Customized Air Compressor

Customized Air Compressor FARM SHOP Miscellaneous “The traditional ‘motor-on-the-top’ air compressor that I got from a friend had a rusty 80-gal tank and bad seals so I decided to fix it up rather than throw it away ” says Mark Rinke Lakeville Minn “It took me most of one winter to reconfigure the machine adding features similar to those on expensive commercial models that I work with at my job Now I’ve got something that really fits my needs ” Rinke’s primary goal was to turn the stationary top-heavy machine into one that was portable stable while it was operating and produced the driest possible air To do that he built a rectangular metal platform out of 3/8-in C-channel steel and bolted the pressure tank and motor to it sitting side-by-side The platform rides on two large caster wheels beneath the tank and two smaller casters under the motor A screw jack mounted on the frame in front of the motor raises the platform off the smaller wheels to keep the platform stable when the compressor is running To produce dry air and keep moisture from collecting in the pressure tank Rinke mounted an aftermarket air exhanger on the side of the compressor skid with an electric power fan cnclosed in a metal shroud “The compressor discharges air into a pre-cooler and from there into a forced-fan heat exchanger which drops out most of the moisture ” says Rinke “This keeps water from collecting in the main storage tank ” As a career mechanical engineer who brings his job skills home Rinke says “Re-working this machine was never about the economics It was more about the journey an interesting hobby project that really suits my home shop needs with a commercial quality device ” His compressor has a 5 hp motor and operates from a traditional pressure switch with safety controls configured much like larger commercial units The motor starter contactor fan control contacts and thermal overload/heater strip are housed in neatly designed and sealed box mounted between the motor and the tank He also re-worked the compressor air passage ports to provide more efficient air flow “This unit serves my purpose for having a good and portable supply of the driest air possible without using a commercial air dryer ” Rinke says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Mark Rinke 11175 225th St E Lakeville Minn 55044 mark rinke@nngco com

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