Resurrected Air Compressor

[GTVi]

Just wanted to show my Father's old air compressor, now that I am the proud owner of it.
It was purchased in 1969 from Futura Machinery, which was located in Goodwood SA.
It was only used for spray painting, and was then stored in a cellar unused for the last 16-20 years (as far as I am aware)
I have no "before" photos but it was a mess with lots of dirt and dust embedded everywhere.

I have fixed/replaced the following..
1. Fresh Oil
2. New belts (twin belt drive model)
3. New Pressure Gauge (the old one was cracked)
4. Pressure regulator is still relatively new condition, it must have been added soon before the compressor was stored
5. New electrical wiring, the old wiring had perished
6. Polished the copper and cleaned the gunk off it
7. Installed a drain valve
8. New air hose
9. I also have all of Dads original guns which he has kept in near new condition
10. Switched all connections to be Nitto

I cant find replacement air filters for this, not surprising really. So I need to source some material and make my own.

Does anyone have any idea what type of material I could use for the air filter? I was thinking something along the lines as used in automotive CAI filters or similar.

I'll try and hunt down some specs....so far all In know 1.5 HP, and about 6CFM, and 60 litre tank.

Anyway here are some pictures.

P93574900.jpg

P93575101.jpg

P93575302.jpg

[Steamwhisperer]

Clisby engineering are still in business.
Surely they would have spare filter elements.

Phil
AIR COMPRESSORS

[azzrock]

nice one i like the belt drive compressors usually heaps quieter than the direct drive
units.
do the heads have a threaded fitting for the filters? If so it would be easy to find some
that will just screw straight in.
aaron

[nearnexus]

Clisby will have the air filter elements for that compressor.

If it's been used for spray painting they will probably be clogged.

The original filters are very similar to the filter mat used in a basic house refrigerated air conditioner - you could cut some from that.

My bro in law and a mate both have a similar "V" twin Clisby unit.

About 12 CFM I think.

Did your dad use it with the drier as is ? It should be at least 2 metres from the compressor to work properly.

Can't beat the old compressors. The direct drive units are throw aways.

Rob

[nearnexus]

Might as well show you my compressors.

I've got my fathers old Binks Bullows 7.5 CFM belt drive which is the do everything work shop unit .

bb1.jpg

And I've also got a direct drive oil-less Binks Bullows I bought for $20 which I also use for low pressure spraying and pumping up car tyres. Blows off at 35 psi.

I sprayed the Schaublin with this.

bb2.jpg

Both really good units from the 1960 - 70s.

No air filters on either of these. The belt drive unit does have an intake muffler, which appears to do very little.

The "V" twin Clisby is a better unit size wise as 12 CFM is about perfect.

So who's gunna show me theirs next ?

Rob

[GTVi]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I didn't think of looking up Clisby. Instead I went to Total Tools at Lonsdale that was the last know address/contact of Futura Machinery.

The Klisby air element is a very basic construction, and can easily be made up, as long as I have the right material. The old material, as Rob suggested is clogged with paint over the years.
The hole behind the air element is offset, the screw to hold the element is in the middle supported on a wire frame. The new model elements/mufflers available today that I have seen wont work on this unit.

As far as I am aware my Dad used the compressor as is. I suspect it worked in the past because there is evidence that water was separated. I don't recall him ever having issues. I was just a 9-12 year old kid at the time and remember he would be busy painting a car once a month during his busy times in his workshop at home. Dad was one of the key paint specialists/rectifier at Chrysler and later at Mitsubishi in SA.

I'm re-thinking how I will have it installed in the shed, and have it piped similar to what you have done Rob "Nearnexus".

The belt drive is very quiet, it wont bother me running in the workshop.

Does anyone use a retractable hose on the wall? Are they any good?

OK everyone lets see your air compressors !

[nearnexus]

As far as I am aware my Dad used the compressor as is. I suspect it worked in the past because there is evidence that water was separated. I don't recall him ever having issues. I was just a 9-12 year old kid at the time and remember he would be busy painting a car once a month during his busy times in his workshop at home. Dad was one of the key paint specialists/rectifier at Chrysler and later at Mitsubishi in SA.

I'm re-thinking how I will have it installed in the shed, and have it piped similar to what you have done Rob "Nearnexus".

Does anyone use a retractable hose on the wall? Are they any good?

OK everyone lets see your air compressors !

He may have had a second drier/regulator mounted remotely in the main air line.

My father did this, to get the dew point down, and apply secondary cleaning. He had it mounted on an old car brake drum as a base, with in/out connectors.

Apart from being a mechanic, in his early days he worked as a spray painter - when enamel was used. Long way back.

