Re: Air Supply (not the band)
Hello All, Even the *cheaper* belt driven compressors with separate motor and compressor head are a LOT quieter and smoother running than the ones with the motor coupled directly to the compressor head's shaft. At least that's my experience, having owned both types. In the past I've worked around a similar noise problem with a compressor. If the compressor was going to be running a lot, I would sometimes roll it outside and run a hose through a cracked door and into the existing piping through a quick connect coupling. Now, my compressor is permanently in another room of the garage so it's no longer a problem. (Other than it's easy to forget to drain the water from the tank, or check the oil level in the head.) I also have an additional storage tank (roughly 30 gallon) piped into the air supply plumbing. It helps considerably in keeping ON time to a minimum, especially during sporadic or light use. It also provides a good additional volume of air for pneumatic tools. I bought the bare tank at a Flea Market for almost nothing. Hope it helps, or spawns an idea. Later, Trent Vance Bass wrote: Chuck, the quiet ones are gonna cost you a LOT. The ones you buy down at the hardware store won't cut it -- you'll probably have to go to an industrial supply.
Re: Air Supply (not the band)
Trent, My compressor is in the garage, with an airline around the perimeter of the foundation into a spare bedroom, which is my hobby room. There is a filter and pressure regulator inside the room and a moisture trap just outside as the long line acts as a sort of aftercooler.. I have shutoff valves in the appropriate places. I do have an airline lubricator but it is not connected as I don't want oil in the line, altho I am considering installing it on a separate line for running the steam engines for any length of time (NOT thru the boiler). Incidentally, that extra storage tank is a good idea for our type of application. I can also run a hose from the compressor for steaming up my 3/4gauge on the track insert sections across the driveway at the garage entrance. The compressor is an Ingersoll Rand belt driven 1-1/2 hp 110 and is very adequate for my needs. One can buy a hardware recipricating compressor that will be very adequate for around $300-400--it depends on the amount of usage. They would not work well for 8hrs use a day but should last for years if used intermittedly. Mine cost $400 15 years ago but it was over priced where I bought it--(at one of my dealers!!!) and it was not designed for industrial use, just for homeowners. It runs as good as ever and when I recently took the head off to check the valves and cyls, they were like new. Vance is correct I believe, reciprocating compressors are naturally noisy and to buy a silenced one would be expensive--a rotary screw (which is quiet) of any quality would cost a lot of money, and you wouldn't want a cheapie imitation. Air was my business and I love it--no--NOT hot air!! Geoff. Hello All, Even the *cheaper* belt driven compressors with separate motor and compressor head are a LOT quieter and smoother running than the ones with the motor coupled directly to the compressor head's shaft. At least that's my experience, having owned both types. In the past I've worked around a similar noise problem with a compressor. If the compressor was going to be running a lot, I would sometimes roll it outside and run a hose through a cracked door and into the existing piping through a quick connect coupling. Now, my compressor is permanently in another room of the garage so it's no longer a problem. (Other than it's easy to forget to drain the water from the tank, or check the oil level in the head.) I also have an additional storage tank (roughly 30 gallon) piped into the air supply plumbing. It helps considerably in keeping ON time to a minimum, especially during sporadic or light use. It also provides a good additional volume of air for pneumatic tools. I bought the bare tank at a Flea Market for almost nothing. Hope it helps, or spawns an idea. Later, Trent
Re: Air Supply (not the band)
Hi all . Noticed all the talk about silent compressors ;; I dont have that problem ;; used an old sewing machine motor and made a small 1/2 in bore compressor and let it run all the time . pressure switch on air receiver . Initially its like waiting for a battery to charge but once up to pressure just ideal for testing model steam engines and as a bonus ( very little expence ) NO Echo '. - Original Message - From: Geoff Spenceley [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 04, 2003 1:26 PM Subject: Re: Air Supply (not the band) Trent, My compressor is in the garage, with an airline around the perimeter of the foundation into a spare bedroom, which is my hobby room. There is a filter and pressure regulator inside the room and a moisture trap just outside as the long line acts as a sort of aftercooler.. I have shutoff valves in the appropriate places. I do have an airline lubricator but it is not connected as I don't want oil in the line, altho I am