Replies

1. 
   bd | May 24, 2008 02:33pm | #1

   No real wisdom here to respond to your questions, other than stating the obvious. It's going to be a bottle-neck, for sure, if you use any high demand tools.

   More curious about your screen name. That, by chance, related to search & rescue dogs???

   .......bd, an old SAR dog handler

1. 
   Sardog | May 24, 2008 06:50pm | #2

   Bd

   Yes I worry about the bottle neck also.

   As for the Dogs, I train and search with German Shephards.

   I also train others.

   I've been involved with SAR Dogs now for 18 years and SAR work since 1970.

   My mentor was one of the first people to train SAR dogs in the USA.

    

   Jeff

2. 
   MikeHennessy | May 25, 2008 11:15pm | #3

   Unless you're sandblasting a bridge, your 1/4" fitting won't be a problem. That's pretty standard on shop-type compressor tanks and you can empty out the whole tank (maybe a couple hunderd cu ft of air, depending on your tank size) in about 10 seconds through that 1/4" hole. I can't think of any shop tool that you couldn't run off that fitting -- I'd bet my table saw that, if there's a "bottleneck" in this system, its the compressor and not the fitting. (I.e., that fitting can pass more air than your compressor can generate in any given time.) The larger shop piping will also help buffer any pressure fluctuations, kind of like a holding tank.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   Sardog | May 25, 2008 11:45pm | #4

   Thanks Mike

2. 
   Tinkerer3 | May 27, 2008 06:19am | #8

   Two hundred gallon tank drained in ten seconds!  Might you be stretching that a bit?  Just leave the table saw in front of the shop.  I'll move it in when I come home.  Ha!  When are you coming this way again.  I still want to show you the shop and scour your brain cells for suggestions?  I still haven't started building things.

1. 
   MikeHennessy | May 27, 2008 02:10pm | #9

   "Two hundred gallon tank drained in ten seconds!"

   For some reason, when the OP mentioned he had picked a deal on a Crafstman compressor, I wasn't thinking that it was a jumbo. Could be wrong, but that doesn't change the advice. That 1/4" nipple will move more air than any shop tool will ever use, unless you start using several at once.

   Not sure when I'll be back down to West-By-God-Virginnie. With the price of gas at $4.00, or close enough to it that it don't matter, WV lumber gets pricey when you count the $60 in gas in the cost. But I do need a mess o' cherry, so maybe in the next month or so.

   BTW, we spent the weekend in Charleston for the Vandalia Gathering. That's always a treat. Saw a bunch of my WV pickin' buddies and heard some incredible music. Oh to have that kind of talent!

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

1. 
   Tinkerer3 | May 28, 2008 03:40am | #10

   I used to be a security guard in a factory that had three 150 HP air compressors - yes, a little larger than the Sears units.  On off hours only one or two would be running so when the pressure built up a little to much the popoff would vent.  I think it was probably an inch outlet.  You talk about loud!  Wow, you couldn't even think with your hands over your ears. 

3. 
   WillGeorge | May 26, 2008 04:12pm | #5

   Not a Air Flow Expert here.. But I'd say a restriction will increase pressure but if you want volume BIG opening could be better! Thing of a common water hose with one of the brass hose squirter thing in the front of it!

4. 
   lwj2 | May 26, 2008 05:07pm | #6

   I wouldn't worry about it.

   We had 3/4 inch type 40 copper in our photolab with a similar compressor, the major problem we had was compressor capacity, I should have purchased one with a larger tank.

   I will suggest putting in a moisture trap with a valve, we just ran a length of copper down five feet, put in a 45 degree elbow, then another 45 deg, short stub and a valve, repeat and back up to the run. Drained it once a day at the start of the day. Any length of drop will do, I used five feet because the compressor was on the top deck area.

   Leon
1. 
   Sardog | May 26, 2008 05:39pm | #7

   Hi lwj2

   I used to be involved in Photo-labs years ago also, nice to meet someone else.

   My system has a 40 ft pipe run at the beginning in a zig-zag to cool and drain water out of the air.  And everything is sloped back to a main drain point.

   When I replaced my old compressor, I also got a larger tank size to increase capacity.

   Jeff