Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1   Report Post  
SteveB
 
Posts: n/a
Default Daisychaining air compressors

I have two compressors, a one horse two cylinder Craftsman, and a two horse
oilless Craftsman. The two horse is NOISY, and I haven't even fired up the
one horse yet, but imagine it would be a little quieter with its belt drive
and separate compressor.

I will be getting a plasma cutter soon. I was wondering if I connect the
two together if that would handle the requirements of the plasma cutter. In
addition, I would like just a little more oomph and reserve for times when I
spray paint. Would having two connected compressors have any advantage.

AND, how about if I got a volume tank, and hooked it up with the two
compressors? Any advantage gained? Or should I just bite the bullet and go
buy the big $600 I-R that I really want? I could sell the two compressors
to defray some of the replacement cost, and get a freestanding unit that
would take up less space.

Just playing with ideas for in the meantime.

Steve


  #2   Report Post  
Martin H. Eastburn
 
Posts: n/a
Default Daisychaining air compressors

If both could handle the same pressure.
And both attached to the same line -
Have the best one trip point higher than the one you don't like.
Have the bad one cut in when the best one can't keep up and the tanks
are depleting.

There might be problems - might want to have to have a one way valve to steer
the air only out of the bad one...

Martin

SteveB wrote:

I have two compressors, a one horse two cylinder Craftsman, and a two horse
oilless Craftsman. The two horse is NOISY, and I haven't even fired up the
one horse yet, but imagine it would be a little quieter with its belt drive
and separate compressor.

I will be getting a plasma cutter soon. I was wondering if I connect the
two together if that would handle the requirements of the plasma cutter. In
addition, I would like just a little more oomph and reserve for times when I
spray paint. Would having two connected compressors have any advantage.

AND, how about if I got a volume tank, and hooked it up with the two
compressors? Any advantage gained? Or should I just bite the bullet and go
buy the big $600 I-R that I really want? I could sell the two compressors
to defray some of the replacement cost, and get a freestanding unit that
would take up less space.

Just playing with ideas for in the meantime.

Steve




--
Martin Eastburn, Barbara Eastburn
@ home at Lion's Lair with our computer
NRA LOH, NRA Life
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder

  #3   Report Post  
Old Nick
 
Posts: n/a
Default Daisychaining air compressors

On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 21:20:50 -0800, "SteveB"
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:

It's simple and hard.

How much air, and _at what pressure_ does the plasma cutter you are
going to use need?

How much air _at the required pressure_, do the two comps supply?

You should be able to find the rating of the comps in CFM @ 90 PSI. If
they supply X CFM at 90 PSi, they will probably supply 5/2X CFM at 45
PSI...as the pressure drops, it's easier for the comps to supply the
CFM at that pressure.

To join two comps, you don't daisy chain, you side-by-side them. It
should be done before the regulator(s), with the better regulator
being the one that you actually rely on for working. That would
probably be the two cylinder. Many regulators look good until you
start drawing air, then their crappy design makes them drop pressure.
If you join after the regulator, they can result in one comp doing all
the work. You need to "pool the tanks", so to speak.

I have two compressors, a one horse two cylinder Craftsman, and a two horse
oilless Craftsman. The two horse is NOISY, and I haven't even fired up the
one horse yet, but imagine it would be a little quieter with its belt drive
and separate compressor.

I will be getting a plasma cutter soon. I was wondering if I connect the
two together if that would handle the requirements of the plasma cutter. In
addition, I would like just a little more oomph and reserve for times when I
spray paint. Would having two connected compressors have any advantage.

AND, how about if I got a volume tank, and hooked it up with the two
compressors? Any advantage gained?


A tank will allow longer pauses between pumping, then enforce longer
pumping. You don;t magically get more airflow, except for intermitent
jobs. It _might_ help to have a huge tank if your plasma cutter was
_just_ too much for the pump(s), and you knew that you would only use
it for a couple of minutes at a time. then you need to do the math.


Or should I just bite the bullet and go
buy the big $600 I-R that I really want? I could sell the two compressors
to defray some of the replacement cost, and get a freestanding unit that
would take up less space.


The only advantage of the two smaller ones, if they are done with
quick release stuff, is if you need to take one with you.


************************************************** ** sorry

..........no I'm not!
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

Spike....Spike? Hello?
  #4   Report Post  
Ron Thompson
 
Posts: n/a
Default Daisychaining air compressors

Or should I just bite the bullet and go
buy the big $600 I-R that I really want? I could sell the two compressors
to defray some of the replacement cost, and get a freestanding unit that
would take up less space.

Just playing with ideas for in the meantime.

Steve

You will never regret buying the IR. If you have to be in the same
space with the compressor, running the air intake outdoors will
quieten it down a bunch. A compressor shed is great, though!

Ron Thompson
Was On the Beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast,
Now On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space Center, USA

http://www.plansandprojects.com

The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is
to fill the world with fools.
--Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
  #5   Report Post  
Grant Erwin
 
Posts: n/a
Default Daisychaining air compressors

Air compressors add like capacitors. Run each compressor to a common
supply pipe via a check valve and you can add as many as you like.

A big deal with plasma cutters is drying the air properly, however. You
haven't mentioned how you plan to do that. Air comes out of an air pump
very hot, and containing a lot of water vapor. This vapor can not be filtered,
as it is gaseous. To condense the water the air stream must be cooled, then
the water droplets can be filtered. Some guys have reported success with
copper tubing coils in a drum of water. Many pro shops use refrigerated air
dryers. Harbor Freight sells a cheap refrigerated air dryer for $299 but I
don't know how well it works. If you decide to buy one then please let us
know how well it works.

Grant Erwin
Kirkland, Washington



  #6   Report Post  
michael
 
Posts: n/a
Default Daisychaining air compressors

Grant Erwin wrote:

Air compressors add like capacitors. Run each compressor to a common
supply pipe via a check valve and you can add as many as you like.

A big deal with plasma cutters is drying the air properly, however. You
haven't mentioned how you plan to do that. Air comes out of an air pump
very hot, and containing a lot of water vapor. This vapor can not be filtered,
as it is gaseous. To condense the water the air stream must be cooled, then
the water droplets can be filtered. Some guys have reported success with
copper tubing coils in a drum of water. Many pro shops use refrigerated air
dryers. Harbor Freight sells a cheap refrigerated air dryer for $299 but I
don't know how well it works. If you decide to buy one then please let us
know how well it works.

Grant Erwin
Kirkland, Washington


A second inline tank will help alot. Running airline up after the tank , then down
to a filter is a good thing to do. A filter immediately after the first tank is
almost useless. Run as much line as possible to the plasma cutter with another
filter located as close to it as practical. Before getting a large secondary tank
I kept a small portable compressor sized one in an old refer. The air went from
the 80 gal tank through rubber air hose into the tank in refer and then on to the
network. Amazing how much water I would drain from that thing.

mj


  #7   Report Post  
Old Nick
 
Posts: n/a
Default Daisychaining air compressors

On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 21:20:50 -0800, "SteveB"
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:

And we were all playing at helping you, I guess....

Just playing with ideas for in the meantime.

Steve


************************************************** ** sorry

..........no I'm not!
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

Spike....Spike? Hello?
Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules

Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:56 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 DIYbanter.
The comments are property of their posters.
 

About Us

"It's about DIY & home improvement"