I have a 6 gallon pancake compressor that has died and the part I need is no longer made, but still holds air well and I would like to try to find some way to reuse it as a air holding device. What are some thoughts as to how I could alter or repurpose it in to a air holding device. Or is there anything else useful that I could turn it in to or use it for?
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What part do you need?
There are a few possible uses for a dead compressor, such as a portable air storage tank, or a "pig" which is an additional air storage device to increase the tank capacity of another compressor. I suppose you could use it for a gasoline tank.
The part that failed was a pressure switch, Campbell Hausfeld has said that they no longer make that part and although some online part companys post it on their website the ones I have check end up tell me it is not available.
For the Pig option could I hook it up to my new compressor and then use both of them at the same time with the same nail gun (or one to a nail gun and one to a air gun) to get twice the amount of time nailling before the new compressor turns on?
If the other compressor is a 6 gallon, yes you will get longer on/off cycles. If the "pig is very close to your nailer, it may work better because you won't get much pressure drop as in a long air line. I hate it when the compressor is noisy and it kicks on when I don't expect it to, so it could be located close to the power source, with a long air line (if needed) to the pig .
The pressure switch could surely be replaced with a similar one, if you choose to repair it. There are a lot of them available on line, just make sure the pressure settings are the same (ie. cut on and cut off pressure).
would having the pig connect to the new compressor cause it to work harder/fail sooner
are the cut on and cut off pressure the only things I need to make sure are the same for the new switch?
You don't have to worry about the pig causing a problem with the new compressor.
As for the pressure switch, it has to physically fit the compressor, it has to be rated for the current required, the unloader has to work correctly, and 240v compressors use a double pole switch, but 120v.can work with a single pole or double pole switch. The unloader releases head pressure for easier starts.
Is this the pressure switch?(first pic)
based upon the second pic it looks like to me it should be fairly simple to make it a pig right?
First picture is the pressure switch. The pressure switch looks like the type that would be easy to replace with a generic car air horn pressure switch like this one http://www.amazon.com/Fafada%C2%AE--150PSI-Pressure-Control-Compressor/dp/B00X39M8P0/ref=sr_1_11?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1432115404&sr=1-11&keywords=pressure+switch+120v+120+150 but it is rated at 12v 3.5a. It may be a direct replacement for yours, or not. I looked but did not see any like that rated at 120v. But it could be made to work with a 12v power supply ($2 or so at thrift stores) and a 12v relay with contacts rated for your compressor.
Making it into a pig should be easy, but there's always something to ruin your day. I would remove the compressor, and connect the incoming airline to where the compressor went. Hopefully that will be easy, and the threads will be compatible.
Correct switch found.
Ebay has a compatible switch. http://www.ebay.com/itm/air-compressor-pressure-switch-120-150-psi-1-4-NPT-brand-new-never-used-/321612315787?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae1967c8b
I wouldn't muck with a 12V switch. The 120V unit is certain to be readily available. Granger would be a good bet.
I found a correct switch on ebay. Grainger would probably charge more than what the compressor is worth for the switch. And it's also perfectly fine to run a 12 volt switch 12 volts to drive a contactor.
Why don't you show the switch on Graingers website? It's probably a wild goose chase to find one on there, but I didn't look.
Thank you for helping find that part. So in your opinion if the pressure switch failed after three years would you expect something else to fail?
If I turned it in to a pig the only parts on it that could fail would be a gauge or a valve right? would there be anything dangerous about having it as a pig?
It would be perfectly safe as a pig unless there is severe rust in the tank, which could potentially cause it to explode, but much much more likely just leak air.
And it should be noted that severe rust would be due to a failure to regularly drain the tank.
Some people drain the tank when the compressor gets too heavy to lift, or when theres no room to compress air.
But I wonder if draining the tank really prevents rust because even if it's drained, it's still humid in there, and there will likely be a bit of water along the bottom of the tank.
Discover a compressor repair shop in your general vicinity, take the compressor into them, they will have a pressure switch that will work, most likely far better than the first.On the off chance that you can't figure out how to repair the compressor you have, I'd very prescribe discarding it, as opposed to attempting to repurpose it. Truly, the cost of the parts to change over it are not going to be justified regardless of the minor additions doing it. In the event that you require more tank limit, get a bigger compressor. In the event that you do run with a bigger compressor, verify it is an oil style and not the oilless sort, oiled compressors last any longer and are calmer.