Toilet      06/26/2020

How to make a homemade air compressor for painting. Homemade compressor for home What can you make a compressor from

An air compressor is a device that sprays paint. It is commonly used in workshops and garages for car painting or wheel inflation. You can buy such equipment in a specialized store or make it yourself. Unlike factory models, DIY equipment can be more efficient and last much longer. In addition, in terms of financial costs, self-production will be cheaper.

Using an accessory from a car, you can make a compressor of a simple design. This is a finished electrical appliance - wheel inflation machine. The compressor has two positive properties:

  • Power. The device is able to create high pressure up to 5-6 atmospheres, without unnecessary load on the engine. This is the main advantage of automotive devices. But it will take about 10 minutes to pump the wheels. Therefore, work is done intermittently, otherwise cheap devices may overheat during this time. The reason is the low performance of automotive compressors.
  • Performance. For a unit of time, the device is able to give out air quickly and in large quantities. Thanks to the high performance, the container fills up faster, and the direct use of compressed air makes the flow from the nozzle stronger.

To combine power and performance will help the engine with high turnover and a device with a volumetric piston system. In order for the equipment not to stop during overheating, it is necessary to create additional cooling of the cylinders. Sometimes turbines are used for the working unit. In everyday life for frequent use simple apparatus do not resort because of their high cost. In order not to choose between power and performance, use a receiver.

The receiver is a storage tank. For industrial devices, a steel cylinder is used as a receiver. A fairly powerful, but not very productive compressor slowly fills the tank. In a short period of time, a volumetric air flow can be supplied from the receiver, but only when sufficient pressure appears. After supplying air, it must restore pressure. All devices work on this principle. For a compressor with low power, an electric motor from a toy is suitable. Such a device is often used to supply air to an aquarium.

Functional homemade compressor

Unlike devices that are made from car accessories, the compressor from the refrigerator runs continuously. This is due to good power and performance. In addition, the quality is not worse than the factory models. And if it is possible to get components for free, then it will take a minimum of funds to manufacture such a device. The device is designed for painting and blowing, tire fitting works, perfectly ensures the operation of pneumatic tools. For the manufacture of a compressor for voltage 220 V you will need the following details:

  1. Motor-compressor from an old refrigerator.
  2. Tees, oil filling tube, hoses, fittings, pneumo inlets.
  3. Reducer that will monitor the pressure.
  4. Two manometers.
  5. Receiver. For this, a fire extinguisher or gas bottle, which must be completely empty. You can weld a homemade container made of sheet iron and a thick pipe.
  6. Air filter.
  7. Oil.
  8. Emergency valve.
  9. Start relay and pressure switch.
  10. Paint for metal.
  11. Fum tape, hacksaw and motor oil.
  12. Key and syringe.

The assembly of the compressor consists of several stages:

High Power Compressor

If the previous version of the compressor is not powerful enough for you, then there are devices with more high pressure and high performance. An internal combustion engine is used here as a compressor, the crankshaft of which begins to work not from the combustion of fuel, but from the reverse process. At the same time, the piston group of the apparatus has a large margin of safety. An electric motor with a power of 3 kW or more is used as a drive, which can be purchased at a low cost. Or use a working motor by removing the ignition and intake system, exhaust, starter group and gearbox.

This device is capable of creating pressure with a force of 10 atmospheres. Very noisy.

Medium Power Air Compressor

From a gas bottle or fire extinguisher an air compressor of medium power is being created. To do this, they connect an old fire extinguisher (cylinder) and a powerful auto-compressor for pumping wheels. When making the device yourself, the following rules must be observed:

  • A container with mechanical damage and corrosive deposits must not be used.
  • The design must be well fixed.
  • Be sure to make a steel crate. This is necessary if the receiver accidentally breaks.
  • It is necessary to provide for a pressure reserve. If you plan to increase the pressure to 5 atmospheres, then its strength should be from 10 atmospheres.
  • In order for the compressor to automatically turn off when the pressure reaches its maximum, an emergency shutdown sensor is installed. Or you should install a mechanical valve that, if necessary, will make an emergency pressure relief.
  • Do not leave the high-pressure apparatus for a long time if it is used in rare cases. To maintain tightness, 0.5 atmospheres is enough.

Do not neglect safety precautions: do not forget about the installation emergency sensors. An inflated wheel will simply burst, and if a steel cylinder explodes, you can get severe injuries.

Making a compressor with your own hands is easy. Its design can be simple or complex, the main thing is what it is intended for and how much money you are willing to spend on its manufacture. But do not forget that the device must meet the requirements of technical safety.

A homemade compressor from the refrigerator is most often used in tandem with an airbrush or spray gun, as it works almost silently, takes up little space and creates sufficient air pressure. It is also suitable for inflating the wheels of the car. Next, we will tell you how to make a compressor with your own hands.

Materials and tools for a homemade refrigerator compressor

Compressor. The motor from the old refrigerator is called the compressor, it is the central element of our product. You can see how it looks in the photo: details different models may differ, but are generally similar to each other. The compressor is supplied with a start relay (a black box attached to the side), from which a power cord with a plug comes out.

