New Air Compressor

[xrocketengineer]

Well, two days ago decided to finally remove a fallen tree from the last hurricane since the area was finally dry enough to use the tractor. The first issue was, when trying to pump the tractor tires, my compressor refused to start after several attempts. Since by chance I had watched a video the night before of a compressor tank explosion, I took it as an omen. My 27 gallon Craftsman direct drive compressor was 27 years old so it is probably time to replace it. I left it by the curb and it's already gone.
So, after looking at what is available for not much more than $300, I am inclined to buy a Husky 20 gallon compressor. Even though the reviews are somewhat mixed, I think that it should be "slightly quieter" than the old one, it is one of the few compressors with three year warranty, for warranty service I just have to take it to my nearby Home Depot, I found a website with parts for all the Husky compressors, the flow rate seems to be enough for whatever I might need and hopefully it will be a little easier to wheel around than the old one that was too heavy.
Any other suggestions in that ball park?

Anyway, my day did not get much better after that. I had to use my older chainsaw since the newer one is needing a new clutch drum. I had a hell a time getting the old chainsaw started cold since the choke was misbehaving more than usual. Fortunately, it finally started and I managed to cut pretty much everything that I needed to, when during the last cut It started sounding like a machine gun. I figured that something got caught in the chain but after taking it apart there was nothing. I then checked the flywheel/fan and it looked ok. Then I decided to look at the carburetor end since the choke was funny.....and I found the problem(s). The choke butterfly attaching screw had come off on the cheap Chinese carb I had bought a couple of years ago. The choke shaft had pretty much come apart and the screw was swallowed by the engine. This chainsaw was about 20 years old so another possible replacement if I can not fix the other one.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

I know that money is tight for some of us, but for $300 I'd be looking for a bigger used one from Craigslist. Those little oiless models just don't last and don't do much. My current compressor is a 5 hp 60 gallon upright. $300 on CL.

Too bad you got rid of the old one - would have made a good expansion tank. Basically, you plumb your new one into the old one, and take your air out of the old one. You can remove the compressor and toss it. More air capacity means more run time without running the compressor, when then runs longer to fill it. Kind of like having a pressure tank on your well - it minimizes the starts, which is what kills motors.

IF you need it mobile part of the time, just use quick connects between the new compressor and the old tank. Just disconnect and go. Too late now, so why mention it? If you get a chance to snag a tank, keep it in mind.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I've never liked those 'diaphragm' compressors..too dang noisy. yeah I have one in the basement,used maybe 4-5 times a year ( air nailer ).
Old skool ones are a lot quieter though the one you post says it's 'quiet'. I'd have the store clerk power one up to see and HEAR. See what the return policy is... if it's too noisy, return it

 

[lynnmor]

You may have needed a centrifugal start switch, about $11 or a start capacitor, about $17 or a pressure switch, about $15. Yes, I have replaced all of the above in my portable over the last 2 years. The centrifugal switch flew apart, the capacitor may have been good enough as it was just out of spec, and the pressure switch had high resistance that could have been cured by filing the contacts but I elected to replace because of the heating . Now you know why someone picked it up right away, they can be cheap to fix.

 

[DustyRusty]

My neighbor picks up any scrap iron on the side of the road, and when he has a pickup load, he takes it to the scrap yard. He is young and strong, and I guess it is worth the time to do it.

 

[xrocketengineer]

Well, the price got jacked up with the new year. So, I decided to go with this instead, that is supposed to be quieter and lighter: Stealth Compressor.
My issue with the old compressor was the tank. I have gotten paranoid in the last year or so with the tank being so old and exploding. The drain valve was clogged up and the tank was full of water. When the motor did not start, that was the sign for it to go.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

My issue with the old compressor was the tank. I have gotten paranoid in the last year or so with the tank being so old and exploding. The drain valve was clogged up and the tank was full of water. When the motor did not start, that was the sign for it to go.

100% a good choice getting rid of the old one!
They can be quite the Bomb when they go off.

 

[armylifer]

Well, the price got jacked up with the new year. So, I decided to go with this instead, that is supposed to be quieter and lighter: Stealth Compressor.
My issue with the old compressor was the tank. I have gotten paranoid in the last year or so with the tank being so old and exploding. The drain valve was clogged up and the tank was full of water. When the motor did not start, that was the sign for it to go.

