After coming across a very nice Yank on youtube showing how to make a simple low-cost rust-remover (he used crushed walnut shells) using an airgun, I want to do it. I know zilch about compressors though.
For removal of rust from car parts, what size of tank of compressor is required? It'll be stored indoors, so the more compact the better.
Ebay has 20% off some sellers just now, so could be timely....?
Alright Gaz,
I'm looking for a new one at the moment, I reckon for want you want you'll need something with a decent size tank or it'll be constantly running. If space is an issue you can get an upright one iirc sip do one. Stick a moisture trap on the airline, Match the CFM of the air tool to the compressor and your off.
Quote from: wotugonado on February 26, 2019, 23:35
Alright Gaz,
I'm looking for a new one at the moment, I reckon for want you want you'll need something with a decent size tank or it'll be constantly running. If space is an issue you can get an upright one iirc sip do one. Stick a moisture trap on the airline, Match the CFM of the air tool to the compressor and your off.
MadDan, - was thinking about you earlier today..... Serendipity eh? :-* lol Buying a splitter for partner's car & need to work out carriage, - tried to remember how I got your bumper....
I need help from a diy-er that knows the minimum required. Any helpful guidelines send me a pm please.
Always go one size bigger than you think you need. Once you get started with air tools you'll soon find what you initially though was adequate quickly becomes undepowered
Ha ha coincidence, did we send it via shiply ? Been a while, I can't exactly remember.
Quote from: Essex2Visuvesi on February 27, 2019, 00:03
Always go one size bigger than you think you need. Once you get started with air tools you'll soon find what you initially though was adequate quickly becomes undepowered
Knowing what I need is the problem. I know now after reading bits & some info on youtube that I'll need something with a bigger tank than I'd expected. But just how big? I'm guessing, but removing rust from a part is probably not going to be continuous air for more than 1-2 minutes. How big a tank does that need?
You need to calculate using the cfm of your tools at the given psi then estimate the maximum time you'll be running them for at any given time to work out the size of the reservoir against the time taken to refill.
So say you're running one tool at 5 cfm for 15 minutes you're needing 75 cubic feet of air at a minimum.
Then you refer to the specs on the compressor for it's output rates, remembering the psi will start to drop away as the reservoir empties.
All I know for certain is I bought a 24litre one for my brad nailer and it's pitiful with die grinders or wire wheels etc.
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I would think you'd need a minimum 100 litre tank, anything less wouldnt be of much use for doing this as it's constantly emptying. For reference, my portable one is 24ltr I could probably inflate one car tyre on that tank, before the motor kicks in.
And if it's not already been mentioned, an inline water separator and pressure gauge.
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Media blasting uses air like you won't believe.
Pic of the receiver for our cabinet:
I used a 200/220 ltr compressor last year to remove rust from the underside of my car. Found it to be just about the minimal size to do what I wanted. I think an ideal size would be about 260/300 ltr tank if your using any air tools or media blasting, remember you need to keep the PSI as high as posible for media blasting to work properly.
Using a air drill and wire brushes etc the compressor managed to keep the PSI high enough to keep working although the motor was running all of the time. If the tank was any smaller, I would be constantly stopping to let the PSI build up again.
I think all new compressors come with built in pressure gauges and just remember to drain the tank after use to remove any water build up in the tank.
Thanks for the replies folks. The vid I watched with the guy using walnut shells was using 50psi on steel. On a softer material he used less.
I don't know what cfm a small gun & nozzle would use.....?
There are two models of compressor branded Cobra on ebay & Amazon 2.5hp, 9.6cfm, 50 or 100litre. The 100 is approx £100. If that'd be sufficient I'd probably get it. A bigger machine than that is impractical for me to store. How long would a machine like that take to pressurise a 100l tank, from insufficient usable pressure to max.?
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 27, 2019, 18:17
Thanks for the replies folks. The vid I watched with the guy using walnut shells was using 50psi on steel. On a softer material he used less.
I don't know what cfm a small gun & nozzle would use.....?
There are two models of compressor branded Cobra on ebay & Amazon 2.5hp, 9.6cfm, 50 or 100litre. The 100 is approx £100. If that'd be sufficient I'd probably get it. A bigger machine than that is impractical for me to store. How long would a machine like that take to pressurise a 100l tank, from insufficient usable pressure to max.?
Re read the listings Gary, I think you're mixing up psi and litres, the 100 litre ones are pushing £300 .
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Yeah my mistake.... meant 24 & 50. sob sob
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 27, 2019, 19:32
Yeah my mistake.... meant 24 & 50. sob sob
[emoji23] 24 litre are pants for anything other than stapling/nailing, blowing down, pumping up tyres or painting model aircraft.
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Sounds like 50 won't be enough judging from above. Once down to a minimum useful pressure how long would a 50 take to get back to max'?
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 27, 2019, 20:57
Sounds like 50 won't be enough judging from above. Once down to a minimum useful pressure how long would a 50 take to get back to max'?
It's not a question of getting back to maximum pressure it's how long the reservoir can keep you at operating pressure, ideally you need to start with your demands and get the right comp from there rather than work on how long to reach maximum.
Look online at what sort of tools etc you're going to be using and check their operating volumes. They'll all quote the cfm rates at optimum operating pressure, then calculate the cubic feet of pressure requirements and look for a comp that meets those.
There's calculators online that make it easier once you know your demands.
We had one installed at work a few months back and I was picking the engineers brain but I think he just wanted to get on and tried to confuse me out of his way. It worked.
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MrMid..... I don't wanna work that hard. A cheap basic gun spitting 1mm granules, that's what I want it for. ;)
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 27, 2019, 22:08
MrMid..... I don't wanna work that hard. A cheap basic gun spitting 1mm granules, that's what I want it for. ;)
Hahhaahaha! Fair play, my brain is fried at the moment from valve gap checking so I'm damn sure I wouldn't want to be trying to work that out too. [emoji23]
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Okaaaay.. a very brief look at the different spray guns available for media blasting all quote 15 cfm as minimum compressor requirement.
A similarly quick search for 15 cfm compressors puts you at 70ltr entry level minimum so around £180 for the Cobra ones you were looking at. Then you've to consider some decent PPE and extra nozzles and medium so I'd say around £300 to get you started.[emoji1303]
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Ok that's the good news.
What's your bad news.? Fek....... :(
Thanks though.
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 27, 2019, 23:08
Ok that's the good news.
What's your bad news.? Fek....... :(
Thanks though.
I know. But it all depends how much use you're going to get out of it I suppose? I've bought probably £150 worth of what will possibly be single use tools for the engine swap. Whereas a £250 investment into some media blasting kit that's going to get repeated use? It's all relative.
I've managed with a bucket and trough of Deox C and some wire wheels on most of my crusty parts but if I'd had the media blasting kit I'd have had it all done in a day.
Although another consideration is whether you want a cabinet as well?
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Have you considered buying second hand? There's as fair few on eBay...
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Well firstly I'm going to have to decide whether I can store something of the size required.
2nd hand....cheaper, yes. But I don't have a car that could transport one, & it's more likely they're collection-only.
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 27, 2019, 23:34
Well firstly I'm going to have to decide whether I can store something of the size required.
2nd hand....cheaper, yes. But I don't have a car that could transport one, & it's more likely they're collection-only.
Fair enough.. btw if you take out your passenger seat you have quite a lot of storage!
But maybe have a look for one local to you and ask them how much it'd be to deliver?
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Where there's a will..... ;) Need to check sizes first.