I just had an air compressor score... that I might not be able to personally use.
So a good friend of mine is relocating his company to an old warehouse space. That space wasn't really empty when he moved in. A decent amount of junk was included. Three items caught my eye, two Coleman Powermate 80 gallon compressors and one Husky two stage 80 gallon compressor. None more than a decade old but all showing they weren't treated with kid gloves.
The property owner said they are scrap so my friend let me (well my father) take them away. Dad needs a new compressor. He used to have a true industrial compressor (I think it was a 5hp Champion 2 stage) but for the past decade or so has been using a 30 gallon, 2 hp thing. He's wanted to upgrade for a while but it was never at the top of the list. So a 12cfm, 80 gallon compressor was a nice treat! It turned out there was basically nothing wrong with the Husky other than some fittings that were leaking. Some of the leaks took a bit of effort to fix but for little more than the price of a 3/4" regulator he's now got a compressor that can really do any job he wants (including his blast cabinet).
The two Powermates may be harder luck cases. We haven't fired either one up yet. From the factory the Powermates are 3 cylinder single stage compressors delivering 14 CFM.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Powermate-80-Gal-Stationary-Electric-Air-Compressor-PLA4708065/202657515
So one of the compressors took a hit. The pressure switch pipe is broken off at the tank and the switch assembly is smashed. One of the heads has bent fins and a damaged air filter housing. I think that one is also missing the pipe from the pump to the check valve. If the pump and motor are good then we are looking at $50 or perhaps a bit more to replace the other damaged/missing parts.
The final compressor has a replacement pump. It appears to be a 3 hp Harbor Freight pump good for a claimed 11 cfm and 145 psi max. It actually looks like it was removed from service by people with tools vs people with a backhoe. Anyway, if it works it's got the power of a good $500 compressor but with an 80 gallon tank and a motor that will demand a 30 amp breaker instead of just a 20.
Getting even one 80 gallon "prosumer" compressor for free is a score. Getting 3 (even if only two work in the end) is a huge score. Hopefully I this weekend I can figure out if we have enough good parts to get one or both of the other units running. But I have a problem... I have no place nor the electrical wiring to support either of the Powermates! My current garage is tiny, detached and has just 20A, 120V service (in theory). I'm looking at a new garage this year so perhaps later one will find a home in my new garage (but that's going to be a new thread).
So a good friend of mine is relocating his company to an old warehouse space. That space wasn't really empty when he moved in. A decent amount of junk was included. Three items caught my eye, two Coleman Powermate 80 gallon compressors and one Husky two stage 80 gallon compressor. None more than a decade old but all showing they weren't treated with kid gloves.
The property owner said they are scrap so my friend let me (well my father) take them away. Dad needs a new compressor. He used to have a true industrial compressor (I think it was a 5hp Champion 2 stage) but for the past decade or so has been using a 30 gallon, 2 hp thing. He's wanted to upgrade for a while but it was never at the top of the list. So a 12cfm, 80 gallon compressor was a nice treat! It turned out there was basically nothing wrong with the Husky other than some fittings that were leaking. Some of the leaks took a bit of effort to fix but for little more than the price of a 3/4" regulator he's now got a compressor that can really do any job he wants (including his blast cabinet).
The two Powermates may be harder luck cases. We haven't fired either one up yet. From the factory the Powermates are 3 cylinder single stage compressors delivering 14 CFM.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Powermate-80-Gal-Stationary-Electric-Air-Compressor-PLA4708065/202657515
So one of the compressors took a hit. The pressure switch pipe is broken off at the tank and the switch assembly is smashed. One of the heads has bent fins and a damaged air filter housing. I think that one is also missing the pipe from the pump to the check valve. If the pump and motor are good then we are looking at $50 or perhaps a bit more to replace the other damaged/missing parts.
The final compressor has a replacement pump. It appears to be a 3 hp Harbor Freight pump good for a claimed 11 cfm and 145 psi max. It actually looks like it was removed from service by people with tools vs people with a backhoe. Anyway, if it works it's got the power of a good $500 compressor but with an 80 gallon tank and a motor that will demand a 30 amp breaker instead of just a 20.
Getting even one 80 gallon "prosumer" compressor for free is a score. Getting 3 (even if only two work in the end) is a huge score. Hopefully I this weekend I can figure out if we have enough good parts to get one or both of the other units running. But I have a problem... I have no place nor the electrical wiring to support either of the Powermates! My current garage is tiny, detached and has just 20A, 120V service (in theory). I'm looking at a new garage this year so perhaps later one will find a home in my new garage (but that's going to be a new thread).