If you were me? compressor related

[Rezarf]

So I am in a delima.

Short story, I picked up a 3 cylinder 2 stage compressor head with 5hp motor... for $50 from a friend. It just didn't have a tank.

Today I scored a Husky 3hp 60 gallon tank compressor without the electric motor but otherwise complete.

My plan was simply to score the tank, but the husky had like 20 hours on it before the motor was used for another pump. It's like new. The 3 cylinder is unknown condition, but I have no reason to think it's bad.

I took a few quick measurements and the combined compressor will be top heavy if I swap it the tank to the new head. It will hang over nearly 10" off both sides. Or I can lay it down and convert it to a horizontal.

So, my question. What would you do? Replace the husky motor and sell off the 3cylinder stuff? Or move ahead with my franken'compressor, even if I have to convert it to a horizontal unit?

The 2 stage seems awesome and will have tons of power, but it might be overkill for my shade tree needs.

Thanks.

 

[frednoah]

Try to flip the Husky for a larger horizontal tank and make your franken'compressor out of it.

Go big or go home

 

[Outlawmws]

What about putting the 5 HP on the husky tank and pump?

 

[Rezarf]

I have a 3hp Baldor motor on the shelf.

I am just trying to gauge if I am succumbing to the "bigger is better" syndrome.

I may paint my truck in the next year or two in my garage, so the extra CFM could be nice, but I have painted with a 30gal oil-less compressor before with good results.

 

[machine_punk]

This really depends on your needs...I would do just about anything to have a larger compressor, but I frequently use angle grinders and drills (rotary tools really **** up the air). If you just use the occasional impact wrench, you aren't really going to need the larger unit.

 

[Rezarf]

This really depends on your needs...I would do just about anything to have a larger compressor, but I frequently use angle grinders and drills (rotary tools really **** up the air). If you just use the occasional impact wrench, you aren't really going to need the larger unit.

Yeah, I guess it gives me some flexibility down the road.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

"if you were me"

Ok, I have been accused of being crazy before, but here is what I would do. If I already had the 3hp motor, I would slap it on and get that husky running. Then I would design and fabricate a base to bolt the 2 stage pump and 5hp motor to. I would wire up that with a pressure switch and plumb it into your air lines so that it also can fill the 60 gallon tank. Then I would set it up as follows.

Single stage pumps pressure switch would be set to something like 110/135 (cut in/cut out), the 2 stage pumps pressure switch would be set to 145/175 (assuming its a 175 psi rated 2 stage pump).

You then have the option of using either pump to maintain your systems pressure, and have a back-up compressor sitting and waiting in the event that one goes down. If you find yourself using a large volume of air someday, maybe an excessive amount of die grinding, angle grinding, sand blasting etc. then switch them both on. What will happen is the 2 stage will maintain your system unless you're pulling more CFM than the 2 stage pump can produce, at which point the systems air pressure will eventually drop to 110 psi, and the single stage pump will switch on, and the 2 will join forces to restore air pressure. The single stage pump cutting out at 135 and the 2 stage continuing to 175.

But that's just me.

 

[larry_g]

"if you were me"



But that's just me.

Me 2. The only thing in addition I would do is put separate disconnects on each motor so you could use either or both. I am not one to get rid good equipment.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Me 2. The only thing in addition I would do is put separate disconnects on each motor so you could use either or both. I am not one to get rid good equipment.

lg
no neat sig line

I thought that was implied