Securing Compressor to Floor

[flesburg]

My manual for my 5hp Quincy compressor says "All vertical tank units must be anchored. The manual illustrates an "anchored floor stud"

I have mounted it to four (4) vibration dampers that I bought from McMaster Carr. It is installed in a "closet" under the stairs up to my loft/hobby room.

My last vertical 5 hp compressor did not vibrate much and I cannot believe it will mover around much, and I cannot see it falling over.

What have any of you done?

I really do not want to bolt it to the floor, but will if you all seem to agree that it should be done.

As an alternative what would you think of a "blob" of adhesive under each McMaster Carr vibration dampner?

 

[Vernmotor]

I just have my bolted to a wood pallet..don't move..or make much noise

 

[Kevin54]

Fire it up and see if it moves any. If not, then you are good to go.

 

[bmwpower]

What I did:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12513

Hasn't moved on me yet. Just make sure it's pretty level. If it's not level, it may have more tendency to walk.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Here is what I did to avoid either bolting it to the floor, or leaving it on that ugly 'ole dirt catching pallet.

Charles

 

[64HemiSavoy]

I built a square box for my 80 gallon upright out of some scrap 2X4's with a 3/4 plywood top and lag bolted to the corner of the shop, then lag bolted the compressor to it. I made sure that there was a 2X4 under each leg of the compressor. Had it mounted that way for 10+ years and when we moved all I did was unbolt and left no sign of a compressor ever being there.

 

[buening]

Using hockey pucks are pretty common. Drill a hole and a pilot hole in one side of the puck and used either a carriage bolt or a regular bolt. The pilot hole is to prevent the bolt head from scratching your concrete.

I've been trying to find pneumatic casters with air filled tires that have brakes. I would think the air filled tires would not transmit as much vibration to the concrete as normal caster wheels or even the hockey pucks.

My IMC Bel-Air compressor manual specifically states not to anchor the legs into concrete as it will crack the welds on the legs of the tank.

 

[Phatsub]

I did the same as bmwpower. Three rubber feet, no movement.

 

[RWD]

I used Tap-cons to secure the compressor to the floor.

 

[bmwpower]

I used Tap-cons to secure the compressor to the floor.

Whatever you do, you don't want the compressor securely fastened to the floor. If you do, you run the risk of cracking welds.

 

[Nightshift]

My manual for my 5hp Quincy compressor says "All vertical tank units must be anchored. The manual illustrates an "anchored floor stud" ...(snip)...What have any of you done?

I seriously doubt you have to bolt it down. I've had several compressors over the years and never bolted any of them down, including the vertical 60 I have now. I've always just added hockey pucks under each foot and secured them with a short (1.5" x 5/16") lag screw so you can move the compressor into position without the pucks coming off.

 

[edl]

what bmw said...don't crank the bolts down...the vibration will then be absorbed by the steel compressor and can weaken the welds...i used concrete anchors with studs and cut up squares out of an old tire and then hand tightened bolts to it...this should prevent any tipping over...YMMV - thx ED

 

[PoorOwner]

here is mine , it is bolted to the ground. I sleep better, my car is parked next to it.
I have cushioning washer between the bolt head and compressor leg also. It works very well, my portable oiless compressor vibrated the floor more than this set up

Mcmaster

64865K95 vibration mount with steel top 100# (heavier if needed)

5916K35 vibration rubber washer for the bolt head (probably optional)

 

[flesburg]

I ordered the pads that BMWpower recommended from ENCO. They were very nice to deal with on the phone and I got them today here in IL. I ordered them on Monday afternoon.

When I put a little weight on them I can not slide them sideways, and they look like they will be great. I'll get them on tomorrow night.

Thanks to everyone for their feedback.

For all of our Canadian friends, what are hockey pucks made of? I thought they were very hard......

 

[e-tek]

I ordered the pads that BMWpower recommended from ENCO. They were very nice to deal with on the phone and I got them today here in IL. I ordered them on Monday afternoon.

When I put a little weight on them I can not slide them sideways, and they look like they will be great. I'll get them on tomorrow night.

Thanks to everyone for their feedback.

For all of our Canadian friends, what are hockey pucks made of? I thought they were very hard......

They are very hard, but still slightly pliable at room temperature. For a game, they freeze the puck solid to decrease the friction.

 

[JohnZ]

Mine sits on four car body mount cushions, with a safety cable around the platform, secured to lag eyebolts into the studs in the two adjacent walls; hasn't moved a millimeter in eight years, completely isolated from the floor. Can hardly hear it running on the other side of the wall, which is the kitchen.

 

[Nightshift]

Nice setup JohnZ ... but I would suggest you eliminate the "water trap" you have in your output hose feeding your hose reel. I would mount your hose reel above the tank output and feed the output hose slightly uphill to it. And install an auto-drain in the bottom of your tank (if you don't already have one). Why rust out a nice tank like that! Just my $0.02 worth.

 

[flesburg]

John Z.

The safety cable is a good idea. I did not think of that. I think I will "borrow" that idea from you and do it too, as well as the rubber pads from ENCO.

Dale

 

[Nightshift]

John Z.

The safety cable is a good idea. I did not think of that. I think I will "borrow" that idea from you and do it too, as well as the rubber pads from ENCO.

Dale

The safety cable is a great idea ... especially for 3-leg tanks which are definately easier to tip over. But I seriously doubt you can (easily) tip over a 4-leg tank on a level concrete floor. I have a hard time even "walking" mine, and there is no way it would tip over on it's own ... it takes a very good push to even get it started tipping, and mine is very top heavy with a 2-stage pump and 100 lb motor. Still a good idea even on 4-leg tanks especially if the floor is not level.

 

[JohnZ]

Nice setup JohnZ ... but I would suggest you eliminate the "water trap" you have in your output hose feeding your hose reel. I would mount your hose reel above the tank output and feed the output hose slightly uphill to it. And install an auto-drain in the bottom of your tank (if you don't already have one). Why rust out a nice tank like that! Just my $0.02 worth.

If the compressor got heavy use, I'd have configured it as you suggest (as I had in my previous shop), but I don't do body or paint work any more, and it only gets occasional use. I have the drain - pic was taken before it was installed.

 

[PhantomEB]

The hockey pucks will crack over age.

I only have my 5hp 2stage sittin there on the slab, no isolation pucks or anything, never had a problem with that setup since I got it 2 years ago.

 

[chad pickens]

Anybody got any extra hockey pucks to sell I need 4.

 

[e-tek]

Chad - unless you live in ****-F**K Alabama (only a joke if you really do live there!) you should be able to buy pucks at you local sporting good store. If you really can't find any, I've got a bunch I'll let you have cheap - they are game-ready, midnight coal colored, ultra-round competition pucks: $50.00 each

 

[flesburg]

Jeepers, the isolation pads from ENCO were
WAY less than the cost of hockey pucks.....

 

[z28toz06]

Chad - unless you live in ****-F**K Alabama (only a joke if you really do live there!) you should be able to buy pucks at you local sporting good store. If you really can't find any, I've got a bunch I'll let you have cheap - they are game-ready, midnight coal colored, ultra-round competition pucks: $50.00 each

Wow-- investment grade hockey pucks!!

 

[Kevin54]

Anybody got any extra hockey pucks to sell I need 4.

Cut four squares out of an old tire. It will keep the compressor from moving.

 

[chad pickens]

Chad - unless you live in ****-F**K Alabama (only a joke if you really do live there!) you should be able to buy pucks at you local sporting good store. If you really can't find any, I've got a bunch I'll let you have cheap - they are game-ready, midnight coal colored, ultra-round competition pucks: $50.00 each

You are absolutly hilarious.I was hoping for used CHEAP pucks. I have a moto.IF IT DOESNT HAVE WHEELS AND AN ENGINE I DONT CARE. So I dont go to sporting goods stores. now if you have used pucks cheap contact me ,otherwise ________ well you fill in the blank

 

[e-tek]

You are absolutly hilarious.I was hoping for used CHEAP pucks. I have a moto.IF IT DOESNT HAVE WHEELS AND AN ENGINE I DONT CARE. So I dont go to sporting goods stores. now if you have used pucks cheap contact me ,otherwise ________ well you fill in the blank

Relax - I really was only joking (hence the little joke emoticons...). You need to branch out, there are so many thing besides wheel and engines to life(though your choice of decor is yours alone).
But really, you should be able to find used pucks for free at any hockey rink...or any freinds that have kids.

 

[chad pickens]

Im perfectly relaxed notice my emoticon. Ice hockey isnt big here.I dont know anyone thats a fan or anyone whos kid plays.Hence the reason for asking here.Sports were shoved down my throat as a kid and I had my fill. When I got my first car I found what I liked. Ive been drag racing since I was 17. Ive branched in to alot of different motorsports.I have enough to fill my life without sports thanks

 

[flesburg]

Gee, I grew up in an area where we did not play ice hockey either...

And I thought a "hockey puck" was slang for someone with, lets see, I want to be politically correct about this comment, somewhat on the "upslope side of the bell curve"

 

[72chevy]

Anybody got any extra hockey pucks to sell I need 4.

They are pretty cheep online.
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p...uctId=2659134&kw=2659134+&sr=1&origkw=2659134

 

[e-tek]

Im perfectly relaxed notice my emoticon. Ice hockey isnt big here.I dont know anyone thats a fan or anyone whos kid plays.Hence the reason for asking here.Sports were shoved down my throat as a kid and I had my fill. When I got my first car I found what I liked. Ive been drag racing since I was 17. Ive branched in to alot of different motorsports.I have enough to fill my life without sports thanks

Hey Chad - I guess you can tell I'm a Canuck (Canadian) because I think Hockey is played everywhere and everyone's kids play it! I don't much care for it myself, but being Canadian, like you with sports, it's shoved down our throats....
Glad we both found cars and garages! I saw your lift and car on another post and had asked for more pics of your car...

 

[chad pickens]

There is not a whole lot to show yet Im waiting on the motor to be finished,should be any time now. Ive been gathering parts for a while.It will be 570 cid bbc with dart 18 degree big cheif heads I have 2 gt4788 88mm turbos for it .I still have to buy my computer (big stuff 3) and some little things,but im close to having all the stuff I need and then Ill assemble it. Ill probobly not race this year but next for sure. It takes a long time to come up with the money for this stuff. My garage ate my racing budget for the last year or so.