Receiver. The container into which air will be pumped by the compressor. Options are possible here: any tightly closed container with a volume of 3 to 10 liters made of iron or plastic is suitable. It can be an empty fire extinguisher, small tanks, various receivers from trucks, canisters from construction fluids.

Hoses. You will need three pieces of hose. Two are 10 cm long and one is 30-70 cm, depending on the shape of the receiver and the intended fastening. It is convenient to use fuel hoses in a car, as they will connect to car filters.

You will also need one hose or tube to connect the finished home-made compressor from the refrigerator to the air consumer itself. Here the length, the material depends on the specific needs. If you will be using the compressor with the airbrush, any thin polyvinyl hose (or the one that came with the airbrush) will do. When using the compressor outdoors, it is better to look for a thicker hose.

  • Clamps. 5 pieces, size 16 or 20 mm.
  • Tubes. Two pieces - copper or iron, with a diameter of 6 mm or others - the main thing is that the hoses fit.
  • One is 10 cm long, the second is 20-50, depending on the size of the receiver, more details below.
  • Automotive fuel filters. One petrol and one diesel.
  • Manometer (optional).
  • Epoxy resin if a plastic receiver is used.
  • A piece of wooden board (base). The size depends on the size of the receiver and the motor. They should be placed side by side on the board.
  • Steel tape or wire. Needed to secure the receiver.
  • Wood screws.

Tools:

  • sharp knife
  • Screwdriver
  • Drill
  • Pliers.
  • Metal file (optional).

How to make a compressor with your own hands

Now directly about how to make a compressor with your own hands.

Three tubes come out of the compressor from the refrigerator: two open and one short, sealed. Plug the compressor into a power outlet and run your finger near the outlets of the tubes. The one from which air blows will be the exit, and the one that draws in will be the entrance. Remember which one is which, and unplug the compressor from the outlet. Cut two tubes with a metal file, leaving 10 cm or more to make it convenient to connect the hoses. You can bite off with pliers, but you need to make sure that the sawdust does not get inside the tubes. Next, we mount the compressor on the base board, screwing the legs with self-tapping screws (you can use bolts, it’s more reliable). Important: we fix the compressor in the same position in which it was fixed in the refrigerator. The fact is that the starting relay on the motor works due to the forces of gravity, on the relay case there is an arrow pointing up. Having fixed the compressor, we pass to the receiver.

We make a receiver. Option if you have a plastic container. We drill two holes in the lid for our tubes. We insert them there, as shown in the figure, and fasten epoxy resin. From above, we leave the ends 2-4 cm long. Now about the length of the tubes. Short (10 cm) will be the day off. The second will be the input, we make it as large as possible so that it does not reach a few centimeters to the bottom of the receiver. This is done in order to space the inlet and outlet holes inside the receiver as much as possible for greater air mixing.

If you have an iron receiver, we do the same, but do not glue the tubes, but solder or weld them. You can also weld the nuts, and then screw the fittings under the hoses into them.

The pressure gauge can only be installed in a metal receiver. To do this, we drill in any convenient location there is a hole on the receiver and solder a pressure gauge in it. A more preferable option: we weld a nut onto the hole and screw the pressure gauge into the nut already. So in case of failure of the pressure gauge, you can easily replace it.

Now we take a piece of hose (10 cm) and put it on the gasoline filter. If you use hoses for gasoline, then there should be no problems, if you use polyvinyl pipes, you may have to heat it with a match or hold it in boiling water so that it fits on the filter fitting. We put the other end of the hose on the compressor inlet tube. This inlet filter is needed to filter out dust. Here, the use of clamps on the joints is not necessary, since there is no pressure here.

We take the second piece of hose and connect it to the outlet tube on the compressor with the inlet on the receiver. We put clamps at the junctions.

Now we put the third piece of the hose (10 cm) with one end on the outlet tube of the receiver, and put the other end on the diesel filter. We put on clamps. An arrow is drawn on the filters (diesel and gasoline), indicating the correct direction of movement through the air filter. Connect both filters correctly. The diesel filter at the outlet is needed to filter water from the air.

We put our working hose on the outlet fitting of the diesel filter, which goes directly to the airbrush, spray gun, etc.

On the underside of the base board, we fasten rubber legs or glue felt pads for furniture. If this is not done, the compressor may scratch the floor during operation - it vibrates. The level of vibration and noise depends on the model of the refrigerator compressor you have obtained. Motors from imported refrigerators are almost inaudible, Soviet ones are also quiet, but there are exceptions.

The pressure generated also depends on the model. Ancient motors are more powerful. Most Soviet compressors are capable of pumping pressure up to 2-2.5 bar. The compressor in the photo creates a pressure of 3.5 bar.

Maintenance of a homemade compressor from the refrigerator

Compressor maintenance consists of regularly changing both filters and draining the collected oil in the receiver. But the main factor affecting the life of the compressor is the frequency of oil changes. The first time it is better to change it before assembling the compressor. There is a third sealed tube on the motor. We cut off the soldered end from it and drain the oil from it by turning the motor over. It will pour out about a glass of oil. Now, with a syringe, fill in fresh engine oil through the same tube, a little more than the amount that was drained.

After that, in order not to solder the drain tube, we twist a bolt of a suitable size into it. At the next oil change, just unscrew the bolt.