I don't use a retractable hose, or any of those horrible coiled springy hoses. I hate any pull against the hand piece.

Personal preference.

Rob

[AirCompressor]

Nice restoration!! Keep those old units working, they are much better than the 'disposable' compressor you can buy nowadays.

I think it would be better to use a filter like this picture (this is a real air compressor filter):
air-filter.JPG

Create a metal cap with a hole in it and 'squeeze' the filter between that cap and the compressor air inlet. Use a bolt in the middle to fix it (if possible, otherwise 3 or 4 bolts around the edge).
(hard to explain, I hope I make sense

If you need real dry air, get a refrigerated air dryer. Condensate trap and water filters can only remove liquid water. Air dryers remove water vapor!

If you ever have any problems with your compressor, here's a great website for troubleshooting help (and general compressor info): air compressor troubleshooting

Great work! I'm sure you're compressor will run for another 30 years!

[Oldneweng]

He may have had a second drier/regulator mounted remotely in the main air line.

My father did this, to get the dew point down, and apply secondary cleaning. He had it mounted on an old car brake drum as a base, with in/out connectors.

Apart from being a mechanic, in his early days he worked as a spray painter - when enamel was used. Long way back.

I don't use a retractable hose, or any of those horrible coiled springy hoses. I hate any pull against the hand piece.

Personal preference.

Rob

There is no pull against the handpiece unless you pull with it. Pull from the hose. These retractable reels have locking systems. Pull out the hose you need and stop pulling while it is clicking and it stops and locks the return spring. The hose will not retract. When done pull a bit more until it stops clicking and let go. The hose will retract into the reel. I think they are great.

Dean

[nearnexus]

Sounds good Dean.

I haven't looked closely at them.

The ones at the servo's never seem to lock properly and you have a tug o war getting them around the car.

I just hang my hose in big loops from a hook half way up the wall.

You quite often see some good old belt drive compressors on Gumtree for reasonable money.

A lot are a bit small and slow, and some look pretty well worn, but good brands like Swan, Binks Bullows, Clisby, Servex, Ingersol Rand etc. are worth a look at.

Rob

[Oldneweng]

Sounds good Dean.

I haven't looked closely at them.

The ones at the servo's never seem to lock properly and you have a tug o war getting them around the car.

I just hang my hose in big loops from a hook half way up the wall.

You quite often see some good old belt drive compressors on Gumtree for reasonable money.

A lot are a bit small and slow, and some look pretty well worn, but good brands like Swan, Binks Bullows, Clisby, Servex, Ingersol Rand etc. are worth a look at.

Rob

The old service station ones are probably worn out. There is the need to stop pulling at the right point, when it is clicking. All the newer service station air hoses use your system. A hook to hang the hose on LOL. I have a 15m hose on the reel but if I need more I add a 25m extension. I am planning to run a hose into the carport one day. This would take about 25m plus some extra to get around the carport. The problem is only one car really fits in there. We have a farm ute (not registered) and the good ute, two ride on mowers and a trailer for them, main trailer and farm trailer and hay/lifting trailer. These are just the units that get used often. I forgot three wheel barrows and a sack truck, not to mention the little spray cart. At the moment the track to the rear of the shed is under water which is normal this time of year. The front of the shed is accessed via the back lawn. I need to have a hose that will reach right out to the driveway for all these.

Dean

[simonl]

I could show you my air compressor but it's a boring belt driven one from total tools. It's not a bad unit but does not have the character of the ones shown here and I doubt it will last as long!

Simon

[Steamwhisperer]

OK everyone lets see your air compressors !

Well, this is one of the air compressors at work. Would love to have it at home in the shed but the infrastructure that goes with it would kill me.
Ingersol Rand air compressor - YouTube
Phil

Ingersoll Rand.jpg

[simonl]

Well, this is one of the air compressors at work. Would love to have it at home in the shed but the infrastructure that goes with it would kill me.
Ingersol Rand air compressor - YouTube
Phil

Ingersoll Rand.jpg

Hi Phil,

That's pretty awesome! I didn't know that Ingersol Rand was such an old company!
Thanks for posting.

Simon

[Jerms]

Retracting air line are great! I use them every day at work. I just baught 2 by mistake on grays online for home. The locking mechanism works well, you just need to know how they work. I have mine set up on a shelf above the compressor, but the best place is on the ceiling in the center of the work shop, adjust the retracting rubber stop back up the line so the line hangs down enough that you can reach and it is out of the way and you wont be tripping over lines on the ground. Great for power too. I'm in a rental so I wont do this for a while. just an idea.

Jerms