considering installing it on a separate line for running the steam engines for any length of time (NOT thru the boiler). Incidentally, that extra storage tank is a good idea for our type of application. I can also run a hose from the compressor for steaming up my 3/4gauge on the track insert sections across the driveway at the garage entrance. The compressor is an Ingersoll Rand belt driven 1-1/2 hp 110 and is very adequate for my needs. One can buy a hardware recipricating compressor that will be very adequate for around $300-400--it depends on the amount of usage. They would not work well for 8hrs use a day but should last for years if used intermittedly. Mine cost $400 15 years ago but it was over priced where I bought it--(at one of my dealers!!!) and it was not designed for industrial use, just for homeowners. It runs as good as ever and when I recently took the head off to check the valves and cyls, they were like new. Vance is correct I believe, reciprocating compressors are naturally noisy and to buy a silenced one would be expensive--a rotary screw (which is quiet) of any quality would cost a lot of money, and you wouldn't want a cheapie imitation. Air was my business and I love it--no--NOT hot air!! Geoff. Hello All, Even the *cheaper* belt driven compressors with separate motor and compressor head are a LOT quieter and smoother running than the ones with the motor coupled directly to the compressor head's shaft. At least that's my experience, having owned both types. In the past I've worked around a similar noise problem with a compressor. If the compressor was going to be running a lot, I would sometimes roll it outside and run a hose through a cracked door and into the existing piping through a quick connect coupling. Now, my compressor is permanently in another room of the garage so it's no longer a problem. (Other than it's easy to forget to drain the water from the tank, or check the oil level in the head.) I also have an additional storage tank (roughly 30 gallon) piped into the air supply plumbing. It helps considerably in keeping ON time to a minimum, especially during sporadic or light use. It also provides a good additional volume of air for pneumatic tools. I bought the bare tank at a Flea Market for almost nothing. Hope it helps, or spawns an idea. Later, Trent
Re: Air Supply (not the band)
Good thinking! I own a piece of equipment talented friend made tho I don't use it. It is an electric drill on a stand driving a cox airplane engine as a compressor. Was it an old sewing machine motor or did you steal it from your wife's sewing machine.Did you then convert it to pedal power for her!!?? Geoff. Hi all . Noticed all the talk about silent compressors ;; I dont have that problem ;; used an old sewing machine motor and made a small 1/2 in bore compressor and let it run all the time . pressure switch on air receiver . Initially its like waiting for a battery to charge but once up to pressure just ideal for testing model steam engines and as a bonus ( very little expence ) NO Echo '. - Original Message - From: Geoff Spenceley [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 04, 2003 1:26 PM Subject: Re: Air Supply (not the band)
RE: Air Supply (not the band)
Bob, I don't run them for long. Just for a bit after I make some adjustments. There is enough residual oil in the cylinders to keep them lubed enough for the run. If its a new engine I am building, I add enough oil at the time of assembly. My Best, Chuck Charles W. Walters Twin Lakes Railway CEO http://home.twcny.rr.com/twinlakesrw -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Bob Root Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 11:57 PM To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam Subject: RE: Air Supply (not the band) If you use an air supply, what happens to the steam oil that is suppose to get to the cylinders? There is no steam to condense to displace the oil, wouldn't this mean that the cylinders are running without any lub. Bob -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Chuck Walters Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 9:22 PM To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam Subject: RE: Air Supply (not the band) Vance, You are correct! I forgot cost and it does matter. I do not want to spend a fortune. My Best, Chuck Charles W. Walters Twin Lakes Railway CEO http://home.twcny.rr.com/twinlakesrw -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Vance Bass Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 9:00 PM To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam Subject: Re: Air Supply (not the band) Chuck, the quiet ones are gonna cost you a LOT. But, cost wasn't in your list of parameters, so I guess that's no problem. What you want is a two-stage, oil bath compressor. The ones you buy down at the hardware store won't cut it -- you'll probably have to go to an industrial supply. regards, -vance- Vance Bass Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Small-scale live steam resources: http://www.nmia.com/~vrbass
RE: Air Supply (not the band)
