Would you use a compressor you found in the garbage?

[StaggeringGoat]

Tonight I went to throw some stuff away and found a compressor sticking out of the dumpster. I couldn't help but have a closer look. It's an expensive looking Ridgid 5 gallon 150PSI oilless compressor with twin hot dog tanks. I immediately noticed one of the quick connects was leaking, replaced it, and that was it. It seems to work just fine now.

The bad part - there was a LOT of BROWN water inside the tank, it hasn't been drained in a while. There are absolutely no holes and it SOUNDS solid when I hit it with a rubber mallet. That said I have no idea what condition the tank is inside or even how old it is.

Would you use something like this? Should I maybe chuck the tanks and just use the compressor? Maybe turn the air pressure down to 120 PSI?

 

[Daniel Dudley]

It will last a lot longer if you crank it down to 130. Sounds like a great score !

 

[bradleykd]

if it doesnt leak, use it... there is no way to tell if a tank is going to fail other than visual inspection of the welds and if it holds pressure. If it looks good, you got an awesome score!

 

[kams1973]

I'd keep it...the rust colored water is normal.

 

[jhelrey]

Use it to full capacity!

 

[1948]

sounds like you fixed it! some people just dont know what they are doin.

 

[dirttracker18]

Yup, keep it and use it. It will develope a leak long before any granade like issue crop up IMHO.

I live out in the country and thus have no garbage pick up. I drive up to our dump once a week to drop off garbage and recycling and pick up others unwanted items

Not always but I keep an eagle eye out. Last weekend I grabbed a Jonsered chainsaw. The recoil was off but all the parts were there. As it turns out the recoil spring was broke. That's it?!?

Ahh dump scores

 

[Rscabrio]

Freebies are allway good maybe just run a lil compressor oil in to it and then let it drain fully and ya away

 

[rodder98]

I would put it on Craigslist for sale.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

It's amazing to me what gets tossed for lack of a simple repair!

 

[Zeke]

It's amazing to me what gets tossed for lack of a simple repair!

+1. I have never had to buy a new vacuum of any kind.

But, I haven't found a Rainbow yet. That would be my first choice.

 

[countryroad82]

+1. I have never had to buy a new vacuum of any kind.

But, I haven't found a Rainbow yet. That would be my first choice.

Ahh Rainbow, thats all I have, a friend of mine used to deal them and I used to help work on them, great machines!!!

 

[rsanter]

keep it and use it
note, if your concerned then dont straddle it while its running and you should be safe...

bob

 

[kv501]

You should see what goes in the garbage of the nearest to me Harbor Freight store. It would blow your mind. My friend's father in law is a notorious dumpster diver and he got 3 bench grinders than had beat up boxes. Must have fallen out of the truck or something, but he got home and 2 didn't have a scratch, and one had a broken plastic shield and bent guards. All 3 ran like tops.

He got several things out of there, but they must have caught on to people doing that because now the dumpster has a chain link fence around it and a lock on the gate. No idea what they do when it gets emptied unless they have a scheduled pick up during the day.

 

[Sureshot]

I know someone who runs a few dumpster trucks and the drivers fight over some of the pickup locations. Stuff from stores where there is only a couple left they seem to just throw or ?? I don't know. They were sometimes suspecting employee's putting it in there to come back and get the stuff themselves or for their buddies.

 

[gwunsch]

Compressor? Yes, microwave? Never again. Too many sparks.

 

[Super Mech]

Man, I love to find cool **** in other peoples garbage! I've kinda turned dumpster diving into an Olympic event!

 

[StaggeringGoat]

Man, I love to find cool **** in other peoples garbage! I've kinda turned dumpster diving into an Olympic event!

I would do more too, except all the dumpsters around here notify you of a $2000 fine if you are caught removing anything. Fortunately I found the compressor in my shared/shop dumpster. I have a habbit of pulling out pallets for burning too....

 

[Super Mech]

I would do more too, except all the dumpsters around here notify you of a $2000 fine if you are caught removing anything. Fortunately I found the compressor in my shared/shop dumpster. I have a habbit of pulling out pallets for burning too....

Over here in NYC if you get caught taking anything from peoples weekly garbage pickup including recycle day(when most of the cool stuff gets thrown out) the Sanitation cops will impound your vehicle and fine you. I've seen some people get caught taking scrap metal. But if i see something good I just look over my shoulder and go for it.