Many craftsmen know that you can make a compressor from the refrigerator with your own hands! Can . But, few people know exactly how to do it! In this article, we will try to provide an exhaustive answer on how to make a compressor with your own hands, so that everyone can create this equipment at home.

After all, if you figure it out, then, in essence, an air compressor is needed in every garage. With the help of a compressor, you can pump up the wheels without visiting a service station or tire shop, supply air to a working pneumatic tool, or simply blow dust off the surface to be treated. So, consider the installation option for painting.

Factory or homemade compressor

There is a list of specific requirements for a painting station. The main condition is the need for a uniform supply of air, without any impurities. Among the standard defects that occur due to the presence of foreign particles include graininess, shagreen or cavities on the enamel coating. In the case of uneven ink supply, streaks or a matte heel may form.

Of course, if you pay attention to branded air compressors, then such installations are equipped with all the necessary functions for the quality work of the airbrush. The only drawback of such units is their cost.

To save money and at the same time create a functional model that will not be inferior professional equipment, you need to familiarize yourself with the theoretical information base or watch the video on the topic "compressor for painting a car with your own hands."


The principle of operation of any model, regardless of whether it is homemade or factory, is the same. The reservoir is pressurized. The method of air injection is different (manual, mechanical). In the case of manual feeding, there is a significant savings in money, but a lot of energy is wasted. After all, the process requires constant monitoring.

Automatic inflation avoids these disadvantages, except that the air compressor oil requires periodic replacement. Thus, there is a uniform supply of air to switchgear. In theory, this looks extremely simple, so it is possible to create a workable compressor station in a short time.

Do it yourself

So, we choose the manufacture of a painting installation from a conventional car chamber. List of required material:

  1. Car camera that acts as a receiver;
  2. A pump with a pressure gauge that acts as a supercharger;
  3. chamber nipple;
  4. repair kit;
  5. Ordinary awl.

Now you can start manufacturing the compressor station. The chamber must be checked for tightness, for this it needs to be pumped up. If there are air leaks, it is necessary to solve this problem, either by gluing or by vulcanizing with raw rubber.

After that, in the manufactured receiver with an awl, you need to make a hole. A nipple will be placed here, through which a uniform jet of compressed air will exit.

An additional fitting is attached by gluing. A repair kit will help in solving this problem. Then the fitting is connected to the spray gun. To check how the air flow comes out, unscrew the nipple.

At the same time, the native nipple remains, it will serve as a valve and hold excessive pressure. At the end, you need to determine the level of pressure by spraying paint on metal surface. If the enamel lays down evenly, then the installation works well.

In addition, the pressure value can be checked using a manometer. But, its level, even after pressing the aerator key, should not be spasmodic.

It is not difficult to design a compressor, but after its manufacture, anyone can make sure that repairing or painting a car will become much more effective than it was with a spray can.

Among the last parting words should be attributed to the fact that it is necessary in every possible way to avoid getting water or dust into the car chamber. So that these particles do not subsequently enter the spray gun, otherwise you will have to re-paint.

As a result correct operation, the created installation will work long time, but it is still better to automate the pumping of air.

Semi-professional blower

Experts have repeatedly made reviews that home-made compressor units have a longer service life. At what comparison was made with domestic and foreign models.

This is, of course, because the installation is being manufactured with my own hands. Therefore, we will consider the option of how to make a compressor from a refrigerator, which will not be inferior even to products of famous companies. So, for its manufacture, the following list of materials is needed:

  • Receiver for the compressor;
  • pressure gauge;
  • Relay for pressure control in the compressor;
  • Thread adapters;
  • Fuel filter (gasoline);
  • Reducer with oil and moisture separating filter;
  • ¾ inch threaded water cross;
  • Motor for compressor unit;
  • Clamps are automobile;
  • Engine oil (10W40);
  • Switch (220V);
  • Oil resistant hose;
  • brass tubes;
  • Regular syringe;
  • Thick board;
  • Compressor rust converter;
  • Power system filter (diesel);
  • Metal paint;
  • Nuts, washers, studs;
  • Wheels for furniture;
  • Sealant, fum tape;
  • Needle file.

working mechanism

To simplify the procedure, the engine can be a compressor from an old refrigeration plant Soviet sample. There is one positive point here, namely the presence of a compressor start relay.


Soviet models outperform their foreign competitors by generating higher pressure. After removing the executive unit, it is necessary to put it in order, freeing it from accumulated rust.

A rust converter will help treat the compressor to avoid further oxidation. Thus, the body of the working motor will be prepared for subsequent painting.

Installation scheme

After completing the introductory part, you can begin to change the oil. After all, if you do not prevaricate, then it is not enough which refrigerator managed to undergo regular maintenance or oil changes. However, such a course of events is also quite justified, because in this case the system is completely isolated from atmospheric influence.

So, semi-synthetic oil is quite suitable for this procedure. Moreover, it is no worse than compressor oil, and has a sufficient amount of useful additives.

We go further and finds 3 tubes on the compressor, 2 of which are open, one is sealed. In our case, open tubes will be used for air circulation (inlet and outlet). To understand how the air moves, you need to apply power to the compressor for a short time. Then remember or write down which air duct draws in air, and which, on the contrary, releases it.

