Combining multiple air compressors to make nearly 80 gallon 10 scfm air @90 air comp supply our shop

[@robertquast9684]

More air storage is always a plus. Larger piping is a cheap way to increase storage as well

[@tonyrobinson4434]

I would not have ever thought of using PEX to extend hoses for the air compressor. Thanks for the information.

[@wallacegrommet9343]

So cheap compared to rubber hoses

[@mikenonameneeded3485]

Your videos are the best. I really enjoy seeing your perspective on your shop setup. You make a lot of sense.

[@SuperBuzzbomb]

This is the compressor we use at our shop for spraying finishes. It's from California air and it oil free and quiet. CALIFORNIA AIR TOOLS 60040CAD . We ordered from Amazon .

[@timatwell3728]

Scott I would run at least 3/4" from building to building I no it's a big job but I would drill a 3/4" hole in old tank and weld bung in it so you can run 3/4 from the shed to shop and do the same to tank in shop the new one is under warranty so can't do that one till it runs out but you need volume more then anything and those small lines are killing that but helps on pressure for one short blast I have 2 90 gallon tanks hooked this way in my little shop so I can use my sandblaster for body work and I still use all air tools but that's just me but keep up the great work and keep the video's coming

[@joseantoniocastrellonjr2568]

Scott, you've got to change those 1/4 fittings feeding your inside tank. Stop that bottle neck. Good on those 3/4 fittings. Maybe add some check valves/double check valves in case you have a line/hose pop, you won't have it whipping around smacking people/property causing damage.

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

That’s what the compressor out is a 1/4” npt so it doesn’t matter where it is that’s first. The inside tank is enough volume behind what ever we need inside in short bursts

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

If i have a problem i can run two 1/4 npt fitting air lines in from outside into the inside tank. That would double the supply air mass.

[@joseantoniocastrellonjr2568]

@BusGreaseMonkey I just imagine line loss. If you drilled out and tap the 1/4 line coming out of the compressor tank to match what the output of the compressor exhaust port is, you could have higher flow/volume efficiency.

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

What’s it going into or through? Every air hose is the same 1/4”npt fitting in it. That is the same everywhere (except the big 1/2” hose) but we only need that line for second at a time

[@joseantoniocastrellonjr2568]

@BusGreaseMonkey I see. Every hose in my shop is set for the big one inch impact. I bought a 3/4" electrc impact for radius rods. 😂 Only on the 2004 New Flyer, left, it won't fit with the socket because it's too long. The air cat is a perfect fit.

[@TheBeast-tj9qo]

That's a smart idea to combine them I didn't even think of that..

[@nerdyrcdriver]

Air compressor engineer here. I deal with setups like this from time to time (usually 5 or 7.5hp compressors though). The only concern is that the pressure switches on the compressors are very unlikely to agree and operate at the same time. What I would do in this case is make sure the oil lubricated compressor is set to turn on 5-10 psi higher than the kobalt oil-free. That means the harbor freight will run every time and the kobalt will only kick on as a backup. This should greatly extend the life of the oil free compressor in this case. If the compressors are identical it is best to adjust the switches once in a while so they switch rolls as the main and backup and get more even wear.

[@billrimmer5596]

My shop is 150 feet behind my house. My compressor is in my house garage. It is a single stage 5 h.p. And I used 1/2 schedule 40 pvc to plumb it to the back. The pipe acts as additional storage. The tank is a 60 gallon. It has worked for 20 years. Pressure is 120 People said the pvc would b a problem. So far, so good

[@richardw.foxhall3392]

Larger fittings and larger hose id and and more volume delivered. All tanks need 3/4 id connections between them for near instant pressure and volume transfer.

[@mrmotofy]

As basic theory upsize everything with air. Longer lines rob pressure and capacity, rubber hose robs pressure and capacity. Quick connects rob flow and capacity. Running a ring of airline gives better more even flow for your drops. A 1/2" airline with 1/4" fittings will still flow more air than a 3/8" airline with 1/4" fittings. For most average normal sized shops 3/4" up to 1" main line is good and 3/4" drops to your reels/stations etc Especially for blast cabinets and larger impacts etc. Switch to Milton Type V couplers for a noticeable flow improvement especially in impact type tools where fast high capacity is needed. Low capacity intermittent tools like a nailer won't notice much. The cfm ratings of a given size aren't really realistic in my experience. By the numbers 1/4" line should run big impacts...but in the real world it doesn't. 1/2" pex isn't actually 1/2" it's closer to 3/8" due to thicker walls, so upsizing to 3/4" is a good thing. I like full flow ball valves on each tank or drop so servicing or failures etc doesn't require complete shutdown and drain of system. Semis have air brakes, they've started adding more auxiliary tanks on longer chassis and trailers due to the lag and flow losses associated with long runs. So a tank closer to the load tends to operate better...just basic air flow dynamics.

