How to make a compressor with your own hands for painting a car
Content
Almost all motorists who make something every day in their garage understand perfectly well that with tools and components in their hands, you can always create something you need.
In the same way, it is possible to create a whole compressor for painting a car from a conventional compressor for a Soviet-style refrigerator.
That's just how to do it in technical terms, and in what order?
Therefore, due to the frequently asked questions of beginner self-taught masters, in this article you will learn how to make such a compressor on your own and from manual materials.
Which compressor to choose (factory or homemade)
The main criterion that should be followed when choosing a station for painting is a uniform distribution of air, without foreign particles.
If such impurities come across, then the coating will be with small defects - graininess, shagreen, cavities. At the same time, streaks and stains can form due to these particles, so it is best to entrust the painting to a branded air compressor, but there is only one catch - such a device is too expensive, which many motorists cannot afford.
You can save money and at the same time create a functional model by creating functional equipment, which is described in many videos and articles.
You will only have to spend your precious time studying the material, and then creating equipment that must be of at least high quality.
The model presented by the factory or homemade does not play a role, because the principle of its operation is the same and it consists in creating excessive pressure. That's just the method of air injection is completely different - it can be extracted manually or mechanically.
In the second case, this is a significantly higher cost of funds, the manual method is economical, but time-consuming, requiring constant monitoring.
Automatic inflation does not consume your strength, but the product requires periodic maintenance, which is worth only the process of changing the oil for the compressor.
This is the only way to achieve uniform air supply and distribution. After studying the theory, you realize how easy it is to make a compressor station that will work well, while it does not take much time.
We collect the compressor unit from improvised means -
If you decide to create equipment for painting your own car, then you should stock up on certain materials for this:
- The reverse function will require a car camera;
- For the supercharger function, you will need a pump with a pressure gauge;
- chamber nipple;
- Repair kit and awl.
When all the components are prepared, you can begin to create a compressor station. To check how tight the chamber is, it is necessary to pump it.
If the problem still exists, then it can be solved in two ways - by gluing or by vulcanizing with raw rubber. In the resulting reverse, it is necessary to make a hole for supplying compressed air so that it comes out evenly.
A special nipple is placed in the hole for this. The repair kit will serve for the implementation of additional fasteners of the fitting. To check the uniformity of the air supply, it is enough to unscrew the nipple. Native nipple allows you to get rid of excessive pressure.
The level of pressure is determined during operation, when the paint is sprayed. If the enamel on the metal lies evenly, then the installation is functioning. At the end of the procedure, it is worth determining the pressure indicators, for this it is enough to spray paint on the body of your car.
If the enamel lies without tubercles, then the device is functioning efficiently. In addition, pressure indicators can be monitored using a special device - a pressure gauge. But, its indicator after pressing the aerator should not be chaotic.
As you can see, special tools and knowledge are not required to create such a compressor. At the same time, repairing and painting a car in this way is more effective than using a spray can.
Remember that neither dust nor water should get into the car chamber. Otherwise, you will have to re-paint the car.
If this installation is used correctly and with the use of all knowledge, then it will last a long time, and if you also automate the pumping of air, then the process itself will go quickly.
Alternative to a professional device (compressor from the refrigerator)
Home-made compressor devices serve much longer than the presented time, even in comparison with installations of domestic and foreign production.
This is quite natural, because creating it with our own hands, we do everything for ourselves at the highest level. Therefore, people even thought about how to create a compressor from a refrigerator, which will be on a par with the installations of popular companies.
But to create it, you should stock up on such components as a pressure gauge, a relay, rubber adapters, an oil and moisture separator, a fuel filter, a gearbox, a motor, a switch, a hose, clamps, brass tubes, but also little things - nuts, paint, wheels from furniture.
Creating the mechanism itself
Buying a compressor from an old refrigerator from the Soviet era can simplify the whole procedure. This will not pull too much on the budget, while there is already a compressor start relay.
Foreign competitors are inferior to this model, because they are not able to develop such a high pressure. But the Soviets cope with this task.
After removing the execution unit, it is advisable to clean the compressor from layers of rust. To avoid the oxidation process in the future, it is worth using a rust converter.
It turns out that the working motor housing is ready for the painting process.
Installation scheme
The preparatory process is completed, now you can change the oil. Since the refrigerator is old and it is unlikely that it underwent constant maintenance, it is worth updating this moment.
Since the system was always located far from external influences, maintenance work was justifiably not carried out there. For this procedure, expensive oil is not required, semi-synthetic is enough.