The purpose of the sealed tube is a routine oil change. Therefore, the closed end should be removed. A needle file will help us with this, which needs to be filed in a circle around the tube. When doing this, make sure that the chips do not get inside the compressor.

After that, it is necessary to break off the end of the tube and drain the oil into any container in order to determine its volume for subsequent replacement. Then we take a syringe and fill it with semi-synthetics, but in a larger volume than was drained.

When the oil is filled, you need to turn off the engine lubrication system. This can be done by selecting the screw you need, after which this screw is wrapped with fum tape and twisted into a tube. It's time to remind you that oil drops will sometimes seep out of the outlet air pipe of the supercharger.

Therefore, an oil-moisture separator for the compressor will come to the rescue here.

When the indicated work is completed, it's time to start assembling the installation. You need to start by strengthening the engine with a starting relay on wooden base so that it is in the same position as it was on the frame.

This is necessary because the compressor relay is sensitive to attitude. To be more precise, top cover an arrow should be drawn. It is important to be accurate here, because the correct switching of modes will depend on the installation of the compressor.

Air tank

An excellent solution to the problem would be cylinders from fire extinguishers. It depends on their ability to withstand high pressure, in addition, the cylinders have a significant margin of safety, they are great as attachments.

So, let's take the OU-10 fire extinguisher as a basis. Its working volume is 10 liters. According to the technical specifications, the cylinder can withstand pressure - 15 MPa. Now you need to unscrew the locking and starting device from our workpiece, and then screw in the adapter.

In this case, if traces of corrosion are detected, it is necessary to remove them with a rust converter. Of course, external removal is not difficult, but internally it will require patience. Therefore, we fill the converter inside the cylinder, and shake the contents.

After cleaning, you can screw in the water cross. Thus, two working parts of our compressor unit were prepared.

Mounting parts

To make it easier to store and move work parts, it is best to place them on the same base. As mentioned earlier, you need wooden plank, which will serve as the basis for securely fastening the engine, as well as the fire extinguisher body.


Therefore, we will use threaded studs as an engine mount, which must be threaded in advance drilled holes. Of course, plus everything you will need nuts (washers).

Then you need to place the receiver in a vertical position, 3 sheets of plywood will come in handy here. In this case, in one sheet you need to make a hole for the balloon. The remaining sheets are fastened with screws to the main board and glued to the sheet that holds the receiver.

But, on the eve, you still need to hollow out a recess in the wooden base under the bottom of the receiver. And finally, in order for the design to be maneuverable, you need to fasten furniture wheels to its base.

After all that has been done, you need to ensure that the system is protected from possible dust ingress. A gasoline coarse fuel filter will come to the rescue. It will act as an air intake.

A rubber hose and an inlet tube of the supercharger will be involved here. It should be noted that there is low pressure at the inlet of the compressor station, which means that it is not necessary to strengthen the contact with the help of automobile clamps.

Thus, we have created an inlet filter for the compressor unit. An oil and moisture separator should be installed at the outlet of the station, which will block the ingress of water particles. Here the power supply filter will be used. Due to the fact that the pressure at the outlet of the compressor station is increased, automobile clamps will be used from this place.

So, the turn came to the oil and moisture separator filter. In this case, it must be connected to the input of the reducer, which is needed to decouple the tank and the pressure output of the supercharger. This means that we screw the outlet into the previously prepared crosspiece on the left side, and on the right we screw in the pressure gauge, thanks to which we can control the balloon pressure. On top of the cross you need to screw the adjusting relay.

The presence of a control relay will make it possible to set the range of the height of the receiver pressure, as well as to interrupt the power supply circuit in the supercharger in time. When it comes to the actuator it is recommended to use PM5 (RDM5).

With the help of these devices, the compressor will turn on if the air pressure in the tank drops below the set mark and turn off if the set parameters are exceeded.

The required pressure is set on the relay using two springs. The function of the large spring is to create a minimum pressure, while the small spring is responsible for regulating the upper limit, in fact setting the cut-off limit of the compressor unit.

RM5 (RDM5) were originally produced for use in the water supply network, in fact, these are ordinary two-contact switches. In our case, one contact is used to connect the zero of the 220 V network, while the second contact goes to connect to the supercharger.

We conduct the network phase through a toggle switch to connect to the second input of the compressor station. If there is a toggle switch in the electrical circuit, we will be able to quickly disconnect the system from the network, which will save you from running towards the outlet.

Naturally, all connections must be soldered and carefully insulated. After that, you can paint the finished installation and carry out test tests.

Adjusting the pressure

So, after assembling the structure, it is quite natural to check it. To do this, you need to connect an airbrush, or alternatively an air gun. Then, without including the toggle switch, we connect the plug to the network.


We set the control relay at the minimum pressure, and we supply power to the supercharger. Do not forget the pressure gauge, which allows you to control the pressure in the tank. After we managed to make sure that the relay turns off the engine, we need to check the tightness of the connections.

A classic soap solution can help here. If the system has passed the leak test, the remaining air can be bled from the tank chamber. It should be noted that in the event of a pressure drop below the set limits, the relay should start the compressor. In case of serviceability of all systems, it is possible to start painting any part.

