My latest in a long line of candidates for the role of compressor to power my model steam engines at steam fairs and rallies.
My latest in a long line of candidates for the role of compressor to power my model steam engines at steam fairs and rallies.
Is this THE compressor I have been looking for ?
I sincerely hope so – I hate to think of just how much I have spent trying to find the ideal air compressor to run my small model steam engines.
The first was too noisy and too heavy to be transportable. The second, advertised as being quiet, wasn’t. The third was quiet but was only adequate to power one small free running wobbler. The fourth was also quiet and could manage two wobblers.
I did make a virtually silent compressor from a disused ‘fridge pump but that was limited on air volume and a bit heavy to move around.
What I want is an air compressor that will power at least four of my engines simultaneously when I attend steam fairs and suchlike and one that I can lift in and out of the car without bringing on another bout of sciatica. Oh, and it has to be up to running for extended periods and not make too much noise.
My latest aquisition is a ‘Sprayit’ air compressor by Thomas Industries, Inc., Sheboygan, Wis. As you may have already guessed they were produced for paint spraying and whilst they are no longer in production they do turn up on ebay and car boot sales from time to time.
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- This was my ‘Sprayit’ air compressor complete with fifty years of muck and grime but still in running order. No longer in production but can be found on fleabay and car boot sales.
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- On strip down the rubber diaphragm was showing signs of imminent failure. A replacement was carefully fabricated from an old lorry innertube donated by a friendly tyre-fitter.
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- With a good clean up, a lick of paint, replaced diaphragm and power cable the ‘Sprayit’ was back in business and ran four of my engines with no problem at all.
What a cute yet powerful compressor! I suppose it was the AS09 that ran two of your models. So this beauty supplies twice as much i. e. 135 x 2 = 270 l/min? Wow thats enough for most pneumatic power tools! Thanks for sharing!
When you made the new diaphragm did you just cut a circle from the innertube and punch the holes? I ask because the original has this shaped border.
Hi Martin
Yes the diaphragm was cut from a circle of innertube and seemed to work OK despite the lack of moulded border. I doubt wheter manufacturers spares exist today.
John