The compressor is a multifunctional device that can be used for various daily needs, such as tire inflation, painting, and the like. But due to the high cost of factory models, many owners are thinking about assembling such a unit on their own. The most common option for creating a compressor with your own hands is to use a refrigerator.
Advantages of a factory and homemade device
Before the independent production of an air compressor from a refrigerator, it is necessary to compare it with a conventional factory sample. This will help you make the right decision.
W factory and homemade devices have the following differences:
Motor restrictions
Not all refrigerator motors can operate under the same conditions. Some of them have their limitations in operation.
There are several modes of operation:
- normal - from 16 to 32 degrees;
- tropical - from 18 to 43 degrees;
- subnormal - from 10 to 32 degrees;
- subtropical - from 18 to 38 degrees.
But, despite this, there are also combined modes that include several operating ranges.
Thus, home-made devices are much simpler and more efficient than factory ones, in particular, for working with air.
Dismantling work with the refrigerator
In order to craft a mini-compressor with your own hands, you need to prepare for work. First you need to remove the compressor directly from the refrigerator. This is the initial stage. It is located at the bottom of the refrigerator at the back. To remove it, you should prepare a set of basic tools: pliers, a set of keys and screwdrivers (curly and regular).
There are two pipes on the compressor itself that connect to the refrigerator's cooling system. They must be cut off with wire cutters or pliers. It is strictly forbidden to saw them with a hacksaw, because when sawing, small parts of the metal can get into the motor, which can lead to disastrous consequences.
After that, you need to remove the starting relay. It looks like an ordinary black box with wires sticking out of it. First you need to unscrew the fasteners, and then bite the wires leading to the plug. Do not forget to mark the top and bottom of the relay so that later there is no error during installation. You also need to pick up all the fastening elements of the unit, they can also be usefully used in the manufacture of a high-pressure compressor with your own hands.
Health check
After disassembling the refrigerator and compressor, it is required to check the performance of all parts. This should be done due to the fact that the part was removed from the old refrigerator, and it may not work for a long time. Therefore, it is imperative to do so. First you need to flatten the tubes with pliers.
This must be done so that air can pass through them. Next, you need to put the previously removed relay back into the same position as it was before. Do not forget about the correct mounting of the relay. Top and bottom should be in place. If it is installed in a different way, the compressor may fail, which will lead to irreparable damage, or even burn out.
There are wires directly on the relay housing. They need to be wired with a plug. The place where the connection will be must be wrapped with at least electrical tape to avoid electric shock. It is advisable to carefully solder the junction of the wires before this.
After that, plug the compressor into the outlet and observe the performance of the unit. If it does not work, it means that the wires are not connected correctly or the compressor is not working. After turning on the compressor, air should flow from the tubes into the outlet. This will be an indication of the health of the device. It is necessary to mark which tube the air comes out of and which one enters.
Step by step assembly instructions
Before starting work, you should prepare all the necessary tools and materials. Such sets may differ from each other depending on what the future owner of the compressor expects.
In addition to the compressor itself, which is removed from the refrigerator, need to prepare the following her:
Then you should take a plastic container of any size from three liters. In the upper part of the tank, you need to drill several holes for the compressor tubes. Then insert the tubes into the holes made and fill everything with resin. The inlet tube must be located at a distance of 200 mm from the edge of the receiver. The outlet tube must be placed 10 mm inside the container.
The receiver can be made of plastic and nothing bad will happen here. But for greater reliability, it is recommended to make it from a metal box. With this outcome, there is no need to fill everything with resin for a good tightness, and the hoses are closed at the same time. Moreover, a pressure gauge can only be installed on a metal case.
To do this, in the receiver you need to drill a hole for the nut, which must be welded in such a hole. Then it is possible to screw the pressure gauge into the nut. After that, work on the creation of a homemade compressor from the refrigerator ends. Any material can be used for painting., but first you can clean and primed to avoid corrosion. After that, you only need to attach the receiver to the base with a wire.
Some technical features
It is quite difficult to determine initially what the pressure in the compressor will be. This indicator may depend both on the brand of the device and on the period of its declared operation.
By the way, old designs can sometimes show even better results than new and factory ones. The most important thing is not what kind of apparatus can be assembled, but how it will be necessary to take care of its condition.
Such work consists, as a rule, in the replacement of filters (gasoline and diesel), as well as oil in the device. All homemade compressors are equipped with three copper tubes. Two are used during installation. This is the inlet and outlet tube. The third was not touched. It is the shortest of all and soldered at the end. She is responsible for draining the oil in the device. For maintenance, it is necessary to cut off the soldered part, drain the oil, fill in new oil and solder it back.
