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Thanks to Marc from Chestertwon MD for this one.
Marc writes:
"I recently bought an old compressor with a leaking tank at an auction.
The motor and pump are good, but they do not indicate horsepower.
If I purchase a large enough tank, would I be able to run an HVLP gun even though the motor was not rated for the scfm on the gun?
I would run the gun off of the air in the tank and then take a break when the pressure gets low.
I am assuming I will have to purchase a high quality filter as the pump would have to run for a while to fill up the tank, building up a good deal of condensation.
Also, I have seen propane tanks converted to serve as compressor reservoirs. What is involved in this, and are these tanks usable for painting applications?"
We answered:
Hi Marc, thanks for the question.
Sorry about the leaking compressor receiver. Nothing you can do to get it fixed?
Regarding your High Volume Low Pressure paint gun, from what I've read, these units come with a turbine to provide the high volume.
Some of these turbines produce 100 CFM at 3-5 PSI for the HVLP guns.
How large a tank will you need for it to produce the flow necessary? I'm not sure, but I suspect that you'd draw down the receiver very quickly, and you would have to wait for the compressor to re-charge the tank before using the gun again.
If you have the tank, already have the gun, and a 40 micron air filter, 5 micron air filter downstream of that, and maybe even a desiccant in-line dryer before the gun, give it a try. If it provides the flow, then you're golden.
I, too, have seen propane tanks converted into "air pigs".
Is a propane tank cheaper than an "air pig" at your local industrial supplier? You'll know that if you buy an "air pig" that it's rated for compressed air. Unless the propane tank is certified for 150 PSI or so, I wouldn't use it.
Anybody else have any ideas on this subject, for Marc?
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