Air Compressor Tank
 

:mad:

I went to drain my air compressor tank and noticed some rust..... did a screwdriver test and it punched right through the tank. Now I need a new tank... Grainger has several.... they are not cheap.

My tank is like 10gallons so I noticed harbor freight has an 11gallon portable air tank. I am thinking of using it as my new compressor tank with some minor mods.

Any ideas?

Those direct-drive, 3hp compressors with 20gal(?) tanks were selling like hotcakes a few years ago. They were loud, but ran all the impact wrenches you could ever want.

I'm thinking of something like this: (but mine is black and doesnt have any wheels)
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/oil-compressors/3-hp-21-gallon-115-psi-cast-iron-vertical-air-compressor-94667.html


If you keep your eyes out, you might find someone throwing away one of those because the direct drive compressors on most of those were not built to last. Snag that from the garage path, pull the compressor and pipe your own compressor back in (I just put a hose with a QD so my normal compressor could fill it up if I needed...

...Or I could sell you mine...(I'm not going to Indy anytime soon though)

-John

I was looking at that compressor at HF... my guess it they are extremely loud. That would drive me crazy :dizzy:

Found a used tank on CL but it's like 60gallons... my little 1HP setup would take days to fill that up. Been reading online about using a large propane tank but I dunno. Maybe I will call around to the welding/gas shops tomorrow and ask for a used tank. It would have to be something that has been pressure tested.

Check your local pawn shop, I got mine for 20 bucks 20 gallon affair

Be careful if you get a second hand one, it may have corrosion problems as well. You should have a second hand one hyrostatically tested prior to use. Propane bottles do not have the same pressure rating. I have a friend who is using an old oxy bottle. Its inverted so it will never hold water ~ less likely to corrode.

this one was new, still had all the factory stuff with it, if it was used it was very little.

I have yet to see one in a pawnshop for anything less than $80. I will keep my eyes open but the portable 11 gallon tank sounds pretty good.

I need shop air to clean out my a/c lines in the TD.. Guess I could put the new driveshaft in my '87 and try out the 5spd. Got 2 projects going on at once AND my SD threw an alt belt yesterday.. I better watch it or I might not have anything to drive... well there is the galant :(

You should consider getting a bigger compressor is your looking to buy used. There are plenty for sale on CL.

drain your tank often.

It may have been used very little but with the humidity you would soon have some condensation in the tank. If not drained, it will corrode, hence your problem, the new tank is your best bet.
If the tank was to fail with 120 psi in it. THE shrapnel wont say excuse me as it hits you!!!

I drain my tank typically after every use, as a safety precaution. and the tank is stored as far from where I work as possible.
But there's a lot of humidity here.

You would think people would coat the inside of tanks, but they don't