Is the compressor repairable?
As a rule, the relay during repair must ring. You also need to change the oil in the device. If the compressor does not work after that, then there is no point in doing anything else, further repairs must be stopped. It is better to throw away such an autocompressor and make a new one. In addition, its price will not exceed one and a half thousand rubles.
By the way, an internal combustion engine with a supercharger can also be used as a starting material for a compressor. Thus, you can get a decent device with great power. Moreover, the piston group is provided with a high power reserve. If you have the opportunity and desire, you can find it for a fairly low price in excellent condition. With this option, the ignition, intake and exhaust system must be removed. For its successful operation, it is enough to lubricate the pistons, the cooling system and tightness.
Similar designs can be made from a gas cylinder. There are also diaphragm compressors.
I have been dreaming of buying a compressor for two years now. A very useful device for a wide variety of jobs in the garage: pumping wheels, painting with a gun, blowing engine parts, and so on. On average, a simple compressor costs 10 thousand rubles, a home-made one cost 300 rubles, plus a bunch of rubbish that was lying around at home. An old compressor from a refrigerator, a gas cylinder, a pressure gauge 10 BAR, angles and tees from brass, plugs for them, metal nipples with threads from moped chambers, clamps, washers.
For manufacturing, I used a compressor from a cylindrical refrigerator installed horizontally. It has a capacity of 10 l / min, which is very small compared to industrial ones, but I don’t need to, say, bleed air at a low pressure of 3 Bar for 5-10 seconds, when the pressure in the receiver (I’ll talk about it later) is 8-9 Bar.
For the receiver, I take a 50l gas cylinder. He drained all the gasoline from him ahead of time. I tried to spin the crane, but no matter what methods I used, the crane did not succumb.
Since the cylinder valve has a left-hand thread, I decided to make a 3/4-inch adapter with a right-hand thread. I took a high pressure hose and two adapters from 3/4 to 10mm with left and right threads. It turned out such an adapter
I assembled a simple splitter from tees and corners and made a trial inclusion.
In 45 minutes, the cylinder gained pressure of almost 9 bar, with a receiver volume of 50L, this is approximately 430L of air
He scored a couple of times, and then lowered the cylinder upside down to remove the remnants of gas and gasoline, after which he set about a thorough assembly. The position of the cylinder is horizontal, I welded the compressor mount on top and installed all the wiring with a pressure gauge. I fixed the scheme on clips mounted on nails welded to the cylinder by welding. The compressor with the circuit was connected with a hose, fastened to the clamps
I drilled a hole in the plug, inserted a nipple into it and put a rubber gasket on top. I clamped the plug onto the tap, two tees in a row to the tap: one outlet to the receiver, the other to the pressure gauge. Then I wound a corner, a coarse filter to the corner, a coupling to the filter and the same plug as on the other side.
The filter had to be installed so that the oil that the compressor squeezes out settles and does not fall into the receiver and tubes.
It remains the case for small, weld the legs and paint everything in one color. One leg in front, two in back. All legs are the remains of a corner
I didn’t set the machine to turn off until there is money to buy it. For the same reason, I did not install a pressure regulator. How will the money finish, but for now enough and so.
Related video from YouToBe
I won't paint, I'm lazy.
With uv. Admin check
In the garage of a car enthusiast, you can find many useful and not so useful tools. In addition to the usual set, an air compressor will also be useful. It is suitable for car painting, tire inflation, air supply for pneumatic tool operation. Let's see how to make a car with your own hands. We will also find out how it is arranged and on what principle it works.
Compressed air to help the car enthusiast
Air compressors are quite useful in workshops and garages. There is always a task for these devices. This can be banal cleaning, cleaning from dust that has formed after grinding, or creating air pressure for the operation of various air tools. Most compressors are used for painting. This imposes some requirements on the device.
Air flow and spray painting
For work with paint, the air flow must be as uniform as possible. Also, the compressed air stream must not contain water particles, oil impurities or other oil products. The presence of suspended and solid particles is unacceptable in the flow.
Sometimes when painting you can see defects. Often this is graininess on a freshly applied coat of paint. This happens due to the fact that there were foreign particles in the stream. If paint streaks or dull spots are observed, then this is a sign of uneven supply of paint, enamel or varnish.
Branded or homemade?
What is the difference between a proprietary compressor? Its characteristics are ideal for working with an airbrush or spray gun, but factory products cost serious money. If the device is needed infrequently, then you can save a little and make a unit that will not be inferior to factory models.
