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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: yoonbokim on September 13, 2018, 04:05:48 PM

Title: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: yoonbokim on September 13, 2018, 04:05:48 PM
Hey guys~

I am about to purchase my first automatic; decided to go with the workhorse sabre 8/6 with the plug n go flash.

I need to purchase a air compressor and a chiller so that I can run my sabre. Workhorse sells them but I'm looking to purchase elsewhere to reduce the cost because so much money was already spent on the machine and other equipment.

Anybody have some advice? suggestions? tips? on where to get one to match my sabre automatic?

The details of the air compressor and chiller that workhorse would sell me to match the sabre would be:

air compressor:
- 3 1/2 horsepower
- 12.5 cfm
- needs to beat the price of: $795.00 (this is the price workhorse offered that i am trying to beat)

air dryer/chiller:
- at least 12.5 cfm to match the air compressor's cfm (was told by the sales rep; can be greater than 12.5 but not lower than 12.5 cfm)
- needs to beat the price of: $880.00 (this is the price workhorse offered that i am trying to beat)

advice/suggestions/tips of buying an air compressor and chiller based on the information above ^

ALSO
- Do I need a two stage air compressor for a workhorse sabre 8/6? Or would a single stage air compressor suffice?

Thanks guys!
Kevin
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: Homer on September 13, 2018, 04:34:12 PM
get a screw, buy a good one. piston are loud. air drops are handy throughout the shop, remember that when you're plumbing it up. We have them all over the place, helps clear lint out of fans and cools you off with a squirt up the shirt once in a while....
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: yoonbokim on September 13, 2018, 04:43:43 PM
get a screw, buy a good one. piston are loud. air drops are handy throughout the shop, remember that when you're plumbing it up. We have them all over the place, helps clear lint out of fans and cools you off with a squirt up the shirt once in a while....

Thanks for the info Homer!
By "get a screw" you mean get a "Rotary Screw Air Compressor"?
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: Homer on September 13, 2018, 04:58:21 PM
yessir....in fact, mine just took a dump and needs a new chiller compressor, so thankfully I have another one inline for back-up.......so buy 2 ;D
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: brandon on September 13, 2018, 09:34:49 PM
Get a Kaeser screw compressor if you can and never look back. Maintenance once a year and that's it. I'm serious.
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: mooseman on September 14, 2018, 12:14:15 AM

have a little experience with both Kaser and Atlas Copco
both are very good machines
as a reference
https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Atlas-Copco-GX4-150T-AP-208-230-460-Air-Compressor/p15811.html?utm_term=1581115811&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0pur3s53QIVDoJpCh3mfArFEAQYAiABEgJ9g_D_BwE (https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Atlas-Copco-GX4-150T-AP-208-230-460-Air-Compressor/p15811.html?utm_term=1581115811&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0pur3s53QIVDoJpCh3mfArFEAQYAiABEgJ9g_D_BwE)
mooseman
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: mimosatexas on September 14, 2018, 07:51:00 AM
The compressor we got from workhorse to run our 8/10 was $800. Getting a $5000 screw isn't going to save you money and this press sips air. Our compressor kicks on maybe every 5 to 10 minutes when we are running at 60 dozen an hour.
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: Sbrem on September 14, 2018, 08:30:23 AM
We had a 30 year old Dayton (Grainger) with a 50 Gallon tank, I forget the HP, that ran for over 20 years with no issue other than draining it every couple of weeks. Found a used cooler on Craigslist, and it's still running with our other compressor, a Quincy that came with an old Gauntlet S '94 about 20 years ago, almost brand new, not even any heat marks on the manifold pipe. We ran them to alternate. The point is, you can find one pretty cheap...

Steve
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: numbercruncher on September 14, 2018, 08:35:00 AM
If you are looking new might try:
aircompressorsdirect.com
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: ericheartsu on September 14, 2018, 09:14:18 AM
Get a Kaeser screw compressor if you can and never look back. Maintenance once a year and that's it. I'm serious.

We went with atlas copco, but yeah, it stays on 24/7. super quiet, and no fuss.
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: yoonbokim on September 14, 2018, 09:49:27 AM
Thanks for all the feedback guys!

Any advice on which/where to buy a chiller?
I also attached the specs needed for the air compressor and chiller to match my workhorse sabre 8/6. Maybe it can help the advice.


Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: Homer on September 14, 2018, 10:12:39 AM
buy bigger than the specs call for, you'll need it for your next press when you upgrade in a few years...
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: mk162 on September 14, 2018, 10:17:48 AM
Also, if you buy larger, it runs less and taxes it less overall.  You'll also love being able to use air tools around the shop.  Speaking of which, I need a new impact gun.
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: yoonbokim on September 14, 2018, 04:12:43 PM
ALSO:
- Do I need a two stage air compressor for a workhorse sabre 8/6? Or would a single stage air compressor suffice?
- and trying to beat workhorses offered prices of:
* air compressor: $795.00
* air dryer: $880.00