In this case, you should not load yourself with pre-treatment of the metal. It is important for us to set the pressure necessary for painting the product.

Such experimentation will give us the opportunity to determine the atmospheric value so that the coloring of any product occurs in a uniform layer. In addition, it is very important that the whole process takes place with minimum quantity blower operation.

Thus, the results can be summed up. Making a car compressor, a lifting activity for every car enthusiast.

Of course, it’s hard to argue that the second version is more complicated and takes longer to manufacture, but thanks to the automatic pressure control system, as well as the presence of a supercharger start, working with such equipment will become one sheer pleasure.

In addition, you will no longer need to control the receiver's camera. Such a station will allow you to paint a car, a fence in a village or a garage door.

For continuous operation of the created compressor, it will be necessary to carry out periodic routine maintenance . To drain the oil, you can use a syringe. In this case, we unscrew the filler hole, put a hose on the tube and pump out the waste. Fresh oil can also be pumped in with a syringe. Filters are changed as needed, including in the event of a decrease in the rate of filling the tank chamber.

Make or buy

Today the market is filled with a variety of compressor equipment. There are piston units, vibration units, screw stations and other devices that are produced for different purposes. Ready installations can be purchased at auto parts stores or on specialized sites.

A large selection can make it difficult to choose desired product. But be that as it may, if you decide to buy a ready-made station, focus on studying the technical parameters, cost and reviews.

To obtain a quality guarantee, it is better to purchase equipment from well-known trademarks, however, an expensive product will justify itself in the case of professional car repair. Little-known products can let you down, so it's best not to risk it.


Often low-quality materials are installed in budget options. It is not uncommon for installations to fail due to instant breakdowns of individual parts, while warranty repairs will take a long time.

As already mentioned, self-assembly often more reliable than the factory one. A separate advantage is technical specifications. For example, according to statistics, refrigerator compressors last for decades. Regarding the fire extinguisher, we can say that this product has a tenfold margin of safety.

Therefore, it is better not to buy something that you are not sure about. In addition, having studied the current material, you know that you can make a compressor with your own hands, even in living conditions. A well-made device will be the envy of your garage neighbors.

Another story

Let's start with the design technical requirement to the fruit of his own engineering. Let's say that it all started with the purchase of a new double action airbrush. Therefore, the issue of manufacturing a compressor unit with a receiver became extremely necessary.

The dual action airbrush has the ability to control the flow of air, as well as lock it and open the duct. In Europe, such a device is used with a separate compressed air cylinder. So, a compressor with a reservoir serves as a container for collecting air, and an airbrush uses this air.

Of course, the main component is the compressor. Here comes to the rescue old refrigerator from which you can remove an excellent compressor. To do this, you can go to sites that sell refrigeration equipment.

We determine the price and order delivery, but before that you also need to write out the name of the manufacturer's company and visit the site. So, in our case, the manufacturer is Danfoss. On the company's website we download technical description compressor.

Next, consider such an option as a do-it-yourself receiver for a compressor. Here, of course, you need a tank that was made to contain gases or can withstand high pressure. It is optimal if such a container meets the requirements of GOST. Therefore, we immediately exclude containers, by type plastic canister or bottles. Consider tank options:

  1. Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. Withstands pressure - 10 atmospheres. Capacity - 3 l / 5 l / 10 l. Cons - metric thread at the entrance.
  2. Hydraulic accumulator. Good volume capacity, with low working pressure. There is a convenient thread at the entrance. Cons - needs to be fine-tuned, since, from the inside, it is divided into a membrane that contains carbon dioxide. The membrane must be removed.
  3. Oxygen balloon. Withstands high pressure. Cons - only extremely heavy models are available.
  4. propane tank. In general, it is similar to a fire extinguisher, but the manufacturer does not recommend their use for compressed air.

Links

After we have decided on the compressor, and have chosen suitable product for the receiver, the next step is to combine them. In addition, you need to solve the problem of air flow to the airbrush.

You can start with a node that is attached directly to the receiver, and will provide air distribution. It must be recalled that the key factor is its compatibility with the receiver's connector. Next, pay attention to the pressure switch, which will ensure that the compressor is turned off and on.

The best option for the relay would be RDM-5, which is used for plumbing systems. This model is widely available for sale, and is good because it connecting element designed for external inch thread.


Then we determine the indication of pressure in the receiver. To do this, we need a pressure gauge for 10 atmospheres, it also has a suitable connecting size. And we will also need a static device.

Next, we deal with the air preparation unit. The hose that leads to the airbrush needs to be pressurized. Accordingly, there is a need for a gearbox with a pressure regulation limit of up to 10 atmospheres, and it is desirable that a pressure gauge and an oil separator filter be attached to it.

With the help of a pressure gauge, we will control the pressure, and the filter will ensure that particles of compressor oil do not get out of the receiver. But, do not confuse it with a lubricator filter, which performs a diametrically opposite function.

Let's continue collecting materials, and it's time to prepare fittings, turns, tees. We take an inch as the base size. To determine the quantity, you need a diagram of the air distribution and preparation unit.