The principle of operation of the compressor
Both professional and self-made devices work on the same principle. In a container for storing compressed air, which is called a receiver, an excess pressure level is created. The air itself can be blown into the receiver both automatically and manually.
If you work in manual mode, then it is certainly very cheap in finance, but it will require serious energy costs. You also need to constantly monitor this process. After such work, it is unlikely that you will want to do anything else.
If you use the mechanisms for pumping air, then this will facilitate the process. There are no drawbacks here, you just need to change the oil in the air pump, depending on the regulations.
Further, the compressed air flow passes through the outlet valve of the compressor or in this case the receiver and is directly supplied either to the airbrush, or to the car chamber, or to the pneumatic tool. In general, the principle is very simple, and therefore the simplest working model can be built in a couple of minutes.
Homemade compressor
Let's look at how to make the simplest compressor for painting a car with your own hands. As one of the options, we will try to make a device for painting work from a car chamber. To create, we need a receiver, a supercharger, a spool from a damaged camera, a repair kit, an awl. When everything you need is assembled and prepared for work, you can start assembling.
At the assembly stage, you need to check the tightness of the chamber. To do this, you can use a car pump. Every motorist knows how to do it. If the rubber holds the air pumped into it, you can proceed to the next step.
If air leaks are found, then you can use a repair kit or vulcanize the hole with raw rubber.
At the next stage, in the so-called receiver, it is required to make holes for another spool. It will be the outlet valve. This fitting can be glued using the same pre-stocked repair kit. This valve is connected to the airbrush. The nipple must be unscrewed from the fitting. The compressor circuit provides for the free passage of air. We will not unscrew the nipple in the main spool. He will keep the pressure.
Then, by the method of scientific poke, we will try to determine the required pressure level in our receiver. For this, a spray gun is used. If the paint lays down evenly, without jerks, streaks or anything else, then everything is done correctly. It is desirable to control the amount of excess pressure in the receiver. When you press the airbrush button, the level should not jump.
As you can see, this is the most primitive compressor for painting a car with your own hands. Now you can create masterpieces or just repaint the body.
It is not difficult to assemble this unit, and its usefulness can be seen during various repairs. If you have used for painting before, then you will definitely be able to appreciate all the advantages.
Just remember that in no case should liquid, dust or anything else get into the spray gun and into the camera. In the event of a violation, dust or moisture will mix with the paint, and the work will have to be redone. Then no adjustment of the spray gun will help. It will be more convenient if our camera is fixed on something. This will prevent her from moving across the floor.
This model works great, and it is already quite usable. But even better, with small changes, make the injection system automatic. Next, we will learn how to make the compressor more serious.
Semi-professional equipment
Professionals say that such handicraft equipment has a huge resource and service life, unlike factory models of foreign brands and domestic manufacturers. But this is understandable, because, knowing the scheme of work, if any part fails, it can be easily replaced. Let's see how to make a compressor that can be used professionally.
What is needed for assembly?
So. Here you will need readily available spare parts for the compressor. This is a pressure gauge, as well as a gearbox with a filter. You also need a relay to control the pressure in the chamber, a fuel filter from a car, a water quad with a ¾ internal thread. In addition, you should pick up threaded adapters, car clamps, a motor, a receiver tank, 10w40 oil, a toggle switch for 220 V, brass pipes, and oil-resistant rubber hoses. These compressor parts can easily be found in the garage.
Thick wood will be used as the basis for the unit. You will also need a syringe from the nearest pharmacy, anti-corrosion liquid, fasteners, sealants and FUM tape, paint, a needle file, wheels from an office chair and a filter from the car power system.
So, knowing the principle of operation of the compressor, it's time to start building. Let's start with the blower.
Engine as supercharger
We will use a compressor from old refrigerators as a motor. Often it already has a built-in starting relay, which in our case is very convenient. This will automatically maintain the desired pressure in the receiver chamber. It is better to use a motor from old Soviet cooling units. They have higher performance compared to imported products.
Preparatory procedures
Feel free to get the executive part out of your old refrigerator. Naturally, you need to clean the part, because over the years the block has managed to acquire centuries of dust, and also, possibly, to rust. After cleaning, you can treat the body with a rust converter to save the block from corrosion. So, the preparation for painting is done.
Change the lubricant in the actuating unit. It is rare that a refrigerator received service according to the regulations. This system is almost completely isolated from environmental influences. Semi-synthetic is suitable for changing the oil. It is no worse than specialized compressor fluids.
