Help! I need some help with a used air compressor

[Willman]

Well first of all, I’ll say a little about me since I have not introduced myself before, I’m a young bladesmith living in florida, and have been blacksmithing and messing around with metal since I was 13.
And now my question, I just bought my first compressor, I decide to go the used route and just got one today. But now I’m having second thoughts about it.
For one the tank didn’t seem like it had been drained in awhile, and when I did drain it a ton of yellow stuff cam out. Is this some kind of teflon or some other stuff to keep the tank from rusting? Or is it paint? I got the compressor from someone that painted cars.

Also the compressor was missing the pipe that ran from the pump to the tank and they had a hose running from were pipe was supposed to connect to the tank, why did they have two hoses coming off the tank and non going in?

And were can I get the pipe for the pump/tank? Can I use copper pipe? I tried twice to just hook a 300psi rubber air hose to it, and both times it overheated and exploded.

Any input on any of the questions would be appreciated , the guy said I had a couple of days to return it, so I would like to know your thoughts on it.

Thanks, Mike Willman

[HWooldridge]

The yellow stuff was water and oil mixed together. This is normal.

A picture would help on the pipe connection issue - can't comment further other than to say they may have had some special purpose for it. Copper is fine - a rubber hose is not correct.

Go to Home Depot or Lowes and look at the ones on display - that should help you picture the repair in your mind.

[Willman]

Ok, thanks for the info, I appreciate it a lot.
I’ll try and post a pic.

Mike Willman




http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/atta...1&d=1216941191

[Willman]

The orange hose is one of the ones that burst.

[Willman]

I don’t wont to ask to many questions, but I have another one. do you think the $250 I paid for it was to much? It’s a devilbiss 6.5Hp, 60gal, 1 stage(at the time of purchase I thought it was 2 stage)

thanks again, Mike Willman

[HWooldridge]

That line should be hard plumbed. Nothing on the head of a compressor should be soft line. You may just want to buy the factory replacement rather than fool around with trying to make it.

I think you got a good deal if you can get it to work. It's probably a $400 or more machine.

[Willman]

Ok, I'll see if i can get the replacement part. Thanks for helping a kid out with his first compressor.

[hdwarner]

make sure where it goes into tank there is a check valve , otherwise it will leak out of the compressor head when not running , and some check valves you can buy via grainger industrial if they still carry them have a built in blow off for easy starting
or your pressure switch may have a pressure relief

what this does is downloads the residual pressure in the compressore head for easier starting
i notice the motor is a duel capacitor so it is a single phase unit , i reccomend if possible to wire 220 volts for less amperes means less money out of pocket in electricity

now whats your plans to have a pneumatic hammer to forge with?

[Willman]

Hay thanks for the tip about the check valve. I think the pressure switch might already have the blow off thing, when I turn it off it depresses a valve that releases air from the pump by a pipe. Is that the blow off?

I picked up some stuff at lows and I think I got everything I need to wire it in.

As for the air hammer I think I’m going too put that off for a couple of years, and just build this for know. My Mini Hydraulic Press - Bladesmith's Forum Board

[HWooldridge]

Originally Posted by Willman

Ok, I'll see if i can get the replacement part. Thanks for helping a kid out with his first compressor.

I was also a kid once - with his first air compressor. We all have to start somewhere and we should never finish learning and sharing with one another until that day when we lay our heads down for the last time...