Technical There was a thread awhile back discussing air compressors.

I run a used husky that's every bit of 20 yrs old. Bought it used and thats been 15 + yrs ago. For about 5 to 7 yrs during the summer it hardly ever was shut off. No problems still to this day but I change oil every 2 yrs too.

It's 125 PSI, 11.8 cfm at 90. BUT the biggest thing I did that totally changed my world was I replaced the lines with 3/4" aluminum tubing kit, complete from the tank to the connector on the wall that necks down for the 1/4" air hose fittings. I didn't think it would matter that much but the increased available volume really changed how well all my tools work.

Best compressor upgrade I ever made !!

..

 

The front shop is all plumbed in 1/2 inch from the compressor. Quick connects here and there as well. I think mine might be 1/4 in as well, well, 1/4 NPT anyways.

But I have a 1/2inch air line (flexible) I connect across the driveway to a 1 inch pipe that runs maybe 80 feet along the fence, then to 1/2 inch where I put a quick connect to plug an air hose into.
Yes, the extra volume works nicely.
I’d have run 1 inch all the way, but ran out of it, so used what I had in the pile.

PS, hand threading 1 inch pipe with the adjustable die, isn’t a fun task!

 

As an upgrade coming out of the compressor, consider a water trap. 3/4” out of compressor to 1” legs, each with drain at bottom. I get a dime size drop out of my water filter downstream of trap, right before regulator. That’s on a hot day beadblasting. I have since insulated part of shop that houses compressor. Should be cooler now, less water.

 

I only drink on days that end in "Y".

 

Next time you are plumbing your building for air, use the largest diameter pipe feasible. This adds more capacity to the system. Much like adding another tank. For my shop I ran a 1 1/4" head pipe, end to end, across the ceiling. Having 3/4" tees, pointed up, every four feet. From there, 3/4" goes to the outside walls. At the walls, elbow down with 1/2" pipe. At three foot off the floor I put 1/2" tees with a quick fitting but continued the pipe another foot down with a valve at the bottom for a drip leg drain.
If in a shop that has more guys working, the only change I would make is to increase the head pipe diameter.

 

Well, I received a quote from Castair, for a pump for my setup. Interesting though, I need a larger pulley than I have to turn the pump at roughly 1380 RPMs.
Now I’m wondering if the 750 RPMs I am spinning mine at is proper or not.
Just to re-mention it, but that’s what the shop I went to for a pulley said I should spin it at when I took the compressor to them.
I may get a larger motor pulley and a new belt, hide the dogs, take cover and turn it on

 

How large of pulley? Too big of drive pulley could make the motor work harder. If you go that way, check the max. amp draw of the motor. Make sure it stays within the amp draw on the motor tag.

 

I would have to recheck the email, but the fellow who replied said I’d need an 8 inch drive pulley on a 15 amp circuit for my 3HP 1725 motor.
At the end of the week, going to measure up my dad’s large compressor pulley’s and do some numbers, see how fast his pump is running.

Edit: I’ll have to look at the nameplate for the FLA.

 

Oh, if memory serves motor at start drew under 10 amps, settled in went from 4/5 to 7/8 at 100PSI the way it is now. But it’s been a few years, I could easily be off.

 

I have a Castair. It is the industrial model, which is a 10hp V4 pump driven by a 22 amp 5 hp mag started motor. I don’t know if this will help you , but I measured the sheaves . Hard to get perfect number because of the guard, but pump sheave is~18”, motor sheave is ~4”. 1745 rpm motor. Pump rpm is 450ish. Nice and quiet, little heat- little moisture.

 

Now THAT’S an air compressor!

 

I am happy with it. It chugs along. Hardly hear it when it’s running. “Tanks” to my dear late father.

 

Ya know, I think the old pump I have was designed to spin slower. Its flywheel is maybe 15-16 inches in diameter. Wouldn’t make sense to run a 12 -14 inch motor pulley on it.
I think I’ll resist temptation and possibly tossing the rod through the block

Thanks for the measurements.

 

I know pumps have to turn at certain speed for lubrication, but this was set up by Castair, so must be ok!

 

The motor on mine has a 6 inch pulley and the compressor has a 13.75 inch pulley. The info tag on the motor looks like it runs at 1725 rpm. It is a oldie for sure. Made in 1953 . It has been in my possession since 1978. We point rings in it during the mid 80's .

 

Well. Doing a 180 on this. The quote I received for the pump and shipping -without tax, come to 423. If I mentally added it correctly.
HF has the same unit for 169. Plus tax.
About an hour round trip for me.
Thing is, I couldn’t get any info on theirs when I asked “I dunno”. Website specs mentioned nothing about it.
But I was able to download the pdf of the owners manual. Why they didn’t go and pull me one out? I dunno.
HF will be fine for me at this point. Heck, at 62 I don’t t need one that will last 30 or 40 years.
I’ll turn on the noisy oil-less to air up tires