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Re: [T3] vw air compressors


Richard wrote: "I'm thinking about buying an air compresor this summer
to do some sand-blasting + painting on my vw's in the future. A while
back I saw an add for a kit to change your air cooled vw engine into a
compressor that delivers 58CFM @120Psi. Does anybody have any experience
with this kit, or just any input on the kind of compressor I'll need?"

I just went through this.  The main point is, don't get an "oil free"
one.  Chances are you won't be using a bunch of tools at once, so
something smallish will probably do.  I got a portable one, which fits
my itinerant "lifestyle."  I too saw that VW compressor kit.  It used
two cylinders to pump air, and two to run the engine.  Special cam.
Neato, but not all that practical, I decided.  I got the 3.5 hp Quincy
from Harbor Freight.  I was told that this was a "robust" 3.5, and about
the same as 5 from a lot of other manufacturers, who tend to bump up the
numbers.  It's made in Quincy, IL, with US parts.  Looks to be high
quality; they have until recently only made the industrial models.  They
have a 5HP also, and I have their phone number, I think, if you want.
The Campbell Hausfeld 5s are about the same price, and available
everywhere.  My impression isZ„^˜e CH products, other than
compressors, are no better than the Chinese knock-offs you get from HF
for less, much less if you rifle through your pile of catalogs for get
the item #s for the sale prices.

I've heard the cheapy sandblasters, $70 or so, are pretty crappy, but at
that price ....  Also, HF has an internet sale on their cheapy HVLP
1.4mm gravity feed gun right now, usually $60, now $40.  I haven't used
it yet; but my local body shop guy looked at it and decided to order one
for himself, at that price.  I'll be shooting PPG DP 40 epoxy primer
with it really soon, then most likely PPG K36 Primer/Surfacer.  I'm
still up in the air on the topcoat and looking for feedback.  I've been
thinking PPG DAR acryllic enamel, though I don't like the isocyanates in
the hardener, since I've only got an organic vapor cartridge filter mask
for protection, and supplied air is indicated by Uncle Sam.  This'll be
my first paint job; I'm practicing on a beetle.  :  )

Steven Ayres wrote: "Depends on your paint gun. I use an HVLP gun that
runs on a real small
compressor. Standard paint guns run on higher pressure."

HVLP = High Volume Low Pressure, so I think the key thing is the volume
of air the compressor puts out, not the pressure.  No?

Eric Forsman
Baltimore, MD

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