Ron
Regular Diver
Posts: 41
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Post by Ron on Feb 22, 2006 12:48:15 GMT -8
Hi
I suggest you get your self a Bauer compressor a Mariner or Capitano 5 or 7 cfm. If you can get an older Bauer K13 not the squirrel cage type they are great and will run for 20 years at 800 rpm. The RPM should be your eye opener when buying a used compressor higher rpm 1800+ run compressors in big units tend to wear out quickly and may have internal problems unnoticeable by the unskilled buyer so be very careful to check for crank play noise and also check the oil for metal or other contaminants, check fill rate time.I say this because not evey one keeps care of there compressors and you will have no idea as to how they ran or maintained it. Anything higher than a k14 may require a three phase two pulley motor. I have a new Bauer junior there great for home use but they spin at 2200 rpm I slowed it down to 1800 rpm it fills slower but I'm in no rush. The Bauer compressor blocks are the best there is today thus far with a proven record world wide. Stay away from the garbage like Max air types sewing machine compressors you see on Ebay they have Carbon internal parts and just have a bad maintenance history behind them and fly at 2800 rpm. RIX , worthinton, Walter Kiddie are also other compressors I never recommend and as they have a low life span and or are army surplus with no parts available or difficult to obtain.
Ron.
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Post by Captain on Feb 22, 2006 13:39:29 GMT -8
I agree with Ron the lower the rpm the longer it will last but in small portables 800 rpm probbly will not provide enough cfm to fill a tank in a decent anount of time. About 20 minutes to fill a 72 from 500 to 2500 is decent. That is about 3 to 3.5 cfm depending on temperture and humidity, the hotter and more humid the longer it takes. I have two 30 something year old U S Divers Cyclone compressors, 5 horsepower, 3.5 cfm on a good day, that were made by Luchard in France. They are all cast iron and run at 1500 rpm and will run just about forever but they are heavy and just about at the limit of easy portability. No personal experience but I have heard the Alkins are pretty good. airetex.com/w31.htmlI can't recall the name but there is a compressor made in Europe that is an almost exact copy of my Luchard. Luchard quit making mine many years ago and may have old the rights manufacture it. If I can find it I will post it.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2006 14:01:24 GMT -8
Duckbill
Thanks for the concern about a good shop, I have one that will do old tanks, will tumble lined ones if they need it and put a sticker psi max on them, hasn't +'ed one that I know of........have used him for 30 plus years, and will until he quits the business and retires or dies.......he has retired once already, let his son and wife run things, but now he's back.........
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Post by luis on Feb 22, 2006 15:39:09 GMT -8
Duckbill Thanks for the kind words. Also thanks for taking on the subject of the plus rating pressure cylinders during retesting. I totally agree with everything you have mentioned on that subject. I have been meaning to post, but I have been busy and I really wanted to go over the codes again before I posted. It has been a wile since I looked at that section of the codes. Here is a copy of the appropriate paragraphs of CFR49 /I /C /173 /G /302a: The equation used for the evaluation criteria is simple if you have the “K” factor for the type of cylinder. I am not certain about this (and have not been able to confirm it), but I believe the value for the K factor should be the same for all steel 72’s. Again, I am not certain, but I think they all fall under the same design, even if they were produced by different manufacturers. I don’t have the CGA C-5 (Compressed Gas Association) documents (mentioned under CFR49 /I /C /173 /G /302a) and they are not free like government documents (DOT), so I have been trying to find the information needed through other sources. If I am able, I am interested on assisting any DOT hydro test facility so they can follow the evaluation procedure to qualify steel tanks for the 10% + rating; in particular my local facilities so they can stamp my tanks. But, before I can assist anyone, I need to locate a bit more information. I hope to get back into this project soon. For the next couple of days I will not be near a computer. I will be in a test lab facility in Pennsylvania. Nothing to do with Scuba, but it has to do with water and pressure test (actually vacuum). I just hope to stay dry.
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Post by Broxton Carol on Feb 22, 2006 17:10:48 GMT -8
Tom, let those guys banter about tanks forever, lets go divin! Ill fill all YOUR TANKS, and YOU FILL MINE! Is that a deal or not? ;D
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Post by treasureman on Feb 22, 2006 17:41:32 GMT -8
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Post by Captain on Feb 22, 2006 18:53:15 GMT -8
Sounds like a deal Chuck, You going to bring the Old Hawk air purifier?
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Creed
Pro Diver
Posts: 189
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Post by Creed on Feb 22, 2006 20:33:59 GMT -8
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Ron
Regular Diver
Posts: 41
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Post by Ron on Feb 22, 2006 22:00:04 GMT -8
Hi
The stewart Warner and the cornelius are military and old air craft compressors there are no parts for these units guys don't waste your money.Tom my K13 runs at 800 rpm I wasn't talking about the smaller compressors running at such speed. The main reason smaller compressors do not last as long as the bigger units is because they do not have a oil pump pumping oil up into the third stage head they are splash types.
Ron
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Post by Broxton Carol on Feb 23, 2006 4:55:11 GMT -8
The idea of a compressor to me is portability. My PURUS, I can pick up with one arm, and put in the back of my van. Its nice to be able to operate it when your alone, or at an obscure dive location. My cornelius is a fine machine. I can pick it up with one hand and set in the trunk of my subaru. I can fill my tanks at a camp ground, or in my motel room. As for rpms with my PURUS I put a big pulley on it for events like the vintage dive. Really cranks out. Runs on ANDEROL 500. No metal ever in the crankcase. Pulled the heads, no carbon, clean. A honey of a compressor. Makes sweet air! I wouldnt buy anything else. The unit on ebay would make one of you a fine little compressor. It would take you over an hour to fill a flat tank, but who cares. when you live 30 miles from the dive shop you already saved a bundle, and no hassle about those visual stickers or other baloney
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Ron
Regular Diver
Posts: 41
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Post by Ron on Feb 23, 2006 6:17:35 GMT -8
Hi
I agree the Bauer Purus is a fine little compressor. I suggest if any one wants any advice about compressors of any type call my friend Ed Hall down in Miami at Inner space research 1-305-681-1462 who is the oldest Bauer compressor provider in the US. In Canada you can call his best friend Fred Harley both these guys have been providing Bauer's compressors across the globe for 40 years. There is no one else left in there age group with there experience on the older Bauer systems. They have the largest stock of Bauer parts in the the US and Canada even to the point that Bauer Europe and USA have to call these guys for looking parts for the older systems from time to time. You can visit Eds web site at innerspaceresearch.com. Buying a compressor is a big expense and many people have been burned buying surplus off of Ebay so take the time to talk the folks who know this business before you make a expensive purchase as they will give you the run down on why you should or shouldn't purchase a specific type of unit. Good Luck
Ron
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Ron
Regular Diver
Posts: 41
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Post by Ron on Feb 23, 2006 6:27:15 GMT -8
Hi
I just checked Eds web site it looks like it down for a while but give him a call if you need advice.
Ron
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Post by Captain on Feb 23, 2006 7:07:12 GMT -8
Ron, I knew your K13 is a big unit, I just didn't want anyone looking for a portable thinking they could find a small portable that turns 800rpm. I don't believe there are any. I once saw a big Rix that turned 150 but you would need a two car garage to house it.
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Ron
Regular Diver
Posts: 41
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Post by Ron on Feb 23, 2006 7:42:21 GMT -8
Thanks Tom
Ron
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Post by treasureman on Feb 23, 2006 20:58:21 GMT -8
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