tank for compressor

Bill Radford · Dec 10, 2014

I have a dual head Copeland compressor in my shop that came out of a dental office. The only problem with it is a small sized tank (20 gal) and it runs a whole lot when I'm sanding or running other air tools. The heads are piston type with a wet sump crankcase.
Question is: Can I get a propane tank or other type of tank and plumb it in to give the compressor more capacity? What I plan to do is put the auxiliary tank just outside the wall of the shop and run a line in to the existing compressor tank. I plan to put a drier and filter in the line. Am I on the right track?

JMS/.MN · Dec 10, 2014

That or similar tank can work fine. Another option is an air tank from a semi- check the junk yards.

farmboy48 · Dec 10, 2014

I use a 100# propane bottle mounted upside down with a tee and valve in line so I can drain water periodically. Original huge tank rusted thru on bottom. Should purge tank before using to get rid of propane odor and residual propane in bottle. 70 year old 2 cyl 240v compressor

RCP · Dec 10, 2014

Once you deplete the air in the reservoir, which will happen in a few minutes, the air compressor will still run continuously.

Geo-TH,In · Dec 10, 2014

I used a propane tank once. Really doesn't help when you are using a lot of air, compressor will still run all the time. The bottom of the propane tank rusted out. No way to drain water out of tank.

Steve@Advance · Dec 10, 2014

You can add more tank capacity, but it won't solve the problem. More tank volume will buy you a few minutes, or seconds, of run time, but you'll still be waiting for it to recover.

Need to size the compressor to the demand. Look up the CFM requirements of your largest tool, or all the tools that will be used at once. Then size the compressor accordingly. Yes, that gets expensive!

All the tank does is allow the air to cool enough for some of the water to drop to the bottom of the tank instead of going out the air hose. Bigger compressor, bigger tank...

Stephen Newell · Dec 11, 2014

What you need is an actual air compressor tank that is bigger and with a bigger pump on it as well. Sanding just takes more air than your compressor can handle.

howdy1960 · Dec 13, 2014

I was going to get 3 of the 11 gal air tanks from HF to mate up to a IR pump that the tank rusted out on. SWMBO was not happy that I wanted to buy something else so I got 5 20 lbs propane tanks (free) and plumbed them up with 1/2" black pipe. Would have been cheaper, and easier, to get the 3 air tanks. Plus could fill and take 1 to remote fill a tire.

tank for compressor

Bill Radford

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JMS/.MN

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farmboy48

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RCP

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Geo-TH,In

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Steve@Advance

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Stephen Newell

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howdy1960

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