How to make an air compressor with your own hands: design options. Homemade airbrush from a refrigerator compressor Old compressor

The industry currently offers a range of compressors it manufactures. True, the range is not too big. And there are a lot of disadvantages of such units. Therefore, you might think that a home-made refrigerator compressor is completely devoid of such shortcomings. And what - it can very well be!

Materials for the manufacture of the compressor

In order to independently make a compressor for the refrigerator, you will need nothing at all. But the main component of a homemade refrigeration compressor will be a unit from a conventional refrigerator.

In addition, you will need:

• Automotive air filter that can work perfectly under any pressure
• Bypass valve, combined with a check valve, rated for a pressure of 6 atmospheres and commonly used by plumbers
• Any synthetic hose capable of withstanding a pressure of 6 atmospheres
• Copper connecting pipes
• Make a storage tank called a receiver. Moreover, the volume of the receiver should be provided in such a way that the larger it is, the less often the equipment will be put into operation.

Remember that the accumulated air pressure in the receiver decreases as it is used up. If the equipment will be used only for inflating tires, where the maximum allowable pressure should not exceed 3 atmospheres, then this is not very critical. But if the unit is designed to work with pneumatic tools, then this can be very critical.

Where to begin?

And, as they say, you have to start from the beginning. Namely - to make a tank. Its design should include 3 nozzles:

• Day off
• Input
• Designed to drain condensate

Helpful Hints:

• When installing the compressor from the refrigerator with your own hands and the tank itself, the drain pipe must be located strictly below so that the condensate drains without problems. There may be a small problem with the unit itself. That is, he sometimes "wants" to get rid of the oil. To prevent this from happening, the outlet pipe must be bent up at a certain angle.

• By the way, the inlet pipe also needs to be bent up in the same way, putting a rubber tube on it, the other end of which is connected to the air filter
• A bypass valve is needed to prevent air from flowing in the opposite direction. In addition, when the pressure reaches its maximum limits (more than 6 atmospheres), it will simply open and expel excess air.
• As for the reliability of the unit, it is usually capable of delivering at least 15 atmospheres, so there is no need to doubt its reliability. For safety reasons, it is recommended to screw in a shut-off valve at the outlet of the receiver, which can be any plumbing valve. While the receiver is filled with air, the valve can be closed. As a matter of fact, the design of a home-made receiver can be absolutely anything and is limited solely by the imagination of the most homegrown "designer"

• As a storage tank (receiver), craftsmen usually use used receivers from the KAMAZ brake system, since it already has all the necessary fittings. If there is no way to find the old "KAMAZ" receiver, you can make it from an old fire extinguisher. But know that in this case you will have to work hard to weld the fittings and pipes correctly
• Some try to stop using a large number of connecting tubes. However, such work is immediately doomed to failure. The best operational results were shown by oxygen hoses used in welding, but their weight is quite large, and a compressor with similar nozzles is not very convenient to use.
• To start the finished assembled compressor, it is necessary to provide a compressor start relay and add a switch

• The refrigeration compressor itself is recommended to be made on a frame and only on rubber cushions. If possible, it is advisable to install a pressure gauge in series with the check valve to monitor the pressure. Although, in practice, craftsmen often act differently: they install a pneumatic pressure switch designed to disconnect the unit from the network. If such a valve is correctly adjusted, the unit will turn off at the lower and upper thresholds of the pressure value
• It is also a good idea to provide an overheating cut-off relay so that accidental overheating of the equipment does not destroy the fruitful results of your work.

What happens: a general view of the compressor

In general, the scheme of a self-assembled and working compressor is planned as follows:

• The refrigeration compressor takes outside air through the air filter and pipe
• A bypass valve is installed at the end of the inlet hose
• There is also a control valve at the outlet of the tank.
• A hose is connected to the control equipment itself, ending with a pneumatic gun

In principle, making a refrigeration compressor with your own hands is cool. True, it is necessary to start such work only after all the necessary structural elements are already at hand.

Recently, compressors have gained popularity among tinkerers. They are made on the basis of almost any engine, calculating the power of the base unit depending on the number of consumers. For home workshops, do-it-yourself self-made compressor units are in demand.
Compressors from refrigerators often remain operational after the breakdown or obsolescence of the refrigerator itself. They are weak, but unpretentious in work. And many masters make quite worthy home-made installations from them. Let's see how we can do it ourselves.