Inlet, outlet and oil change
Must have tubes. Two of them are open, one is soldered. Open tubes are used for air inlet and outlet. To find out which handset is the input and which is the output, you can briefly turn on the power. Next, remember which of the tubes releases air.
The refrigerator compressor circuit says that the lubricant needs to be changed through a sealed tube. You should very carefully cut off the end of the tube with a needle file. It is necessary to saw so that the chips do not get inside. Next, the tip must be broken off and drained into some jar of old grease. Then, using a pharmacy syringe, fill in more lubricant than poured out.
In order for the unit to work properly, the lubrication tube must be sealed. A screw of a suitable diameter will help us with this. It must be wrapped with a pre-prepared FUM tape and screwed into a long-suffering pipe.
Next, attach this device to the board using the prepared fasteners. The electronic part is very sensitive to position. Therefore, the top cover of the relay is marked with an arrow. The operating modes will only switch if the setting is correct.
Choosing a container for the receiver
As practice shows, it works best for painting if a used fire extinguisher is used as an air container. These cylinders are good because they contain the necessary margin of safety. In addition, the fire extinguisher is designed for. This choice is also good because various attachments can be placed on the cylinder body. Take, for example, a metal 10-liter cylinder from OU-10. It holds a pressure of 15 MPa and has high strength.
Fire extinguisher preparation
Immediately boldly twist the lock-starter, we will not need it. And you need to screw the adapter into place, having previously wound the FUM tape onto the thread. If the body is rusted, you need to treat the rust with either chemistry or sandpaper.
Outside, in the fight against corrosion, everything is very, very simple. What about corrosion inside? Pour the cleaner into the bottle, and then you need to mix the product very well. Next, screw the cross from the water supply. And don't forget to seal the threaded connections. Now everything is almost ready.
We mount attachments
We almost made a compressor for painting a car with our own hands. To make it convenient to move, the best option is to mount all the nodes and parts on one platform. We have a wooden board. The motor from the refrigerator is already fixed on it, and now you need to place a fire extinguisher-receiver there.
In the plate, it is necessary to make holes for fasteners in advance. The motor from the refrigerator is already fixed with studs and nuts. The fire extinguisher must be placed vertically. To do this, you can use plywood. This will require three sheets.
In the first sheet, cut a hole suitable for the diameter of the balloon. Fix the rest on the plate. Next, fix these plates to the plate along with the sheet with the hole using glue. To make the fire extinguisher conveniently located on the platform, you can make a recess under the bottom. To make our device maneuverable, take out the prepared furniture wheels and screw them onto the platform.
Protection against dust and small debris
Naturally, the equipment must be protected from dust as much as possible. To do this, we will use a car. The filter must be mounted in the air intake.
How to do it? We use a rubber hose. It should tightly compress the autofilter fitting and the compressor inlet pipe from the refrigerator. On the inlet tube, you can not clamp the hose with clamps. There is no high pressure.
Moisture protection
An oil separator must be installed at the outlet. It will not allow liquid or oil particles to get into the system. To do this, you can apply a filter from the diesel power system. The connection is made using the same hose. But here it is already necessary to strengthen the connections with a clamp, because there will be decent pressure at the outlet.
denouement
The diesel filter must be connected to the reducer input. It is necessary to untie the pressure at the inlet and outlet of the refrigeration compressor. To do this, the high pressure outlet of the supercharger must be screwed into the left and right side of the crosspiece.
We fix the pressure gauge
A manometer is fixed at the top entrance of the crosspiece. On it we will perform pressure control. You also need to tighten the adjusting relays. Do not forget that the threads must be sealed.
Relay importance
This device makes it possible to regulate pressure levels over a wide range. It can, if necessary, interrupt the power supply to the refrigeration motor. For these purposes, either PM5 or RDM5 is suitable. Both devices will start the motor if the pressure drops and turn off when it rises. The pressure level is adjusted using the springs on top. So, with the help of a large one we set the minimum levels, and a small one - the maximum limits.
Electricity
To make it all work, we connect the neutral power wire to the relay, and connect the second wire to the refrigeration engine.
Pass the phase wire through the toggle switch to the second contact of the compressor. This will allow you to turn off the power faster. Naturally, after connecting, you need to securely insulate all this.
So we made a compressor for painting a car with our own hands. It remains only to paint, adjust and test it.
