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10-30-2013, 12:50 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Oxford, OH
Posts: 48
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Improving my compressed air system, seeking advice on crazy ideas
I have a 4CFM, 4 gallon compressor in an outbuilding that I currently pipe in to my workshop (quieter that way). I have another 3CFM 1.2 gallon compressor sitting around.
My goals are: - Reduce recovery time of system
- Add regulated drop (for rivet gun) and full-pressure drop (for other tools)
- Maybe remove water and / or add oil to system
My thoughts to accomplish this: - Add second compressor to the same system, using both when working on heavy air usage jobs, and just one when doing the occasional job
- Possibly add an air storage tank in the rafters so the system as a whole has more capacity
- Adding a drier and / or oiler
- Installing fixed tubing instead of using all rubber hoses like I am now
Questions for y'all: - Copper, galvanized steel, or black steel pipe? (PVC explodes, and flex stuff is semi-permanent, at best, I hear)
- Will two compressors connected to one system cause problems?
- Does the drier and / or oiler make sense?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
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10-30-2013, 01:15 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Oliver, B.C. Canada (Okanagan valley)
Posts: 786
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Galvanized pipe is best. Copper will work fine. Black pipe rusts over time.
Two compressors in to one large holding tank would work well.
Adding an oiler would trash the lines for future painting with an air gun.
__________________
Lorne
RV 7a tip-up
Pre-cover MD-RA Inspected.
Canopy completed. Bonded with Sika-Flex.
Up on her mains, Firewall Fwd and wiring on going.
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10-30-2013, 01:27 PM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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You probably dont want to hear this, but you really need to upgrade to a bigger compressor ---------- while you can gang the two you have, it will never be anywhere what a single good compressor will be.
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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10-30-2013, 01:58 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Oxford, OH
Posts: 48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike S
You probably dont want to hear this, but you really need to upgrade to a bigger compressor ---------- while you can gang the two you have, it will never be anywhere what a single good compressor will be.
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Besides capacity, one of the biggest frustrations I'm having with the current set-up is that the compressor I have ( http://amzn.com/B00005NMUZ) HATES to start when it's cold. I have to cycle the thermal reset a bunch of times until it's up to temp, then it works great. Do the two-stage compressors do better in sub-freezing temperatures? If so, this may compel me to upgrade more than capacity...
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10-30-2013, 02:31 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 88
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It's not the single-stage vs. two-stage attribute that makes your current compressor not like the cold. I'll bet you that it's direct drive, isn't it? A larger compressor will essentially always be belt driven. A little slip during start doesn't hurt anything.
- John
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10-30-2013, 03:00 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: 07TS
Posts: 472
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I just talked with Mike at Cleveland tools last week about running lines into a new shop/hanger.
He suggested this system:
http://www.rapidairproducts.com/rapidair.asp
They should arrive today, it will be a few weeks until I can report back, but he had great things to say about the setup.
-Dan
__________________
Dan Weyant
RV-9A N96KD
Done and Flying 4/30/2015
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10-30-2013, 03:22 PM
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been here awhile
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 4,301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ToadMan8
I have a 4CFM, 4 gallon compressor in an outbuilding that I currently pipe in to my workshop (quieter that way). I have another 3CFM 1.2 gallon compressor sitting around.
My goals are: - Reduce recovery time of system
- Add regulated drop (for rivet gun) and full-pressure drop (for other tools)
- Maybe remove water and / or add oil to system
My thoughts to accomplish this: - Add second compressor to the same system, using both when working on heavy air usage jobs, and just one when doing the occasional job
- Possibly add an air storage tank in the rafters so the system as a whole has more capacity
- Adding a drier and / or oiler
- Installing fixed tubing instead of using all rubber hoses like I am now
Questions for y'all: - Copper, galvanized steel, or black steel pipe? (PVC explodes, and flex stuff is semi-permanent, at best, I hear)
- Will two compressors connected to one system cause problems?
- Does the drier and / or oiler make sense?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
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For $500 you can have a system far superior to what you are considering and large enough for any job, including painting your plane, that you might consider:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-60-...p#.UnF3zScufd4
Similar units are available under different brand names at other big box and equipment stores. I have one of these compressors and it has performed admirably. Mine is plumbed with an outlet straight off the tank and another running through a regulator. The die grinder gets tank pressure and the rivet gun is regulated.
I started out with a system driven with a much smaller compressor similar to what you are describing. In spite of the extra tanks, it couldn't keep up with a spray gun.
But the big boy is much better, wish I had it when the RV-6 project began.
Last edited by Sam Buchanan : 10-30-2013 at 03:33 PM.
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10-30-2013, 03:50 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In New Braunfels, ist das Leben schön!
Posts: 871
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Here's one way to do it. It's been working just fine for several years. I currently have two medium 110v compressors on the system which gives me about 14cfm which has been plenty for painting. More details on my blog page.
http://larrys-airplane.blogspot.com/...d-for-air.html

__________________
Larry New
RV-7A - Built, flying 900+ hrs
RV-10 - Built, flying 2.9 hrs
??? - RV-12, Subsonex
48 States in 7 Days!
VAF Paid - Annual Autodraft
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10-30-2013, 04:03 PM
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Forum Peruser
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Austinville, Alabama
Posts: 2,458
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The comment about galvanized pipe for compressed is "always best" is not "always" correct. By designing the system with adequate condensate drains and easily maintained filters, regular black steel (ASTM A53) is preferred over galvanized for 3" NPS or smaller. Over time, the galvanic coating can flake off causing more contamination and corrosion problems than non-galvanized (black) steel piping.
Consult a piping design manual or a pipe designer before choosing your piping material.
__________________
Don Hull
RV-7 Wings
KDCU Pryor Field
Pilots'n Paws Pilot
N79599/ADS-B In and Out...and I like it!
?Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights;
it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." Miriam Beard
Last edited by rv7boy : 10-30-2013 at 07:57 PM.
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10-30-2013, 07:53 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central IL
Posts: 5,516
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Sorry, but yes, you need a bigger compressor. It will serve you well. Tools are to be used to accomplish work, not struggled with. Larger compressor and tank will stay cooler and not spit water on your work.
Shop well, and you can find specials on a 60gal ingersoll upright around $1000 at times.
The rapid air system is nice, installs cleanly and quickly. It is only 150 psi though. If you ever get a 2 stage system it will operate at 175 psi. It is not good to step down and depend on it not failing.
I have black pipe in my system for 20 years, and keep pressure on it all the time, I mean 8760 hours per year. I had to chase every threaded joint and used permatex aviation #3 for the sealer. The leak rate is so low that it will sit 40 days without cycling if not used. It is beginning to spit rust flakes. If (when) I make another, the plan is to use hard copper and appropriate structural solder. (175 psi system). I saw a Delphi electronics factory with a copper system and it was beautiful.
Happy building.
__________________
Bill
RV-7
Lord Kelvin:
“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about,
and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you
cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge
is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind.”
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