On Guard!! . . .Building a belt-drive safety guard

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The cat like to sleep on a nice warm compressor... when she dreams of big mice, her tail goes into an uncontrolled  frenzy. We wouldn't her tail's tip to get hurt, because that's what keeps the screen door from slamming. This job took more ciphering  and staring time, than building time. Attachment 38371After much consternation, and several false starts, I finally decided to go with this "on-hand"  "U" shape which would be bent into a simple, rectangle shaped, guard frame. A length of angle will be  bolted to the compressor's base to serve as a mount for the guard's frame.To keep things serviceable, the angle was bolted rather that welded.The angle was notched for clearance at the tank's welds.Attachment 38372I tapped threads into  the compressor base, and then bolted the angle on.Notched the flange with plasma, heated the web cherry red with oxy-fuel, and then folded the U-channel into a rectangle shaped frame: Attachment 38373When cutting the expanded metal to size, plasma zinged through it like nothing.Next I tacked the expanded to the frame's inside edge.The stains you see on the screen are heat discoloration. Something changed during welding, I had to heat and shrink the expanded to take an "oil can"  bow out of it.I fabbed up two matching bolt-down base plates, and welded one to each end of the frame's bottom.For the purpose of bolting a top brace from the guard to the compressor itself., I drilled a hole and welded a Unistrut nut to the underside.Attachment 38374After a quick wire brush job some paint was applied.Here it is installed:Attachment 38375It seems so rigid that I may skip the top brace; we'll see after a test run.Last edited by denrep; 10-19-2010 at 11:42 PM.
Reply:Looks good. I lke the unistrut nut idea. I've got a couple of boxes of those I got from a friend who retired and closed his shop..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Denrep said: This job took more ciphering  and staring time, than building time.I can relate to that.  Sometimes the hardest part is just making up your mind how you're going to go about it.I like how it turned out... especially how it's enclosed on both sides.   I suppose I should get a guard back on mine.  One of the brackets cracked and it was making a bunch of racket so I took it off.  Hmmm... I know this guy with a welder.  Maybe he could fix it?Work HARDER, not smarter! ------------------------ Miller Bobcat 250Millermatic 251Lincoln Precision TIG 185Hypertherm PM 600Hobart 135 HandlerOxweld 400 FlameMaster
Reply:looks very solid. i like it. good work
Reply:Nice job on the guard construction and fabrication! Looks very good indeed.So does the compressor. It looks like you have a Quincy, maybe even a 325 model like mine?pgDynasty 200 DX_set up to run on 3 phaseCoolmate 3MM 251 w/ Spoolmatic 30AHTP 625 Micro Cut Plasma CutterVictor O/A RigBridgeport Mill_3 phase10 inch South Bend Lathe_3 phaseQuincy 325 2 Stg. Air Compressor_3 phase
Reply:Snazzy! Nice job denrep.
Reply:Denrep, I'll only say this.In twenty years or so, I have not actually built a belt-guard, or chain-guard, unless it was truly a custom application.   I just run down to the nearest bearing specialty place, order the closest thing to what I need, cut a couple slots, make a couple brackets, mount it, I'm done.  And I'm money ahead.  Not cheap, necessarily, but cheaper than my time and materials, and I'd have to say, I'm pretty efficient.
Reply:Originally Posted by mark8310Denrep, I'll only say this.In twenty years or so, I have not actually built a belt-guard, or chain-guard, unless it was truly a custom application.   I just run down to the nearest bearing specialty place, order the closest thing to what I need, cut a couple slots, make a couple brackets, mount it, I'm done.  And I'm money ahead.  Not cheap, necessarily, but cheaper than my time and materials, and I'd have to say, I'm pretty efficient.