Adjustment and first tests
After assembling all this together, you can safely proceed to the first tests. Connect an actuator to the output of the unit. Then plug the cord into the outlet, set the relay to the very minimum and turn on the toggle switch. Look at the pressure gauge. If you are convinced that the relay turns off the motor, you can check the tightness. To do this, use the old-fashioned way with soap.
If everything is fine, then bleed the air from the receiver. When the pressure drops, the relay should start the motor. If everything works, then painting with an airbrush will no longer cause difficulties.
First samples
To test the unit in operation, any unnecessary part will do. There is no need for any surface preparation. It is important to determine the working pressure by trial and error. With the help of experiments, determine the figure at which there is enough pressure for a complete painting without frequent switching on of the motor.
As you can see, it is quite easy to make for painting. This unit can already be fully used for professional activities. The costs will definitely pay off soon. The compressor is needed not only for painting work. It has a very wide range of applications. A semi-automatic system will allow you not to be distracted from work.
Spray guns
In addition to the compressor, airbrushes will also be needed for painting work. To do this, you need to purchase a pneumatic model. A properly selected airbrush will allow you to successfully carry out work. The tool should be selected based on the characteristics of the compressor.
An airbrush for a car should be correctly selected in accordance with the working pressure. If the choice is wrong, the pressure will drop too quickly, and the quality of work will be very low. There are several technologies that are used in this tool. They need to be selected based on the task. For example, modern LVLP technology makes it possible to use paint very economically with a small air consumption, and the surface will be of high quality.
How to set up the spray gun?
High-quality painting is possible only with properly configured equipment. The spray gun setting allows you to change the width of the torch, air pressure, as well as the paint supply.
With the width of the torch, everything is very clear. Maximum width - maximum speed, even overlap. For touch-ups, the flame is reduced, but the air supply is also reduced.
Adjusting the flow of paint is also easy. Many experts open it to the maximum. But the air supply can be problematic. For the correct setting, you will need a compressor, instructions for a specific spray gun. It is necessary to use a sheet of drawing paper and direct a jet from the spray gun at it. If the flame is in the shape of a figure eight, reduce the pressure. If the paint is dripping, add it. Find the best position.
In some cases, an air compressor is indispensable for performing various tasks around the house. With sufficient skills, as well as some initial components and parts, such an assembly can be made independently.
When do you need a compressor for household chores?
First of all, it will be needed by owners of individual vehicles. Painting the car, cleaning the interior and engine from dirt and dust, bringing the tire pressure to the required value - only a small list of operations that a homemade compressor can perform. The scope of the unit will increase dramatically if pneumatic tools appear on the farm. For example, in the country, their use in many situations turns out to be more profitable than electric ones: there is no connection to a stationary power line, and designs based on the use of pneumatics often turn out to be more reliable.
Before embarking on the manufacture of a home air compressor, an initial technical task should be drawn up, in which the following requirements should be clarified:
- what excess air pressure is required;
- from what and how the drive will be made;
- from what components it is possible to assemble the device;
- how long will the compressor run non-stop;
- what should be the minimum acceptable energy consumption;
- whether the quality indicators of the energy carrier are critical: its humidity and temperature.
To perform most housework, 4 ... 6 atm is enough, however, it should be noted that with prolonged use of the compressor, its moving parts heat up, due to which this characteristic can drop by 20 ... 30% over time. Performance is determined only by the technical characteristics of the pneumatic tool. The minimum consumption is usually for drills, wrenches and dowel mounting guns (up to 100 ... 120 l / min). At the same time, impact tools or grinders will require a flow rate of up to 350 ... 400 l / min. When performing outdoor work (in particular, painting), higher performance values may be required, so it is necessary to provide for a margin of 20 ... 30% for this parameter. The same approach is necessary for estimating the power consumed by the unit.
Any compressor needs a receiver - a storage tank that maintains air pressure within the limits necessary for stable operation of the tool. With an increase in the volume of the tank, the functionality of the air compressor increases, although the overall dimensions of the installation will increase. However, the volume cannot be less than 10 liters. It should be borne in mind that for the purposes of painting, the length of pipelines (and, consequently, losses) will increase.
How to make a compressor, and in what sequence to work?
Components of the future compressor
To make a compressor with your own hands, you will need:
Mounting order
How to make a compressor? The following sequence of preparation and assembly of elements is recommended: inlet intake hose with a pipe → pre-filter → final filter → rigid inlet pipe to the compressor → compressor → oil change pipeline → outlet pipeline to the receiver → tee → receiver → RD relay with emergency safety valve → tee with pressure gauge → regulator with valve → combined outlet filter → hose with self-closing pneumatic socket.