At the same time, it is not worse in terms of the presented characteristics of any compressor oil and has many additives used with benefit.
Inspecting the compressor, you will find 3 tubes, one of them is already soldered, but the rest are free. Open are used for air inlet and outlet. To understand how air will circulate, it is worth connecting the power to the compressor.
Write down for yourself which of the holes draws in air and which releases it. But the sealed tube must be opened, it will serve as an opening for changing the oil.
The file is necessary for the implementation of the tube file, while making sure that the chips do not get inside the compressor. To determine how much oil is already there, drain it into a container. With the subsequent replacement, you will already know how much it will have to be poured.
Then we take a spitz and fill it with semi-synthetics, but this time expect that the volume should be twice as much as it has already been drained. When the container is filled with oil, it is worth turning off the engine lubrication system; for this, a screw is used, which is pre-formed with a fum tape and placed simply in the tube.
Do not be alarmed if drops of oil periodically appear from the outlet air tube. This situation is not so difficult to resolve, find an oil and moisture separator for a home-made installation.
The preliminary work is over, only now you can proceed to the direct assembly of the installation. And they start with strengthening the engine, it is best to choose a wooden base for this and in such a position that it is on the frame.
It is worth noting that this part is very sensitive to position, so follow the instructions on the top cover, where the arrow is drawn. Accuracy is important in this matter, because the correctness of the mode change directly depends on the correct installation.
Where is compressed air located?
A cylinder capable of withstanding high pressure is a container from a fire extinguisher. At the same time, they have high strength indicators and can be used as attachments.
If we take as a basis the OU-10 fire extinguisher, which holds 10 liters, then we should count on a pressure of 15 MPa. We unscrew the locking and starting device, instead of which we install an adapter. If you have identified traces of rust, then these places should be treated without fail with a rust converter.
Externally, it is not difficult to remove it, but it is more difficult to clean it internally. But the easiest way is to pour the converter itself into the cylinder and shake it well so that all the walls are saturated with it.
When the cleaning is done, the plumbing cross is screwed in and we can assume that we have already prepared two working parts of a self-made compressor design.
Carrying out the installation of parts
Earlier it was already stipulated that a wooden board is suitable for fixing the engine and the fire extinguisher body, it is also even easier to store working parts.
In terms of mounting the engine, threaded studs and washers will serve, just think in advance about making holes. Plywood is required to fix the receiver vertically.
A recess is made in it for a cylinder, the second and third are fixed to the main board using self-tapping screws and hold the receiver. To give the design maneuverability, you should screw the wheels from the furniture to the base.
To prevent dust from entering the system, its protection should be considered - the use of a coarse gasoline filter can be considered an excellent option. With its help, the function of an air intake will be easily performed.
Since the pressure indicators are low at the opening with the inlet of the compressor equipment, it will not be necessary to increase it.
Once you have created an inlet filter for compressor installation work, be sure to install an oil/water separator at the end to avoid water droplets in the future. Since the outlet pressure is high, you will need car clamps.
The oil-moisture separator is connected to the inlet of the reducer and the pressure outlet of the supercharger. To control the balloon pressure, the pressure gauge itself should also be screwed in on the right side, where the outlet is located on the opposite side.
To control pressure and power at 220v, a relay is installed for adjustment. As an actuator, many masters recommend using PM5 (RDM5).
This device responds to work, if the pressure drops, then the compressor turns on, if it rises, then the device is pumped out completely.
To set the proper pressure, the springs on the relay are used. The large spring is responsible for the minimum indicator, but the small one for the maximum, thereby setting the framework for the operation and shutdown of the self-made compressor installation.
In fact, PM5 are ordinary two-pin switches. One contact will be needed to connect to the zero of the 220 V network, and the second to combine with the supercharger.
A toggler is needed to disconnect from the network from it and save yourself from constant running around in the direction of the outlet. All connected wires must be insulated for safety reasons. When these works are carried out, you can paint over the installation and check it.
Pressure regulation
When the design is assembled, it is quite natural to check it. We connect the last components - an airbrush or an air gun and connect the installation to the network.
We check the operation of the relay, how well it will cope with turning off the engine, and monitor the pressure with a pressure gauge. If everything works properly, proceed to the leak test.
The easiest way to do this is to use soapy water. When the tightness is checked, we bleed the air from the chamber. The compressor starts when the pressure drops below the minimum limit. Only after checking all the systems and bringing them into working condition, you can proceed to the procedure for painting parts.