Reply:Hey nice work there Denrep.And I put my cat on the compressor over and over. He knew what I meant to do. Ha-ha. Now he trips me in the morning coming down the stairs.       Sincerely,             William McCormick
Reply:Originally Posted by piniongearAnd I say 'to each their own.' I rather make it than buy it, anyday. You buy it and it is always a compromise, and still involves time and work to install it. You make it and it fits perfectly, or else you know who to blame if it does not.pg
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepThe cat like to sleep on a nice warm compressor... when she dreams of big mice, her tail goes into an uncontrolled  frenzy. We wouldn't her tail's tip to get hurt, because that's what keeps the screen door from slamming.
Reply:Thanks all, for the comments.The guard passed the running vibration test but I added the top brace anyway:Attachment 38398Figured I may as well, most of the work was done, just needed a strap with two holes.Yes, it's a Quincy, I'm not sure of the model. They sure are good pumps.As you can see, there isn't much metalwork to the guard. A duplicate could be whipped out in no time;  it's coming up a plan that takes the most time. I did first try the fit of a few stock guards, but I decided that it could take as long to rework a poorly matched guard, as to build from scratch. I probably would have bought a ready-made guard if  I could have found one that would match the previously unwritten specs. Hopefully this list is helpful to  readers who are thinking about their own guard:Provide 100% protection.Be ready to install, with minimal fabrication.Allow access for bearing lubrication or belt adjustment.Mount without tying the motor and compressor together.Still fit later, if the motor or pump are replaced with a different model.Be vibration resistant and rattle-free.Not rub against the close-fitting cooler coil under any conditions.Be fast and easy to remove, with no difficult  hardware to fumble with, or lose.Be designed so that even if mounting hardware should vibrate loose, or be removed, the guard stays in place and continues to protect.I definitely didn't want to end up with a guard like the one on a another compressor that I recently changed bearings in. The guard would flunk almost every point listed.  I'll post a picture of it sometime.You know the cat tail joke has some truth to it. I worked at a place that had a big 480v disconnect with a transformer mounted underneath it. I knew there was a large knock-out open at the bottom of the disconnect... no big deal, this wasn't a kindergarten. But one day I saw the cat napping on the warm transformer below the disconnect, and her tail was whipping all over the place. No it didn't., but I did cap the open knock-out. I guess when working we have to think about the animal factor too. Good LuckLast edited by denrep; 10-19-2010 at 11:42 PM.
Reply:Nice job. Thick top brace there.  I don't foresee that moving at all!MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Great job!  Yes, it is the consternating and staring that takes most of the time.  Just try to tell an employer that when he's paying you by the hour!  Are you going to provide Kitty with a sleeping loft, all nice and soft and cushioney with froo-froo pillows too?  Member, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:Nice work on the guard, very well-made.  at least it'll keep your kitty from getting a tail bob.  Btw, where's the cat?Mondo's got the right idea about the sleeping loft - mount a screen panel just over the top of the nice warm compressor.  Since heat radiates upwards, it'll make a cozy little place for the kitty to sleep.  maybe even put one of those dangly-ball things up there full of catnip .....
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepProvide 100% protection.Be ready to install, with minimal fabrication.Allow access for bearing lubrication or belt adjustment.Mount without tying the motor and compressor together.Still fit later, if the motor or pump are replaced with a different model.Be vibration resistant and rattle-free.Not rub against the close-fitting cooler coil under any conditions.Be fast and easy to remove, with no difficult  hardware to fumble with, or lose.Be designed so that even if mounting hardware should vibrate loose, or be removed, the guard stays in place and continues to protect.