At the initial stage, it is necessary to prepare the compressor from the refrigerator for installation. It is cleaned from the inside of dirt and impurities, painted, and the oil is drained (it is more than likely that this has not been done during the entire period of work; however, there is no particular need for a refrigerator). The compressor already has a start relay set to its parameters, and it is not recommended to change it. The sealed hole in the lower part of the housing is designed to drain the oil. This hole is carefully opened (chip particles should not get inside), after which the old oil is removed with a syringe and the cavity is filled with fresh oil (any synthetic or semi-synthetic oil is suitable, the characteristics of which are almost constant). Oils must be poured 30 ... 40% more, taking into account the natural loss, for example, during continuous painting of large surfaces.
The next step is to prepare the air storage. The internal volume of the fire extinguisher body must be thoroughly cleaned using a rust converter. After that, a threaded hole is obtained in the lower part of the housing, which is plugged with a plug: it is necessary for the periodic draining of condensate. A tee is attached to the outlet. A possible problem - thread mismatch - is solved by re-threading it. A safety valve is attached to the opposite ends of the tee (its parameters are selected according to needs) and a second tee, also equipped with a pressure gauge. The storage tank is subject to mandatory painting.
The installation is completed by connecting the second tee of the filter-oil-moisture separator to the outlet. This tee should be equipped with a manual valve and a resulting control pressure gauge. By attaching the last outlet hose, the assembly process will be completed.
It remains only to install all the assembled components on the frame. It is better to use aluminum corners or thick plywood for these purposes. It is recommended to install the compressor from above: this facilitates the subsequent use of the unit. To avoid unnecessary noise and vibrations, all components must be rigidly fixed to the frame, with the exception of the compressor itself: it must allow some vibrations. To do this, it is better not to dismantle the fasteners remaining on it, or, in their absence, provide for mounting the compressor on spring compensators.
Adjustment and testing
The main test of a homemade compressor is to determine the possibility of effectively regulating the pressure that is created in the assembled system. The easiest way to do this is to test paint any surface. In this case, the following is sequentially performed:
- Set the relay to 4 ... 5 at.
- Connect the compressor to the network.
- The pressure gauge monitors the stability of the parameter. If the relay is operable, then when the pressure is exceeded, it will turn off the compressor, otherwise open the relief valve and immediately turn off the unit.
- Check the system for the absence of spontaneous bleeding of the energy carrier, for which you can use a regular soap solution.
- When the pressure drops to a level below the minimum allowable, the relay should automatically turn on the compressor.
- After painting any surface, it is necessary to check the quality of the paint applied to it - during an external examination, traces of moisture, foreign particles and dirt should not be detected. If such defects still occur, you should additionally check the operation of the output filter - oil and moisture separator.
The work of a do-it-yourself unit will be long and reliable if you periodically carry out routine maintenance on it. It comes down to replacing the inlet filters, periodically blowing out all air lines, and also changing the oil in the compressor.
In the inventory of the car owner's garage, an air compressor will be useful. With it, you can paint a car, pump up tires, supply air to pneumatic tools. Consider how to make a compressor for painting with your own hands from available materials.
Compressed air - a true assistant to a true master
There is always a use for an air compressor in the garage: from the banal blowing off of dust from surfaces treated with abrasive to creating excess pressure in pneumatic tools. A considerable part of the working resource of the compressor falls on the performance of car painting. And this imposes certain requirements on the generated air flow.
It must flow strictly evenly and not have any impurities in the form of drops of water, oil or suspended solids. Such defects as granularity, shagreen and cavities on a freshly applied paintwork are just due to the ingress of foreign particles into the jet. Paint streaks and matte spots on the enamel occur when the mixture is unevenly supplied.
Branded air compressors from the manufacturer have all the features for a perfect airbrush, but cost a lot of money. You can save money and create a functional model that is not inferior to professional ones on your own by studying the theoretical information and watching the do-it-yourself compressor video as a guide. The principle of operation of all models, both homemade and professional, is quite simple and is as follows. An overpressure is built up in a device for storing compressed air, called a “reservoir”. Air can be pumped both manually and mechanically.
With manual filing, financial resources are saved, but a lot of effort and energy is spent on controlling the process. With automatic injection, all these shortcomings are eliminated, the only thing that remains is the routine oil change in the air pump. Further, compressed air through the outlet fitting is supplied in a uniform flow to the actuators. As you can see, there is nothing complicated, and you can create a workable model in a few minutes.
