I took my compressor apart, and modded it for MOAR pressure.

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psycix
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Wed Jan 28, 2009 6:26 pm

I took my compressor apart because I wanted to see how it worked AND I wanted to see if I could improve/mod it. I noted that all parts were rated 12 bar or higher....

I also wanted to see if it had any dead volume, but that appeared to be minimal.


MOAR PRESSURE:

Getting more pressure out of it was easier then I expected. Actually, even my grandma could mod it.
Under the safety cap is a bolt with + and - next to it.
The bolt adjusts spring strength. And the spring tension determines when the pressure switch will turn the compressor on and off.
Just rotate it to the + side. I found out that 1 full rotation was about 1/3rd bar aka 5 psi.

Now there is one problem: The safety popoff. It did his job whenever I went above 8 bar.
But I simply took that off and replaced it with a plug. (NEVER DO THAT! ITS VERY BAD, THE POPOFF IS THERE FOR A REASON) :evil:
But I still did. I maybe will get an adjustable one and put that on.

After some tries fiddling with the magic bolt I decided that 10 was enough as the compressor seemed to take a while to increase the pressure any further.
So for now it just goes up to 10 instead of 8. Thats +25%. And I am happy with that.
All components were rated for 12bar or more so it COULD go up to that (+50% pressure), but I dont need that.

Disclaimer:
I can not guarantee what happens if you open up your compressor and mod it. If you destroy it or if you have a 10gallon air tank to explode in your eye, its not my fault.


Now for the pictures: :D
Attachments
10 Bar! :D
10 Bar! :D
The air compressor in its full glory.<br />The yellow warning label reads:<br />WARNING!<br />Pressure controls set at factory for maximum safe operation. DO NOT ADJUST FACTORY SETTINGS!<br />But lets pretend the label wasnt there. :)
The air compressor in its full glory.
The yellow warning label reads:
WARNING!
Pressure controls set at factory for maximum safe operation. DO NOT ADJUST FACTORY SETTINGS!
But lets pretend the label wasnt there. :)
This is what is under the cap with the red button. To the left you can see the popoff valve which I later replaced by a plug.
This is what is under the cap with the red button. To the left you can see the popoff valve which I later replaced by a plug.
The bolt on top is the magic bolt which determines when it shuts on or off.<br />You can also see the + and -.
The bolt on top is the magic bolt which determines when it shuts on or off.
You can also see the + and -.
The switches that turn the power on and off. These get controlled by the spring, but when pressing in the red button to turn the compressor of (like I do with my finger here) they also open.
The switches that turn the power on and off. These get controlled by the spring, but when pressing in the red button to turn the compressor of (like I do with my finger here) they also open.
Here you can see the piston housing, electromotor and a capacitor.
Here you can see the piston housing, electromotor and a capacitor.
Opening it up.
Opening it up.
The cap is hollow on the inside.
The cap is hollow on the inside.
The check valves. Note that dead volume stops here, so the big empty cap doesnt matter.
The check valves. Note that dead volume stops here, so the big empty cap doesnt matter.
Here you can clearly see that the check valves are just metal strips.
Here you can clearly see that the check valves are just metal strips.
And finally: the piston itself.<br />As you can see from the tracks on the cylinder wall it moves up completely.<br />There is almost no dead space.
And finally: the piston itself.
As you can see from the tracks on the cylinder wall it moves up completely.
There is almost no dead space.
Till the day I'm dieing, I'll keep them spuddies flying, 'cause I can!

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maggotman
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Wed Jan 28, 2009 6:40 pm

i removed the gaskets on my homemade one and i have set the switch to cut off at 240psi and cut in at 190psi i found that after 240 it dosnot realy pump well basicaly it cant compres the air in the dead space. nice mod btw
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inonickname
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Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:34 pm

This one goes to 3000 8)

3k psi on tap would be beast..

