air compressor with check valve?

[daniel323]

hey

I have a small air compressor that plugs into a basic power outlet. I was wondering instead of making a 300 psi stirrup pump, could i put a check valve on the end of the hose of the air compressor to acheive those types of pressures (300) psi?

thanks

[roboman]

I don't think so. A check valve prevents backflow, but doesn't increase pressure.

[daniel323]

well if it prevents back flow... the air compressor cant hold 300 psi, but if it doesnt go back into the compressor and just goes straight through the check valve and into a copper gun wouldnt it be able to hold that much?

[roboman]

You can't fill your gun with a higher pressure than your compressor can produce. It just doesn't work that way. Your compressor does have a check valve in it... on the pump! It allows pressure to build up in the tank. However, the compressor has a safety device which will shut off the motor at a certain pressure. Besides, you will most likely burn out the motor or blow your tank long before you can produce 300 psi with a small compressor. The tank pressure has to be equal to the pressure in the gun. The compressor tank and your gun equalize when you connect a hose between the two of them. Even with a check valve, the compressor would have to be able to produce 300 psi.

[daniel323]

oh yeah, thanks now i see what you are saying.

[rp181]

You can sacrifice flow for pressure, commercial devices are expensive. There is just a piston, with a smaller bore, so you get more pressure.

[daniel323]

yeah i think im just goin to build a stirrup pump