Details and materials

• 11 kg propane tank;
• 1/2" Female Coupling with Plug;
• Metal plates, width - 3-4 cm, thickness - 2-4 mm;
• Two wheels with mounting platform;
• Refrigeration compressor from the refrigerator;
• 1/4" adapter;
• Brass check valve connector;
• ¼ inch copper pipe connector - 2 pcs;
• Compressor pressure control equipment;
• Bolts, screws, nuts, fumlenta.

• welding inverter;
• Screwdriver or drill;
• Milling cutters for metal with titanium coating;
• Turbine or drill with abrasive nozzles;
• Metal brush;
• Roller for copper tubes;
• Adjustable wrenches, pliers.

  Assembling the compressor

  Step one - prepare the receiver

  Rinse an empty propane tank thoroughly with water. It is very important to remove all residues of the explosive gas mixture in this way.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  In the end hole of the cylinder, we overlap the adapter by 1/4 inch. We scald it from all sides by welding, and muffle it with a screw.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  We put the receiver on wheels and support. To do this, we take pieces of metal plates, bend them at an angle and weld them onto the body from the bottom side. We weld wheels with a mounting platform to the corners. In front of the receiver we mount the support bracket.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  Step two - mount the compressor

  On top of the receiver, we expose the mounting frames for the compressor from metal plates. We check their position with a bubble level, and scald. We sit the compressor on the clamping bolts through rubber shock-absorbing pads. For this type of compressor, only one outlet will be involved, through which air is forced into the receiver. The other two, sucking in air, will remain intact.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  Step three - we fix the check valve and the adapter to the equipment

  We select a cutter for metal that is suitable for the diameter, and make a hole in the housing for the coupling with a screwdriver or drill. If there are protruding forms on the coupling body, we grind them with a drill (you can use a regular electric emery or a grinder with a grinding disk for this).
  

  

  
  

  

  
  We expose the coupling into the hole and scald it around the circumference. Its internal thread must correspond in pitch and diameter to the seat thread on the check valve.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  We use a brass check valve for small compressors. We plug the pressure relief outlet with a suitable bolt, since a bleed valve is already provided on the adjusting assembly.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  To install a pressure switch or pressure switch with all the control equipment, we mount another 1/4 inch adapter. We make a hole for it in the center of the receiver, not far from the compressor.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  We twist the check valve with an adapter 1/2 inch.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  We connect the outlet of the compressor cylinder and the check valve with a copper tube. To do this, we flare the ends of the copper tubes with a special tool, and connect them with brass threaded adapters. We tighten the connection with adjustable wrenches.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  Step four - install the control equipment

  The control equipment assembly consists of a pressure switch (pressure switch) with a control sensor, a safety valve or a pressure relief valve, an adapter-coupling with an external thread and several taps and pressure gauges.
  

  

  
  First of all, we mount the pressure switch. It must be slightly raised to the level of the compressor. We use an extension-coupling with an external thread, and we twist the relay through the sealing tape.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  Through the adapter, we install a pressure control sensor with pressure gauges. We complete the assembly with a pressure relief valve and two taps for the hose outlets.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  Step five - connect the electrician

  We disassemble the pressure switch housing with a screwdriver, opening access to the contacts. We bring a 3-core cable to the contact group, and distribute each of the wires according to the connection diagram (including grounding).
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  Similarly, we make the supply cable, equipped with a plug for a power outlet. Screw the relay cover back into place.
  

  

  
  

  

  Step Six - Refinement and Trial Run

  To carry the compressor unit, we attach a special handle to the compressor frames. We make it from scraps of a profile square and round pipe. We fasten it to the clamping bolts and paint it in the color of the compressor.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  We connect the installation to a 220 V network, and check its performance. According to the author, to obtain a pressure of 90 psi or 6 atm, this compressor needs 10 minutes. With the help of an adjusting sensor, the inclusion of the compressor after a pressure drop is also regulated from a certain indicator displayed on the pressure gauge. In my case, the author set up the installation so that the compressor turns on again from 60 psi or 4 atm.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  The last step is to change the oil. This is an important part of the maintenance of such installations, because they do not provide an inspection window. And without oil, such machines can work for a very short time.
  We unscrew the drain bolt at the bottom of the compressor, and drain the waste into the bottle. Turning the compressor on its side, fill in a little clean oil, and screw the plug back on. Now everything is in order, you can use our compressor unit!
  

