cj737 wrote:Can I throw a few questions and ideas at you-
I read that your shop is not plumbed for working “out front” I think. In lieu of buying and handling multiple small compressors, why not plumb you’re shop? Add numerous drops in different areas or connect some short hoses. Then you don’t need to drag machines around and string electrical outlets.
A very common trick is to plumb 2 or more 60/80 tanks together, then plumb off that. The extra tank provides reserve air and the compressor only refills. If the compressor is not suitable to keep up with the demand, the extra standing air is often sufficient to buffer the rebuild/draw time.
To be honest, your posts are very detailed, but I struggle to track top-to-bottom so if I’ve misunderstood, pardon me.
Uh, by the way, that’s an awfully handsome champ plopped atop your bench. I’m sure you’re right proud of that “project”
Sure CJ, always open to feedback.
Regarding the pancakes, most definitely, I realized both beforehand and afterwards that this is hardly worth the time and effort I've spent on it, at least from a create-the-best-air-source perspective. And I haven't even addressed the electrical aspect of this hodge-podge setup that I created yesterday. To speak openly, I hadn't ever considered the idea of plumbing in another large tank to the system that is located at the rear of my workshop. However at first blush, I like that idea.
The compressor in the back is a Craftsman 80 gallon, 2 stage, 5HP, 16.3 CFM @ 100 psi variant that I purchased when Sears was still-a-thing. I chose it over an Ingersol Rand or Campbell Hausfeld or other brand variant mostly because Sears ran a special at the time. That special was that if you bought the compressor with a Sears credit card then you'd receive a reduction in the sales price of ... I dunno, whatever it was. In the end, that discounted price was either $150 or $200 lower than those others, so I opted for the Craftsman. When I took a closer look at the details, I found that the components were mostly the same, and so I felt that I could source replacements down the road if needed without issue. But there I go, off in the weeds of detail again. I digress. Back to the workshop plumbing issue that you raised...
I suppose a quick tid-bit of history is in order.
The property that we have is not our forever home. We are actively searching for a new-to-us one with more acreage and hopefully a larger workshop already in-existence on said property. It is primarily for this reason that I have deferred plumbing the workshop to-date. I just haven't wanted to spend the money, time, effort and energy to build something only to have to tear it down later, drag it to the new place and then discover that I need to re-do that work. Granted, we've been searching for the better part of 2 years now, so one could make the argument that such notion of waiting until we find the forever home is becoming futile. And I understand such argument. However to-date that hasn't been enough to motivate me to plumb the entire shop. At least not yet.
Then there are practical reasons. I mean, I have crap stored against every wall in that outbuilding, which is the reason that I am building this storage rack. So from a practical perspective it would be difficult to plumb my shop as it is; I would need to spend at least a couple of weekends creating access to the walls where the plumbing could be installed. That would mean storing stuff outside, which would mean that they could potentially be exposed to adverse weather.
Finally, the reality is that I have but one (as in really only *one*) 240V outlet that I can use to power my toys. And I had to have that installed by an electrician a few years ago. Ergo it didn't exist before then; I had it installed for the purpose of powering the compressor. That required a new panel and other electrical work. Since then I've purchased all of these fabrication toys but haven't added any new outlets. For that reason, I must choose what I power. I can run only one at a time. So if I want to run the plasma at 240V, then I can't run the compressor, etc.
And so those reasons as a collective form the basis for why I haven't done things the right way. I like the idea of a second large tank, just never thought of it given that I have an 80 gallon one already. So when the time comes I'll have to look into that idea. Thanks!
You mentioned not being able to follow my content. I am disappointed in that. I'll try to do a better job of making things clear.
Yeah the son (and wife-eee) are the best things I've ever done. By far.
Thanks again!
I skim read lots of stuff daily, so in-depth reading a forum post doesn’t happen a lot. In other words, it’s not you; it’s me.