New Compressor arrived today
 

Finally convinced myself to upgrade my garage compressor. I had a Husky 1.7HP 33 gallon oilless (LOUD) compressor. I ordered a new Champion compressor last week and it came today. It is a 7.5 HP, 2 stage, 230v, 1 phase, 80 gallon compressor. It is supposed to be about 23CFM vs my old one at 5CFM. Got to finish wiring it then plumb the garage and my work shed in the backyard, but I love the look of it already. I think my old compressor cried when this showed up...

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

That's very nice.
Kim

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Great choice. Big tank, pump and big slow motor. Big bucks I imagine too. What's the current rating on that motor? Brand?
I bought a similar used Saylor-Beale off CL some years back--love it!

Be careful not to undersize the air lines and do use some cooling, drying and filtering. The potential flow through a line basically doubles between 1/2" and 3/4" (area of the circle) so that's something to keep in mind.
I don't like air lines that run up and down leaving lots of places where water can collect. I like the water to have to be flowing out or back to the tank. Of course I have a 2 car garage so one end point with filter/dryer/regulator.
Also, get a little gate valve and some small pipe and fittings so you can purge water easily and often. Just blast out the air from the bottom of the tank a few times after the air has cooled.

But you had another so you knew all that crap...

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Nice....never seen one of those....

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Thanks!

Yeah, I had been looking at Champions for a while...wanted a Saylor Beal, but was not in my budget and I looked locally on CL every day for a long time.

I was surprised that the outlet on mine is 1/2" with a ball valve. I was planning on using 3/4" copper lines in my garage and connect it to some 3/4" rapidair maxline about 40 feet to my shed. In my shed I will have a cutoff for so it doesn't strain the system..maybe not necessary. I also plan on putting an auto drain on it...just to keep it as dry as possible. I am planning my plumbing lines now. A dryer may be in the future, but can't now.

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Thanks!

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Great choice!

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Nice looking compressor. What did that set you back? I may be looking for one in the near future

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Thanks!

I paid $2249 shipped for it. I hate putting prices on items...no matter what I buy someone has one better, bigger, stronger, for cheaper. :) With that said...I am happy with my purchase. It is not the top of the line Champion...but fits what I needed and wanted. I looked at many compressors, both smaller and same size for cheaper, but this one has a great reputation and reviews.

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for the CFM's the price does not sound out of line. Looks to be cast iron head still so I will put it on my short list. Thanks for the reply.

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

It is a cast iron head. The compressor weighs about 600 pounds total.

What else are you looking at? I feel like I looked at most...Quincy, Saylore Beall, Eaton, etc. I feel I have learned more about compressors than I needed to at this point.

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

I have done some reading on the Champion, Quincy and Ingersall Rand. Not real impressed with the quality of the IR models I saw at the local tractor supply store. I have an 80 gallon 5hp 2 stage now that I bought from Snap On back in 86'. I think it is only like 15cfm though. I also have a 60 gallon (horizontal tank) with a 7.5hp direct drive compressor that I bought cheap from a friend who closed up. The motor went bad on my Snap on a while back so I hooked up the other one. I noticed that I was loosing a lot of pressure in the shop when compressor cut off even with no tools going. Both Compressors are in my small garage and piped over to the big one so I don't have the noise in the work area. I went over to check the compressor and noticed air leaking out of the bottom of the tank (dust blowing around made it easy to spot) I originally though it might be drain plug leaking but upon closer inspection that it is a rust hole. Needless to say I took it right back out of service and ordered a new motor for the Snap on unit. I guess my buddy did not drain the water as often as he should have and the tank is toast. With the age of my Snap on it has me now doubting the integrity of that tank even though I drain it a couple time per week. I just don't want to take a chance with the safety side and have a tank explosion that could kill someone. I was originally hoping to plumb both compressors together (which I did) to allow me to run both when using the blasting cabinet. Seems like that won't happen now and best bet is to just get something similar to what you have here. Sorry for long post :lol:

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

I looked at IR and think they have a better reputation than they are these days. What I heard/was told about Quincy is the QT-54 is not a true 2 stage...something about the pistons being the same size in both cylinders instead of one smaller than the other.

I really liked Saylor Beall, but for the same compressor it was $1300 more or so. I just couldn't justify that. I almost bought a 5HP 60 gallon Champion that was in the $1750 range, but I wanted this to be the last compressor I buy. Which is why I am planning on putting an auto drain on it also..and some sort of cooling device..either a radiator or a refrigerated air dryer (down the road).

Then I looked at Eaton Max silent air...just didn't do anything for me. Seemed like snake oil on the huge silencer...not sure why, but I just felt that. I bought mine from TPTools.com...they were less expensive than the same compressor at other sites.

