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Infrastucture

Air Compressor Donation
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Improvements to the air system are done.


There is a purge valve installed in the wood shop. Please keep it plugged in.


I've replaced the connecting hose from the compressor to the filter. There is a safety valve installed at the tank in case of a line break.


There are two valves in the air system at the basement. One at the tank to isolate the compressor. One on the wall to drain the pressure.


We have a silicone bead air dryer installed. It is a bit small for the system. The silicone beads are normally navy blue. They turn pink when saturated. To dry them out I made a tray from aluminum screen. The drying process is:


"Oven re-drying method (preferred): Deposit 2 pounds (1 quart) of silica gel or molecular sieve in Pyrex baking dish; spread an even layer in the dish. Program the oven at 275°F. Leave the oven door slightly ajar and bake for about 1 ½ hours."


The air hose in the wood shop needs either the end replaced or a new hose. Be sure when you store the hose to put it in the position of least hissing.


If you hear an air leak and cannot fix it please make a post. Air leaks cost money and add to the moisture problem.

The air compressor will be down until Feb 10th. I'm making some improvements.

I've added another automatic valve for bleeding the air system. This one attaches to the air filter. If there is still a problem with moisture in one of the lines you may have to purge that hose.

Moved from the Lounge to Infrastucture for clarity

We now have an automatic valve to empty moisture from the tank. It will run for 5 seconds every 45 minutes.

Further to the moisture problem. We have some things that are moisture sensitive like paint sprayers and brad nailers. A solution that might work is a small desicant holder attached to the tool. I assume we still have a toaster oven used for plastics. We can use that to dry the pellets for reuse.


Canadian Tire

The air filter is installed. Hopefully this will help with moisture problem.

I picked up a ball valve. I'll meet you there on Wednesday.

Here.


https://www.robertshaw.com/Products/Refrigeration/Defrost-Timers/Commercial/8145-20/?cat=2147483735


I'll bring it in on Wednesday.

Cool. I've already got the chase nipple for the filter. I would like to see how that timer works.

I put it in the vice wrapped in a towel and turned. It's really stiff in the threads but here is already a cartridge inside. We need a filter wrench, or something like a filter wrench made out of wood. I was going to try and install it last night but we need a bunch of fittings and adapters to attach it to the tank and I can't really mount it until I know how it's being plumbed in. I've put two 3/4" ball valves in your box of air parts.


Edited: If you want to put the tank drain on a timer I dug into my storage and found a 24h 208-240v terminating defrost timer with 40A contacts. It was only installed for a year and is still pretty much brand new.

I couldn't figure out how to open the base of the air dryer to put the filter in. If someone else can solve that problem we can use it.

Can we expedite installing the air dryers?

I'm already getting visible jets of water out of the dusting nozzle.

John and I did the air for the laser cutter today in preperation of setting up the new laser.

We now have air at the woodshop. No need for the compressor that makes you jump. I swapped out the 3/8 couplings that I mistakenly installed for 1/4 couplings. Maybe next week I'll tackle the air for the laser cutter.

We have progress. There is air supplied to the basement and fab shop. There are 2 ports in the fab shop and one in the paint booth. Ran out of parts before I could do the wood shop.


Edit: if someone could figure out how to check for a filter cartridge that'd be great. We have a large and an enormous filter cartridge to use. I was trying to open the mearly large one but couldn't. It's probably 1/4 turn or press and turn but I couldn't budge it.

Air dryiers and regulators are in the Fabshop up on the shelf


I have all the parts and time off from Thursday to Sunday. Who's up for installing an air system? We also need to locate any air driers and regulators. Hopefully beforehand.

It plays like a mystery plot but:

Remove the fake wood panel behind the toilet. The crawlspace is dark and ominous.


It's a tight fit under there but if you want to know what it looks like before actually going in yourself, look here - https://youtu.be/K_XE3xyeCqo?t=119

Anybody know a good way to access the crawl space?

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