to remodify compressor

[Yidaki]

ok, here is the thing, we have a lot of regular commercial compressors at the workplace for sanding, spraying and using regular air tools. So, how can we remodified them to scuba compressor?.. What parts we need to change? Is it really worth it? Thanks for your inputs..

 

[icarus pacific]

Is it really worth it?

No.


The expense for the higher pressure outputs, the filtration and the need to run safe lubes, which would require a teardown, re-ring and seal, break-in and oil change, not to mention the ancillary hardware.... No.

 

[Yidaki]

thanks, for the reply Sven,, I thought the same thing too, also, they are old systems and I don't think the tank can handle that much pressure,, it is scary :blackeye

 

[trux]

thanks, for the reply Sven,, I thought the same thing too, also, they are old systems and I don't think the tank can handle that much pressure,, it is scary :blackeye

I am not sure if you are joking or if you are really not familiar with pressures used in scuba tanks. Scuba compressors operate at pressures 200-300bar (some 3000-4000 PSI). Sanding and painting compressors typically work at pressures about 20-100 times lower (typically 40 - 175 PSI). So even if you managed to adjust it mechanically, and managed to filter the air sufficiently not to poison you during the dive and not to destroy your scuba equipment, you would not manage to fill any empty scuba tank at all - even emptied after the dive, they all contain air under pressure greater than a sanding/painting compressor can ever deliver. The idea of using painting compressor for filling scuba tanks is as good as using hand air pump or blowing the tank directly with your mouth.

 

[Yidaki]

I am not sure if you are joking or if you are really not familiar with pressures used in scuba tanks. Scuba compressors operate at pressures 200-300bar (some 3000-4000 PSI). Sanding and painting compressors typically work at pressures about 20-100 times lower (typically 40 - 175 PSI). So even if you managed to adjust it mechanically, and managed to filter the air sufficiently not to poison you during the dive and not to destroy your scuba equipment, you would not manage to fill any empty scuba tank at all - even emptied after the dive, they all contain air under pressure greater than a sanding/painting compressor can ever deliver. The idea of using painting compressor for filling scuba tanks is as good as using hand air pump or blowing the tank directly with your mouth.

Then you never see and heard modified compressor,... all we know there is huge difference between regular comp, and scuba,, that's why you have to modify comp,. ,but it will cost alot of dollars...at the end, is it worth it or not that much hassle..

 

[trux]

Then you never see and heard modified compressor,... all we know there is huge difference between regular comp, and scuba,, that's why you have to modify comp,. ,but it will cost alot of dollars...at the end, is it worth it or not that much hassle..

I am sorry, but you cannot modify a 70 PSI compressor into a 3000 PSI because of very simple mechanics - the compression ratio is completely different (set aside the air filtering and other scuba specific problems). Well, maybe you can, but it is like trying to modify a wheelchair into a Ferrari. Theoretically it may be possible, but you will spend more money on it than on buying a new one.

 

[Yidaki]

Exactly that's we concluded about the price but mechanically possible ..

 

[trux]

Exactly that's we concluded about the price but mechanically possible ..

Mechanically it is possible only in the sense of building the compressor anew from the scratch. Nothing in the old compressor is build to stand up to 100 times higher pressures. High-pressure compressors are built completely differently than low/medium pressure ones, so there is no way you could refurbish it and upgrade to that high pressures. Also the cooling of ordinary compressor wouldn't be sufficient. The only part you could keep might be the motor and even that's not sure.

 

[Yidaki]

Mechanically it is possible only in the sense of building the compressor anew from the scratch.
That was my main question and was wondering how possible and easy to deal with compressor itself..I believe finding the right engine shouldn't be a problem, we have alot of different choices tough,..thanks for the commentary inputs, trux...

 

[trux]

If you searched plans for building a completely new compressor, you should have told it right away. You may be able to find some plans on the Internet, but unless you have access to extensive park of metal working machines, and have great experience in construction, working, and assembling of high pressure devices (what you apparently do not have), then you have practically no chance. And even if you had all that experience, access to metal working machines, and managed to manufacture or buy all the high pressure components, seals, filters and other parts needed for the new compressor, I doubt you would manage doing it cheaper than buying the compressor from a store. More likely, you would spend several months or years of free time on it, and pay multiple times the cost of what you would pay for a new compressor. And also quite likely you would die quite soon afterward as a result of a high pressure explosion.

That is really not worth of the hassle and risk. If you need to have your own compressor, you better save some money and buy a new or used one. New quality scuba certified compressors start at around $2000, and you can probably get a cheaper used one too. Without the motor it can be a couple of bucks cheaper, but since the motor is the cheapest part, likely it won't make any big difference.