[@paulthompson1654]

1.8 Hp on 110 volts is only a small amount of air . On 240volts 3.5 hp [14amps] is all u get at about 10cfm air supply . Around 310 lt Free air Delivery @ 90--100 psi 120lts tank is a good size .

[@Comm0ut]

It's common to add compressors when a service won't support high HP motors only available in three phase. It's also common to run say one for light use and two etc for high demand like sand blasting.

[@richardhoneywell7411]

I got a notification about 42 minutes ago for this video on my cellphone. Nice addition to your shop Scott should work well.

[@here-i-am2316]

Good idea keeping the compressors outside, now you need an Alexa plug so you can power them down after hours

[@paulthompson1654]

hi You can get a SMC pneumatics pressure regulator / condensate trap/ mist trap . Available in 3/4--1 inch NPT About 100 different models . Ring them for customer service . Use 3-4 --1 inch Pex around the shop walls mounted on an angle so water drains into a down tube with ball valve . Air take off points if possible have pipe going up 12 inches from mainline B4 doing u turn and down for hose connection OR.... mount the dropper going to a take off point and continuing down to ball valve .

[@paulthompson1654]

The HF unit seems to have traded less volume for higher pressure. To achieve this output the pump is rotating at high speed 1400 rpm which is the source of your noise . Do u need high pressure 100+psi for tires ?? Compressors 3hp---3.5 hp 10--11cfm on 240volt run at 90 psi for tools run at around 950rpm

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

95% of the time our “waiting on air” time is simply filling a buses air system for testing. Having the 2nd tank and compressor fills that need perfectly.

[@TheBeast-tj9qo]

I have an older Harbor Freight air compressor back from when Harbor Freight came out it works great I've never had any issues the noise isn't too bad compared to the more expensive Ingersoll Rand I have nothing but issues with the IR.

[@natevanlandingham1945]

Harbor Freight has been around like 30+ years I bet. You got one that old!!! Dang it must be a good one!

[@natevanlandingham1945]

@@TheBeast-tj9qo oh, ok!🤣

[@johnmattola5356]

@The Beast I understand what your saying I didn't know either I thought it was new company also when they opened a store in our area I have a lot of tools from Harbor Freight and they outperform Crap On and Big Mac money tools. Lol

[@natevanlandingham1945]

@@johnmattola5356 I'm only 41 but I remember as a kid like 10 years old maybe a bit older looking through their catalog. I was always amazed at the prices of things even at that age. I only knew of it as mail order back then. No local store and that was before the internet. I remember the name and they had the ship icon to let you know they brought it over on a ship🤣

[@bullnukeoldman3794]

Outside air compressors are a good idea. If I were doing this I'd add a heat-traced auto moisture drain on the tanks to prevent an ice block from forming in the bottom of the receivers during cold weather. A chunk of ice in the bottom of a pressure vessel is not an ideal situation. Auto drains could be either on a timer or a magnetic float type. My $.02.

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

We rarely get below freezing in that shed

[@hairypaw9165]

I would run auto drains. these tanks are not of the thickness of industrial tanks. I had a 20 gallon Campbell Hausfield compressor rust through in 5 years from not being drained on a regular basis. I took it out of service and bought a new compressor that I run an auto drain.

[@kleetus92]

@@BusGreaseMonkey what about between the compressor house and the shop? Gets cold out there though.

[@jimfeaster4837]

How wide outside of wheels?

[@mrmike8568]

Scott. Do not waste your money on those reedplate compressors. Invest into a quality compressor like a Quincy or an industrial compressor that is pressurized oiling. A Quincy 325 would be a minimum for you shop.

[@josephheston9238]

I have an old air compressor off of an old subway car. Had to change the motor because the original motor was 600 VDC and I needed at least one for 240 VAC.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Regular piston compressors are so much quieter than the oil less diaphragm type

[@blazerguy65]

And hard line as much as possible getting rid of all the quick couplers. Those rob pressure

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

Everything inside is hard line connection from the inside tank

[@slypig24]

I've seen a system to start multiple air compressors, with staggered start to stop a huge combined Amp draw, but they made up a special power board run but an Arduino with a special program. Will you have something like that to start yours?

[@iivaridark6850]

I had 2 little compressors connected together and the only thing what was needed some thought about how to connect the 1-phase electric motors that they do not stress too much the electric powerlines... And finally I just connected the air tanks and they worked quite nice, enough to use air tools.

[@davidowen888]

Well 🤔 I don't know much about doing that but 2 is better than 1👍☮️

[@JustAnAverageBrad]

electric water heater tanks are awesome for air storage.....you just need to find a rather new one like when someone is converting to a gas heated one

[@b.macnicol8641]

I have two 120 gallon compressors in parallel at work.