  

The use of the compressor when performing various works in the workshop or garage is undeniable. This unit has long ceased to be the property of construction teams and departmental fleets. Here is a superficial list of what can be done with a compressor:

• Painting work
• Sandblasting any materials
• Purging of debris from hard-to-reach cavities of units
• Territory cleaning
• Tire fitting
• Working with pneumatic tools.

An air compressor can be purchased at the store. Moreover, kits of any power and performance are offered.

However, such equipment is not cheap: if you do not plan to make a profit from it - buying just to facilitate manual labor may seem inappropriate. Therefore, many home craftsmen try to make a compressor with their own hands.

Important! High pressure air is a source of increased danger. Careless assembly or use of homemade equipment can result in serious injury.

The easiest (and relatively safe) homemade compressor can be built from a common car accessory. We are talking about a ready-made electrical appliance - a compressor for pumping wheels.


It would seem, where to apply it, except for its intended purpose? Design features do not allow large volumes of air to be supplied per unit of time.

This option deserves a separate explanation:

The compressor has two important characteristics:

Power

The ability to create high pressure without additional load on the engine.

Automotive units have a complete order with this. You can safely build up pressure up to 5-6 atmospheres. True, pumping up a wheel to a typical 2.5-3 units takes a good ten minutes (at zero initial pressure). During this time, inexpensive devices can simply overheat, so interruptions are required.

This is due to the low performance of automotive compressors.

Performance

The ability to give out "uphill" a certain volume of air per unit of time. The higher it is, the faster the container is filled, and the more intense the flow from the nozzle with the direct use of compressed air.

To combine these qualities, a large volume of the piston group of the unit is required, and a powerful engine with high speeds. Plus, it is necessary to ensure the cooling of the cylinders, otherwise the compressor will overheat and jam. Such devices exist, even turbines can be used as a working unit.

But the cost of the equipment does not allow it to be used in large quantities, especially in everyday life.

Simply put either power or performance. How to get out of the vicious circle? Use storage capacity - receiver. In industrial designs, this is a steel cylinder, which is slowly filled with a powerful, but not very productive compressor.

Homemade low-power compressor from an electric motor from a toy. A simple solution to a pressing problem. Such a compressor is quite suitable for supplying air to the aquarium. How to do it yourself step by step in this video.

When sufficient pressure is created, a sufficiently large volume of air can be delivered from the receiver in a short time. Then you need to wait until the compressor restores pressure.
This is how all units work., including those installed on vehicles with air brakes.

It is not necessary to buy a compressor for painting work or pumping wheels - you can make it yourself from used parts and assemblies taken from old equipment. We will tell you about the designs that are assembled from improvised materials.

In order to make a compressor from used parts and assemblies, you need to be well prepared: study the diagram, find it on the farm or buy some parts. Consider several possible options for self-designing an air compressor.

Air compressor from refrigerator and fire extinguisher parts

This unit runs almost silently. Consider the scheme of the future design and make a list of the necessary components and parts.

1 - tube for filling oil; 2 - starting relay; 3 - compressor; 4 - copper tubes; 5 - hoses; 6 - diesel filter; 7 - gasoline filter; 8 - air inlet; 9 - pressure switch; 10 - cross; 11 - safety valve; 12 - tee; 13 - receiver from a fire extinguisher; 14 - pressure reducer with pressure gauge; 15 - moisture-oil trap; 16 - pneumosocket

Necessary parts, materials and tools

The main elements are taken: a motor-compressor from a refrigerator (preferably made in the USSR) and a fire extinguisher cylinder, which will be used as a receiver. If they are not available, then you can look for a compressor from a non-working refrigerator in repair shops or at metal collection points. A fire extinguisher can be purchased on the secondary market or you can bring friends to the search, at work who may have decommissioned OHP, ORP, DU for 10 liters. The fire extinguisher must be safely emptied.

In addition, you will need:

• pressure gauge (as for a pump, water heater);
• diesel filter;
• filter for gasoline engine;
• pressure switch;
• electric toggle switch;
• pressure regulator (reducer) with pressure gauge;
• reinforced hose;
• water outlets, tees, adapters, fittings + clamps, hardware;
• materials for creating a frame - metal or wood + furniture wheels;
• safety valve (to relieve excess pressure);
• self-locking air inlet (for connecting, for example, to an airbrush).

Another viable receiver came from an automobile tubeless wheel. Extremely budget, although not very productive model.

Wheel receiver

About this experience, we suggest you watch a video from the author of the design.