Thanks guys!
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: brandon on September 14, 2018, 11:02:19 PM
Oh my heavens that is super cheap. Wow.
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: brandon on September 14, 2018, 11:04:21 PM
I meant to type go with that, and get the twist / lock piping (I can't remember what it is called) this way you can reconstruct it for a closed loop if needed for a second auto. Congratulations! That's awesome
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: Binkspot on September 16, 2018, 08:21:03 PM
A little Quincy 14 CFM 3.5hp compressor will run about $800 plus shipping. A good dryer like a Zeks full cycling will cost about $1200. Add a general purpose filter before the dryer with a changeable element, about $150

MK you are wasting your money if you are still using air impacts, get a good Milwaukee cordless. It will out do just about any similarly sized air impact.
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: mk162 on September 17, 2018, 09:27:04 AM
MK you are wasting your money if you are still using air impacts, get a good Milwaukee cordless. It will out do just about any similarly sized air impact.

I've got a makita at the house.  It's fantastic.  I like the cheap throw-aways for here for the 2 times a year I need them.  The last thing I need is another set of cordless tools.

I should have said something about the nibbler, cut-off wheel, tire inflators or something like that instead.
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: Homer on September 17, 2018, 10:15:45 AM
MK you are wasting your money if you are still using air impacts, get a good Milwaukee cordless. It will out do just about any similarly sized air impact.

I've got a makita at the house.  It's fantastic.  I like the cheap throw-aways for here for the 2 times a year I need them.  The last thing I need is another set of cordless tools.

I should have said something about the nibbler, cut-off wheel, tire inflators or something like that instead.

Nibbler and cut off wheels are the jam. I love air tools, sounds like Monroe Muffler in here some days....
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: mk162 on September 17, 2018, 10:37:30 AM
(https://media.tenor.com/images/e50ef900515506962acf1d4577eb8ade/tenor.gif)
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: Frog on September 17, 2018, 11:07:34 AM
Ah, impact wrenches...the reason I learned to not take my cars to oil change shops.
Every single car I did had stripped out threads on the mounting holes where the gravel pans attach.
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: mk162 on September 17, 2018, 11:21:25 AM
Ah, impact wrenches...the reason I learned to not take my cars to oil change shops.
Every single car I did had stripped out threads on the mounting holes where the gravel pans attach.

My MG is only supposed to get the lugs torqued to 36 lbs of torque.  I use a torque wrench while setting them.  The tire shops never do and without fail, I get 2-3 stripped lugs.  They pay the bill to have them re-pressed into the hub since they can't follow instructions.
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: lancasterprinthouse on December 15, 2018, 09:49:07 AM

have a little experience with both Kaser and Atlas Copco
both are very good machines
as a reference
https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Atlas-Copco-GX4-150T-AP-208-230-460-Air-Compressor/p15811.html?utm_term=1581115811&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0pur3s53QIVDoJpCh3mfArFEAQYAiABEgJ9g_D_BwE (https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Atlas-Copco-GX4-150T-AP-208-230-460-Air-Compressor/p15811.html?utm_term=1581115811&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0pur3s53QIVDoJpCh3mfArFEAQYAiABEgJ9g_D_BwE)
mooseman

Moose, looking to buy a compressor and my press needs 21.5 cfm at 100psi. I noticed this one is 16.5 cfm at 150psi. I dont know anything about cfm but does the cfm increase as the psi goes down? Also, this compressor does not have a chiller correct?

Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: blue moon on December 15, 2018, 10:04:08 AM

have a little experience with both Kaser and Atlas Copco
both are very good machines
as a reference
https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Atlas-Copco-GX4-150T-AP-208-230-460-Air-Compressor/p15811.html?utm_term=1581115811&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0pur3s53QIVDoJpCh3mfArFEAQYAiABEgJ9g_D_BwE (https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Atlas-Copco-GX4-150T-AP-208-230-460-Air-Compressor/p15811.html?utm_term=1581115811&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0pur3s53QIVDoJpCh3mfArFEAQYAiABEgJ9g_D_BwE)
mooseman

Moose, looking to buy a compressor and my press needs 21.5 cfm at 100psi. I noticed this one is 16.5 cfm at 150psi. I dont know anything about cfm but does the cfm increase as the psi goes down? Also, this compressor does not have a chiller correct?
it will go up, but not as much as you think. . . There is probably a rating somewhere in the spec sheet. My guess is 125 psi at 100 if it's doing 100 at 150.

pierre
Title: Re: Air compressor and chiller
Post by: BRGtshirts on December 17, 2018, 11:52:44 AM
As others have already mentioned, think on down the road for the air compressor. You'll love it when you start wanting to setup new machinery that needs air.

Our compressor history.. We have a Kaeser compressor w/ storage tank that has been amazing for past 12-15 yrs. After almost 40 years printing, my dad (who started our biz) still puts it down as his favorite purchase, haha. Over the years we've been adding more to it. Originally it was running only a single auto, then single auto and split belt dryer, then added a CTS... Now with two autos, dryer, CTS, and a Unikote we added this year it's finally maxed out.  and we had to use a backup that was already in place for embroidery.  All we do is check oil a few times a year and change a belt when we need to.

not writing this to push that type or anything, only to say that a good compressor with a storage tank will give you lots of options moving forward.