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

I got my IR 7.9-3.5hp/60gal at tractor supply...bought it mostly because of the IR reputation....been running for about 15yrs now...had to change pressure switch a couple yrs ago because the contact arm broke...I'm happy with it...

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You are going to be very happy with the change. I did a similar change and have yet to run out of air, even with body working tools.

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Thanks...I am finishing the wiring tomorrow...so I get to start using it this week! I can't wait. I have never had a compressor this large at home...only at work years ago. The fact it won't be running all the time is going to make my ears happy!

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

You can run any system out of air driving air hungry tools. The 7.5 HP systems coming out these days are sort of BS in that a 5HP 1725 RPM motor is perfectly capable of doing the work.
HP is not a good measure of air compressor capacity regardless of the industry trying to use is as such. The important measure is output CFM.
IR is pretty famous for failures...
The pump, motor, and tank size are all important. The OP chose well.
The compressor is only the first bit in the system. You also need piping, filter, dryer and regulator. Then you need air tools. In my mind, the air system needs to be designed/built in a way that water has to end up either in the air tank or at the end of the system. That way it can be drained, or caught by the dryer. You destroy air tools by running hot wet air through them.

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One thing to consider is where you end up mounting it. For my latest installation, I put it outside of my shop and I really enjoy not having to listen to it all of the time.

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I can't put it outside, since I am in a residential area. It is going in my garage...but most of the work I will be doing is in my shed in the backyard.

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

That is a nice compressor.

I understand the comment about posting the price. I feel like I buy high so the next guy can get the deal. LOL

I just upgraded my small compressor (33gal) to a 60 gallon Kobalt. I had some reward points from my work and the compressor ended up costing me about $70 out of pocket.

I do not work out of the shop that much and the 33gal compressor had seen its better days, maybe 20 years old, with a piston and sleeve replacements 10 years ago and a pressure switch about 5.

I looked at the Champions and other high end compressors but for no more use I could not justify going that route.

My buddy has a Champion in his shop and it has been basically service free for 20+ years. He drains it regularly and changes the oil once per year. He runs a one, sometime two man body shop. The compressor has served him well.

Nice.

Scott

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Here is a link from a discussion a few years ago on drying air. Some really easy to do ideas while you are plumbing your new toy. I had the up and down loop in my other shop and it did a pretty good job. Will do another one in the new shop when it is done.
Jimmy
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=643549

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Thanks...now if I can get everything finished on it, I would be happier...I have been impressed with this board that no one has gone crazy about the price. I always love using reward points! I bought a TV a few years ago with AMEX points. Fortunately, I own my own business and from home and use the compressor for work as well as fun projects, so the company paid for the compressor. Still real money out of my pocket but I do get tax benefits and a write off of depreciation over the years.

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Thanks for the link Jimmy. I read that article from the powdercoat guide and that is how I plan on running my pipe in my garage.

My biggest concern is moisture going from the compressor to my work shed in the backyard. I have to go up to the attic across the house (50 feet total maybe)...then down the outside wall...but do I go underground to the shed that will trap moisture or leave a drop and drain outside and plug an air hose from the shed to the outside of the house to connect the shed tools and outlets? I was thinking of having an outlet on the outside of the shed to connect the air hose to the house compressor. The outside of the house would come from the attic drop down with a ball valve at the entry going to the attic to cut air off when not in use thus "stopping" moisture from entering that run and also another one at the bottom outside the house to drain moisture when not in use.

I was planning on using the rapidair 3/4 line for the attic run since it is one continuous roll of pipe there will be no connections in the attic for an air leak. That make sense? I get wordy sometimes explaining things.

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

that sure does look an awful lot like ingersollrand air compressors painted a different color, either way you cant go wrong.

how "residential" is your neighborhood because i've always had an air compressor in a residential neighborhood and never gotten a complaint, but i don't run it in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning either

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Thought for sure I posted something...hmmm

Anyway, Here is the article Jimmy posted the picture from above. It is a good read and since I also powder coat some, it is applicable to my situation.

http://www.powdercoatguide.com/2016/...l#.XIp57xNKiCT

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Well, my opinion is the up down air line design is no bueno and prefer a horizontal top in back and forth design. This means air has to be in the air tank, get trapped at the end by a dryer or go out in the air. That's exactly 2 places to purge water. Each horizontal run in my garage is 20' so I also have room to grow the system.
You need to blow off a little air from the bottom after running the compressor to get rid of condensation in the tank. This is universal.
An up down system means you need to blast those valves out everytime the compressor is used and you're done using it for the day and the air has cooled (or tomorow). I promise some black water will shoot out if you ever forget. Nasty.
Poor design.
For a 2 car garage you don't need a bunch of drops so it makes sense to do as I have and have a manifold at the end with multiple outlets. It's the same argument as above. If you have a horizontal overhead system with vertical drops, you have to purge each drop of water after the air has cooled each time the compressor runs.

