Re-purpose small air compressor

[penright]

I have an old Black Max air compressor.

It has served me well. I have had it over 30 years and the tank started leaking. I bought me a 60 gallon standup to replace it. When I was a kid, middle 60's, my dad and our neighbor made a vacuum pump from one. The intake on this is square holes with filters, not sure how you could connect something to it. The tank is a safety hazard and needs to go to the dump, but the engine and pump still works.

Any thoughts?

 

[LX-Markham]

Buy a new tank?

 

[lilredex]

Did something similar with mine. A manifold made from square tubing, has worked well.

You can just see it in the picture.

 

[penright]

Buy a new tank?

I thought long and hard about that before buying the 60 gallon. I am so glad I did. I actually used my 4" cut off without having to wait for the compressor to recover. So if I am to have a portable, I would purchase a pancake style. It would take up less room and no floor space.
It actually has sentimental value to me. Right now my thought is to grind off the welds where the motor/compressor mount meets the tank.


Besides, knowing my luck, after buying the tank the motor would go out or throw a rod.

 

[penright]

Did something similar with mine. A manifold made from square tubing, has worked well.

That is what I was thinking. Trying to understand the picture. So the square tubing for your application is it for attaching the bigger filter? I see the elbow, do you have something that screws into it if you wanted to pull a vacume on say automotive air condition. I have a venturi style and it works, just takes awhile. I maybe used it once in a blue moon so it is not a big deal. Just thinking out loud.

 

[lilredex]

These pictures should clarify a bit.

If I remember correctly, the compressor head had squarish intake ports and a convenient single tapped hole, that I fitted a plate to, with those elbows running to that sq. manifold. You can pretty much ignore the filter and elbow details, it is just stuff that was on hand to keep bugs from being sucked in.

 

[nadogail]

My first compressor was made from a repurposed automotive A/C compressor, a washing machine motor, and two emptied refrigerant tanks.

Those tanks were free, the compressor was a gift, and I traded a case of beer for the new motor.

What you have, in the right hands, could be the seed of somebody's first compressor.

 

[LX-Markham]

My first compressor was made from a repurposed automotive A/C compressor, a washing machine motor, and two emptied refrigerant tanks.

Mine too!

2-cyl A/C compressor from an old Chrysler.
Motor from some old farm machinery.
Pressure switch from an old hot water tank.
Fram oil filter.
Receiver is a natural gas tank from a pickup.
Lawnmower wheels.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Buy a new tank?

IF you can find a new tank, it would cost about the same as a whole new compressor.

 

[rburke65]

The square tubing was a great idea!

 

[penright]

Finally got out and took another picture that may explain the issue better.
There is not a flang to bolt to.

 

[Jarwop]

Maybe cit a piece of cardboard that fits tight inside the filter frame (leave the expanded metal in place. Once the cardboard if fitted, use it as a template to cut a piece of plate (steel, alum, anything), drill and tap for your vacuum connection(s) maybe more than one so you have expansion for later. Mount the plate using RTV to seal and secure with small sheet metal screws or bolts through the frame. Worst case if you can't physically secure the plate to the air intake frame, maybe a couple small toggle bolts through the plate and through the expanded metal. RTV should seal it up well enough to use as a vacuum pump.

 

[penright]

Mount the plate using RTV to seal and secure with small sheet metal screws or bolts through the frame. Worst case if you can't physically secure the plate to the air intake frame, maybe a couple small toggle bolts through the plate and through the expanded metal. RTV should seal it up well enough to use as a vacuum pump.

I am following you.
Thanks, that would be something to try.
Knowing how my projects go, my kids may run into it on the shelf when they are cleaning out the shop after I am gone.
I just wanted to ask before I started cutting it up. My plan was to grind the welds where the bracket meets the tank.

 

[Jarwop]

If you do convert it to use as a vac pump, you might put a smaller motor on it and use the original for something else. As a vacuum pump, would be fine with a 1/4 or 1/3 hp motor.

