Compressor Question

[ScottAndrews]

I have seen some discussion of vapor honing recently. Looking at various systems, I see the air requirements are somewhat daunting. Specifically 20-30 CFM at 60 PSI. Most large home shop compressors are about 18-20 CFM at 90 PSI.

My past experience with compressors was that if the CFM requirement of the tool was over that over the compressor, things would work, but you would have to stop periodically to let the compressor catch up. The question then is how long can you use the tool without having to stop and wait?

For those of you using home vapor honing tools, what sort of compressors are you using?

 

[eriknetherlands]

Often the compressor is the limiting factor. I have a 2 piston 400Volt 2,5 HP compressor and it just manages to keep the pressure up for my small blasting cabinet; which isn't fundamentally different to a vapour hone setup. It runs 90% of the time that I blast. It doesn't keep up if i use a cheap brand air powered angle grinder with 75 mm / 3 inch sanding discs to blend welds in. Perhaps if i'd change to a serious brand is uses less air for same work output?

Best thing (for me) about my compressor is it's vertical setup: the compressor sits on top of a 200Liter vertical tank, thus requiring a mere 50*50 cm of floorspace (1,5*1,5 foot) . I have an XS sized garage.

 

[ScottAndrews]

Often the compressor is the limiting factor. I have a 2 piston 400Volt 2,5 HP compressor and it just manages to keep the pressure up for my small blasting cabinet; which isn't fundamentally different to a vapour hone setup. It runs 90% of the time that I blast. It doesn't keep up if i use a cheap brand air powered angle grinder with 75 mm / 3 inch sanding discs to blend welds in. Perhaps if i'd change to a serious brand is uses less air for same work output?

Best thing (for me) about my compressor is it's vertical setup: the compressor sits on top of a 200Liter vertical tank, thus requiring a mere 50*50 cm of floorspace (1,5*1,5 foot) . I have an XS sized garage.

Do you happen to know the volume per minute of your compressor?

My last restoration project I used a semi portable single stage diaphragm compressor. I think it was about the same size as yours. 120 volt, maybe 2.5 hp. Stood about 1-1.5 meters high. It could barely keep up with my blasting cabinet, and was terrible for paint. I changed to a 5 hp, 80 gallon (300 liter) unit that could produce 19 CFM (540 liters/min) at about 175 psi. 240 volt unit. That worked pretty well for blasting and was just adequate for paint.

The vapor honing cabinet I am looking at requires 20-30 CFM (70 LPM), which seems industrial strength...