Cool mods though
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Hotwired
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Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:45 pm

Spending a few grand on a compressor for your spudgun made with a couple of hundred would indeed be interesting.

Some day when I have half a million pounds in assets I might do that. For a spudgun worth aroundabout the same in costs.


Useful mod. Not something that would be good to find the upper limits of mind you but 10bar is a decent output for more or less free.
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Ragnarok
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Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:50 pm

Does that thing kinda look like a big cat to you?
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inonickname
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Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:03 pm

High pressure co-ax

He ended up buying a bottle of nitrogen to feed it. it would end up cheaper using the compressor.
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MrCrowley
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Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:20 pm

Ragnarok wrote:Turn it up to ELEVEN!!! :D
Oh God :D
Now you made me watch it again :D

"You're on 10 on your compressor, where can you go from there?"


Cool mod psycix, i'd be a bit worried about doing it to mine because I fear I have a fair amount of rusting going on inside the tank. The compressor is only 2 years old, but I always forget to let the air out of the tank when not using it, and I get a quite a bit of brown water coming out when I drain it.
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Ragnarok
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Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:48 pm

MrCrowley wrote:Oh God :D
If you think the Spinal Tap references are bad, wait until someone does a 621 bar cannon. My response will be inevitable.
*Waits for obscure joke to soak in*
Now you made me watch it again
And that's a problem why? :tongue5:
Does that thing kinda look like a big cat to you?
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trae08
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Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:39 pm

Marvin the Martian: Where's the kaboom? There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!

Marvin the Martian: The Earth? Oh, the Earth will be gone in just a few seconds.
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jackssmirkingrevenge
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Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:51 pm

Interesting, always wanted to have a play with this. I think the 8 bar is a euro thing, as US compressors looking exactly the same always seem to go to 10 bar.
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POLAND_SPUD
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Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:27 am

we want MOAR pressure !!
Children are the future

unless we stop them now
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inonickname
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Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:47 am

Ragnarok wrote:
MrCrowley wrote:Oh God :D
If you think the Spinal Tap references are bad, wait until someone does a 621 bar cannon. My response will be inevitable.
*Waits for obscure joke to soak in*
It's ovaaaaaaaar nine thousaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand!

Seriously.
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psycix
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Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:19 am

Ragnarok wrote:Turn it up to ELEVEN!!! :D
I could, but I dont need it. I actually dont even need 10 out if it, but it gives some extra tank volume if you regulate it down.
For higher pressures I use my fridge pump.
Maybe I should build a BBMG. Just because I have a compressor. And maybe that will ask for 11.... or 12.
This one goes to 3000 Cool
20 times as much pressure. 55 times the cost.
That compressor is a whole different thing then normal compressors, as it is used for other things.

For me there are two kinds of compressors:
Low pressure high volume (normal compressors) Used to fill up large PVC cannons
High pressure low volume (fridge compressors etc.) Used to fill up metal high pressure guns
A low pressure compressor will never reach the higher pressures, and that was not the target of this mod. It was actually just to see "If I could"



"Over 9000"
I knew that one was coming. Actually I wanted to say it myself xD
Till the day I'm dieing, I'll keep them spuddies flying, 'cause I can!

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maggotman
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Thu Jan 29, 2009 12:47 pm

psycix wrote:
Ragnarok wrote:[url=

For me there are two kinds of compressors:
Low pressure high volume (normal compressors) Used to fill up large PVC cannons
High pressure low volume (fridge compressors etc.) Used to fill up metal high pressure guns
A low pressure compressor will never reach the higher pressures, and that was not the target of this mod. It was actually just to see "If I could"
or combine the 2 and ger realy high pressure and high volume just dont over do it like i did
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psycix
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Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:13 pm

Maybe I will.
Just need to find out a way to connect a male quick connect to the inlet. Either epoxy, or maybe another compression fitting.
Till the day I'm dieing, I'll keep them spuddies flying, 'cause I can!

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