Help me keep a friend, lose an air compressor

[70chevellegsp]

If it were me, and I was selling to a friend with no previous knowledge of the compressor and really had no money wrapped up in it, I think $150 would be my top number, knowing it's not a compressor that is very sought after. Getting 1/3 of the original value and not having to feel bad if the piston ring gives out in 6 months isn't a bad thing in my mind.

Drain the tank from the bottom. There will be a petcock to open and if there is any water it will run. I wouldn't worry too much about it if there is water in there or not. It's a newer machine and the tank should be fine for many years to come. Just disconnect it from the PVC (accident waiting to happen) and connect the hose directly to the compressor if you need to use it.

 

[El Barto]

Ok, since no one else has said it:

Of course you are welcome here. Women, girls, boys, men - everyone is welcome. In fact, the more diverse the better. And this place has more to offer than just advice on garages and tools. Imagine this place as your front porch filled with good neighbors and friends on a Sunday afternoon.

But be warned: this place is also the reason I have 8 bench vises, 5 different drills and and a desire to collect, find, and buy more tools then you could ever imagine.

 

[RCStocker]

First of all don't sell the compressor. Everyone needs one. You need to check your tires every couple of weeks or more. It makes a difference in the miles you get out of the tire and the millage.

It is not an expensive compressor and you can not replace it with anything cheaper. It is a minimum compressor.

PVC pipe is dangerous. I used it for 30 years in my private shop and garage. I used pre-glue then the glue. It will take hundreds of PSI In 5 different shops I had 2 joints blow and they were not glued properly. Everyone freaks out about it. It is not allowed in commercial shops. having used it in my own I would leave it. As long as long lengths are fastened to the wall it will not be a problem if it blows. It might blow a chunk of fitting but I have never had that done. As long as you keep the blood stuff out of the sun it will not get real brittle. It gets brittle here in the hot sun in So California. All plastic even on cars goes bad after 10 years here. I would not loose any sleep over it. If you don't like using the PVC because you are a ***** waste then get a nice Goodyear 50 ft hose and hook it to the tank with a Milton quick connect type M
Drain the tank. Drain it every day for a week. Make sure you have it outside because the rust will stain the floor. the compressor sells for about $100 use. I might get $125 out if it in my second hand store. It is much better than anything you can buy with the money you can get out of it so just keep it and be glad you have a compressor.

 

[rsanter]

How about you ask your friend what they want to pay....to me anything over $200 I would say yes but you have to do the work to remove it

Bob

 

[LensRoto]

Well, after working for probably 90 minutes on it today I gave up trying to get the valve open to drain the tank. Counterclockwise, right?

I probably turned it 180 degrees but then it wouldn't budge. The wrench I was trying to use was only a hair shorter than the radius of the tank so it kept clunking the insides and getting jammed. And of course I couldn't see what I was doing most of the time.

My motivation to keep trying was due to the fact that I was staring at a Warning label with the words "severe injury or fatality" on it.

You can see the "before" and "after" shots below. Not much change. Do you think that it is rusted shut? Or am I just doing something wrong? What might I try next ... that is, **OTHER THAN** having one of you guys come over?

 

[warmpancakes]

im in brighton if you need help let me know, as far as the valve for some reason people feel the need to crank them way to tight sometimes a wrench or pliers are needed

 

[Charles (in GA)]

OP needs to save all plumbing parts that are not PVC. The Regulator, fittings, that blue manifold, hose, etc is all fine and good and quite reusable. Just cut up and ditch the PVC pipe as you remove it. You can get some PVC pipe cutters cheap and Home Depot, Lowes or local hardware store, and cut it into short lengths to put in the trash. Just cut the pipe either side of the fittings and hand it to the buyer as it is, they can bother to remove the remaining PVC stubs from the fittings and manifold.

Be sure and unplug the compressor and depressurize it completely before disconnecting any of the system.

Get rid of it and you will be wishing you had it to service tires with. Probably should check them every month or so.

Charles

 

[Jswain]

It looks like your are trying to turn the reducer that actually screws into the tank. Are you trying to get a wrench on the top part? DON'T do this, you just need to turn the bottom wings a quarter turn, regular threads so lefty loosey...but remember it is upside down. If you unscrew that top reducer with a wrench and there is pressure on the tank it is going to fly out like a projectile.

 

[TwoInch]

Well, after working for probably 90 minutes on it today I gave up trying to get the valve open to drain the tank. Counterclockwise, right?

I probably turned it 180 degrees but then it wouldn't budge. The wrench I was trying to use was only a hair shorter than the radius of the tank so it kept clunking the insides and getting jammed. And of course I couldn't see what I was doing most of the time.

