Hi,
I’m planning a building a small shed next to the shop, mainly to hold the dust collector. The DC is by far the noisiest thing in the shop; by moving it to its own shed I alos don’t need to worry about the fine dust that gets through the filter bags getting back into the shop airspace.
I don’t yet have an air compressor, but was considering putting it out in the shed as well. Anyone see a downside to this? The only thing I’ve though of is that the humidity will probably be higher in the shed during the winters here in the NW, compared to that in the shop. So the intake air will be more humid.
Replies
And the filter will get dirty faster since it shares a room with the DC . . Otherwise I don't see why you could not do it - as long as you kept up with the PM
I don't think it would be a problem. Less noise is a good thing. I went to bed last night with ringing ears. I just used a portable saw for three cuts.
Some people think they haven't really worked unless they have been subjected to dust, noise, flying objects wizzing past your head.
That's stuff I can live without.
You want your air intake for the compressor to be as dry and cold as possible. So, just make some ductwork to allow the inlet air to come from outside. This will also help with the dust issue.
My brother had his compressor in his shed in Northern Illinois for several years without any problems that I am aware of. More Importantly, regarding your dust collector in the shed. Have you addressed the make up air back into your shop to compensate for the dust collector? This can create a big problem with regard to furnaces and hot water heaters. You will literaly such the combustion gases right down the chimney.
TJ,
The shop is a separate outbuilding from the house; no gas or other combustable-using appliances inside (it is a woodworking shop, after all).
As for lack of make-up air starving the compressor itself, I don't think there's anyway the shop is airtight enough for that to be a problem (maybe I wish it was in the winter). At 1200 cfm, that's 20 cubic ft. per second. So if I leave the door open, as I usually do (~20 sq. ft.), that's 1 ft./sec. air velocity through the door - not very much. Even with the door closed, I still have leakage around the garage door, through the roof vents, etc.
BTW, I plan to deispense with the filter bags of the DC altogether, and just vent the DC to the outside, with a trash can underneath to catch the big stuff. We live out in the sticks, with no nearby neighors to annoy. And if the sheep don't like the dust plume, well, they can head off to another section of the pasture. In other words, the compressor air intake should be relatively dust free. Just cold and humid much of the year.
Thanks for the replies.
I plan to dispense with the filter bags of the DC altogether, and just vent the DC to the outside, with a trash can underneath to catch the big stuff
not a good idea in my opinion. when the wind blows from anywhere in the "right" direction the dust will blow past the door of the shop and be sucked right back in. If you don't think your lungs need the protection, you might as well dispense with the DC altogether.
As for the air compressor, the air outside has no more moisture in it than the air inside the shop. It's just colder and hence closer to the dew point, which means you notice the condensation more readily.
I have mine in a small shed attached to the back of my garage, it's right on the other side of the wall so running lines was easy. I also have a filter/ water seperator on the way in.
Much quieter! but there is the problem of out of sight out of mind. I had enough trouble remembering to drain the water out off the tank before, now I have a sign on my shop door that says DRAIN THE TANK!.
The air inside an air conditioned shop is much drier than outside. The AC unit acts like a big de-humidifier, that's all the condensation run off you get from the unit.
By the way, why doesn't someone make a tank with a stainless steel bottom, or in someother way rust proof the area where water collects? Even when I drain the water everyday it's still rusty. (even when it was inside my air conditioned shop)
I might post this in tools too.
Justus
Justus Koshiol
Running Pug Construction
Edited 8/16/2003 2:23:40 PM ET by Justus
Put a auto-drain on the compressors.
IMERC
I've been looking for an auto drain for my compressor or one of the remote pull cord type.
Any idea who carries them.
Jeff
Granigers.
My air tool / compressor supplier. (Empirer Staple}
Specialty air compressor wholesalers. Ingersoll and Sullair.
Whitecap.
Graingers is the best bet. 206 pages of related stuff. I couldn't find the specfic one that I use. To read the list of stuff for the compressors and the like is eye opening.
Their silencers are great too.
http://www.grainger.com Go to the fluid power section.
Thank you
Jeff
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