For painting, you only need to determine the pressure and not load yourself with pre-treatment of the metal. To carry out painting with a uniform layer, it is necessary to experiment and determine atmospheric indicators in this way.
It is important to use the supercharger as little as possible. Each motorist will deal with the components and begin to manufacture an automobile compressor.
You can choose different production options, but the use of starting the navigator, automatic pressure control is a more complex design, but its use is one and a real pleasure.
In this case, you do not have to take time to control the receiver, which will open up more opportunities, and you can start painting a car, a fence or even a gate.
Routine maintenance is a mandatory procedure in order to extend the life of your homemade compressor.
To change the oil - drain or fill it, you can use a regular syringe. Replacement of filters is carried out only if necessary, when the speed of filling the reservoir chamber is reduced.
Connecting components of the compressor
When it is decided which compressor to choose and reverse, it is worth considering the issue of combining them. At the same moment, it is worth determining how the air will flow to the airbrush. The unit that is mounted to the receiver is responsible for the distribution of air.
The main thing is that these components are compatible with each other. The pressure switch is responsible for turning the compressor off and on. Although RDM-5 is used for water supply systems, it is ideal for our case - for a relay.
The bottom line is that the connection element fits the external inch thread. To find out what pressure is in the receiver, you must use a pressure gauge and first consider the size that is suitable for the connection. We apply pressure to the air preparation unit and adjust it within 10 atmospheres, at this stage it is necessary to attach the oil separator filter.
The pressure gauge allows you to check the pressure, and the filter allows you to prevent the ingress of oil particles from the receiver. Elbows, tees and even fittings are the next components that will have to be prepared for installation. To understand the exact number, you need to think over the scheme, choose an inch as the size.
After resolving the issue with adapters, it is important to consider the moment of installation of the structure, most often chipboard boards are used for this. The design of your station should be maneuverable, because it will have to be moved around the workshop, in order to simplify your work, you should attach roller legs to it.
You won't have to invent here for a long time, just visit the furniture store, where there are a lot of such furniture wheels. To save space in your workshop, you can build a two-story structure. But here it is better to stock up on large bolts to fix the structure. To make it easier to prepare for this step, make a list of required items.
Assembling a semi-professional air blower
The assembly begins with the removal of the fire extinguisher twist and the installation of the transition device. After removing the fire extinguisher valve, install the adapter there.
Four components are immediately installed on a durable hose - a reducer, a pressure switch and an adapter.
The next step will be fixing the wheels to be installed on a chipboard sheet. Since the design is planned on two levels, it is necessary to make holes for the studs where the fire extinguisher will be placed.
The accumulator is easier to assemble, because there are brackets on both sides. The lower part is fixed to the base, and the top is used to install home-made equipment.
To reduce vibration when installing the compressor, silicone gaskets are used. The hose connects the outlet and the inlet of the air preparation.
The next step will be the connection work. Jumper, protective elements - all this needs to be thought out.
The entire connection chain is carried out through the relay and the switch, assuming that the entire connection goes according to the scheme: the phase wire goes to the switch, the next connection is the relay terminal. To carry out grounding on the relay, a special wire is wound up.
Next, everything joins the launcher. To hide the cable, it can be placed in plastic ties. Only after checking and launching we proceed to painting.
Which is better: buy or make a compressor yourself?
Compressor equipment on the market is represented by a large assortment. Piston components, vibration units, screw stations - all these are components that are used in other areas.
If you wish, you can not waste your time creating the installation, it is presented at any point of sale of auto parts or on specialized sites.
Such an extensive range greatly complicates the choice of the desired product. But if you decide to purchase a station, in this matter you should be guided by technical indicators, cost and reviews of those who have already managed to evaluate it.
If you are chasing warranty periods, then you should pay attention to the models of popular brands. Expensive products should be purchased if you are professionally engaged in repair work.
Products that do not have a name and status can let you down, so it’s better to spend money once and not take risks in this matter again. Many manufacturers of budget options save on constituent components.
As a result, you will encounter frequent breakdowns and replacement of parts, while warranty repairs will take a long time. Therefore, many motorists are well aware that a do-it-yourself installation is sometimes more reliable than a factory one.
Such products with technical indicators win. For example, the components of a home-made device for painting a car last much longer - compressors from refrigerators can work for decades, a fire extinguisher also has an enormous margin of safety.
You can always improve the performance of your compressor yourself, everything is in your hands, but you can’t experiment like that with a factory device.
Garage neighbors will probably get it when they see a well-made and well-thought-out device.