I built mine in my late teens, 50 years ago, and dug it out from under the welding table last week to work on my daughters car. Snapped a photo this morning as it has not been buried yet. I have been planning to rebuild it with the motor over or under the compressor so it takes up less room. That project is at the bottom of the list so I understand your comment.

 

[1redTA]

I had the same air compressor as a teen in my Dad’s shop. It started to leak from pin holes in the bottom and he asked me if I wanted it. Of course I said yes because the HF one was loud. The second the HF one died the BlackMax motor and pump went onto the HF tank.

 

[penright]

I had the same air compressor as a teen in my Dad’s shop. It started to leak from pin holes in the bottom and he asked me if I wanted it. Of course I said yes because the HF one was loud. The second the HF one died the BlackMax motor and pump went onto the HF tank.

That is what happened to me, leaking from pinholes. I separated the bracket from the tank Saturday. That is heavier than I thought. I figured most of the weight would be the tank, but I was way, way wrong.
That air compress was about 120 psi max. My new standup (DeWalt) is 150 max with a better capacity to keep up. So this is strange. The Black Max compressor looks bigger, more rugged, than the DeWalt. I wonder if the limiting factor is the tank rated PSI? As heavy as the Black Max is, I wonder if my plan for a vacuum pump just went out the window.

I have to agree that Black Max was a great compressor.

 

[1redTA]

I really enjoy the quiet of my frakenpump ( compared to the Hf non oil pump). I put a 155 psi blow off on it instead of the 125 for a little added umpfh. The pump assembly mounted to the HF old assembly with a little drilling of the flanges and I ordered a big B&M trans cooler to go between the compressor and tank

 

[sberry]

I thought long and hard about that before buying the 60 gallon. I am so glad I did.

You did the right thing. Got a machine that is sufficient, new, factory engineered. You should have no remorse over that.

 

[sberry]

As for the filter, fit a little piece of Scotchbrite to it, in is so to speak, dab a little goo to hold it in place, basically there in this case to keep the big chunks out. You have a use for a vac pump?

 

[penright]

You did the right thing. Got a machine that is sufficient, new, factory engineered. You should have no remorse over that.

The remorse is over history. That little compressor and I have been through a lot together. Different shops, projects, and other things. If the DeWalt and I stay together as long as the Black Max, I will be in my 90's. I do love my DeWalt though and other than a few memories I will not miss the Black Max. I love running air tools that had to sit on the shelf because the old compressor couldn't keep up.

You have a use for a vac pump?

Yes, but not often enough to mess with the weight. Also not ofter enough to buy one. I have a venturi style that works ok even on the little Back Max. It takes almost 30 minutes to pull down a car's air conditioner. I only need a vacuum pump about once every few years.

 

[sberry]

Ya, we got one, made a little cart that holds all the stuff and rolls in to a custom storage spot. Only a tool or 2 I got sentimental over and that was short lived. I move it out if not using the stuff.

 

[Milton Shaw]

My first compressor was homebuilt with a water cooled compressor off of a semi. Two piston, single stage, belt drive. I don't remember where I got a motor as it's been about 60 years ago. Welded up a frame and put wheels on it and used an old oxygen bottle for an air tank. Used it until I could afford a used one with actually a used ammonia compressor that's intake was through the crankcase and valve in top of pistons. Used it and left it for my dad to use for 45 years. Did use a lot of oil and had a lot of oil in the tank from pulling the air through the crankcase. Still was working when I finally scraped it and saved the motor. Now I am using a Quincy 5 hp, 80 gallon upright. Had another 80 gallon that I scraped after the third motor and pump finally locked up. The Quincy I bought from Northern tool, as a customer return, unknown condition with full warranty. Motor wouldn't run and service was out here in 5 days and replaced it, no questions asked and they didn't even check it before replacing it.