Air compressor question

"Frederick Wilson" wrote in message news:FmC9b.365132$Oz4.142857@rwcrnsc54...
What size and compressor (one or two cylinder) should I look at?

Any name brand preference?

Assuming that you will end up using it more than you think, shop
around for a two stage, 220VAC unit with at least a 60 gallon tank.
Stay away from the oilless units for noise reasons. The lower the rpm
of the compressor, the lower noise factor it will have. Keep an eye
out for Champion, IR, and any other big name vendor. Be aware that the
ratings on Crapsman units are very inflated. When you compare units,
use cfm @ pressure to make the comparisons meaningful.

Lots of people have built a/c using the litle hotdog tanked units and
the small household units, but if you have to spend much time waiting
on them to return to the required pressure to do the job, then they
are way too small if you have minimal time to devote to the projects.
For average usage, if the compressor has to cycle one more than once
every minute and a half or less, you need either a bigger unit or more
tankage.

What ever you do, DO NOT...I repeat DO NOT use PVC or CPVC for
pressure piping on your system. Many people use it, but do not
understand that it is not rated for or intended for use with
pressurized air. When it fails, and it will, it will almost always
fail explosively and send shrapnel all over the place. If you don't
belive me, I will show you the pressure rating for PVC with all the
derating factors applied....it's very scary.

More questions? ask away....

Craig C.

"Craig" wrote in message
om...
"Frederick Wilson" wrote in message
news:FmC9b.365132$Oz4.142857@rwcrnsc54...
What size and compressor (one or two cylinder) should I look at?

Any name brand preference?

Assuming that you will end up using it more than you think, shop
around for a two stage, 220VAC unit with at least a 60 gallon tank.
Stay away from the oilless units for noise reasons. The lower the rpm
of the compressor, the lower noise factor it will have. Keep an eye
out for Champion, IR, and any other big name vendor. Be aware that the
ratings on Crapsman units are very inflated. When you compare units,
use cfm @ pressure to make the comparisons meaningful.

Lots of people have built a/c using the litle hotdog tanked units and
the small household units, but if you have to spend much time waiting
on them to return to the required pressure to do the job, then they
are way too small if you have minimal time to devote to the projects.
For average usage, if the compressor has to cycle one more than once
every minute and a half or less, you need either a bigger unit or more
tankage.

What ever you do, DO NOT...I repeat DO NOT use PVC or CPVC for
pressure piping on your system. Many people use it, but do not
understand that it is not rated for or intended for use with
pressurized air. When it fails, and it will, it will almost always
fail explosively and send shrapnel all over the place. If you don't
belive me, I will show you the pressure rating for PVC with all the
derating factors applied....it's very scary.

More questions? ask away....

Craig C.


Good advice. I would go for the biggest 2-stage affordable. Two stage
because it runs cooler and makes less moisture in the lines when you're
painting.

(Craig) wrote in message . com...
"Frederick Wilson" wrote in message news:FmC9b.365132$Oz4.142857@rwcrnsc54...
What size and compressor (one or two cylinder) should I look at?

Any name brand preference?

Assuming that you will end up using it more than you think, shop
around for a two stage, 220VAC unit with at least a 60 gallon tank.
Stay away from the oilless units for noise reasons. The lower the rpm
of the compressor, the lower noise factor it will have. Keep an eye
out for Champion, IR, and any other big name vendor. Be aware that the
ratings on Crapsman units are very inflated. When you compare units,
use cfm @ pressure to make the comparisons meaningful.

Lots of people have built a/c using the litle hotdog tanked units and
the small household units, but if you have to spend much time waiting
on them to return to the required pressure to do the job, then they
are way too small if you have minimal time to devote to the projects.
For average usage, if the compressor has to cycle one more than once
every minute and a half or less, you need either a bigger unit or more
tankage.

What ever you do, DO NOT...I repeat DO NOT use PVC or CPVC for
pressure piping on your system. Many people use it, but do not
understand that it is not rated for or intended for use with
pressurized air. When it fails, and it will, it will almost always
fail explosively and send shrapnel all over the place. If you don't
belive me, I will show you the pressure rating for PVC with all the
derating factors applied....it's very scary.

More questions? ask away....

Craig C.


Always wondered why people use PVC/CPVC when copper is marginally more
expensive. Some places have large diameter plastic pipes to increase
their air storage "capacity". Kind of like sleeping with a rattle
snake-sooner or later.....