I just picked up a Craftsman 2-1/2 gallon paint tank on Ebay for $10. I want to use it as a pressure pot for resin casting. The Sears tank looks a lot like the casting pots that cost around $250 and only require 1/2 the pressure. I don't know much about air tools. The tank has a regulator and a gauge, but I think I need some kind of on/off valve to fill the tank. Can I just using a plumbing fitting or do I need something specifically for air?
Pressure Tank
- Thread starter rdagger
- Start date
red caddy
Well-known member
If you tell me more about what you are tryin' to do, I'll try to help ya. Are you injecting catalized resin into moulds, spraying gelcoat, pressure feeding a roller or chopper gun?????? RED
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
On/off valve for the air? if so, yes, a plumbing valve would work. Get a 1/4 pipe thread ball valve, and the appropriate 1/4 pipe ****** and install it on the regulator inlet fitting.
If you are wanting to use the valve to control the filling of the tank with something other than air, thru another fitting, I'd bet a bronze/stainless ball valve would still work for you.
Charles
If you are wanting to use the valve to control the filling of the tank with something other than air, thru another fitting, I'd bet a bronze/stainless ball valve would still work for you.
Charles
red caddy said:
Nothing that complicated. I want to use the tank as a pressure chamber. I will place molds and resin in the tank and then fill the tank to 40 PSI. I then want a valve so I can disconnect the compressor while the stuff sets for several hours at 40 PSI.
The pressure gets rid of tiny bubbles that are visible when working with translucent resin.
Here is a picture of a casting pressure pot. I need the valve with the red ball handle and some fittings to close the openings for the paint gun. Can I just go to home depot and get water valve?
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l_bilyk
Well-known member
bmwpower said:
Thats what they rate them for... in practice i found them to safely withstand much more
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Of course the excess fittings are easy, just get some brass plugs the right sizes, probably 1/4 or 3/8 pipe.
I'd want a ball valve last thing before the air entered the chamber, so when you shut it off, the air is truely trapped. Shutting off the air before the regulator is no good, as the regulator can easily leak.
Put a pressure gauge directly into a fitting on the top of the pot so even with a ball valve closed, you can see the pressure inside the chamber..
Charles
I'd want a ball valve last thing before the air entered the chamber, so when you shut it off, the air is truely trapped. Shutting off the air before the regulator is no good, as the regulator can easily leak.
Put a pressure gauge directly into a fitting on the top of the pot so even with a ball valve closed, you can see the pressure inside the chamber..
Charles
Home Cheapot had the valve, gauge and all the air fittings for around $20. I placed the valve between the tank and the regulator. I added a ******, capped the regulator output with a 1/4" cap and the paint output with a gauge. Now I just have to wait for the compressor I ordered from Amazon.
Thanks for all the advice.
Thanks for all the advice.