 

[Zeke]

It's a free for all around here. I see multiple trucks driving by any construction asking for metal. They hop in the big dumpsters and take them apart.

Never thought about the one behind HF. But out local HF is backed by apts, so I'm sure it gets picked over hourly.

 

[1931S/X]

id run it. i had 2 compressors for a while that i picked from the trash. when they didnt mee tmy standards anymore i put them back at the curb. today id scrap them, only if i had too. the scrappers are crazy here too. few weeks ago on a job some ratty looking kids pull up in a lifted f350, we were takaing coffe break, they ask if its our dumpster. no its not ours. so they load the truck, i then noticed it was a metal only dumpster so i ask the guy runnignt he job whats the deal with the metal only dumpster, do they get money back, he said no but the dumpster is free when its full. so i tel lhi mabotu the kids by the time he causght them they were on the last trip of emptiying it. he said it was full the day before and was getting ready to call for another one.

 

[bad_idea]

would i suggest you run the compressor? hell no! i would suggest you ship it to me and i will properly dispose of it for you.

on a serious note.... i have access to equipment to hydrostatic test things. we routinely hydro piping systems at work to 1700+ psi. i bought a used compressor and the first thing i did with it was hydro the tank. then again the tank is from 1964. if it's something newer and you don't have access to, or know someone with a hydro rig then i probably wouldn't worry about it too much. i get a little paranoid about safety. especially things that have the ability to explode if not maintained properly.

 

[4BT]

+1. I have never had to buy a new vacuum of any kind.

But, I haven't found a Rainbow yet. That would be my first choice.

It's amazing how many people in my apartment complex cannot figure out their $200 Bissel vacuum needs a $4 belt when the brushes stop turning...

I've made a few $$$ selling vacuums on CL after taking out the trash

 

[bad_idea]

talking about things you have found in the dumpster.... i found a exercise bike in the dumpster at my apartment. one of these:http://www.schwinn-exercisebikes.com/schwinn-ac-classic-bike.html the wife used it for a year and got tired of it. i listed it on cl for $100 and had 4 calls w/in the first hour asking what was wrong with it, asking to come get it. i didn't realize it listed for over $1000 new!

 

[930dreamer]

talking about things you have found in the dumpster.... i found a exercise bike in the dumpster at my apartment. one of these:http://www.schwinn-exercisebikes.com/schwinn-ac-classic-bike.html the wife used it for a year and got tired of it. i listed it on cl for $100 and had 4 calls w/in the first hour asking what was wrong with it, asking to come get it. i didn't realize it listed for over $1000 new!

I use ebay for a selling guide on everything. I found a Rainbow at a garage sale for $50 included everything.

 

[dtt454]

maybe i have some false confidence, but ive had a couple used air compressor tanks rust through, they never busted open, all they do is start leaking. i might stand back the first time you plug it in, but after that id just use it like normal.

 

[camarotoolman]

I know people that have trash routes, different town each morning all week then sell it at the flee market on the weekend. I got about 350.00 of record albums out of a dumpster. Lots of lumber, scrap metal, bikes, lots of stuff i turned into cash. Also helps the invironment to recycle stuff.

 

[porcupine73]

Sounds like a nice find! Who knows, could be the poor fellow couldn't bare having the wife yell at him again to get rid of that 'leaky piece of junk'.

I remember probably 30 years ago my older brother found a metal coffee percolator in the garbage. I saw him coming home with it carrying it as he rode his bike. I was interested so I came out to see what he found. So he's holding onto it, and he plugs it in. Next thing I know there is this buzzing and his arm is all locked up and he seems to have all he can do to reach over and unplug it. Then he says 'hm now I know why they threw it out!'. It was funny at the time but fortunately the thing didn't kill him.

 

[binkcat16]

yea i would use it. dumpster diving is awsome you can find some good stuff stupid people throw away.

 

[1983Camperspecial]

I have no use for ANY oilless compressor after owning the one and only one and only one I will ever own, they are useless.

 

[Super Sport]

Free stuff is awesome! I'd have no problem using it.

Just last week one of my neighbors put a fridge/freezer out by the curb. Picked it up, brought it home, and found a rodent had chewed the cord. New cord for $5 and I have myself a garage fridge! It's not that old either!