I usually run the engine thru the lubricator filler aparture for a short while--with the regulator fully closed. I find that puts oil in the cylinders which is good for a short run. Geoff. Bob, I don't run them for long. Just for a bit after I make some adjustments. There is enough residual oil in the cylinders to keep them lubed enough for the run. If its a new engine I am building, I add enough oil at the time of assembly. My Best, Chuck Charles W. Walters Twin Lakes Railway CEO http://home.twcny.rr.com/twinlakesrw -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Bob Root Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 11:57 PM To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam Subject: RE: Air Supply (not the band) If you use an air supply, what happens to the steam oil that is suppose to get to the cylinders? There is no steam to condense to displace the oil, wouldn't this mean that the cylinders are running without any lub. Bob -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Chuck Walters Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 9:22 PM To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam Subject: RE: Air Supply (not the band) Vance, You are correct! I forgot cost and it does matter. I do not want to spend a fortune. My Best, Chuck Charles W. Walters Twin Lakes Railway CEO http://home.twcny.rr.com/twinlakesrw -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Vance Bass Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 9:00 PM To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam Subject: Re: Air Supply (not the band) Chuck, the quiet ones are gonna cost you a LOT. But, cost wasn't in your list of parameters, so I guess that's no problem. What you want is a two-stage, oil bath compressor. The ones you buy down at the hardware store won't cut it -- you'll probably have to go to an industrial supply. regards, -vance- Vance Bass Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Small-scale live steam resources: http://www.nmia.com/~vrbass
Air Supply (not the band)
I have been using a portable electric bike pump for years as an air supply to run the engines with. It is so NOISY! Wife hates it. Dog runs and hides. Etc, etc, etc. Who has a slick solution to this dilemma? Requirements: quiet, variable (0 to 80 psi or so), easily attached to the engine, etc. My Best, Chuck Chuck Walters Twin Lakes Railway CEO http://home.twcny.rr.com/twinlakesrw
Re: Air Supply (not the band)
Chuck, the quiet ones are gonna cost you a LOT. But, cost wasn't in your list of parameters, so I guess that's no problem. What you want is a two-stage, oil bath compressor. The ones you buy down at the hardware store won't cut it -- you'll probably have to go to an industrial supply. regards, -vance- Vance Bass Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Small-scale live steam resources: http://www.nmia.com/~vrbass
RE: Air Supply (not the band)
Vance, You are correct! I forgot cost and it does matter. I do not want to spend a fortune. My Best, Chuck Charles W. Walters Twin Lakes Railway CEO http://home.twcny.rr.com/twinlakesrw -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Vance Bass Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 9:00 PM To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam Subject: Re: Air Supply (not the band) Chuck, the quiet ones are gonna cost you a LOT. But, cost wasn't in your list of parameters, so I guess that's no problem. What you want is a two-stage, oil bath compressor. The ones you buy down at the hardware store won't cut it -- you'll probably have to go to an industrial supply. regards, -vance- Vance Bass Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Small-scale live steam resources: http://www.nmia.com/~vrbass
RE: Air Supply (not the band)
If you use an air supply, what happens to the steam oil that is suppose to get to the cylinders? There is no steam to condense to displace the oil, wouldn't this mean that the cylinders are running without any lub. Bob -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Chuck Walters Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 9:22 PM To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam Subject: RE: Air Supply (not the band) Vance, You are correct! I forgot cost and it does matter. I do not want to spend a fortune. My Best, Chuck Charles W. Walters Twin Lakes Railway CEO http://home.twcny.rr.com/twinlakesrw -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Vance Bass Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 9:00 PM To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam Subject: Re: Air Supply (not the band) Chuck, the quiet ones are gonna cost you a LOT. But, cost wasn't in your list of parameters, so I guess that's no problem. What you want is a two-stage, oil bath compressor. The ones you buy down at the hardware store won't cut it -- you'll probably have to go to an industrial supply. regards, -vance- Vance Bass Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Small-scale live steam resources: http://www.nmia.com/~vrbass
