Outdoor Compressor Shed Suggestions?

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Anyone built a shed for their compressor that stays outdoors?  Curious as to what you built it from or bought to store it in and how you cooled/vented it.Thanks for any ideas learned from dealing with this problem.
Reply:The old shop I used to work at had a compressor shed. Actually it was one of those rolloff ready made wooden storage buildings you can buy. They split it and used 1/2 for storage and 1/2 for the 3 compressors.Vents are almost a requirement. At 1st, the plan was to just use the windows they ordered in the back wall next to the man door for the comp room. Nope, Window fan, Nope. Attic roof fan, better but still not enough in the summer. End result whole house fan in wall to storage area and open garage door and man door and thru vent.Now the heat load was excesive. 1 175 gal+ (I forget exact CFM and such) 3 phase piston machine with industrial AC type dryer and (2) 4 stage HP (4500 psi) compressors all running at once at some times, frequently for hours non stop.Few things to think about.Use light colored shingles to cut down heat from the sun.Insulate walls and roof, keep warm air in in winter, hot air out in summer.Vents near the floor to allow cool air in, vents near the top to let out hot air or better yet an attic roof or gable fan wired to turn on with the compressor or with a thermostat. (I've never had good luck with most termostat switches however.Get a concrete floor if posible. Keeps critters from taking up residence and gives you a solid base to mount the compressor. Also cuts down on the drum effect of vibrations and the floor.Last edited by DSW; 07-11-2009 at 01:20 AM.
Reply:In addition to what DSW said,  I say build it to look like an outhouse if it's for a vertical compressor.  I think that would be cool.
Reply:These ideas are from DSW and Boost are small. Tell us/me what size compressor, what stage(s) (if any) and consumption CFM'S ? you plan on this air putting out in a 8hr period. Did you just get a 60 or 80 gallon vertical tank supply? Or be more vague if possible.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Originally Posted by STwelderThese ideas are from DSW and Boost are small. Tell us/me what size compressor, what stage(s) (if any) and consumption CFM'S ? you plan on this air putting out in a 8hr period. Did you just get a 60 or 80 gallon vertical tank supply? Or be more vague if possible.
Reply:From what you are telling me, build a small room just big enough to house this in your garage/shop and leave a vent in the top and bottom some where. And you will be fine! If you must have a shed or something to separate it from you work place, the allow it to use the same atmosphere that your work place has. That way you can monitor it's temperature differences and know the tank condensation amount/s to drain the tank to keep it from corroding and failing on you. Because from what you stated as it uses, you will never wear this air supply out.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Hmm... i was thinking this was more along the lines of getting it out of the garage to increase space and reduce noise, while at the same time trying to not turn the inside of the shed into an oven while the thing ran for longish periods.
Reply:Thing there is, when it is in the 30 degree zone out and you are in the 65 to 75 degree zone inside using the air, the thing you don't know is how warm cold the compressor is running and then hence you don't know when the tank needs bleeding of condensation, and in cold weather the ice that can form from the condensation in the bottom of the tank,depending on the draw of intake air for the compressor if it is acidic or not, depending on up wind down wind intake for compressor and exhaust from home garage heat supply being drawn int air compressors intake...... hell you at your usage and things should be fine for at least 25 or 30 years use. With minimal P.M.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Originally Posted by STwelder you don't know when the tank needs bleeding of condensation
Reply:Humid day of use..........hmmmm,  35 degrees out side temp compressor temp is at 70 degrees (discharge air temp) on tank the head of stage be it single or double is 190 degrees and tank temp it's self is at 50 degrees. More humid for the compressor than a 90 degree day at 80% humidity.Bottom line here is the CFM used and the daily hourly rate are not detrimental factors for TxDoc.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Originally Posted by STwelderHumid day of use..........hmmmm,  35 degrees out side temp compressor temp is at 70 degrees (discharge air temp) on tank the head of stage be it single or double is 190 degrees and tank temp it's self is at 50 degrees. More humid for the compressor than a 90 degree day at 80% humidity.Bottom line here is the CFM used and the daily hourly rate are not detrimental factors for TxDoc.
Reply:If this thing is right next to your shop, run a line from the bleeder port into the shop and connect it to a valve. The valve can be up as high on the wall as you want.Makes it real easy to bleed the tank. And being that it is easy, you tend to do it more often.Joewww.CummingsHauling.com
Reply:For years I  had about a 20hp compressor outside in warm and freezing weather with just a shed roof for cover, and a heavy duty air pre-cleaner filter, consisting of a knit stocking hat wrapped around the air filter.   Being outside presented no problems, or excess condensation; except that during the first winter outside, the pump blew a couple of head gaskets.The head gaskets blew because under certain conditions of humidity, or cycling, or shut-down, -I don't know the exact cause- the check-valve on the compressor out-line would somehow condense water and then freeze up. When the check valve froze,  the tank pressure would not come up, so the pressure switch would not stop the pump, and the pump would run dead-headed against the ice-blocked check-valve, until the head gasket blew. A relief valve and a larger vertical check valve in the out line solved the problem; it's probably still pumping air today.Good Luck
Reply:Thanks for all the replies, ideas and help.  I have not been on in a few days.  I have printed this out for help in maybe going outdoors with the compressor.  Thanks again!
Reply:Here's one I built. I used 1" galv angle, and lined with 2" foam insulation. There is door on each side. I open both when running to allow air circulation. Seems to have held up for a couple of years. Attached ImagesGood judgement comes from experience.Experience comes from bad judgement.
Reply:I have my Quincy 325 2 stg compressor sitting on a metal stand on a concrete pad behind my garage.The 120 gal horizontal air tank sits inside the garage. Although the Quincy is very quiet, I wanted all sparking motors to be outside the garage because of paint fumes possibly igniting. No fun, that!To keep the rain off the compressor and motor I constructed a simple shed out of 2 x 4's and bolted it together with carriage bolts...... no nails were used.Then I put a plastic roof over the top. It has held up well for almost 10 years now......... pgA rather poor quality pic.......
Reply:Jtrapper and Piniongear - Nice pictures of nice compressor sheds.Kicking the compressor out of a shop is one of the single best improvements to the working  environment.Good Luck