scavenging while buying pool chlorine

[driftpin]

I was off to buy pool chlorine, a Saturday a.m. occasional chore. On my way home, I passed something I missed on my way to the store. The Tool Fairy left some stuff on the side of the road in the warehouse district which I didn't spot on my way to buy the chlorine and acid. It was a cam-type weight machine for legs, an air compressor, and a welded steel workbench. I had the bed filled with the chlorine, I beat-feet home, and dropped-off the jugs and hurried back to see if no one had come by yet to remove anything I saw.

They hadn't! I didn't have anyplace to put the leg machine, and I didn't want one anyway, so that stayed. What made the trip home with me was a 6 ft. x 2 ft. welded angle-iron workbench and a 240V 15 amp air compressor. Not sure of the tank size, I suspect it's ~50-60 gallons. It had a 4-lead twist-lock plug, 30 amps, my plugs are 30 amps/240V so that's what I'll put onto the motor leads instead.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the motor and the compressor turned freely. Nothing was locked-up/frozen/seized. It's got a sticker that says 5 H.P. but the compressor appears to be a lighter-duty one, the motor is as mentioned 15 amps 240V brand is MagneTek. The tank is a 1995 date code and the tank welded badge says, Model 021-0050, serial # 535414, all the brand labels for the compressor are too-faded to read.



The workbench is very sturdy, level, and not wobbly. I trashed the weathered wood top as termites are 'a thing' in Florida, and I don't want to bring any home. I'll get a new top piece. I already have a Saylor-Beall, so this compressor may get a bit of a clean-up and then 'go to market' to be sold. We'll have to see if the unit is functional. One good thing, the tank was dry, so it must have been drained once in awhile, and I couldn't hear any sloughed-off pieces of inner steel sliding around inside as I moved it. The compressor was full of oil, and it wasn't black, so another good sign.

The workbench I'll probably use for storage in a unit I have.

'Free' is always good!

 

[driftpin]

It appears to be similar to this one, a Porter Cable 15 amp 240V 11 SCFM @ 90 psi 60 gallon tank, max. 135 psi. If you look at the layout on the motor, pump, the two start and run capacitors, pressure switch/electrical/gauge, labels and piping the fittings look similar, though I didn't include a pic of the pump & motor side. Looking at the manual, the P-C is manufactured by Sanborn for them.

My pump has a different fill plug than the P-C pictured, it's down by one of the mounting bolt holes, and there is no sight-glass for oi level. The cyl. & head cooling fins appear similar.

Porter-Cable 60 Gal. Vertical Stationary Air Compressor PXCMLC3706056 - The Home Depot

Inflate various item instantly and easily with this Porter-Cable Vertical Stationary Air Compressor. Cast iron cylinder body.

www.homedepot.com

 

[nadogail]

Your find appears to have made you a nominee for the You **** award.

 

[metlmunchr]

15 amps @ 240V is a 3hp motor. I've got one on an old Sears compressor that was bought before everyone started the horsepower lies. I'd say you're correct on Sanborn as the actual manufacturer. During the 90's, their tanks were painted with what looks like red lead structural primer rather than some gloss color as used by most other manufacturers. Good find.

 

[reader2580]

Four contacts on the plug seems like it might have a three phase motor. Most 240 volt single phase motors won't have a neutral so only three contacts on the plug.

 

[driftpin]

There is an 'abandoned lead' on the 4-lug/contact plug. Nothing goes to it. The plug is not original to the compressor. The black stranded wires for the two 120V leads are 8 gauge. The white lead is grounded to the pressure regulator switch frame. The motor lead wires to the plug have a Venezuelan origin inked upon them. Coincidentally, I was dropping the compressor at my rental property, a single family home with a small detached garage south of Ft. Lauderdale. My tenant is a P.E. from Venezuela, and when he read the wire manufacturer's name on the casing, he exclaimed, "that is the best wire manufacturer in the country!"

The motor says it's single phase, 240V 3450 rpm, 15 amps.

I found this manual for Sanborn compressors, and it looks pretty-close to what I have.

https://www.about-air-compressors.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/400B-500B-500BP.pdf

 

[driftpin]

I got additional pics yesterday when I was at the garage where the air compressor is stored. I didn't try to start it, as I haven't swapped-out the plug for it yet.



You can see a strong resemblance to the Sanborn pictured in the manual/line drawing above. I'll swap-in a 240V plug and see if it runs & builds pressure, but probably won't get to it for a bit, as the storage is a ways-away.

 

[monkeyplasm]

I suspect you could check out the compressor and tank in short order by dropping the belt and running an electric drill/socket on the pulley bolt for 30 seconds for so. Either it builds pressure or not.