Mounting compressor up high.

[Varty Yo]

Hey guys im looking for ideas on how you mounted your compressors up high like not on the floor. I have a couple ideas about building a shelf so its up by the roof. Its only a 40 gal smaller one but id like to get it off the floor to maximize my garage space. Anyone have pics for me to see?

 

[joe--h]

Outside.
Joe H

 

[Varty Yo]

Not an option sadly.

 

[cvairwerks]

Mounting it high is ok if you set things up so you can drain the tank easily, remote the pressure regulator to where you can access it and build your structure to reduce or eliminate the vibration imposed by the compressor on the structure.

 

[rpcraft]

I've considered the idea of mounting it in the attic over the garage with a remote drain and a ball valve, then run it with Pex to the garage and have the main regulator there, but considering I've been looking at 80 gallon units that are two stage pumps I doubt it would have the height available.

 

[matt_i]

I wouldnt try it other than having legs that went to the concrete floor. Iow, no cantilevered "shelf" as I think that's asking too much of the structure. X or V bracing a very good idea.

 

[lilredex]

Mine has always been mounted up off the floor, out of the way.....

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=401140&page=2

 

[rjn2649]

I don't have mine up high, but I've thought of it in the past. The main thing that stopped me was I thought the vibration might be excessive, but I've always had cheap old compressors.

 

[Bill Bowman]

Several years ago, I bought a commercial 50 x 100' cinder block building that had an air compressor mounted about 10' high on one wall. They used large angle, looked pretty sturdy, plus had long all thread through the wall with 10" x 10" x 1/4 plates to spread the weight on the block. We kept it hooked up, but only used it for backup when/if my 10hp Champion was down for repair/service.

Pain in the *** to change the oil. Personally, I wouldn't put one in the air.

P.S. When I bought the building, the seller wanted me to buy the air compressor for $500.00. I told him I'd prefer he take it with him. No sale on the compressor, and he for sure didn't want to go through the grief of getting it safely to the ground.

 

[rpcraft]

I wouldnt try it other than having legs that went to the concrete floor. Iow, no cantilevered "shelf" as I think that's asking too much of the structure. X or V bracing a very good idea.

I think also I would need to figure out how to lift it in.. Probably a no go there, lol...

 

[rpcraft]

One alternative I have considered though is once I get my compressor setup, using the old storage tanks I have and putting them in the attic just to have additional storage and put them on their side with a slight fall to create a low spot for a bung and then weld/solder in a drain bung in the low spot and setup remote drains. I saw a home AC guy do a setup on an old propane tank and he used silver solder on the bung and was saying connections as such are rated well beyond 200 PSI. He was making a tiny silent bench compressor using a Fridge compressor and a few spare parts... (and it was really Amazingly silent).

 

[crewchief888]

i have mine up on a shelf i built from scrap steel tubing and plywood.

floor space in my 19x22 garage is nearly non-existant

both are older pics, and theres even less floor space now

 

[ford33]

How are you going to do maintenance if it is up high on the wall. You need to change a belt, valve, oil and drain the tank? People have done it but it's not a good idea.

Put it outside in an enclosure with plenty of opening to allow for adequate cooling and input up air.

 

[wssix99]

I don't have mine up high, but I've thought of it in the past. The main thing that stopped me was I thought the vibration might be excessive, but I've always had cheap old compressors.

I plan to separate my future unit, putting the pressure tank up high (plumbing a drain line and air lines down from it) and then placing the actual compressor down on the floor (or a bench) where it will take up a smaller footprint and where I can deal with the vibrations and access for maintenance.

 

[sberry]

Change the belt, break it in, adjust it and change the oil before setting it up. Hook a copper tubing to the drain, then to a valve down low, then a hose thru the wall. Open it once in a while.

 

[exranger06]

How are you going to do maintenance if it is up high on the wall. You need to change a belt, valve, oil and drain the tank? People have done it but it's not a good idea.

Put it outside in an enclosure with plenty of opening to allow for adequate cooling and input up air.

^This. So many guys stick compressors in locations without giving any thought to access for maintenance or repairs. Even guys who leave the compressor on the ground, but shove it way in a corner, as close to the walls as possible. Not enough room; you need to have some space all the way around it. Or the ones who build a shed for the compressor, but it's just big enough to fit the compressor, and no room around it to work on it.

 

[TractorJeff]

My brother mounted an upright over the basement stairs. It vibrated the living room wall!
His first one was a "put together" mounted up in the rafters on a sheet of plywood. It vibrated also. Mine is on a shelf over the top of my welding gas bottle storage area. It vibrates but its a detached garage so I don't really care. My shop compressor is an engine drive which rolls out the back door when used.

 

[GrayFlattop]

My tank is up high (60 gal) and the pump / motor are floor mounted under a workbench. Works for me!

 

[wssix99]

My tank is up high (60 gal) and the pump / motor are floor mounted under a workbench. Works for me!

Where can we get the details/pics of your setup?

 

[poppakap]

I have a mezzanine that would be perfect for the compressor but I’m worried about the temp. What’s the max temp for a compressor area?

 

[GrayFlattop]

Where can we get the details/pics of your setup?

I could post photos, of course. But generally not that organized. I will try for something later in the week and then figure out how to post pix here. I am still pissed off at Photobucket...

I got a 60 gallon receiver tank for free, years ago when I was building the garage. It was in very good condition and weighed a ton (not really) Framed-out a little 3' x 8' mezzanine in one corner (work bench underneath-tank on top) and hoisted the tank up with an engine hoist - boom ALL the way out.

Picked-up a pump, 5 hp motor, pulleys and mounted it to a piece of 1/2" plate. Since the pump didn't have a centrifugal unloader, I wired in a NO solenoid valve to act as unloader. Motor starter is mounted on the wall. I gathered all the parts over time - easier on the wallet then. Now I would probably just buy a 60 gal compressor, but at the time it made sense.

 

[sberry]

^This. So many guys stick compressors in locations without giving any thought to access for maintenance or repairs. Even guys who leave the compressor on the ground, but shove it way in a corner, as close to the walls as possible. Not enough room; you need to have some space all the way around it. Or the ones who build a shed for the compressor, but it's just big enough to fit the compressor, and no room around it to work on it.

Mine are squirreled in. But, as I mention belt tightened and oil changes before it's slid in but,,, they are on pallets and can be moved. It's so rare it needs work I will uninstall it if it does.
The main is the green one behind the sheet. If I was using more would re baffle it. That knocks the sound down a lot. The blue one is spare and demand unit I fixxed up. It's plumbed on, tank used but breaker off. It's so rare I need it that i keep it off as the system is on 24/7.
Having lots of tank gives some range and reduces cycling . Lets the 3 do most work a 5 can. I wire wheeled 20 minutes the other day and was just running out of air when I finish my job. I didn't look to see where system was at when I started but bigger tanks also don't let it shut off during short breaks which add to run times.

 

[kbs2244]

My son's is in the garage attic.
Above the joists.
60 gal unit.
Air outlet come out the drain hole so it is at the low point, and goes into a 7 foot long piece a 3 inch pipe that acts fine as an air cooler.

We used hockey pucks as vibration dampers, but I don't think they do much.
It is a pretty smooth machine.