For future reference the drain valve is removable and replaceable. You could have removed the old drain valve and replaced it with a new one from a hardware store.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

Well, the price got jacked up with the new year. So, I decided to go with this instead, that is supposed to be quieter and lighter: Stealth Compressor.
My issue with the old compressor was the tank. I have gotten paranoid in the last year or so with the tank being so old and exploding. The drain valve was clogged up and the tank was full of water. When the motor did not start, that was the sign for it to go.

Tanks blow up when the pressure switch fails to shut off the motor and it over-pressurizes. Not from rust. Rust makes pinholes and you find out you have a problem long before it can go kaboom.

People see dramatic videos of blown up tanks, and there's some rust inside, and they assume the rust made it blow up.

Drain valves are cheap.

 

[xrocketengineer]

Here is an interesting video on how to test a compressor tank and prevent an explosion.

 

[armylifer]

I don't know why anyone would worry about an air tank exploding. There are at least two safety devices on every air compressor. The pressure compressor cut off switch and the pop off valve. I have never heard of an air compressor tank exploding before now. The chances of such a thing happening are so remote that you have a better chance of getting bit by a bull than being near an exploding air compressor.

 

[DustyRusty]

 

[dlsmith]

When we had the family construction company, our shop was next door to a van conversion outfit (imagine that in Elkhart County, IN). One Sunday afternoon I dropped by the shop to check on something, and while I was inside, I head a loud noise, a boom, but not like an explosion, more muffled. I went outside and saw that an area of the van shop building was blown out, debris was scattered around the hole and dust still swirling around.
I walked over to the building and it was obvious that one of the large air tanks had exploded, as the remnants were scattered around, one with the compressor attached to it.
I knew the owner, so I went back and gave him a call, he not was not happy.
I went over the next day while they were cleaning up the mess. It caused a lot of damage to the roof and some vans that were close by. From the looks of the tank remnants, the weld on one of the ends gave way, causing the failure. There was only minor rusting in the bottom of the tank, so I doubt that was a contributing factor. The tank was a 200 gallon unit, so it had a lot of energy stored up in it at 150 PSI.

 

[xrocketengineer]

Well, my new compressor arrived on January the 6th. It came totally assembled except for two thumbscrews to locate the height of the handle. One of the thumbscrew's plastic ears were broken so it went in with a vise grip. Today, I got hold of the company and some nice lady took my information to send me a replacement thumbscrew. Their website is terrible and misleading, it does not work for the most part. However, the nice lady pointed out to me that the warranty is only three years on the entire unit. That only the pump and motor have a lifetime warranty. The instruction manual that can be downloaded from stealthcompressors.com agrees with what she said about the warranty. The paper manual the came with compressor states limited lifetime warranty on the unit.
Anyway, I ran the 30 minute break in and then pressurized the tank, checked the regulator and everything seems to work ok with no leaks. It is definitely a lot quieter than my old oilless Craftsman. You can stay in the garage and carry a conversation while it is running. Time will tell if I am happy with my purchase.

 

[xrocketengineer]

Today I received the replacement thumb screw for the one that came broken. It was the correct part but the interesting thing is that the attached paperwork form Alton Industry Ltd. Group states that the part is for a 10 gallon Craftsman compressor or for an 8 gallon Husky compressor. Not a word about a "Stealth" compressor. So, they are all made in the same place and they are all the same crap, I take.

 

[fried1765]

Tanks blow up when the pressure switch fails to shut off the motor and it over-pressurizes. Not from rust. Rust makes pinholes and you find out you have a problem long before it can go kaboom.

People see dramatic videos of blown up tanks, and there's some rust inside, and they assume the rust made it blow up.

Drain valves are cheap.

You are ABSOLUTELY correct, but the "old wives tale" of tanks exploding due to rust prevails.
As you so correctly point out, pin holes will come about, long before a tank explosion

 

[Oil pan 4]

All my air compressors were built from junk I found at the scrap yard.
I have a place hydrostatic test the tanks and they are usually good.