Air Compressor - volume expansion?

[m151dave]

I have a Craftsman 33 gallon vertical tank compressor. I am in the process of building out my workshop/man cave and got to thinking about running the air lines around the shop. I am planning to have at least 5 drops scattered about the work areas.

Would there be any value added to expanding the volume of air available to the system by adding a second tank just after the compressor?

I have always had trouble with the compressor keeping up with sanding, etc. and wondered if this might do the trick.

 

[m151dave]

This is what I use my shop for.

 

[larry_g]

If your compressor cannot keep up with you sanding then more tank will not help. If you now sand for 5 minutes and wait for 5 minutes, adding a tank may allow you to sand for 10 minutes and wait for 10 minutes. Don't quote the numbers as exact but the ratio still applies. Once your compressor kicks on your relying on the compressor to deliver the air, not the reserve supply in the tank.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[BFBOB]

Yes and no. I'm in your situation, but my undersized pump resides on an 80gal tank. It lets me keep using high-demand tools longer, but then the pump-up time is correspondingly longer. Put another way, the "duty cycle" is the same percentage, but the work and wait times are longer. Whether that's a benefit to you is something you'll have to decide for yourself.

OTOH, if you can get a good deal on a used tank, hook it up and don't like it, you should have no trouble reselling it.

Another wrinkle is the amount of air residing in your piping. 3/4" pipe adds a gallon for every 42'; bump it to 1" and it's a gallon for every 23'. 1 1/2" would only need 10' to add a gallon. That could add up depending on the size of your building, and even be cost effective if you have a source of free or salvaged pipe.

 

[m151dave]

BFBob
Thanks for that info. I had not considered that. "Duty Cycle" is a good phrase for it.

Larry G also got me to thinking. While adding more volume I am also increasing the amount of time the compressor runs to top of.

I am trying to find a source now for salvage pipe to cut costs.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

If you have room and a different electrical circuit you can plumb a second compressor in. I used two portable compressors, a gas and an electric, plumbed into an 80 gallon tank. I've since found out that I didn't need the 80 gal. tank. But it worked great and I always had a portable handy.

Richard

 

[Waggoner72]

I have a Craftsman 33 gallon vertical tank compressor. I am in the process of building out my workshop/man cave and got to thinking about running the air lines around the shop. I am planning to have at least 5 drops scattered about the work areas.



Would there be any value added to expanding the volume of air available to the system by adding a second tank just after the compressor?



I have always had trouble with the compressor keeping up with sanding, etc. and wondered if this might do the trick.

I am looking at buying a craftsman 33 gallon vertical, oil less, 1.6hp. How do you like yours? Is it loud? Sorry to jack your thread, was just curious.

My vote would be the same as previously stated, adding an extra tank wouldn't help due to the longer refill time required.



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[DekeT]

I have a Craftsman 33 gallon vertical tank compressor. I am in the process of building out my workshop/man cave and got to thinking about running the air lines around the shop. I am planning to have at least 5 drops scattered about the work areas.

Would there be any value added to expanding the volume of air available to the system by adding a second tank just after the compressor?

I have always had trouble with the compressor keeping up with sanding, etc. and wondered if this might do the trick.

It may help dry up the air somewhat. Beyond that, no.

 

[sberry]

It would be easier than adding several sections of pipe to get a gallon. Some additional tank helps, not so much mathematically but stretches out the duty cycle long enough to accomplish the task at hand. It allows the comp to run longer, a thrifty operator can keep it running steady just below its shut off pressure and instead of shutting off just as soon as the small tank fills which means idle time and that it has to drop to cut in before the pump starts it can add a lot of time.

 

[zkling]

I have always had trouble with the compressor keeping up with sanding, etc. and wondered if this might do the trick.

IMHO, time to look for a larger compressor. If you already have problems with the compressor keeping up, adding a 2nd tank will just further stress the pump. Duty cycle is the correct term and you will wear the compressor out in short order, if not already. A 60gal vertical tank unit doesn't take up that much more floor space and even the most basic ones should double your air supply just from the pump.

 

[sberry]

I agree its a poor substitute and a hard way to go, replacing it with a real unit, even a modest one is a lot better option. Especially if you are buy and sell minded, dump that and add a hundred and find something like z says.

Everything I have is one size above code, I have a couple hi pressure comps but,,,, I aslo know a bunch of hobby types and they have been sufficiently well served for a long time with the 60 gallon models. They lag some doing outright body work by crack crazed Mexicans but with just a little management can well do a car project with one.

 

[m151dave]

I am looking at buying a craftsman 33 gallon vertical, oil less, 1.6hp. How do you like yours? Is it loud? Sorry to jack your thread, was just curious.

My vote would be the same as previously stated, adding an extra tank wouldn't help due to the longer refill time required.



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I like it just fine. It is about as noisy as you would expect. It has never let me down. I do not like reaching up under the tank to open the draincock so I added an extension hose that hangs out the front where I can reach it and the spiders and stuff can't reach me. This promotes my taking good care of the tank.

 

[Waggoner72]

I like it just fine. It is about as noisy as you would expect. It has never let me down. I do not like reaching up under the tank to open the draincock so I added an extension hose that hangs out the front where I can reach it and the spiders and stuff can't reach me. This promotes my taking good care of the tank.

Thanks for the response. I also hate spiders.


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[CompressorPros.com]

It looks like your application would be better handled by a bigger compressor. With any piston compressor, you should have one that produces 25-30% more air than what your tool demands. That allows for the compressor to cool and not run constantly.

 

[8man]

I went through two compressors before I got to a 5 hp 60 gallon 12 CFM compressor. It didn't handle the air tools as well as I wanted. I thought it was cycling on too often. So I added an 80 gallon aux tank. Now I can work longer before it cycles on, but the run time is longer than I'd like. I think I'm going to sell the tank and the compressor and get a larger compressor, at least 24 CFM to provide air. That should be enough for most air tools and even a little light sand blasting in my blast cabinet.