shop air compressors

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Porno Joe

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Does anybody here run 2 compressors hooked together in their shops?

right now I've got an older 80 gallon compressor, and it works fine, but sandblasting I can pull it down quick. I might have a chance to add an older champion 80 gallon to it for basically free. Both work well, though I'm sure pump a little slower than a modern one. my other option would be to sell both and put the money toward a new Quincy compressor. I've never had more than an 80 gal compressor, so I dunno how good all the extra volume would be.

None of these are cheapo brands. Old ones are champion and Westinghouse. new one would be a Quincy or a champion.
 
WolfLMM

WolfLMM

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We do. 40hp Boge in parallel with 30hp Boge. 2 300gal tanks, and our shop lines are 2 inch so they are a tank in them selves. In high demand both run, in low demand they alternate.
 
Chevy1925

Chevy1925

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Porno Joe said:
stuck with single
Click to expand...

well your kinda stuck with a compressor in the 5-7.5hp range in single phase so going to a bigger setup than your 80 gal and being efficient isnt very likely.

the easiest way would be to run two compressors together. join them together with some pipe that is larger than the pipe you use to run air to the sand blaster OR run a dedicated compressor for the sand blaster only. Have you checked the health of the one your running? is it a two stage or single stage?
 
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Porno Joe

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Yeah when I say "shop" I mean my garage next to my house. just for my personal use, but I've got a sandblaster that sucks down 15 cfm.

both my current compressor and the possible second are 2 stage pumps.

my current 80 gallon puts out like right at 15 cfm. Once the sandblaster sucks it down and it kicks on it will run until I stop, then it shuts off within a minute. I think the older champion is around the same, maybe a bit less.

I'm thinking two 80 gallons, with the 2nd tied into the lines, but on its own power and a separate valve. This way run my current setup most of the time, then if I'm going to use a lot of air, turn the 2nd on and open the valve.


Edit, here is maybe stupid question but I haven't been able to find a solid answer- if my current compressor is lets say 15 cfm and I add a champion that is say 12 cfm. does that give me 27cfm when running?
 
Chevy1925

Chevy1925

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Porno Joe said:
Yeah when I say "shop" I mean my garage next to my house. just for my personal use, but I've got a sandblaster that sucks down 15 cfm.

both my current compressor and the possible second are 2 stage pumps.

my current 80 gallon puts out like right at 15 cfm. Once the sandblaster sucks it down and it kicks on it will run until I stop, then it shuts off within a minute. I think the older champion is around the same, maybe a bit less.

I'm thinking two 80 gallons, with the 2nd tied into the lines, but on its own power and a separate valve. This way run my current setup most of the time, then if I'm going to use a lot of air, turn the 2nd on and open the valve.


Edit, here is maybe stupid question but I haven't been able to find a solid answer- if my current compressor is lets say 15 cfm and I add a champion that is say 12 cfm. does that give me 27cfm when running?
Click to expand...

yes but you have twice the air tank to fill now as well.

its 15cfm at what PSI? what psi are you running at the tank before shut off? in all honesty, it doesnt sound like your working that compressor all that much if its shutting off within a minute of you finishing blasting. how many air leaks are there in the system? if any.
 
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Porno Joe

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no major leaks in my system. couple small ones that come with a 40 yr old compressor. I run mine at 140-175 now.

I found a webpage that told you how to calculate cfm. I happened to know how long my compressor takes to go from 80-175 psi, and according to the math on the site, I'm putting out 19 cfm- that seems a bit high to me. the older champion is around 12+.

I agree I'm not working my compressor very hard. But I'm also being given the 2nd compressor for free from my dad. So that's why I was thinking of adding it as a second.

I guess that's what I was wondering. would it be better to have 160 gallons of air, with two slightly worn out pumps, or 80 gallons with a nice new pump
 
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Chevy1925

Chevy1925

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In my honest opinion, sell the 12cfm one and rebuild the old one. it will far outlast the new stuff, no joke. its the very purpose i have the old 1972 kellogg seized up compressor on my shelf to rebuild. the only reason that happened was it sat in rain for 6 years and water got into the cylinders. before that, it ran for 10 years at our shop without issue. we just upgraded to a 15hp 130gal compressor at our new place.

what hp motor are you running? if you have a 5hp motor on there with a dual stage, 19cfm isnt far off.

you have to remember also you will need a new spot in the breaker box for the second compressor, both running will be pulling between 30-40amps so your electric bill wont like it, and now you have more potential for leaks or issues.

a good friend of mine just put a new quincy in his little shop up north. so far hes had to have the brand new pressure switch replaced, one of the heads had to come off and a pully alignment issue. it has all of 2 hours of run time on it
 
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Porno Joe

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calculated my cfm last night on a full run 0-175. came out to 18 cfm average so guess I wasn't too far off.

I don't know what size electric motor it is. its really old and big. it even uses capacitors for starting.

not worried about electricity. got a big breaker box in the garage. plus wouldn't run two all the time, just when I was really sucking air.

maybe I need to find a good "air compressor mechanic" to come take a look at mine. I would like it a lot more if I could get the small leak fixed.

I might see if I can get a rebuild kit for the old champion. Apparently people love the old champions. this one has a new electric motor on it so if I can get the pump figured out I would probably keep it.
 
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matt78

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The motor is probably a cscr motor,or capacitor start capacitor run. Usually for a single phase air compressor that's across the line start,meaning one contactor or air pressure switch pulls in to start,5 hp is about as big as you want to go. Most are 120/230 volt. If you go with new motor or motors I would try to run the higher voltage.
 
Chevy1925

Chevy1925

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matt78 said:
The motor is probably a cscr motor,or capacitor start capacitor run. Usually for a single phase air compressor that's across the line start,meaning one contactor or air pressure switch pulls in to start,5 hp is about as big as you want to go. Most are 120/230 volt. If you go with new motor or motors I would try to run the higher voltage.
Click to expand...

x2, IIRC the amp load doubles on 120 vs 230.
 
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Porno Joe

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after using my compressor last night and really paying attention to it cycling, its not going anywhere. I actual have the old sales brochure from the 70s, and mine is actually putting our MORE CFM than the manual claims. guess its just getting broke in.

Edit to add: Also might try one of those Solberg air filter silencers on the old champion to see if it quiets it down at all.


Anyone have any experience with Eaton compressors? looking into their new Polar Air line, which is claiming to be one of the quietest compressors at 73 db, and if you add their "silent air" kit it drops down into the 50s.
 
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Porno Joe

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bump this with some good info.

First, I definitely recommend adding the Solberg air filter silencer to your compressor if you don't have one. I used a crappy decibel app on my phone, and while the actual decibel reading didn't go down but a hair, it changed the tone from annoyingly higher pitched, to a deeper tone which is much more tolerable.

Also, if anybody has an old champion compressor and needs info- just call them! I was able to get pdf copies of the original manuals for my dads compressor- and its a 1962! That old machine is rated at 22 cfm at 100 psi, and 18 cfm at 175. I did some test, and its currently putting out 16 at 100 and 11 at 175, so it needs a rebuild. Found parts on ebay for a rebuild which I might try rather than selling.
 
56taskforce

56taskforce

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I have a 6hp 60gal Craftsman oilless had it 16 years rebuilt it here last yeear. It is good for a home shop if you can stand the annoying noise it makes... I use it for a bast cabinet and runs a 1" gun for big truck wheels...
 
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