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I am open to this...that's why I ask questions...I will have an auto drain on the bottom of the tank...just easy to have it do it for me.

Do you have a picture of your set up?

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No pics. I don't have a pic hosting site account and they're too big to post. You can PM an email address and I can send the dinosaur way tho.
I have a custom (not fancy or expensive) true 3/4" flex line from the tank to the ceiling. That means the ID of the fittings is 3/4". Then 20' pipe with a minimal drop with a union. The same back and forth until I drop into the last horizontal end with another union where I have the filter, dryer, regulator and multiple air outlets. Simple cheap effective.
Auto-drains tend to clog so you have to check; same as manually cracking a ball valve. Barf. I run a L of the bottom of the tank out to the edge, then valve, then reverse back a bit and down. Ok, I'm cheap and lazy.
You just need to crack the valve to drain the water at the bottom of the tank. I used to superstitiously drain the air from the tank but eventually realized that wasn't needed. Sort of like using flare wrenches on bleeder screws. Lol

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Thanks, PM sent

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Pics emailed :)
BTW, here's a link to SB and apparently my compressor is their bead and butter size. http://www.saylor-beall.com Mine is as shown down to the red tag and stickers, but obviously mine's many years old.

https://www.compressorworld.com/5-hp...BoCfc4QAvD_BwE

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Thanks for the pics Kevin! I might just put an aftercooler on my compressor and be done with it. I also found a used refrigerated air dryer fairly cheap...hmmm

I really liked the SB compressors, but was just out of my price range.

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

I am thinking of doing something similar to this (found it at garage journal here)... 50 feet of 3/4" coiled copper. I will feed it at the top...have a T at the bottom with a drip/drain leg then off to the tools and shed out back. The coil will take up much less room than 50+ feet of copper along the walls...and I could mount a fan to blow on the coil if I so desired. Thoughts?

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

So I have been debating and researching, even looking for a "cheap" used refrigerated air dryer. Aftercoolers go between the compressor and tank. What is being suggested here is the copper pipe whether it be run vertical with many drains or horizontal with one drain seems to be the consensus. Here is the question I have...instead of running copper pipe on the wall as the cooler...why couldn't I mount a aftercooler (condensor/radiator) after the tank and before my plumbing with a drain? Wouldn't that give the same effect with minimal space taken?

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I have seen guys do what you have on the wall ( coiled copper) but put it in a pony fridge. I have no first hand knowledge of how well that works but it would be fairly cheap.

I'm plumbing a home compressor now & like your coil idea. I have a pony fridge not being used, I might try it.

BTW, nice compressor. I had a shop with 2 15 hp champions & commercial dryers, we could't kill em! They were USA made back then, I hope they still are.

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Thanks, I love this compressor so far. I haven't plumbed mine yet...just been too busy. I need to get it done so I can get it plumbed in the backyard in my shed where my blast cabinet is.

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

I am finally getting around to buying an auto tank drain. I want to buy one and power it through my magnetic started so it only runs when the compressor is running. I know enough electrical to follow directions...so does anyone know how to wire the drain valve to the magnetic starter? This is a 230v system so I will be buying a 230v auto drain. I can provide pictures of my magnetic starter if necessary.

Would I connect the auto drain to the same connections at the magnetic starter that the motor is connected to? I only want the drain to run when the motor is running. Thanks

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

i wouldnt think youd want to have the drain wired to the motor circuit...
if the motor is running the drain would be open all the time....it only takes a few seconds to drain mine...and iuonly do it once every now and then...even with our humididity..
i would by a timer and have it wired seperate...you could have it open whenever you wanted...0nce a day ,once a week,every other day and so forth...it could run on 110...no need for it to be on 220...
it might be im not understanding what your wanting to do though...

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

As mongo says, the tanks drain only needs to be open for a few seconds to blow out water. Water will condense in the tank long after the compressor use has stopped. The tank drain needs to be cycled after the air has cooled, and before the compressor is used.

Re: New Compressor arrived today
 

Thanks guys...I am going to go with a champion auto drain...

On another note, I think I am going to use the rapidair system. The outlet of my compressor is 1/2". Do you think I should use the 1/2" or 3/4" rapidair system? Either way, it will be reduced to 3/8" at the tool if it matter. Thanks

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I made something similar but used a 10 gallon cooler. I can either use just cold water or add Ice to it. Works well and it was left over old homebrew equipment. Its portable too so I can use it outside to sandblast.