Reply:Your thing about the cat, and the cutout.Totally agreeIt has to be human proof, as well as critter proof.  Specially the critters we care aboutI'd like to find a way to discourage packrats from eating every wire under the hood of the trucks.I'm seriously thinking of making a teeny weeny little neon sign offering group tour deals for package flights to Vegas for rodents. One Way Only..........NO RETURN.  Let the CSI Las Vegas team deal with the damage.  Hawaii(sp) would be good too............"Book 'em Dano"If Alfred would consider extending his range beyond Detroit, it could be a whole new venture.  Denrep Tours LLC might consider franchising.It might be the end of your welding career.Velvet smoking jacket, hand rolled Cubans, bottled water purveyed by some of Hefners finest(bikinis optional), and the best bones for the pupTHIS COULD BE BIG!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aw, look at those big brown eyes, and the wet nose.  The trust in that face...........She could be Paris Hilton on four legs.It's up to you.  This could be payback for all the half eaten cheeseburgers you tossed her way over the years.  The thing that will let you sleep well at nite.  THE CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT.Gotta go.  There's an ambulance in the driveway, and there's a crowd of guys carrying something that looks vaguely like a straitjacketI'm thinkin' I might be offline for a spell"Nurse Ratchet, what's that long tube you're carryin' ?????""Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Oh, BTW........... the darned patch in yer pants tells me ya got someone that gives a dam about ya.  Good deal, and don't let her go.  She's a winner"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Well, maybe it ain't darned, but it's sewed.  Still a nice woman that will do things like that for you."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by mark8310Denrep, I'll only say this.In twenty years or so, I have not actually built a belt-guard, or chain-guard, unless it was truly a custom application.   I just run down to the nearest bearing specialty place, order the closest thing to what I need, cut a couple slots, make a couple brackets, mount it, I'm done.  And I'm money ahead.  Not cheap, necessarily, but cheaper than my time and materials, and I'd have to say, I'm pretty efficient.
Reply:Samm, get a shoplight, and put it under your truck at night - packrats hate those .... and they work.  I got a packrat living under the hood of my truck but since I put the light under there, he ain't been back.  (Ya ever see a whole buncha cactus on top of an engine before .......?)
Reply:Originally Posted by SpyGuySamm, get a shoplight, and put it under your truck at night - packrats hate those .... and they work.  I got a packrat living under the hood of my truck but since I put the light under there, he ain't been back.  (Ya ever see a whole buncha cactus on top of an engine before .......?)
Reply:Originally Posted by waginIn a past life I had a job fabricating motor/belt guards of all shapes and sizes. Had sheet metal in stock, cut a couple slots, make brackets, a few spots and done.
Reply:I will tell you those kitty's hide in the damnedest places.  I had a kitty take a nap on the fan blade of the Diesel fired kitty.Didn't know it, hit the key @4:00AM on Monday heard a big thunk and a whack and a lot of not pretty noises.   Poor thing didn't stand a chance, But in all fairness he got his revenge for the next 6 months every time the radiator would heat up the stench was not great to be around.  I will say I'm 100% more proactive on my pre trips nowVantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:I actually had a cat crawl up under the front end of my car (Volkswagon), and nestle down in that space right under the gas tank, next to the master cylinder.  That li'l bugger stayed there all the way from my friend's house about three miles away ..... Pulled up in the driveway, and the critter just ambled out from underneath the car, looking around, like "Hey, this isn't home ...."Originally Posted by DualieI will tell you those kitty's hide in the damnedest places.  I had a kitty take a nap on the fan blade of the Diesel fired kitty.Didn't know it, hit the key @4:00AM on Monday heard a big thunk and a whack and a lot of not pretty noises.   Poor thing didn't stand a chance, But in all fairness he got his revenge for the next 6 months every time the radiator would heat up the stench was not great to be around.  I will say I'm 100% more proactive on my pre trips now
Reply:Originally Posted by denrep. . . I definitely didn't want to end up with a guard like the one on a another compressor that I recently changed bearings in. The guard would flunk almost every point listed.  I'll post a picture of it sometime. . . .
Reply:Freshly laundered "Big Cat" with a freshly painted compressor.Good grooming goes a long waysSorta looks like Cummins tan on the guardLast edited by farmersamm; 09-08-2009 at 01:17 AM.Reason: "on the guard""Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by mark8310Previous experience, Dualie.   Get in the habit, of banging the hood, hard, before getting into the cab.  Or, just tilt the hood, check your oil, etc. first.