Squ-Air Compressor

[CalSgt]

The tank on Dad’s air compressor finally rotted out…

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This repair journey started with shopping Faceplace and Craigstuff, we found a 3 phase 15 horse unit on a 120 gallon tank that was bad ass (48 CFM) for $350 an hour away.

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I planned a pickup date and last minute discovered the 20 HP roto-phase unit we have wouldn’t support it, it would handle 20 HP total but only start a 5 HP motor. The shop doesn’t have 3 phase power and the Roto-phase is the only way to make it work. A new phase converter big enough for a 15 HP compressor costs like $8k so needless to say I ended up having to flake out on the purchase in typical marketplace fashion.

Then I found a used 120 gallon tank and managed to talk them down to $100, they were asking $150 but there’s no way I’m paying that for a used air tank which is a gamble anyway.

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After much deliberation we decided to modify the new tank, swap the mounting plate and add a bung in the center to match the old Saylor-Beall set up.

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In this picture the saylor-beall looks bigger but it is only 80 gallons and the speedaire is 120.

Cut up the mounting plates, cut a bung from the old tank, did a little measuring and burned everything in. Decided to make a custom mounting plate for the Roto-Phase out of the spare mounting plate.

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[CalSgt]

We managed to get the pulley shroud mounted, motor aligned and belts on during Miller time.

The plan for tomorrow is to pump it up enough to make a quick pass with the DA’s, get a coat of epoxy down and top coat with some old Acrylic Enamel paint we had laying around.

Also @idahovette wanted a photo of an icy cold beverage…

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[idahovette]

WOW 2 pics @CalSgt ........atta boy!!!!!!

 

[bucket]

Have you put a scope in the tank?

 

[CalSgt]

Have you put a scope in the tank?

We pulled the 3” inspection plug and shined a light in there.

There was a bunch of debris in the new tank, some of it was definitely rust but it seemed like it was mostly dust or dirt. We suspect someone ran the compressor in a dirty environment with no filter. We also assumed that is why it was just a tank and not a compressor.

After vacuuming everything out the bottom of the tank looks pretty smooth, there’s a few pitted spots.

The old tank had far less debris in it but was pure flakey rust, looked like a squarebody floorboard.

 

[CalSgt]

WOW 2 pics @CalSgt ........atta boy!!!!!!

 

[CalSgt]

DA’d and a coat of epoxy this morning

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[CalSgt]

I wanted to do a squarebody two tone paint job but couldn’t find a suitable accent color that we had in stock without spending money…


Some GM #21 Enamel

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And Bob’s your uncle

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[bucket]

I wanted to do a squarebody two tone paint job but couldn’t find a suitable accent color that we had in stock without spending money…


Some GM #21 Enamel

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And Bob’s your uncle

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Did you perhaps mean "and Robert is your mother's brother? Lol

 

[Oldbear42]

Mine is a Frankenstein setup. I had a deafening oilless system from Home Depot; it worked for years in my shop. Then one day it did not. So I traded a case of beer for a rebuilt compressor, borrowed a 1 HP motor from one of my dad's old table saws (I was building two from one). I used some scrap metal from a custom drilling rig frame (from an old job) to mount everything to the old tank (which still looked good inside)—modified an old belt guard from something on the farm to meet the spousal unit/kids' OSHA rules. It has been working for 11 years with yearly oil changes and one belt change.

 

[CalSgt]

Mine is a Frankenstein setup. I had a deafening oilless system from Home Depot; it worked for years in my shop. Then one day it did not. So I traded a case of beer for a rebuilt compressor, borrowed a 1 HP motor from one of my dad's old table saws (I was building two from one). I used some scrap metal from a custom drilling rig frame (from an old job) to mount everything to the old tank (which still looked good inside)—modified an old belt guard from something on the farm to meet the spousal unit/kids' OSHA rules. It has been working for 11 years with yearly oil changes and one belt change.

That's a good looking unit

 

[CalSgt]

Got the air compressor back on the pad and fired up today

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Then headed to the dump but the suckers were closed due to short staffing, decided to restore a pressure gauge for inside the shop…


Didn’t think to take a picture until the face of the brass trim ring was finished so here’s a picture of the back half done.

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Whatever the original glazing was on the inside was shot so I used some silicone gasket maker instead. Just ignore where it hooped out on the glass, I’ll trim that off with a razor blade once it sets up.

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This gauge was in the powerhouse of the local lumber mill, I’m not saying how I got it.

 

[CalSgt]

Holy crap….

I just googled that gauge, there was another going for $1400+ but this one is closer to the one dad had.

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ETA: The more expensive one has a more similar bezel

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[Turbo4whl]

Stupid money for the Etsy listed gauges. They can ask it, don't mean they'll get it.

This gauge was in the powerhouse of the local lumber mill, I’m not saying how I got it.

I got a cool old gauge from a plant I worked at installing a new compressor system. I use it at work when I need it.

 

[CalSgt]

Stupid money for the Etsy listed gauges. They can ask it, don't mean they'll get it.


I got a cool old gauge from a plant I worked at installing a new compressor system. I use it at work when I need it.

Agree…

The cheapest one I found was about $300 and had no glass or needle. Found a few others in the $600 range.