We make the simplest compressor with our own hands
One option would be to make a compressor for painting from a used car chamber. For manufacturing you will need:
- The receiver is a car camera. Available with or without a tire
- Supercharger - car pump with pressure gauge
- Nipple from a bad camera
- Repair kit for rubber
- tailor's awl
Having collected the necessary materials, we proceed directly to the manufacture of the device. We take an unnecessary car camera and check it for leaks by inflating it with a pump. If the balloon holds air, then everything is fine, and you can proceed to the next step. If there are leaks, localize the damage and seal them or vulcanize with raw rubber.
Further, a hole is made in the prepared receiver for an additional nipple, through which a uniform stream of compressed air will subsequently exit. We glue the additional fitting using a rubber repair kit and connect it to the spray gun. We unscrew the nipple in it - the air flow should come out freely. We leave the nipple in the native nipple of the car chamber - it will work like a valve, holding excess pressure.
Then, empirically, we determine the required level of air pressure in the receiver by spraying paint on any surface. The enamel should lay down evenly, without jerks. The value of excess pressure is determined using a pressure gauge and must be such that when the aerator button is pressed, its level does not change abruptly.
It will not be difficult to assemble such a compressor model, but you will immediately be convinced of the effectiveness of the repair with the help of a compressor, rather than spray cans of paint. The main thing is to follow the rule - moisture or dust should not get into the airbrush into the car chamber, and, therefore, even then, into the spray gun. Otherwise, they will mix with the car enamel, and all the painting work will need to be done again. The assembled model will work properly, but it is better to automate the air injection and make additional changes to the design.
Semi-professional compressor for do-it-yourself painting
According to experts, home-made compressors with receivers have a longer service life than models from domestic and foreign manufacturers. And this is understandable - everything is done by hand and, even if some part fails, it will be a matter of a couple of minutes to replace it. Consider how to make an air compressor that is not inferior to products of well-known companies from readily available materials that we will need according to the list below: 
- pressure gauge
- Reducer with oil filter
- Pressure control relay
- Gasoline fuel filter
- Water supply cross (quadruple) with a three-quarter female thread
- Thread adapters
- Automotive clamps
- Compressor motor
- Receiver
- Semi-synthetic engine oil with a viscosity of 10W40
- Toggle switch for 220 volts
- brass tubes
- Oil resistant hose
- Thick board for the base
- pharmacy syringe
- rust converter
- Studs, nuts, washers
- Sealant, fum tape
- Metal paint
- Needle file
- furniture wheels
- Diesel engine power system filter
Finding all the components is not difficult, it’s worth starting with the heart of the whole system - the air blower.
The engine is the actuator of the automatic compressor
As an engine, we will use a compressor from an old refrigerator. As a rule, they are equipped with a starting relay, which is very convenient for constantly maintaining a certain level of pressure in the receiver. It is preferable to use compressors from refrigerators of the old Soviet model, they allow you to pump a higher pressure than their imported counterparts.
After removing the execution unit from the dilapidated refrigerator, clean it of accumulated dirt and rust. Then treat with a rust converter to prevent further oxidation. This way you will prepare the engine housing for further painting.
Next, change the oil in the compressor. A rare refrigerator was regularly serviced and lubricated, which is quite justified - the system is completely isolated from the atmosphere. You can use semi-synthetic motor oil, it is in no way inferior to compressor oil and, in addition, has many useful additives.
There are three tubes on the compressor - 2 open and one sealed. The open ends are designed for air circulation, one of the tubes is the inlet, the other is the outlet. To determine which path the air is moving, momentarily energize the compressor. And remember which duct draws in air and which lets it out.
The sealed tube is designed for routine oil changes. The closed end must be carefully removed. To do this, we file the tube in a circle with a file, trying to prevent metal filings from getting inside the system. Then we break off the filed tip and drain the old oil into some vessel to determine the amount to be replaced. And fill in semi-synthetics in a slightly larger amount with a syringe.
Then the engine lubrication system must be shut off. For which, having picked up a screw of the appropriate size, we wrap it with fum tape for tightness, screw it into a tube. The supercharger from the refrigerator tends to sweat with grease - that is, there are droplets of oil in the output air stream. They will be held by an oil-moisture separator for the compressor. With our own hands, in the future, we fasten the engine with a starting relay on a wooden base to the position in which it was attached to the frame.
The compressor relay is sensitive to position in space and often its top cover is marked with an arrow. Only with the correct installation, the process of switching modes will proceed correctly.
