Saw this on the HAMB and it's a darn good reminder... how long has it been since you drained your compressor tank? Easy to forget...

 

Yup, condensation buildup can rust and kill a tank. I try to bleed mine every day, but can't always achieve that goal. I've thought about installing a timed automatic bleeder but haven't done it. Stu

 

Thank you for the reminder……………………………(aka a kick in my fat lazy butt)!

 

I usually don't get much condensation due to the dry climate, but it's been humid last couple of weeks; I got a lot more than usual. I'm going to leave it unplugged and open except when using it, just too easy to forget. A tank failure is pretty ugly!

 

Funny you should bring this up.
I drained mine yesterday. Really needed it. It had been too long.
Thanks for the reminder.

 

I haven't drained mine.. good reminder

Sam

 

Never could remember to do that, so I installed one of these from Harbor Freight.

 

I have the stuff to set mine up automatically, but have not done it yet. I figure once i do i will be working on something, deep into a thought, and it will go off and scare the crap out of me!

 

I drained it and leave it open after each time of use.

 

I'm glad you guys have the free time to wait on the air to build, when I need my compressor, I usually need it NOW!

 

I extended my drain **** out to the outer edge of the tank with and elbow and piece of pipe, makes it a lot easier to drain. I'll have to look into the auto drain. Another problem I have is I forget to turn the compressor off at night. I come in in the morning and the thing is running, it's even worse if I forget Friday night, the dang thing is running all weekend. I have the parts to rig up a timer but haven't hooked it up yet.

My mom's uncle was one of those guys who would "fix" things and use them until they died and then "fix" them again. My favorites were his five gallon air compressor tank with the multiple sized sheet metal screws plugging the rust holes on the bottom. It was a grenade waiting to go off. The other one with the lamp cord extension cord with the two male ends he used for his bench grinder, the grinder cord was about 6" with a female plug.

 

Guilty !

I know better. I'm gonna be doing a lot of blasting this weekend and thought I should do it, but my track record is less than average......

Thanks for the reminder

 

[quote=bobj49f2;9206954]I extended my drain **** out to the outer edge of the tank with and elbow and piece of pipe, makes it a lot easier to drain. I'll have to look into the auto drain. Another problem I have is I forget to turn the compressor off at night. I come in in the morning and the thing is running, it's even worse if I forget Friday night, the dang thing is running all weekend. I have the parts to rig up a timer but haven't hooked it up yet.

I did the same thing to mine just a couple of weeks ago. Here in the south with all the humidity it needs to be drained after each days use. I also went ahead and replaced all my (temp) PVC lines with 3/4 steel complete with drip legs and a coalescing filter. I'm at least ready to spray some paint! Now if the temperature would just get under a 100 I might actually go out to the shop and work some........

 

I have one of those on a 7.5hp compressor and it works well. I tried to put one on my 10hp IR compressor and no matter how I hook it up it will not work, I have talked to IR and swapped units between the compressors and no luck, I finally gave up on it.

 

I tried the same on my 5hp.. but it kept getting stuck open.. took it off..

Sam