I have a PC pancake compresssor that I did not properly drain during the first year of it’s life. One day I opened the drain, and the water that came out was pretty nasty. Now I drain it twice a week, sometimes every day. The water is much clearer, but still a little discolored. How much damage did I do, or how can I find out? Is there anything I can do to prolong it’s life? Can I pour in some rustoleum paint and slosh it around to coat the walls?
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Replies
Re your PC pancake tank cleaning proceedure: You gotta be kidding.
Ken Hill
Just use it and drain it properly from now on. They all drain crappy looking water. Dont put any rustoleum in there unless you want to ruin the pressure switch and your nailer or whatever.
Edited 4/21/2002 9:19:41 PM ET by MARKH128
ELCID,
Your first move should be to the nearest PC certified maintenance shop. Have them check it out and run neccesary tests.
If all checks out be much more careful in the future. You should drain the tanks daily. I may be over cautious but I leave the drain valve open for a few moments when starting it up the next day to clear anything that may not have cleared the day before.
Check oil regularly and change it at least twice a year depending on how much you use it. Different grade oils for differing climates.
Follow Mfg suggested maintenance thoroughly. If not for the compressors sake, for the sake of your own personal safety.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
I'm pretty sure the PC is "oil-less".....my "oil-less" compressor also drains rusty crappy water each time as well. I have always drained it after a use....the longest period I waited was a week. Use it properly and drain it after each use and when it dies buy a new one. We aren't talking about a $600 compressor. My small compressor is the Bostich and should really only be expected to last 1000hrs. That is why they cost arounf $200-300 new.
SJ
I like my PC pancake because it's light and it keeps up with me. I don't have a problem using it until it fails, but I'm concerned that it might fail in a bad way. Just got the new issue of FWW today, and there's a letter from a guy who had a compressor blow up and seriously damage his garage. He didn't say what size or type.
OK. I don't know if this is good. I don't even know if it makes any real sense. Maybe. Kinda.
Years ago, about ten, I did quite a lot of work on houses that were being framed by a carpenter who would flip his compressor about once a week and add an ounce of the same oil he used on the nailguns to the tank. I came in one morning to see this madman shaking his compressor over his head. He said he added it to slow down the corrosion of the tank. The compressor did seem to be older than most and ran well.
Has anyone heard of doing this with a compressor? Does it work? I don't suppose that I would do much harm as long as you didn't add too much. It might make draining the tank a little messier. Is it a good idea? Or is my friend just crazy?
At least with an oil-type compressor, seems that what oil slips past the piston will itself do the anti-corrosion thing in the tank.
Ken Hill
our little Thomas pancake is about 15 years old... about 5 years ago.. the tank started leaking.. so i took it to Quaker Lane Tool & they ordered a new tank from the factory...
drain daily & replace parts when neccessaryMike Smith
Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore