor for many months now. I started with a small US Air compressor that I got for free along the side of the road (just had to add oil to the pump).
Then I found a nice vertical tank for $15. I liked the vertical tank better, so I put my pump and motor on this new tank.
Then I found an Emglo L pump on craigslist for $50 and a 3hp GE motor for $50.
The motor is 3475rpm, so I had a hard time finding the right pulley with the right bore, but I ended up finding a pulley that gives me about 870 rpm at the pump.
Hooked it up to the breaker box for a test run. I only had one belt, so it started to slip when it started to build pressure, plus the plywood flexed a little and lost tension on the belt. Should be good with 2 belts.
Cleaned the pump and motor up and gave them some paint.
Now I just need to mount them to the tank and plumb them up. The tank is only 30 gallons. I will keep my eye out for a larger tank on CL, but the smaller tank is good enough for my basement workshop for now.
My questions so far:
The check valve on the tank has a 3/8" ID compression connection. The discharge pipe from the pump is 1/2" ID. Will I lose a lot through the smaller check valve and adapter fittings? Should I up size it?
The data sheet for the pump shows that I should have around 19 cfm at 150 psi with a 3hp motor. Does this seem realistic? That seems high for 3hp, but that's what the paper says.
Then I found a nice vertical tank for $15. I liked the vertical tank better, so I put my pump and motor on this new tank.
Then I found an Emglo L pump on craigslist for $50 and a 3hp GE motor for $50.
The motor is 3475rpm, so I had a hard time finding the right pulley with the right bore, but I ended up finding a pulley that gives me about 870 rpm at the pump.
Hooked it up to the breaker box for a test run. I only had one belt, so it started to slip when it started to build pressure, plus the plywood flexed a little and lost tension on the belt. Should be good with 2 belts.
Cleaned the pump and motor up and gave them some paint.
Now I just need to mount them to the tank and plumb them up. The tank is only 30 gallons. I will keep my eye out for a larger tank on CL, but the smaller tank is good enough for my basement workshop for now.
My questions so far:
The check valve on the tank has a 3/8" ID compression connection. The discharge pipe from the pump is 1/2" ID. Will I lose a lot through the smaller check valve and adapter fittings? Should I up size it?
The data sheet for the pump shows that I should have around 19 cfm at 150 psi with a 3hp motor. Does this seem realistic? That seems high for 3hp, but that's what the paper says.
