Horizontal vs Vertical air compressor receivers?

[Heavymetalmechanic]

I am at a bit of a crossroads, I have one of each, both 60 gallons, and I need to decide which to mount my unit on.

Aside from the footprint they take up in my space, are there any benifits of using one or the other?

If I use the vertical I will have to cut the mounting plates off of the horizontal one and mount them on the vertical, as well as built a larger base bracket to keep it stable on the floor.

The vertical tank is a better size for my shop space but will be more work. I can not bolt it to the floor yet as I have not finalized my shop layout.

 

[930dreamer]

My Champion vertical (5hp) compressor is lagged to a wood pallet, what size (hp) are we talking about?

 

[bsaint]

No functional difference except a vertical tank will drain better.

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

I figured the drainage would be better. It's a bit of a frankenpressor, it is a Webster model 65 2 cylinder two stage head from the 70's being turned by a new 5hp Baldor 1725 RPM motor. The horizontal tank is the original that it was mounted on, 60g with 200 psi mwp. The vertical tank is from a single stage Eagle unit, mwp 150 psi. The pulley on the head is 24" so it has some clearance issues when set on the vertical tank. Ideally I would use the horizontal but the footprint is an issue, and it is much older. The vertical is pretty much new.

 

[CNGsaves]

Use the vertical tank in corner of shop FARTHEST AWAY from anywhere that you'd be needing compressed air (this helps your air to be dry). Build airline system from either copper or black pipe steel and use the TPTools design up near ceiling and have your airline drops to first go UP and then back down (see example below).

For your horizontal tank, it can be placed in ATTIC near where you'd need LOTS more air like a sand blaster, or heavy use of sander, etc. Plumb your airline system that you could open up the extra 60 gal tank only when needed (ie open up ball valve to route air IN, plus have ball valve that allows air OUT of the extra 60 gal tank and continue in airline system). Make sure you have access to the attic tank so you can drain any water that accumulates.

 

[404]

Use the vertical tank in corner of shop FARTHEST AWAY from anywhere that you'd be needing compressed air (this helps your air to be dry). Build airline system from either copper or black pipe steel and use the TPTools design up near ceiling and have your airline drops to first go UP and then back down (see example below).

For your horizontal tank, it can be placed in ATTIC near where you'd need LOTS more air like a sand blaster, or heavy use of sander, etc. Plumb your airline system that you could open up the extra 60 gal tank only when needed (ie open up ball valve to route air IN, plus have ball valve that allows air OUT of the extra 60 gal tank and continue in airline system). Make sure you have access to the attic tank so you can drain any water that accumulates.

If in attic make sure that space does not freeze, and run a line for the drain so it can be drained from below in the shop space. Not even I am going into the attic to drain a tank valve.. and I do everything the hard way.

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

Ya, that horizontal tank is not going in the attic, I don't have any friends strong/dumb enough to help me get that old beast through my small attic hatch. Though I did consider it.

I hope to plumb my detached 2 car with copper in the future but for now I can reach my whole workspace with one 30' by 1/2" air line. I have a LARGE hydraulic oil cooler core that will be plumbed in after the pump, then to a large water seperater then to the tank.

I am leaning towards keeping it on the 200psi horizontal tank rather then using the 150psi vertical tank. Then I can get the full use of my 2 stage head. I'll build shelves above the compressor to salvage the space that is lost to the larger footprint.

Thanks for the input folks.

 

[justanengineer]

Horizontal tanks fit beneath pallet racking VERY nicely...