Compressor for airbrushing from the refrigerator motor»\u003e If you do everything right and take care of depreciation, then there will be almost no noise at all. For those who like to make something with their own hands, and this usually happens at night, this moment is extremely important. parts for modeling and other hobbies that are usually taken up after the main work. Therefore, noise limits are very important.

The design of the compressor from the refrigerator is extremely simple. A container for pressure equalization is attached to the compressor from the refrigerator, since direct blowing is not stable. This container acts as a receiver, an air flow mixer.

What is required to make a compressor with your own hands and where can you buy all this?

1. Refrigerator compressor. You can unscrew from your old one, you can buy it at a repair shop that deals with refrigerators. In order not to be confused, let us explain that the refrigerator motor is the compressor.
2. Sealed container that holds pressure well. Receiver. Many use cylinders from fire extinguishers, but there are also plastic containers that are quite resistant to stress. It is important that the container is large enough to mix the air and equalize the pressure from the refrigerator compressor. You can make a receiver from a suitable plastic container from garden sprayers. If the container is plastic, you will need epoxy for fasteners.
3. Start relay. You can take from the same refrigerator or buy. But usually the motor and the relay are together, it is from the relay that the power cord with the plug comes.
4. Petrol filter, diesel filter.
5. Pressure gauge. Sold in a plumbing store. Not required, but desirable. Mounted on a metal receiver.
6. FUM tape for connections.
7. Three pieces of fuel hose. 2 for 10 centimeters and 1 for about 70.
8. A hose that will remove air. You can attach a regular hose from an airbrush or a thicker hose if the equipment will be used for painting cars.
9. Clamps, fasteners, electrical tape.

Some hands-on experience is desirable.

Manufacturing process

Most of the fuss will be with the receiver. If you use an old fire extinguisher as a receiver, be prepared for the fact that there will be quite a lot of metal work. In addition, it will be necessary to ensure tightness. If we do not have significant experience in working with metal with our own hands, it is better to take a plastic receiver.

In the case of using heavy parts, you should mentally prepare for the fact that the compressor will turn out to be stationary. It is better to immediately prepare a reliable base and fasteners for it.

Compressor preparation

Determine where the compressor has a tube for the incoming air flow, and where is the outgoing one. To do this, you can briefly turn on the compressor in the socket and determine from which tube the air is blowing. Be sure to mark the tubes at the base so as not to confuse. This can be done with colored tape or a piece of medical plaster.

Carefully cut the tubes to about 10cm. This is necessary for the convenience of connecting hoses.

The vertical position is important for the compressor. The relay housing has an arrow pointing up.

It will be convenient if we fix the compressor in the correct position.

Receiver

Consider a simplified version with a plastic canister. We cut two holes in the lid for the tubes. The inlet tube must be made long, almost to the bottom. Outgoing can be made short, about 10cm.

Outside, there are small segments of about 2-3 cm.
The structure should be fixed with epoxy to ensure tightness.
In the case of an old fire extinguisher, the same actions will have to be done by soldering and welding fittings.
But on the metal case you can install a pressure gauge.

Don't solder the parts. Better weld nuts and thread where possible.

Connection of parts

Attach a gasoline filter to a short piece of fuel hose. Put the other end on the inlet tube of the compressor. The filter is needed so that dust does not fall into the compressor.

Connect the compressor output pipe and the receiver inlet tank with the second piece of fuel hose. The air flow will go from the compressor to the receiver. We put clamps on the hoses, since the air is under pressure.
Another short length of fuel hose is needed in order to secure the diesel filter. The filter is needed to clean the air flow.
A hose and equipment can be attached to the outlet fitting.

Compressor maintenance

Transformer or engine oil in the compressor must be changed periodically. It is advisable to change the gasoline filter about once every six months. Replacing the filter is a common maintenance, understandable to any motorist. All maintenance can be done by hand.

How to change oil

Examine the motor. A sealed tube should come out of the refrigerator compressor. Carefully cut off and drain the oil from the motor. Usually there is about a glass of it. However, if you purchased the compressor in the workshop, the oil is most likely already drained. Using a syringe, you need to pump in new oil and take care of how to close the hole. It will be most convenient to glue the outer thread with FUM tape and make a screw cap.

Compressor application

Mainly used for painting

• For airbrush painting. Airbrushing allows you to draw fine details and apply artistic images.
• For painting auto parts through a sprayer
• For quick painting during repairs. To do this, you need to attach wheels to the compressor platform, like a vacuum cleaner. The accuracy of painting with a compressor is much higher, it is used in elite interior design.