Shop air dilemma

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Bill Crowell

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I have been doing quite a bit of sandblasting, and have become impatient with needing to let my present compressor re-charge too often, so I'm thinking of upgrading.

But all the compressors I really want are 220 volt 3-phase, while I have only single-phase 220 in my shop.

I do have a spare 225 slant six, however, and was wondering if anybody would have any thoughts or suggestions about using it to power a compressor pump. Would it need to be governed? Thanks very much.
 
Look into getting a 1 phase to 3 phase VFD drive, which converts your single phase to a usable 3 phase for the motor. They run about $350, this is the one that I have: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VDCV4X2/?tag=fabo03-20 . I picked up a brand new 80 gallon 3 phase compressor at an auction (listed as salvage freight but only had cosmetic damage) for dirt cheap and have used this vfd to run it for the past 2 years trouble free. I am an electrician so hookup was straight forward but I could see if you aren't used to these things it could be a little more difficult. These are all made in china and the instructions leave a lot to be desired. However, once you get it figured out it's easily to manipulate. Mine is set up to ramp up to full run over 2 seconds and shut down over 1.5 seconds, which helps eliminate the high current draw at startup and the high torque stop/start.
 
Surely there's a vendor with a 220/240 single phase powered unit out there, or the one you want to deal with should be willing to swap the motor out for one to make the sale. Shouldn't be an issue getting a single phase electric motor vs the need to add a 3 phase generator to a unit.
 
I have a large commercial blaster w/ 110v motor. Problem was the 5hp compressor. Through TP bought their gun that had adjustable jets inside. Original gun had large jets for a big compressor, ate up a lot of air. With my new gun, things work well. In the end- there is no substitute for a big compressor but you might try this trick first.
 
But all the compressors I really want are 220 volt 3-phase, while I have only single-phase 220 in my shop..

"Just how big" are these? And just how much (amperage) do you have available in your shop

LOL A slant might be a "little much" (overkill) to drive a compressor. You could use a lot of gas sitting there running.

The basics of "what you'd need" is some sort of governor---You used to be able to find "universal" belt drive governors---and some sort of unloader device compatible with the compressor
 
A smaller motorcycle engine might do the trick.
 
How big of a compressor do you have now? What kind of blasting are you doing?
 
I have blasted tons of parts in my blaster, even used a pressure pot to blast a few cars. all with my 1ph air compressor.
 
I have a Husky twin cylinder 80 gallon. Single phase. I have a Pressure pot blaster and a Cabinet. Neither of them will outrun my compressor.... Opinions will vary but mine is if I want big air this is what I turn on.... I also have a smaller compressor for light work...

JW
 
I bought a Quincy 5hp two-stage 60 gallon last summer. Keeps up with most everything I use it for. I also have another 60 gallon tank in the system that I keep at 120psi.
 
I have a huge (for a home compressor) 5hp 80 gallon upright, 2 stage, 4 cylinder pump, it's an Emglo brand. Had it for about 15 years now, and I do alot of blasting with it. While running my blast cabinet, it runs and runs and runs but holds ~90PSI while doing so. It is rated at almost 18CFM at 175 PSI. Its probably getting tired, may not quite put out the air it used to. but it is 220V single phase. I KNOW that Quincy and others sell a similar unit with single phase 220.
 
IIRC, the largest single phase motor you can run on 240v is 10 hp. If you can't/don't want to go that route, a 16 hp horizontal shaft gasoline engine is in the ~ $400 range. So depending on how much hp you need, you have options.
 
My 5HP economy line Devilbliss is now 36 years old. We ran it steady with hopper air loaders at our plastics plant until it seized from being overheated. I brought it home, dumped the oil, refilled the oil, put a big pipe wrench on the pulley nut and rolled it through a couple times, then fired it back up. I've been using it as my shop compressor now for 24 years. I run bleed air in my cabinet to flow dust out and can blast full trigger for hours at a time and the compressor cycles on and off.

Part of THINKING your compressor can't keep up is too small of an air line, which needs to pressurize to give enough flow. A long blast cycle and the flow slows down. Stop, pressurized and go again... I had this issue when I had a 3/8 line from where my compressor is, in the hangar so I don't have to listen to it, to my shop. Replacing that line with 3/4" right to the regulator and filter by my cabinet now has me blasting full blast.
 
If you are handy, look up DIY Rotary Phase Converter. You generate three phase power off your single phase by running a three phase motor and hooking up in parallel. I have a 5hp in the garage and a 3hp in the basement. Usually want a slightly bigger motor for the generator than you are running. Can be as simple as a rope pull start or several types of remote start. Mild to wild. Commercial ones aren't cheap but you can run several machines off them at a time and every now and then you can find an orphaned three phase motor.
 
I have a friend who runs a professional body and restoration shop down the road and he has two huge compressors. Standard 220V and they keep up just fine. He does not have them tied together. One runs one shop and one runs the other. Bill, you should be able to find something in single phase 220V.
 
This would run your sandblaster pot all day long, and it's cheap....
https://stlouis.craigslist.org/tls/d/cottage-hills-air-compressor-zwick-gas/7263344614.html

00F0F_6SBz2uPkPj7z_0Be0kY_1200x900.jpg
 
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