compressor installed inside or outside the garage?

[mdshore348]

any comments on installing a compressor outside, mainly for space and noise saving quality?

 

[ZRX61]

Do it, put up a little shed to keep it out of the weather

 

[agoogol]

I have a question about this as well. Seems to me I recall reading something about not running your compressor in extreme cold or heat or something?

I think I can fit my little one in a RubberMaid type thing on the outside of my garage and run pipe through the wall, hard pipe up the wall and to the ceiling and have a hanging reel hose thingie up there. But here in CO, some rather big temperature changes....hate to have a problem.

Along the same vein, my compressor is a freebie I got - but the drain plug is rusted shut - any clue what to do? Is this thing just gonna crack a leak someday from the internal rust? Or blow up on me?

Also, has anyone ever run PVC for their pipe? I think PVC is rated at 300psi or something, and that is way more than my compressor - That'll work right?

BTW, thanks for everything done here everyone, I have been lurking around here for a few months now reading and learning, lot of info to absorb. Will post some pics as soon as I get my 52 Chevy rollable enough to get it out of the way so I can take some pics!

 

[-lecroix-]

do not use PVC for air supply line. do a search, you will find plenty of reasons why NOT to use it.

 

[SteveU]

Do not run PVC pipe with compressed air, the stuff gets brittle then sends shards into anything in the area if it bursts. Use Copper, black pipe, galvanized pipe, or one of the plastic lines designed for compressed air. One of these days after the corn is down I might run a hose out into the field & presurize a piece of 2" PVC that's been laying outside in the weather for a couple of years to see if it blows, if not, stand about 60 yds off with the air rifle & chuck a couple pellets at it to simulate an impact then measure how far the pieces go. It would be interesting to have a couple pics of this to post whenever the subject comes up. As for running it outside I would use synthetic compressor oil if you do which will give good cold flow at temps that non synthetics will resemble jello. If possible install an automatic drain on it so you won't forget to drain it then it fills up with water & rusts the tank out.

 

[AG_Spur]

Try to put the air compressor outside for safety purposes, especially if it is an old compressor without an operating drain plug. Compressor tanks do accumulate water which causes them to rust and potentially fail. The water also makes the tank less efficient. I once saw a picture of a garage where a compressor tank failed because of rust and exploded. It blew the garage door and windows out. Luckily no one was in the garage at the time. The fire department speculated that if anyone had been in the garage, they would have been killed.

Links to exploded air tank picturs or reports:

http://www.doli.state.mn.us/airtank2.html

http://www.doli.state.mn.us/airtank.html

http://www.potters.org/subject36033.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/Niosh/face/stateface/ca/05ca010.html

 

[Uncle Buck]

Along the same vein, my compressor is a freebie I got - but the drain plug is rusted shut - any clue what to do? Is this thing just gonna crack a leak someday from the internal rust? Or blow up on me?

Since you have already been properly cautioned about the use of PVC air lines, I will address the rusted in plug. Either use your torch, or someone else's to heat the plug up, you may or may not have to heat the thing to cherry red. Once the plug, and the metal immediatly surrounding it has been heated sufficiently, the plug will unscrew out of the tank. you will then be able to clean up the threads and replace the plug with a new one. Rotsa Ruck!

 

[Roospike]

Along the same vein, my compressor is a freebie I got - but the drain plug is rusted shut - any clue what to do? Is this thing just gonna crack a leak someday from the internal rust? Or blow up on me?

Since you have already been properly cautioned about the use of PVC air lines, I will address the rusted in plug. Either use your torch, or someone else's to heat the plug up, you may or may not have to heat the thing to cherry red. Once the plug, and the metal immediatly surrounding it has been heated sufficiently, the plug will unscrew out of the tank. you will then be able to clean up the threads and replace the plug with a new one. Rotsa Ruck!

MMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm , mmm , mmm , mmmmmm.

I would not go that route , When tanks and such are welded that are tempered from heat and are brittle so back in to be reheated to bring the stringth back up to standard. If you torch an item like thiis you can make a brittle spot that wont take to kindly to high pressure.

 

[russlaferrera]

Try some Kroil penetrating oil or WD40. let it set for a day. Smack it with a hammer (don't try to kill it) use a pipe wrench to spin it off.
Should you try heat. cool the tank area with a ice water socked rag. The tank should stay cool.

 

[-lecroix-]

Kroil is the greatest thing invented. Ever.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Kroil is the greatest thing invented. Ever.

Good Stuff eh? where can I get some, never heard of it!

 

[Uncle Buck]

MMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm , mmm , mmm , mmmmmm.

I would not go that route , When tanks and such are welded that are tempered from heat and are brittle so back in to be reheated to bring the stringth back up to standard. If you torch an item like thiis you can make a brittle spot that wont take to kindly to high pressure.

Well, I suppose you are 100 % correct as I think about it. I guess I would do my best to use lubricants etc.. However in the end if nothing else worked, I would still probably go this route if all else failed. Although if all we are talking about is the ability to drain water accumulation I might figure out a way to drill out the old drain and install a new one instead!

 

[agoogol]

Try to put the air compressor outside for safety purposes, especially if it is an old compressor without an operating drain plug. Compressor tanks do accumulate water which causes them to rust and potentially fail. The water also makes the tank less efficient. I once saw a picture of a garage where a compressor tank failed because of rust and exploded. It blew the garage door and windows out. Luckily no one was in the garage at the time. The fire department speculated that if anyone had been in the garage, they would have been killed.

QUOTE]

Just wanted to say thanks for the heads up and warning. My brother warned me about this possibility, but he is one of the Chicken Little types and I didn't put a lot of faith in what he said. Anyway, good to know, I will do some work on the ol' girl before firing her up again.

 

[BoydS]

Kroil

Originally posted by hholmberg
Good Stuff eh? where can I get some, never heard of it!

As far as I know you can only buy it from Kano Lab. Once ordered delivery is very quick. It is a great lubricating oil and will make it a lot easier to remove frozen metal parts.

http://www.kanolabs.com/

 

[trovato]

You can get Kroil from other places, besides Kano these days. It's even on ebay! Just do a web search. And yes, it's great stuff!

 

[trunk37]

You can get it here.

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1...from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=kroil&category0=

Scott