My motivation to keep trying was due to the fact that I was staring at a Warning label with the words "severe injury or fatality" on it.

You can see the "before" and "after" shots below. Not much change. Do you think that it is rusted shut? Or am I just doing something wrong? What might I try next ... that is, **OTHER THAN** having one of you guys come over?

my compressor drain is righty loosey, or reverse thread. i turn it counter clockwise, and the middle screw goes INTO the tank, and drains. turning the screw OUT seals it back op. i believe they can be either design though.

spray some spray oil on it if you have any, wd40 or something similar. crank the compressor on for a minute and get some pressure in it, 20 or 40psi is plenty. this is so you will know when the valve on the bottom is opening or closing. you will start to hear a hiss when it starts to open. may spray a little water out. turn the valve completely both ways, one direction will open it. turn only the wing part all the way at the bottom, not the brass fitting that goes into the tank.
you may have opened it already, and there is nothing in it, so it isnt trickling or hissing. you will never know if it open or not unless you get a little pressure in the tank.

really, i wouldnt worry about draining it. it isnt going to hurt it for a little while longer until you sell it. tell the person you sell it to that they need to drain it.

 

[byoungblood]

Well, after working for probably 90 minutes on it today I gave up trying to get the valve open to drain the tank. Counterclockwise, right?

I probably turned it 180 degrees but then it wouldn't budge. The wrench I was trying to use was only a hair shorter than the radius of the tank so it kept clunking the insides and getting jammed. And of course I couldn't see what I was doing most of the time.

My motivation to keep trying was due to the fact that I was staring at a Warning label with the words "severe injury or fatality" on it.

You can see the "before" and "after" shots below. Not much change. Do you think that it is rusted shut? Or am I just doing something wrong? What might I try next ... that is, **OTHER THAN** having one of you guys come over?

If you have relieved the pressure in the tank, I'd just take the entire drain fitting out, and replace it with an elbow, short length of pipe, and a ball valve. Those drain petcocks always seem to stick or get jammed, even if you only snug them up. Plus, having the valve more accessible means you are more likely to remember to drain water from the tank more often. I crack mine open at least once a week, and daily if I am using the compressor often.

 

[softailgarage]

"PVC pipe is dangerous. I used it for 30 years in my private shop and garage. I used pre-glue then the glue. It will take hundreds of PSI In 5 different shops I had 2 joints blow and they were not glued properly. Everyone freaks out about it. It is not allowed in commercial shops. having used it in my own I would leave it. As long as long lengths are fastened to the wall it will not be a problem if it blows. It might blow a chunk of fitting but I have never had that done. As long as you keep the blood stuff out of the sun it will not get real brittle. It gets brittle here in the hot sun in So California. All plastic even on cars goes bad after 10 years here. I would not loose any sleep over it. If you don't like using the PVC because you are a ***** waste then get a nice Goodyear 50 ft hose and hook it to the tank with a Milton quick connect type M"


Huh? Thats the second stupidest thing I've read on GJ, congratulations. You state "PVC pipe is dangerous" and then tell her go ahead and use it? It doesn't matter if it's glued or not or how well it's mounted to the wall and a chunk of fitting will take a chunk of brain. Theres a reason why its not allowed in a commercial setting... ITS ******* DANGEROUS. Oh yeah, the "***** waste" comment just made me laugh, you sure you didn't get hit those 2 TIMES the line blew?

 

[spotco2]

Yeah, the drain on that turns the other way to open it.

Honestly, I wouldn't do it until you get it outside and in the grass rather than on the concrete floor. You're going to get a bunch of rusty, nasty water out of it probably and that won't be fun trying to clean up.

If it was me selling it and really didn't have much need for a compressor, I'd just sell it for a couple hundred and go buy a small, pancake style to replace it. I'd keep the hose and any attachments that look like something you could use and include everything else in the deal with the old compressor.

 

[LensRoto]

So .... who would like to have this air compressor?

The response and advice I have received from this community has been excellent. I figure if anyone is near Kalamazoo, MI, and is willing to SAFELY remove the tank from my electrical system and my garage, you can have it and its accessories for FREE.

Rationale:

(1) I have considered the merits of keeping it based on your suggestions. Yes it would be "nice to have" but the fact is I am not using it and it will continue to deteriorate (and perhaps become dangerous) over time.

(2) We already own a little Campbell Hausfeld tankless portable air compressor, which we moved here with, that has worked just fine for inflating car tires over the years.

(3) I have decided it would be not doing my friend any favors by letting her have it for cheap or free. It is noisy, it needs to be hardwired to 220 volts, it has an unknown history, and some of you guys (with far far more knowledge than me) think that using it for spray painting furniture would not be best application.

