How to Select an Air Compressor for Glass Etching |
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This information is offered as a courtesy to our customers. It offers important considerations in selecting an air compressor, but is not intended to be a comprehensive guide.* |
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An air compressor is a vital piece of equipment for abrasive glass etching. It is important to select a good one for your use, as it can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you pick the wrong one, you will probably have to replace it in a short time and it probably won't do the job you need for efficient etching.
Here are some basic considerations in selecting a compressor for your glass etching equipment It doesn't matter what kind of blasting equipment you have, an air compressor is necessary to provide the power for the blaster. The air output of the compressor in cubic feet per minute (CFM) at a given pressure (PSI or pounds of pressure per square inch) must be matched to the air consumption of the sandblaster for the best efficiency. When looking at compressors, the air output is usually stencilled on the compressor's air tank or it is printed in the operating manual. The air consumption of any blaster can be figured from the air requirement chart on the nozzle page. Find the nozzle size that comes with the blaster. The chart will tell you how many CFM are required for continuous blasting at a given pressure. Keep in mind that, as you use the nozzle, the orifice will enlarge continuously, consuming ever increasing amounts of air. When the nozzle enlarges to the point where it is consuming more air than the compressor produces, the compressor will run constantly, losing pressure and overheating in the process. When the compressor runs almost continuously, it is time to replace the nozzle in order to save wear on the compressor. You may be tempted to get a smaller, lower priced compressor in the beginning. This may be OK when you are starting out as a hobbyist, but not for someone wanting to work semi-professionally or professionally. A small compressor may save money initially, but it will cost far more in wasted time waiting for the compressor to catch up. |
*Do you need a Comprehensive Guide to selecting an air compressor? There are many other important considerations to selecting a compressor than we can present here. Things like the difference between single stage and two stage compressors or the difference between single phase and three phase electricity for the compressor motor. Other considerations include air tank size, type of lubrication for the compressor pump, whether belt drive or direct drive is better, the service factor of the electric motor, and more. In addition, we are only considering piston compressors here. Although these are by far the most popular types of compressors, there are at least 4 other major categories of compressors. Other types of compressors are built for heavy duty continuous use or for very quiet operation, but generally cost much more. This additional information is not highly technical or difficult to understand and we think you will be able to make a better decision if you know it. To find out about this additional information you can do several things:
Learning a little about compressors will be well worth your time and money!
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This is the type of specification sheet you will find when shopping for compressors. It is not difficult to understand if you know how to read it. Basic facts: Whether the compressor runs on household (110-120v.) or 220 volt electricity. Whether the compressor puts out enough CFM for the blaster you will be using. Whether the compressor is portable or not. Whether the compressor has a direct drive (easier maintenance but much louder) or belt drive (quieter, but belts must be replaced occasionally). All these factors and many more are explained in our Guide to Selecting an Air Compressor for Glass Etching. |
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Air Compressor Comparison Table | |||||||||
Model | HP | Volts @ 60 Hz single phase |
CFM | Wt.(lbs.) | Pump RPM | Config. | Tank in gals. | Compressor Type |
Approximate Price (depends on mfr. quality) |
A | 2 | 115 | 5 @ 100 psi |
118 | 1700 | portable | 20 | single stage direct drive |
$275 - $375 |
B | 5 | 230 | 9.5 @ 100 psi |
290 | 932 | vertical | 60 | single stage belt drive |
$600 - $800 |
C* | 5 | 230 | 16.5 @ 170 psi |
452 | 1700 | vertical or horizonta |
80 | two stage direct drive |
$900-$1100 |
D* | 5 | 230 | 15.8 @ 170 psi |
806 | 700 | vertical or horizonta |
80 | two stage belt drive |
$1400 - $1800 |
*Three phase also available. All 5 hp units have ASME Code Tanks | |||||||||
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