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

We don’t need that much air ;)

[@michaelkestrel8363]

My question is should I pony up $500 for this compressor?

[@a.c.m.e.ink.4568]

My thought, run away from the Harbor freight junk. 2 years of use if you are lucky, then it will die. No manufacture support & no parts !!

[@davem5333]

An advantage of 2 smaller compressors is redundancy. If one fails you're still in business.

[@flir67man84]

Why not put pex from water separator to tank?

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

When i get the tank into the spot i want it to be permanently i will. There is a freezer temporarily tanking up it’s spot in the corner

[@z978ady]

Good idea to have shed kept compressors in case tank blows up. It is work to buy an old Champion off of PublicSurplus and rebuild it, though tank would be solid if it was kept inside all of its life.

[@mrmotofy]

Nah old tanks rust from the inside out...might look perfect outside but not inside

[@natevanlandingham1945]

Why did you put the 1/4" curly hose in it? Like you said it's a bottle neck.

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

It’s not a 1/4” hose. It’s 1/4” npt fitting, just like the water filter, thd compressor out fitting etc.

[@2packs4sure]

Something deep inside of me yearns for a check valve or two in that system...

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

If something fails it will make great content

[@2packs4sure]

@@BusGreaseMonkey Lol,, true enough

[@darrenw2803]

Is anyone getting notifications prior to the vid coming out?? I am not atm

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

Kelly got her notification about 3 min into the premier

[@darrenw2803]

@@BusGreaseMonkey hmm strange, i got my wifi on the cell and KZbins to notify me of said vids coming up or posted, think my cell did not alert me that the vid was up

[@IKnewMickey]

I did

[@Digital-Dan]

I just use the "subscriptions" option on the KZbin page for my KZbin home page. WHen I want to watch videos, uploads from those I'm subscribed to appear in reverse chronological order and no "recommendations" show up at all. It is reliable and doesn't cause one to suspend other activities to tend to notifications. It took me a while to discover the Subscriptions page, so I'm contributing this in case you didn't know about it.

[@sirmister4411]

Stop cutting corners and buy a rotary screw compressor and never look back. I did !

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

I’d rather invest the money into other tools or equipment. Very little air tool use now a days

[@robertquast9684]

While a rotary screw is nice unless you are using air all day a properly sized reciprocating compressor will do fine

[@Steve0885]

That compressor is $499 as I'm writing this

[@a.c.m.e.ink.4568]

Not worth the money. It will die in 2 years time. No manufacture support & no parts to fix it.

[@DellAnderson]

Nice solution. I bought the 20 gal McGraw and someone liked it enough to steal it. However, it is still not clear to me how much CFM at pressure you have. I was sorely disappointed when I finally learned that consumer compressors are sold by SCFM (basically CFM at atmospheric pressure) and consumer tools are marketed at CFM at a certain PSI. This is a recipe for disappointment, and totally useless when trying to figure out how much compressor you need for a particular tool or tools. Seems impossible to have enough compressor CFM. Ever. Your system will be better of course, but it seems wrong that tools are marketed semi-deceptively by the manufacturers.

[@notajp]

Beware of those Kobalt compressors! I had to fix one for my uncle. Turned out that the wires had burned off inside the motor. Found out they use aluminum wire in the motor windings, not copper. Very cheaply made…..

[@arnotenbruggencate8016]

I still don't understand why you professionals work with two home workshop compressors? This was more of a commercial broadcast.

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

I’ve been using just 1. $$ it doesn’t grow on trees. Building a new shop and setting it up is expensive

[@sc5015]

@@BusGreaseMonkey Maybe the next time the driveway washes out due to the forces of nature, a giant gold nugget will be sitting there to buy an IR twin screw 480v compressor you really need, but yeah, why haven't you bought it yet!!?? 😉

[@marzsit9833]

@@sc5015 a screw would be major overkill for this shop, a 7 horse saylor-beall 2-stage with a 120 gallon tank would be just about perfect and could still run on single-phase power.

[@MysterySoldier86]

SCFM is not the same as CFM

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

Altitude, humidity, and other variables effect the numbers.

[@pcspecialistpdx]

I'd still run 240v out there and run each compressor on it's own leg. How I'd go about it wouldn't pass any inspection... hint, hint. #ExistingWiring

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

They are on separate circuits

[@walterceresi4137]

Sweet setup!

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

It’s going to serve us great i think. We won’t know inside that it’s not a giant 220v compressor out there.

[@a.c.m.e.ink.4568]

I don't know about the McGraw's oiled compressors. But their oil-less compressors suck !! I bought their 21 gallon 175 psi unit. It died in less than 2 years, with very little use.

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

It’s still going strong

[@a.c.m.e.ink.4568]

@@BusGreaseMonkeyI'll most likely repurpose the tank. But I have no intentions of fixing it.