We will also need external and internal adapters. If desired, you can make a plan diagram of how to make a compressor. The next stage is the placement of the finished structure. Chipboard boards may be an option.

Of course, in order not to swear while moving the station around the workshop, it is advisable to immediately resolve the issue with roller legs. Any furniture store will gladly sell them to you. To save space, you can make a two-story structure. True, long bolts may be needed. So, we summarize the planning stage with a list of components:

  • Compressor;
  • Receiver;
  • Pressure switch;
  • pressure gauge;
  • Filter reducer;
  • Emergency valve;
  • Fittings, adapters;
  • Plumbing gaskets, fum-tape, sealant;
  • Cables, switch, plug;
  • Flexible oil resistant hose;
  • Chipboard sheet
  • Roller feet, bolts, nuts, washers and tools.

Starting assembly

It is ideal to remove the fire extinguisher assembly and weld on the adapter fitting. Alternative way, this is to unscrew part of the valve, leaving the internal mechanics and removing the control element, and then screw in an adapter with an internal inch thread to one outlet, and an adapter from 1 to 38 to the other.

Using an adjustable wrench, twist the adapters according to the diagram. Next, we mount the gearbox, pressure gauge, pressure switch and adapter for a flexible hose.

The next step is to screw the wheels to chipboard sheet. Since the design will be two-level, you need to drill holes for the studs. After that, put the fire extinguisher in its place.

In the case of using a hydraulic accumulator, the assembly scheme is even simpler, since it has brackets at the top and bottom. Therefore, the lower mounts are screwed to the base, and the upper mounts are used to install the compressor.

In our case, the second floor needs to be built. To do this, markings are made, holes are drilled, and the upper and lower floors are bolted together. Then the compressor is mounted on the second floor. Silicone gaskets are suitable to reduce vibration.

When installing the compressor, we put washers. We fasten the air distribution module to the tank. Using a hose and clamps, we tightly connect the compressor outlet and the inlet of the air preparation unit.

Now it's time to work with the wiring diagram. A jumper would be appropriate. Also do not interfere protective elements. The connection line must pass through the relay and switch. The connection itself will take place as follows.

From the plug, the phase wire goes to the switch. Then it is connected to the desired relay terminal. In the absence of a ground wire, we start a neutral wire to the ground terminal of the relay.

Already from the relay, the phase wire and the neutral wire go to the starter of the compressor station drive and are connected according to the diagram to the required terminals. Next, on the terminal block of the starting device, we install a jumper by soldering.

It will ensure the connection of the windings to the phase. Cables can be laid in plastic ties. Check and run the installation. Then we paint it.

Do you want to know everything about car painting? Read more helpful articles:

  • . All to the point.
  • . These tips are important.
  • . Useful if you want to buy a car.

What choice of home-useable compressors does the industry currently have to offer? Frankly speaking, the assortment is small, and besides, the proposed samples have a lot of drawbacks, ranging from dimensions and weight to the noise level.

Ready homemade compressor

It turns out that a homemade compressor will be the best solution to the problem with home workshop equipment.

Engine selection

In my opinion, the best choice for a home compressor engine, one can name a unit from a household refrigerator of the Soviet era. Personally, I made myself two home-made compressors with such units, one block was vertical (I don’t know the brand), and the second was from the Yuryuzan refrigerator (horizontally located).

One compressor was designed to power the airbrush, while the other worked with a staple gun. There were no problems with either unit. Many may object that they have little productivity, in my opinion, more is not needed for the house. But during operation, such a device is almost inaudible.

Compressor equipment

In addition to the engine and the pumping unit itself, the compressor also needs other components for normal operation. To make a compressor with our own hands, we need:

  • Foundation for the whole structure;
  • Air receiver;
  • Filters and moisture separator;
  • Connecting hoses or tubes;
  • Reducer and pressure gauge;
  • Starting equipment of the engine;

The design of a homemade compressor

The base, it is also a frame, can have any design and be made of any material at hand.

For example, you can use a sheet of thick plywood or chipboard of the required dimensions as a base, and mark all the components of the compressor so that free access to all its parts is provided.

In principle, the design of the base and its materials are limited only by the imagination of the developer, for example, I had one of the compressors without a frame at all (I will describe below how to do it).

As a receiver, most often resourceful people use old receivers from brake system KamAZ, very handy thing, there are all the necessary threads for fittings and a valve for draining condensate. Alternatively, you can use an old foam or carbon dioxide fire extinguisher (preferably several in series).

With such a receiver, you will have to work a little - weld the pipes and bushings to connect the rest of the system.
Air filters and dehumidifier are best used industrial production, at a price of course a little expensive (a good kit now costs from 3000), but the quality is worth the money.

It will not work to make an air compressor with your own hands without connecting hoses or tubes. From personal experience I can say that oxygen hoses (from welding) show very good results, there is only one drawback - a decent mass, and, therefore, it is inconvenient to work with an airbrush, it is better to use a standard spiral hose for it.

Everything is clear with the starting equipment, a standard engine starting relay is used, only a switch is added. It is more convenient to use the foot key, then the hands remain free during operation.

Work on the compressor

I'll tell you how to make a compressor using my example. It began with the fact that I tried to use a small compressor for inflating wheels from those that are commercially available for an airbrush. He was dissatisfied with his performance and set to work.

