5 Attachment(s)
Cabinet for Air Compressor
Even though this new Chicago 50L AC is very quiet indeed, I figured I could park it on the deck in a cabinet. This solves a number of problems (some not quite realised yet). The old space for the compressor was just inside the door, but I have shortened the end of the bench by 200mm and this spot will take a new drill press next week.
Even though I probably didn't need to make it any quieter to sit on the deck, a cabinet will also protect the compressor from the dust from the table saw spewing onto it. Furthermore (and I only thought of this just in the nick of time before cutting :D) I can use it as an outfeed table from said table saw. It already has a small one attached to it, and the cabinet height was set to be 2mm lower than the small outfeed table. In the pic it look higher because I have a couple of soft pads under the cabinet. I can just slide them out to use it as an outfeed.
Attachment 450771
Next step will be to disassemble it and seal all the joints with Sikaflex pro. When we get mountain mist up here - like yesterday - the air is very wet indeed, and I could feel that the cabinet had swollen ever so slightly, even though Yellow Tongue sheets are rain proof for a few months. I have cut and unsealed edges to act as a sponge, so sealing is in order. Prolly paint it too.......
I've been having the devil of a time getting joints that don't leak. These are chinese fittings and Teflon tape just wasn't doing it - even with up to four wraps around I still couldn't get the tap from sinking in up to the shoulder. I went to get some LocTite for air lines but one hardware was shut down due to some industrial accident, and the other only had regular Loctite. So I just used my own regular LocTite. There is only one bad leak now and that is the gun on the end. I suspect that is because of the old nickel plated nitto fitting going into it. I'll check the joints again tomorrow with detergent in water sprayed on.
I was somewhat startled to realise this compressor comes without a tap, just a one handed nitto. It is this tap that I fitted that may have a slight leak - testing for pressure loss now. A couple of sheets of Yoga Mat under the wheels, and one loosely fitted to the side for a bit of sound absorption.
Attachment 450773
You can see on the right I have glued a sheet of mat onto the inside of the front door. (I was somewhat staggered that a half used pot of Contact glue was still perfect after more than 7 years!)
I have done considerable work in the shed to rehouse stuff, and some wall hooks were left over from some clamps that I sold. With the top hook in normal position, and the bottom two inverted to point down, these hooks do a simple but effective job of holding the hose without giving it the "bends".
Attachment 450775 (scuzzy the hand shielding out excess light. Lens hood for a Smart Phone Camera required :roll:)
At the moment I have no exhaust fans in it. I thought I would wait and see how natural ventilation goes. I have two fans on hand, although they are for another roundtuit project (HiFi Cabinet).
On each side I have a double vent at the bottom, and two single at the top which are immediately adjacent to the two motor fans on each side (and the vents are mounted upside down for easier egress of warm air). I have pressed metal insect wire into the inside of them. They will capture chips in them from the saw, but I don't have to go far to blow them out occasionally....
Currently the door is a tight press fit, bit Sikaflex on the top and bottom edges will change that.
Attachment 450776
This contraption outside is more complicated than it needs to be - for want of a 90° elbow - unobtainium locally. I had a Tee fitting so I have to block the end of that with a nitto fitting - because a sensible screw on brass cap is also unobtainium....
Attachment 450778
Anyway, I managed to rig up what I wanted - a tap on the outside which I will shut after each use (just open the inside tap at the start of the day). Last thing to do is put an inline switch for the power, rather than pulling out the plug.