Which Compressor Would You Choose?

[Salvage Workshop]

All things being equal, if you needed a great all around compressor, Which pump would you chose?

Champion R-15B - Circa 1972
Curtis-Toledo E-57 - Circa 1989
Saylor Beall 705 - Circa 1972

Pictures of each below!

So I have a youtube channel where I restore old tools and equipment, among other things and one of my next projects is to restore and install a proper compressor in my shop!

I was planning to restore the Champion R15B 80 Gal Tank that I acquired awhile back, but JUST as I was starting the process my wife found someone locally getting rid of 2 compressors for a song:

-Curtis-Toledo E-57 Upright with 5HP 3ph motor (80 gal)
-Saylor Beall 705 Horizontal and I am not sure on the tank size or motor size at the moment, I haven't powerwashed them off yet.

So the Champion R-15B Upright functions perfectly not including the pressure switch (bad diaphragm I think), and I just don't trust the tank on it. I did run it up to 180 PSI just to see how well it runs, and it runs and sounds great!

I dont have 3 phase, so I havent fired up the curtis yet, but it is smooth and creates plenty of compressed air just by cranking it by hand, so I dont think there is anything wrong with it internally!

Same goes with the Saylor, I havent fired it up, but it creates compression and moves freely by hand!

Depending on what compressor pump I choose I plan to use the 5HP electric motor from the Champion because its in great working order and its 1 phase. I also plan to use the tank from the Curtis because I trust it much more than the champion, and I want an upright for the location I will be installing it in my shop. These plans are tentative, I'm still figuring our what my plan is for these old girls!

In regards to what I will be using it for, think of it as a compressor for a maker space. Airtools from a blower, air drill, die grinder, paint sprayer, small-med blast cabinet, nail guns, plasma cutter, Machine shop needs, some auto repair needs, and probably uses I don't even know of at the moment! Depends on where my channel takes me!

Which pump would you choose for a shop like mine and why?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Well for me, the Curtis is out...too loud...WAY too loud. Along with the fact that they use reed style valves vs. disc style in both the S-B and Champion.

Dependability wise, both the Champion and Saylor-Beall are pretty equal. The Champion is easier to do valve service on and can be done with standard hand tools. The Saylor- Beall requires either a face pin spanner or custom flat bar (picture huge screwdriver) to gain access to a couple of the valves.
As far as sound, the S-B might be a bit quieter than the Champion, but they're pretty close.

 

[930dreamer]

What's the Youtube channel name?

 

[Salvage Workshop]

Well for me, the Curtis is out...too loud...WAY too loud. Along with the fact that they use reed style valves vs. disc style in both the S-B and Champion.

Dependability wise, both the Champion and Saylor-Beall are pretty equal. The Champion is easier to do valve service on and can be done with standard hand tools. The Saylor- Beall requires either a face pin spanner or custom flat bar (picture huge screwdriver) to gain access to a couple of the valves.
As far as sound, the S-B might be a bit quieter than the Champion, but they're pretty close.

Great information!! I truly appreciate your post!

Sound is definitely a factor for me as well. Especially because I shoot a lot of video in my shop. Now I can edit some out or turn down the volume on certain clips, but the quieter the better!

What are your thoughts on a building a sound dampening box around the compressor to help with the sound? Is there a concern about overheating?

Ease of service is also great to know! I have already taken the valves out of the champion and cleaned them up a bit a while back when I first got the compressor, and it was very simple to do! In doing that I found that someone had reinstalled 1 part upside down, so I was really glad I did that before I tried firing her up!

What are your thoughts on CFM coming from each?

I think my plan will be to leave the compressor set at 175 psi and then regulate it at each drop. I will be putting a drop in my wood shop section, machine shop section, fabrication/welding area, main bench, and one at the front of the shop So I have air outside on the driveway.

I appreciate your thoughts and time!

 

[Salvage Workshop]

What's the Youtube channel name?

Salvage Workshop is my YouTube channel!

Let me know what you think!

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

What are your thoughts on a building a sound dampening box around the compressor to help with the sound? Is there a concern about overheating?

Since the majority of noise is generated by the valves, you can install an intake silencer ( both Solberg and Universal Silencer are great units) and deaden the valve noise.
Personally, I would try to avoid building an enclosure, just because of loss of available cooling air.

What are your thoughts on CFM coming from each?

Both state 17.3 @ 175 psi, although the Champion (4.625/ 2.5 X 3) is running @ 710 rpm vs. 845 rpm with the SB (4.125/2.125 X 3.5)

You can't go wrong with either unit as both are excellent pumps.