I took the old refrigerator from my mother-in-law, took out the unit with the wiring, and threw the rest away. The motor was sanded and repainted with spray paint, then went to the construction market. There I picked up a piece of oxygen hose, purchased suitable clamps and a switch.

After that, he went to his friends in the unit and became the owner of a new KAMAZ receiver. He brought all this good home and began to create a simple design.

In order not to make a frame, I decided to use the receiver as the basis of the entire compressor. To do this, I first cut it out of whatman paper and adjusted it to the place of attachment under the engine and supports for the receiver. After everything was ready, I cut out the parts from 1.5 mm thick steel, bent them and welded them to the receiver. Thus, an analogue of the factory compressor was obtained.

Then everything is simple - I installed a pumping unit on the pillows and connected all the electrics. Then he took up pneumatics, attached a fuel filter from a Zhiguli to the compressor inlet pipe through a piece of hose (subsequently replaced it with a frame soldered from wire, covered with thin foam rubber).

I screwed an adapter for the supply hose into the threaded bushing of the receiver and connected it to the pump outlet pipe, a dehumidifier unit with a gearbox and a pressure gauge, to which a gas valve with a connector for connecting the airbrush hose, was screwed into the opposite bushing. I tried it - everything works great, no complaints.

A little advice for those who are going to make a compressor from the refrigerator with their own hands - turn it on between the compressor and the receiver check valve, the load on the motor will be significantly reduced.

The compressor can be used in a wide variety of applications − for tire inflation, airbrushing, painting spare parts etc. Possessing necessary tools and certain technical knowledge, it is quite possible to independently manufacture this unit based on a conventional refrigerator. A homemade compressor gives about 7 atmospheres, which is quite enough for an ordinary garage workshop, so many people are increasingly thinking about how to make such a compressor? Do-it-yourself refrigerator compressor it will turn out to be quite quiet and, most importantly, cheap at its cost.

On average, the manufacture of this unit will require about one thousand rubles for all accessories.

Before trying to make ours out of an old refrigerator, you need to compare these two options, i.e. , sold in specialized stores, and our homemade version. In total it is possible to distinguish a few major differences between them:

  • The design of the factory compressor contains Electrical engine, transmitting torque to the working chamber through a belt drive. As for the homemade compressor, it consists of a housing and the engine itself, without belts.
  • In the factory version, automatic pressure relief systems, inlet and outlet filters, pressure gauges, etc. are already installed. In the compressor from the refrigerator, you will have to install the adjusting equipment yourself, taking into account all the features.
  • Although most factory compressors are equipped automatic systems, in some budget models this feature is not implemented. In other words, these units will have to be turned off on their own, marking the time by the clock. Homemade compressors are mainly equipped with a protective relay that turns off the engine when there is a risk of overheating.
  • In some factory models, any lubrication may be completely absent. Of course, they have a small motor resource, but there are no various exhausts. This circumstance is very important, especially if the spray gun behaves rather capriciously, not tolerating various impurities. As for homemade compressors, there is plenty of this oil. By the way, you need to pay attention to which one to fill in - synthetics are very poorly combined with the usual, so you do not need to pour everything that is horrible.
  • The main feature of a homemade compressor is that it works very quietly, especially if you put all the tubes on it correctly, observing tightness. As for factory compressors, they behave more noisily, so its use is only possible outside the home.
  • The cost of manufacturing a homemade compressor is very low, because we take the main components from old technology, and the control equipment will cost us one thousand rubles. As for the factory compressor, the situation is different.
  • It is not possible to make any technical changes to the factory compressor. In other words, if the unit is not powerful enough, then it can only be used as a pump for, no more. Homemade options the good thing is that you can add some details to them, for example, a large receiver, so you can significantly increase the power of the device.
  • Factory compressor are complete technical device, so any improvisation with it is impossible. With a home-made unit, you can do almost everything - take some parts out of the case, or hide everything in one box, and attach a handle on top for easy transportation.
  • You can install a fan on a homemade compressor so that it cools the device from the outside.

Read also: Let's study the device and principle of operation of a piston compressor

Most refrigeration compressors have some limitations in terms of their work. There are several modes in total:

  • Normal - 16 to 32 C.
  • Subnormal - 10 to 32 C.
  • Tropical - from 18 to 43 C.
  • Subtropical - from 18 to 38 C.

However, combined modes are more common, having a different range.

Thus, a homemade compressor can be much more efficient than factory, in terms of working with air.

In the video, a version of a home-made compressor for pumping wheels

Dismantling works

To make a homemade compressor from the refrigerator, you need to make initial preparations. It consists in certain dismantling works, i.e. we just need to remove the compressor from the refrigerator itself. It is located behind the refrigerator, in its lower part. To remove, we need an elementary set of tools: pliers, box wrenches and two screwdrivers (plus and minus).

The compressor is located between the tubes that are connected to the cooling system. These tubes must be cut off with pliers, but in no case should they be sawn off with a hacksaw. The fact is that with this method, small chips are inevitably formed, which can get inside the compensator.