(4) I obviously don't have the skills -- nor do I have the time or interest -- to give this tool the proper maintenance.

So, someone please PM me for directions and to make arrangements to come get it. I am not in any hurry to get it out of the garage. You certainly don't need to expect to have to come here today to get it or anything like that.

BTW, I am going to stick around this community. I think I would learn a lot. My husband is in IT and doesn't like to get his hands dirty so I'm the one who does all the home maintenance and most of the yard work around here. And, this place that we bought is a diamond in the rough. It was last owned by an older couple who let the property go. I have many projects I'd like to tackle and so I'm sure there will be many problems / questions that I can bring back here.

 

[Outlawmws]

Getting back to the drain fitting, that is a radiator type drain fitting; the threads on the brass nut closest to the tank are Right hand threads and you can leave that alone. The valve control itself is left hand tread. a pair of pliers on the "wing nut" knob will get it loose, but you may have been turning it the wrong way.

 

[Outlawmws]

ps: on whether to give it to your freind or not. You know it's pluses and minuses now, why not discuss it with her, run the comp briefly while she is there and let her make the decision?

As it it being 220 and hard wired. It can have a cord put on easily so the Hard wiring is a moot point. It MAY be a 110/202 motor, and it might be able to be changed over to 110 AND a plug (A pic of the info plate on the motor could easily answer this).

I think it would be adequate for spraying furniture, as she isn't going to be running a paint gun for long times the way a car painter would.

 

[DirtRoad]

So .... who would like to have this air compressor?

The response and advice I have received from this community has been excellent. I figure if anyone is near Kalamazoo, MI, and is willing to SAFELY remove the tank from my electrical system and my garage, you can have it and its accessories for FREE.

Rationale:

(1) I have considered the merits of keeping it based on your suggestions. Yes it would be "nice to have" but the fact is I am not using it and it will continue to deteriorate (and perhaps become dangerous) over time.

(2) We already own a little Campbell Hausfeld tankless portable air compressor, which we moved here with, that has worked just fine for inflating car tires over the years.

(3) I have decided it would be not doing my friend any favors by letting her have it for cheap or free. It is noisy, it needs to be hardwired to 220 volts, it has an unknown history, and some of you guys (with far far more knowledge than me) think that using it for spray painting furniture would not be best application.

(4) I obviously don't have the skills -- nor do I have the time or interest -- to give this tool the proper maintenance.

So, someone please PM me for directions and to make arrangements to come get it. I am not in any hurry to get it out of the garage. You certainly don't need to expect to have to come here today to get it or anything like that.

BTW, I am going to stick around this community. I think I would learn a lot. My husband is in IT and doesn't like to get his hands dirty so I'm the one who does all the home maintenance and most of the yard work around here. And, this place that we bought is a diamond in the rough. It was last owned by an older couple who let the property go. I have many projects I'd like to tackle and so I'm sure there will be many problems / questions that I can bring back here.

Pm sent

 

[ddawg16]

I had the husky ver of that unit.....LOUD......I was so glad to get rid of it....

New....maybe $350 on sale.....

Lets be honest...$200...maybe $250.....

 

[CNGsaves]

First of all don't sell the compressor. Everyone needs one. You need to check your tires every couple of weeks or more. It makes a difference in the miles you get out of the tire and the millage.

It is not an expensive compressor and you can not replace it with anything cheaper. It is a minimum compressor.

PVC pipe is dangerous. I used it for 30 years in my private shop and garage. I used pre-glue then the glue. It will take hundreds of PSI In 5 different shops I had 2 joints blow and they were not glued properly. Everyone freaks out about it. It is not allowed in commercial shops. having used it in my own I would leave it. As long as long lengths are fastened to the wall it will not be a problem if it blows. It might blow a chunk of fitting but I have never had that done. As long as you keep the blood stuff out of the sun it will not get real brittle. It gets brittle here in the hot sun in So California. All plastic even on cars goes bad after 10 years here. I would not loose any sleep over it. If you don't like using the PVC because you are a ***** waste then get a nice Goodyear 50 ft hose and hook it to the tank with a Milton quick connect type M
Drain the tank. Drain it every day for a week. Make sure you have it outside because the rust will stain the floor. the compressor sells for about $100 use. I might get $125 out if it in my second hand store. It is much better than anything you can buy with the money you can get out of it so just keep it and be glad you have a compressor.

Wow virtually any compressor thread brings ^ ^ ^ these ^ ^ ^ out !!

So you know about Milton connectors . . . but . . . you continue to use PVC after multiple blowouts . . . AND . . . in multiple locations!!??%&##*??!!

You've now officially earned DAW.