extra compressor capacity

[madoc1]

I have a small 5hp-26 gallon compressor. bought a media blaster and I think I will need more capacity. am looking on craigs list, but no luck yet on a dead compressor. was thinking, would a hot water tank work? I only need 80-90- psi and I know my house water pressure is about 120. would one of these work?

jim

 

[csp]

If your house pressure is truly 120psi you're lucky that there haven't been blowouts. It should be regulated to about half that.

A bigger tank isn't going to do much good if the compressor CFM won't keep up with the blaster. You'll be able to blast longer initially, but then it will just take longer to get the pressure back up. A compressor with a higher CFM rating might be required.

 

[larry_g]

At the end of the day the amount of work you can get done has nothing to do with tank size. It is determined by the amount of air your compressor can deliver.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[dr_clyde]

If your house pressure is truly 120psi you're lucky that there haven't been blowouts. It should be regulated to about half that.

A bigger tank isn't going to do much good if the compressor CFM won't keep up with the blaster. You'll be able to blast longer initially, but then it will just take longer to get the pressure back up. A compressor with a higher CFM rating might be required.

This. Pump CFM is more important than tank capacity in most compressed air applications, especially sandblasting. The unfortunate truth about sandblasting is most home shop size air compressors can't keep up. I have an Ingersoll Rand T-30, which is a dual stage industrial grade compressor and its all it can do to keep up with my pressure pot sandblaster. If I have a large amount of sandblasting to do, I rent a trailer style screw compressor. Saves me a ton of wear on my machine and is much faster, because the high pressure and CFM are constant.

 

[Honest Bob]

Another option is hooking two small compressors up in parallel. I scored a small 5 gallon for free and hooked it up with my 30 gallon compressor. Its not ideal but its better than having only one or the other.

 

[DekeT]

I have a small 5hp-26 gallon compressor. bought a media blaster and I think I will need more capacity. am looking on craigs list, but no luck yet on a dead compressor. was thinking, would a hot water tank work? I only need 80-90- psi and I know my house water pressure is about 120. would one of these work?

jim

The answer is NO! A hot water tank will not work.

 

[motofool33]

your 26gallon is likely not a true 5hp, its a 3hp with a peak of 5 or so generally.

not sure what you plan on blasting but its going to be a long route. i just geared up with a 60gallon, 5hp Industrial IR T-30 @175psi and the smallest oriface and nozzle i can use and i wish i had 7.5hp pushing it.