Air tank

[LA1]

i have an air compressor from the mid 90s. It is rated @ 40psi 7.5 CFM and 90psi 4.6 CFM. unfortunately it is on a small pancake type tank. i have an external 5gal tank I can run air tools like a dye grinder for 1 minute till the air runs out. then i have to wait.
anyone know where i can get a larger capacity air tank say 30gal or so. new or used. i would like to mount the compressor on the tank OR run a hose to it

 

[beemerphile]

You have to watch oversizing the air tank on a small compressor. Not every compressor can run happily 100% of the time without a break. Depending on the duty cycle of the compressor (which you may not know) it is possible to overheat the compressor before the tank fills because of excessive run time.

 

[The Cobbler]

you have a 2 part issue. part 1 is that the compressor itself doesn't create enough CFM, part 2 is the tank doesn't have enough volume
both parts work in unison sort of. you won't solve your problem 100% with just a larger tank

 

[FredWanaker]

what is the rating on your tools? The CFM of the compressor has to be somewhat close, meaning that if you have a 5 gallon tank, and it runs for 1 minute, then yes say a 20 gallon tank will run for about 4 times as long, but it will also take 4 times as long waiting for it to fill again as now. What you need is a compressor that is close to the ratings of the air tools. In the 30 gallon tank in question, it will run 6 times as long (30\5) then take 6x as long to fill. Say a 5 gallon tank runs for 1 minute then takes 2 minutes to fill, then that 30 gallon tank would run 6 minutes but then take 12 minutes to fill. You could work essentially four six minutes sessions per hour. With the correct compressor you can work 60 minutes an hour. What is your time worth?

 

[kaymccampbell]

If you want nearly continuous run for your die grinder, then a 60gal 5hp is your friend. It's what I use. Or, hit HF and pick up an electric die grinder. It'll have more guts than the air grinder.

 

[csp]

So with a larger tank you'll be able to run a die grinder for three minutes and wait for 5x as long for the little compressor to fill the larger tank.

 

[kbs2244]

if you still want a larger tank, when I was bucks down I re-plumbed a curb side water softener tank.
it will work well at less than 100 psi
the fiberglass construction will leak before it exploades

it would be a cheap experiment

 

[65ranchero]

If you want nearly continuous run for your die grinder, then a 60gal 5hp is your friend. It's what I use. Or, hit HF and pick up an electric die grinder. It'll have more guts than the air grinder.

I have HF air straight extended die grinder and that kicks ***!
But yes, the best is to use a 60gal 5hp

 

[kelpaso1]

if you still want a larger tank, when I was bucks down I re-plumbed a curb side water softener tank.
it will work well at less than 100 psi
the fiberglass construction will leak before it exploades

it would be a cheap experiment

Compressed air and "experiment" DONT belong in the same sentence!

 

[Citation]

I'm rather scared to try a tank that wasn't meant to be used with an air compressor. Really, just keep an eye out for another compressor. You might find a deal on a new 20+ gallon compressor. I mean those noisy 21 gallon HF compressors are under $200 all the time.

I recently rebuilt my compressor with a used tank. My 20 gallon Campbell Hausfeld compressor sprang a leak due to tank rust. I found a 26 gallon CH compressor listed as missing it's pump and transferred things over (safety check, verify the tank's safe working pressure is higher than you pump and your blow off valve). I spent $40 on the tank and perhaps another $20 on miscellaneous parts to complete the transfer.

I did look for a new, 20+ gallon tank only. They tend to cost just as much as a new compressor. If your objective is to go super cheap on this job, look for a used, messed up compressor for under $100. If you have a bit more to spend and a second 120V circuit in the garage, get a second compressor and then make a cross over hose so you can run the two at the same time. This will give you around 2X the pump flow rate and more tank size.

Best option, get a bigger compressor - certainly "best" ignores cost/space/install effort etc.

 

[nadogail]

I have an oil free compressor with a 20 gallon tank ad a motor that claims to be 5 horse. When I need additional capacity,
I parallel the 20 gallon unit with a 5 gallon smaller one. That combination has allowed me to do large spray painting jobs.

 

[mikedodge]

Get a bigger compressor. Like others said with a bigger tank you might be able to go a bit longer but it'll take forever to fill up. Those panache compressors are made for blow find a d nailers, not running die grinders.

 

[nadogail]

A bigger compressor would be nice, but I need one only once in five years. My two compressors, both the small and the medium sized one are both paid for. They have been proven to be right sized for almost every job I have given them; I team them up, as I said, for the once in five years big job.