DIY AB Air Cooled Compressor

Vladimir · Mar 3, 2015

There's an interest among the forum people to look at my compressor.
Here it is. This post shows general view. The following posts will highlight making process. Photos of the parts will be shown and some explanations given.
All works produced by me.

Ronald art · Mar 3, 2015

that is one smart compressor , just a little big for me but I like the concept

littlerick · Mar 3, 2015

mines a single piston type like the one on last pic.... That is one techno looking kit.... Where are the speakers?

Vladimir · Mar 3, 2015

littlerick said:
Where are the speakers?

They stand separately))

Vladimir · Mar 3, 2015

Motor-compressors are used ones. They worked in commercial fridges. I've ordered some fittings and soldered them to the pipes.
When priming I didn't covered all the bodies due to better cooling only areas where I think rust could appear. Then I've painted them.

Diegojavbau · Mar 3, 2015

Love it !!

wmlepage · Mar 3, 2015

Excellent set up. Darn now I have another project. I originally had 2 compressors on my DIY set up, but the second didn't always like to start, so I removed it.

Boltcase · Mar 3, 2015

Nice set up Vlad. I wish I had your build from scratch talents and patience

Vladimir · Mar 3, 2015

Receiver is for regular home water pump. Volume is 24 l.
Rubber part was removed from the inside. Gasket was cut and installed instead of it.
Fittings are gas welded. Paint was comletely removed than filler was applied and sanded. The next step was priming.

Strictly Attitude · Mar 3, 2015

I can tell you love the project part the most

Vladimir · Mar 4, 2015

Important thing in this compressor is the condencer. It's used in commercial fridges. I bought new one without the fan.
Condencer is installed before the receiver. What this unit gives us? - Cooling of the air flow after it's heating when passing through the motor-compressor. Big temperature difference between hot air and cooled pipes creates condensation of water contained in the air flow.

In this system air flow goes to the upper pipe of the condencer than passes through its passages and goes out to the lower pipe where filter is installed. Condenced water flows down to the filter. The filter traps condenced water. After that air goes to the receiver.
I opened water drain valve many times but there was no water. So we can assume that this unit works and worth to be taken into account when building your own compressor.
At the out of the receiver another filter is installed. It provides last step filtration of the air passed through all the system. This air we receive at our airbrush.
Motor-compressors are cooled by fans that look like computer's coolers but they are not. Because they consume 220V.
All electric consumers can be swiched off separately. Everything has it's own switch and fuse.
Coolers and condencer's fan can work constantly, automatically swithed with starting/stopping of the compressors or switched off.
Pressostat is adjusted to 7,5 bar - switch off and 4 bar - switch on. Pressostat is used for regular home water pump.

I think I've said all I wanted to. If the information is useful for you I'm glad. Feel free to ask questions.