I have been dealing with some stupid air system problems. Specifically I had leaks at critical junctions, and they were getting worse, and worse, and worse… Half my airflow seemed to be seeping out of 2 of my couplers. And I had wanted to do a little expanding of the system…
So a trip to Harbor Freight got me a bunch of the quick coupler setups, a 50’ 3/8” polyurethane air hose, and a package of paint strainer cones.
Some quality time was in order to get all the components set up, so far I have the following setup…
2HP 8 Gallon Harbor Freight Air Compressor. 6 SCFM @ 40 PSI. Output pipe wrapped with 3 turns teflon tape—>
Milton I/M quick coupler—> HF I/M plug—> HF 50’ 3/8” Polyurethane hose—> HF I/M Quick Coupler—> HF I/M plug—> HF Air regulator / filter—> HF Quick Connector—> Milton I/M plug—> Hitachi 50’ 3/8” Polyurethane air hose—> Husky I/M Quick Connector—> air tool…
So far I have been able to run 100% leak free with the following.
Blue Point 3/8” air ratchet, Ingersoll Rand air hammer, Blue Point 1/4” die grinder (this sucks the compressor empty FAST), HF Earthquake impact wrench, HF framing nailer, HF stapler / nailer, HF pin nailer, HF finish nailer, Husky conventional spray gun (1.5 SCFM @ 30 PSI), and a huge variety of blowers, siphons, tire chucks and misc bits and pieces…
One of the additions I have made is a I/M 3 way tap with 3 HF I/M couplers, and 1 HF I/M plug with a machined brass tee that has been sitting in my toolbox for the last 15 or so years…
I could use a bigger compressor, but space considerations not to mention power usage are critical. I would love a horizontal compressor instead of a vertical with about the same specs as the Central Pnuematic #68127 air compressor. The big thing is, it needs to fit under my stand I have for my dust collector. I could get rid of the Thien rig, but I need to stay smallish in case I ever wind up out in a shed instead of my garage…
Anyone have any suggestions for horizontal 30 gallon ish 110V compressors with decent flow?
-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!
4 comments so far
Jim Bertelson
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3337 posts in 1334 days
#1 posted 338 days ago
Out of my realm of expertise. I use a 6 gallon PC pancake at both my shops, but I don’t think they are up to your needs. They work fine for my limited usage, but it sounds like you are really into air. Good luck with the quest….....
-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska
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#2 posted 338 days ago
Jim,
My 8 gallon is barely adequate, and a lot of 20 gallon models do not have the flow I need.
Yes, I do use air a lot when I can get it… Hard to explain, but pnuematic tools have always been a favorite of mine…
I am seriously considering dropping the Thien separator for an inlet ring mounted baffle to free up the floor space, and then grab the Central Pneumatic I listed above, or a Husky 30 gallon upright… At that point though, I could go with a 220V 60 gallon, but I am leery of anything that isn’t portable… I want to be able to wheel it to the yard, or throw it in my truck and take it to my father in laws place if need be…
-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!
Jim Bertelson
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3337 posts in 1334 days
#3 posted 338 days ago
Understand. Actually, I really like the nail guns, air blower, and the tire inflator. But after that, I don’t have much use for air. If I ever do any spraying, then that might change. You probably got into air doing automobile stuff, which is in your past as I recall.
Well, I’m at work, so back at it…......
-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska
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#4 posted 338 days ago
Yep. And I still do quite a bit of auto work… Another good reason to get a good compressor…
I tend to like working on big 4×4s, and those little pancake compressors just aren’t beefy enough to cut the mustard filling up big mud tires…
-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!
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