Compressed air tank
Fire extinguisher cylinders are best for storing compressed air. They are designed for high pressure, have a large margin of safety and are ideal for mounting attachments. Let us consider the metal case of the OU-10 fire extinguisher with a working volume of 10 liters as a receiver. This cylinder is designed for a pressure of 15 MPa or 150 bar with a large margin of safety.
We turn off the lock-start device (LPU) from the future receiver and in its place we screw in the adapter, on the thread of which we wind the fum tape for sealing. If the fire extinguisher has traces of corrosion, then they must be removed with abrasives and a rust converter.From the outside, everything is easy to do, but with the inner surface you have to tinker a little. To do this, pour the rust-cleaning agent into the cylinder according to the instructions and shake the contents thoroughly. Then we screw in the water cross, using sealant and fum tape for sealing. So, the two main parts of our compressor are ready, and you can proceed to the next step.
Installation of device parts
For ease of storage and movement, it is best to arrange all compressor parts compactly on one base. We will use a wooden board as a basis, on which we securely fix the engine - supercharger and fire extinguisher body.
We fix the compressor engine with threaded studs threaded into pre-drilled holes and nuts with washers. We place the receiver vertically, using three sheets of plywood for fixing, in one of which we cut a hole for the cylinder.
The other two, with the help of self-tapping screws, are attached to the carrier board and glued to the sheet holding the receiver. Under the bottom of the receiver, at the base, we hollow out a recess corresponding in size. For maneuverability, we fasten wheels from furniture fittings to our base. Next, we perform the following operations:
Now it remains only to paint the entire compressor and proceed to field tests.
Adjusting the pressure in the receiver chamber
Having assembled the structure, you should check its performance. We connect an airbrush or a tire inflation gun to the compressor outlet. After that, with the toggle switch off, turn on the plug in the network. We set the control switch to the minimum pressure and then apply power to the supercharger. The pressure created in the receiver is controlled by a pressure gauge. After making sure that when a certain level is reached, the relay turns off the engine, we check the tightness of the air ducts and connections. This is easy to do with soapy water.
After making sure that the compressed air does not leave the system, we bleed it from the receiver chamber. As soon as the pressure in the cylinder drops below the set mark, the relay should work and start the compressor. If everything is functioning properly, you can try to paint some unnecessary detail. Preliminary work on preparing the surface for applying enamel is not required here - it is important for us to develop skills and determine how much pressure is required to paint the product. Experimentally, we determine the value in atmospheres at which excess pressure is enough to paint the entire part with a uniform layer with a minimum amount of blower operation.
As you can see, creating a car compressor with your own hands does not cause any particular difficulties. The device made according to the second option requires more time to manufacture, but it will all pay off with further operation. The automatic pressure control and blower start-up system will allow you to work with great convenience, without being distracted by control over the receiver chamber. The compressor can be used not only for car care. With it, you can paint the fence, garage door.
In order for a self-made compressor to serve for a long time and properly, routine maintenance should be carried out. This is, first of all, regular oil changes and timely replacement of filter elements. Since we have securely fixed the engine to the base, there is no point in unscrewing it. To drain the oil, use a syringe. Having unscrewed the screw that closes the filler hole, we put the hose tightly on the tube and pump out the mining. We also pump fresh engine oil with a syringe. With filters, everything is simpler - we change them as they become dirty and the filling rate of the receiver chamber decreases.
Alternative choice - do it yourself or buy finished products?
Today, the market for air compressor offers is replete with diversity. Piston, vibration, screw and many other classes of these devices are produced for various purposes. Ready-made compressors can be bought in household appliances stores, auto parts stores, and on specialized sites. The variety of products offered is so great that it will take a lot of time to choose the required product. If you decide to purchase a finished device, carefully study the specifications, price range and customer reviews.
Of course, it is better not to save money and purchase expensive products from famous brands. But a big-budget purchase pays off only if you plan to do car repairs professionally. The choice of little-known products is fraught with unjustified risks. Cheap models sin with low-quality materials. It often happens that engine parts fly out instantly, and warranty repairs take several months.From the position of reliability, hand-made assembly wins in many respects. Firstly, according to statistics, compressors in refrigerators work for decades. And the old refrigerator is thrown out not because of a broken engine, but because of a refrigerant leak or corrosion of the walls and bottom. And there is nothing to say about the fire extinguisher - they are made with a tenfold margin of safety, which is immediately checked at the factory. So maybe you shouldn't buy a pig in a poke, but make a device on your own? Moreover, after studying the material, you know how to make a compressor with your own hands at home. A well-made and properly functioning device will not only please the owner, but will also become the envy of familiar motorists.
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