 

[driftpin]

My recent acquisition, an 80 gallon upright Saylor-Beall 240 volt/24 amp VT_735, from 1995. New Baldor 1 ph motor. What a pleasure to use! It's fairly-quiet, and it allows me to use anything in my shop without waiting for pressure to re-build. I like to bead-blast motorcycle parts, this lets me do it uninterrupted.

 

[Salvage Workshop]

My recent acquisition, an 80 gallon upright Saylor-Beall 240 volt/24 amp VT_735, from 1995. New Baldor 1 ph motor. What a pleasure to use! It's fairly-quiet, and it allows me to use anything in my shop without waiting for pressure to re-build. I like to bead-blast motorcycle parts, this lets me do it uninterrupted.

That is awesome!! I appreciate you posting those pictures as well! I can't wait to have that kind of air in my shop!!

I'll post a few pictures of my compressors here shortly!

Quick question, can you measure how tall and how wide your 80 gal tank is? I am not sure if my tanks are 80 gallon or not... I haven't found any markings that tell me that.

 

[Salvage Workshop]

Since the majority of noise is generated by the valves, you can install an intake silencer ( both Solberg and Universal Silencer are great units) and deaden the valve noise.
Personally, I would try to avoid building an enclosure, just because of loss of available cooling air.

What are your thoughts on CFM coming from each?

Both state 17.3 @ 175 psi, although the Champion (4.625/ 2.5 X 3) is running @ 710 rpm vs. 845 rpm with the SB (4.125/2.125 X 3.5)

You can't go wrong with either unit as both are excellent pumps.

I was also thinking that a box wouldn't be good for them because of the heat! I will definitely look into those silencers!

Thanks

 

[Salvage Workshop]

Here is the Champion R-15:

Currently the pressure switch doesn't shut off when it gets up to operating pressure, but it stops building pressure and just dumps the newly built pressure. I think its the diaphragm in the switch, but don't know for sure.

Any experience repairing these pressure switches? Can they even be repaired or should they be replaced? Its a Furnas 69HA1 or M80 not sure on the model number.

 

[Salvage Workshop]

Here is the Salor Beall 705:

This one has another 5 HP single phase motor on it, but I am not sure what size the tank is? Is that a 120 Gal?

Haven't done anything with it to see if it runs yet.

 

[Salvage Workshop]

Here is the Curtis:

It has a 3 phase motor on it, so I'm going to have to put a 1 phase motor on it just to see how well it runs, but it's the newest of the 3.

The tank says 1989, and I will probably end up using that tank for what ever compressor I choose because it's in the best shape of the 2 vertical tanks I have that are rated at 200 psi.

Is this one an 80 gallon?

 

[driftpin]

My Saylor-Beall VT_735 upright 80 gallon tank measures ~22" X 44" for the vessel, not-including feet or the top bracket mount for the two-stage compressor or the motor.

Some info on AJAX electric motors:
http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=4122 info on Ajax Electric Motor Co. of Rochester NY.

https://www.worldwideelectric.net/about-us/

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

The tank on the Curtis looks like an 80 gal. to me. I'd use the tank, belt guard and pressure switch. You'll need to drill new pump mounting holes in the mounting platform to match whichever pump you decide to use.

 

[Salvage Workshop]

The tank on the Curtis looks like an 80 gal. to me. I'd use the tank, belt guard and pressure switch. You'll need to drill new pump mounting holes in the mounting platform to match whichever pump you decide to use.

Ya that is definitely my plan at the moment... the Curtis is actually a Curtis-Toledo, does that change your opinion any?

 

[Salvage Workshop]

My Saylor-Beall VT_735 upright 80 gallon tank measures ~22" X 44" for the vessel, not-including feet or the top bracket mount for the two-stage compressor or the motor.

Some info on AJAX electric motors:
http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=4122 info on Ajax Electric Motor Co. of Rochester NY.

https://www.worldwideelectric.net/about-us/

Awesome! Thank you!

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Ya that is definitely my plan at the moment... the Curtis is actually a Curtis-Toledo, does that change your opinion any?

No, it's still the same E-57 pump.

Take care when mounting the pump to ensure that the pump flywheel is absolutly parallel with the motor mounting slots. Use a straightedge across the pump flywheel to align the motor drive pulley with the pump pulley. Verify distance between straightedge and belt groove is equal.

 

[Salvage Workshop]

I posted a video on my youtube channel showing these 3 compressors, and looking for more opinions on them!

Check it out and let me know!