Gas-Powered Air Compressor

Gas-Powered Air Compressor FARM SHOP Tools 32-5-37 When his portable generator went bad, Donald Bates, Toccoa, Ga., took the rig's 8 hp Briggs & Stratton electric start gas engine and battery and mounted them on an electric-operated, stationary air compressor, turning it into a portable, gas-powered model. The engine belt-drives the compressor just like the electric motor did. "I use the compressor to operate air tools such as a grinder equipped with a sanding disc, a nail gun, and a spray paint gun. I can take it with me anywhere I want, and I think it's a lot cheaper to run the compressor on gas than on electricity. I spent less than $100 to convert it. A new 6 hp gas-powered compressor sells for $700 or more," says Bates. He bought the electric-operated, stationary air compressor for $10 at a junk yard. It came with a 20-gal. tank and a belt-driven compressor. He threw away the electric motor, which no longer worked, and unbolted the compressor and moved it back to make room. He added a metal handle and stand at one end of the tank, and a pair of wheels from a riding mower at the other end. A pipe serves as the axle. He made an angle iron frame to mount the engine and battery. He also added an air pressure regulator and the air cleaner off an old garden digger. A solenoid switch makes it easy to start the engine. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Donald Bates, 6611 Simmons Rd., Toccoa, Ga. 30577 (ph 706 716-0789).

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