Then we proceed to the removal of the starting relay - this is an ordinary black box, with wires sticking out of it. We unscrew the fasteners, then we bite the wires that lead to the plug. We must not forget to mark the top and bottom of the starting relay - this will come in handy in the future. By the way, we also pick up all the fasteners along with the unit itself.

Health check

After we removed the compressor, it is necessary check its performance.

The fact is that we are removing the device from an old refrigerator, so we need to make sure that our unit is still “alive”. So, we flatten the tubes with pliers - this is necessary in order for air flow to pass through them. Next, we need to put the starting relay in the position in which it stood in the design of the refrigerator. This is very important, because if the position is incorrect, there is a risk of damage to the device, as well as failure of the compressor winding.

There are wires on the relay case to which you need to fasten a piece of wire with a plug. It is better to wrap the junction with electrical tape to eliminate the risk of electric shock. Plug in the device. If you did everything right, then the compressor will work, and air will come out of its tubes. By the way, it is necessary to mark from which tube the air flow comes out, and into which it goes.

Step-by-step instruction

Before proceeding to self-manufacturing, you need to make sure you have everything necessary materials and tools.

We invite you to watch the video detailed description process of one of the manufacturing options

Read also: We make a semi-automatic welding machine with our own hands

In addition to the compressor itself, which we previously removed from the refrigerator, we need:

  • Receiver. In this case, you can use the body of an old fire extinguisher, or weld the body from sheet metal and pipes.
  • Various hoses. At the same time, the length of one hose must be at least 600 mm, and the other two - about 100 mm. In this case, you can take the hoses from the car.
  • Various Consumables- gasoline and diesel filters, wire, clamps, pressure gauge and epoxy.
  • Related toolkit, i.e. screwdrivers, pliers, drills, etc.
  • In addition, we need an ordinary wooden board, which will be the basis of the whole structure. We attach the compressor to it using ordinary screws. Fastening should be carried out exactly in the same position that he occupied in the design of the refrigerator.

We take any plastic container of a suitable volume (from 3 liters or more). In the upper part, you need to drill a couple of holes for the size of the outlet tubes. We insert the tubes, after which we fill everything with epoxy. The inlet tube, into which air enters, must be located in such a way that there is about 200 mm from its end to the bottom of the receiver. The outlet tube must be immersed ten centimeters inward.

This is a description of a plastic receiver, but for greater tightness, it is best to make a receiver in an iron case. In this case, there is no need to fill everything with resin, and the hoses are simply welded. In addition, only a pressure gauge can be installed on an iron receiver.

To install it, you need to drill a hole for the nut on the receiver case. We insert it, and then brew it. Only then we screw the pressure gauge into this nut, after which the work is completed. Now we attach the receiver to our base with a wire. The scheme will be something like this:

Our homemade unit is almost ready.

There are quite a lot of photos and videos of its work on the Internet, for example, it is shown how it is used in airbrushing and for painting various parts, so the expediency of its manufacture is quite obvious. Finally, we need to add a few extra touches to our device.

It is necessary to take one of the hoses, which is ten centimeters long, and put it on the filter. If this is difficult, you can slightly heat the end of the hose to make it easier to put on the fitting. We put the second end of the hose on the inlet of our device. In this case, the filter will protect against dust entering the case. The second 10 cm hose must be connected to the inlet of the receiver and the outlet of the compressor. In this case, it is better to tighten the joints with clamps. Our third hose must be put on the diesel filter, and the other end must be inserted into the outlet of the receiver. At the same time, the free filter fitting will later be connected to various equipment for airbrushing, a spray gun for painting, etc.

Another video on the topic

Some technical data and service features

It is rather difficult to say unambiguously what kind of pressure this or that compressor will show. Much depends on the specific brand and the operational life of the device itself. By the way, old units show even higher performance than modern ones.

Read also: Overview of Huter generators

Service of our homemade device- this is very important point in operation.

The main work will be to replace diesel and gasoline filters, as well as to change the oil in the device. Compressors usually have three copper tubes. We used two of them earlier, and the third remained untouched. It is the shortest and soldered at the end. So, the oil is drained through it. To do this, it is necessary to cut off the soldered part, and then drain the processing. Filling is done through it.

Does the compressor need to be repaired?

As for the repair of the resulting device, then here everyone decides for himself- whether it makes sense to mess with it or not.

The repair will consist of ringing the relay, as well as changing the oil in the device. If the manipulations did not help, then there is absolutely no need to invent something else. It is best to throw out the used device, and then make a new one. Moreover, the issue price is no more than 1000-1500 rubles.

Conclusion

In principle, we figured out how to make a compressor from a refrigerator.

The feasibility of its manufacture is difficult to overestimate, because with the help of this device can be produced various works airbrushing, tire inflation, painting various components and other works that require pressure force.

An additional advantage is that such a device can be used at home, because it makes little noise. In fact, this is the same refrigerator, only without unnecessary body parts.
Compressors recommended for ordering are listed below:

Description and characteristics

CALIBER KMK-800/9

Compressor type - piston oil

Engine type - electric

Power - 800 W

Max. compressor capacity - 110 l/min

Min. pressure - 0.2 bar

Max. pressure - 8 bar

Receiver volume - 9 l

Drive (type) - direct