Mounting an air compressor

[Iroc-Z]

Anyone here mount a large air compressor on a shelf. I am trying to save floor space and was looking at 60 Gallon horizontal compressors. Not quite sure how heavy something like that is. Or if its wise to make a shelf for it.

 

[Chris Adams]

Anyone here mount a large air compressor on a shelf. I am trying to save floor space and was looking at 60 Gallon horizontal compressors. Not quite sure how heavy something like that is. Or if its wise to make a shelf for it.

Could do it. Downsides; They are HEAVY. Heavier than that... Upright tanks tend to be lighter than equal volume sideways tanks for some reason. And upright tanks are heavy.

They viberate a lot.
They like it cool, so near the floor is a plus.
Because they viberate a lot, they will make sympathetic noise in anything you mount it on.

So in addition to a noisy compressor/motor/tank, you get rattle, squeak, belling from the shelf you mount it to.

So if you do it, plan on doing a decent job of insulating it from the shelf, and making sure the shelf itself is very well mounted.

Consider just putting it under a low shelf. Uses the same room, but sits on the floor.

 

[Iroc-Z]

I might have to do it under a bench. Just running out of space in my garage. Another idea my boss had was to mount the compressor and motor on a shelf and running the tank out side. I have had one buddy mount a 25 gallon on a shelf without problems. Thats kind of where I got the idea.

 

[mhm993]

Huge pain to put a big compressor on a shelf--wouldn't you be better off building shelves or cabinets in that same location and store everything else on the wall?

 

[Iroc-Z]

Huge pain to put a big compressor on a shelf--wouldn't you be better off building shelves or cabinets in that same location and store everything else on the wall?

You have a good point. The reason I want to put it out of the way is because I have shop equipment that could better use the space. The way I look at it is how often do you have to access your air compressor besides normal servicing?

 

[Gary S]

My compressor weighs around 300 pounds. To hold it, you would want a very heavy steel shelf.
I'd never want mine up out of reach. I like to visually check the oil level and monitor compressor temp. Also, I'm planning on adding an hour meter to it to keep track of hours run. Mine also has the power shutoff switch and the air shutoff up on the compressor.
Putting it on a shelf would make it very difficult to use. And, changing oil or any other work on it would be too difficult to even think about.

 

[Chris Adams]

My post was from experience, by the way. I had a 20 gallon under the work bench for many years. Needed space, that was the only place to put it.
Mounting a 25 gallon on a shelf is a different world from putting a 60 gallon on a shelf.
For the right feel, think about carrying a 2 gallon can of gas one mile.
Now think about carrying a 5 gallon jeep can of gas the same mile...
I put mine outside, in a small building when I upgraded to a 60. Now I will be moving it to another building. Where I will be boxing it in with shelves to help damp the sound.

Lots of good ways to handle it, but imagination is needed.

 

[Iroc-Z]

My post was from experience, by the way. I had a 20 gallon under the work bench for many years. Needed space, that was the only place to put it.
Mounting a 25 gallon on a shelf is a different world from putting a 60 gallon on a shelf.
For the right feel, think about carrying a 2 gallon can of gas one mile.
Now think about carrying a 5 gallon jeep can of gas the same mile...
I put mine outside, in a small building when I upgraded to a 60. Now I will be moving it to another building. Where I will be boxing it in with shelves to help damp the sound.

Lots of good ways to handle it, but imagination is needed.

Thanks for the input. Maybe I should just build an out side add on for it. I will have to think about it. Thanks for the input guys. Its nice to be able to bounce ideas of others like this.

 

[Photo]

Iroc-Z,

Mine is on a shelf. Like you, I wanted to free up some floor space. I built a 4 ft x 6 ft platform out of 2x4's and covered it with 3/4" plywood. Mine is mounted in the corner so I lag bolted it to the 2 walls and supported the last corner from the rafters across the garage.

I mounted a switched electrical outlet for the compressor, the switch is mounted below the compressor at the same height as the rest of the switches in the garage.

I had a neighbour bring over his Bobcat and lift up the compressor onto this shelf for me.

It does transmit some noise into the house (attached garage) whenever the compressor is running, but just make sure to shut it off when done for the day.

I'm at work and cannot link to my Webshots album. Look for 'Lane9999' on webshots for pics.

Lane

 

[flesburg]

If you have room, put in a 4' x 4' x 6" concrete pad outside your shop. Set your compressor on in on anti-vibration pads (Granger). Then build a lean-to around it with an
access door.

It would be best on East or North side, out of the sun on the hottest parts of the days. Put a vent down low and a temperature controlled attic fan as high as you can mount it.

It will be quiet inside your garage, and it will be on the "ground" and it will be out of your way. PS, if you have a bad neighbor, have your lean-to face his/her house.

 

[Iroc-Z]

Iroc-Z,

Mine is on a shelf. Like you, I wanted to free up some floor space. I built a 4 ft x 6 ft platform out of 2x4's and covered it with 3/4" plywood. Mine is mounted in the corner so I lag bolted it to the 2 walls and supported the last corner from the rafters across the garage.

I mounted a switched electrical outlet for the compressor, the switch is mounted below the compressor at the same height as the rest of the switches in the garage.

I had a neighbour bring over his Bobcat and lift up the compressor onto this shelf for me.

It does transmit some noise into the house (attached garage) whenever the compressor is running, but just make sure to shut it off when done for the day.

I'm at work and cannot link to my Webshots album. Look for 'Lane9999' on webshots for pics.

Lane

Found the picture. Looks like you have about a 30 Gallon compressor. I wouldn't be to nervous with that. I was going to try and put a 60 gallon one up there.

 

[buening]

Your studs would no likely handle the torsion and vibration from putting that heavy of an object on a shelf. The shelf itself would be pretty thick and would have to have diagonal supports beneath it. It would likely shake the whole house without proper dampening under the compressor. You could build a platform supported by 4x4's to get the compressor off the ground, but I wouldn't try the shelf idea. If you have attic access, you could always stick it up there like others have done.

 

[Iroc-Z]

I think I am bailing on the idea. There are just to many iffy things about it. I might have found a good space for it by the garage door.

 

[kbs2244]

The compressor and the tank do not have to be together.

Think about putting the tank in some out of way corner or under the bench.
(As long as you have a way of draining on occasion.)
And the put the compressor up on a high shelf.

You are splitting up the weight and bulk of the machine.

 

[rsanter]

a friend put his up in the rafters of his garage, but it was only a 25 or 30 gal unit. he installed and extension pipe off the bottom to drain the water.
I think putting it up on a shelf can be done if you use a pallet rack, but you might be better leaving it at ground level and build or install the shelving over it (be sure to leave room for airflow).
the best I deal I think is to install the compressor outside and use a shed cover to protect it.

bob

 

[Racecarl]

I set a couple extra anchor bolts in my foundation expressly for an upright air compressor mount. I am planning on having a 10' to 12' ceiling and have the compressor as high as possible. My plan is to build a corner shelf with legs made of oilfield pipe. The two outer legs will be attached to the anchor bolts and the pipe in the corner will be tied into the building. Cross braces will tie the pipe in the corner to the two outer legs. The actual mounting of the compressor the the 'shelf' will depend on how the legs are welded onto the tank. It would be neat to use some small air bags to eliminate vibration--I am open to suggestions on vibration elimination.