Garage Makeover

[waynieZ]

John if thats an incandesent light bulb in your garage you can do what I did. I went to Homedepot and bought a compact flourecent bulb 300 watts and only uses 68 watts of power. My garage is 22x26 and I have 2 of them in there and its plenty of light to work. There are guy over on Garage journal using 2 of them screwed into a Y adapter. They are about $13 Ea but they will be great until you have the money to do your lighting. I hope this helps you out.

[johnnymac46]

Wayne I'll definately look into that lighting.

So now I have this massive air compressor, I've got it set up and running. I am looking at filter systems to run off the tank prior to the air hose. What is a good set up? I dont need a huge dryer Im not going to be doing any show cars in the garage. If I paint anything its going to be jams, firewall, underbody, and primering stuff any suggestions?

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

Dont mind the mess the new tool box is getting picked up today

[GregWeld]

Hard to tell what kind of hook up you have going on there with the compressor but it looks like you have the hose direct to the compressor?

I would NOT run it that way.... you'd have no control of the pressure and most tools only want 90 psi...

If you plumb any lines -- use heavy wall copper... not iron pipe. Iron pipe rusts insides... copper won't.

If you go to TP TOOLS website -- they will show you several versions of how to run a compressor. They sell "kits" -- but don't waste your time with them... I'm just pointing you to a site that has pictures etc of what kind of set ups are common and they various items and their placement in the system.

BTW --- If you want a simple "dryer".... I use a hose style dryer (desiccant) I bought at the local auto paint store (WESCO)... it just goes in line with the hose off the regulator. I don't do much paint work - but when I do I use this hose style (looks like a 3' long section of hose but bigger diameter).

[johnnymac46]

Mr. Weld I cant get anything past you...

I am going to be buying a regulator filter set up tomorrow. I have to make a northern tool run anyway.

I picked up my tool box its almost new my buddy just didnt have anything in it and it was taking up space so its mine, beer goes a long way in these parts.

I unloaded my little tool box and found out I need to go on a shopping spree I have 4 maybe 5 drawers full right now... My pocket it getting warm just thinking about it.

I cleaned the garage out put stuff where its supposed to be.

well heres some pics some of these may be repeats from earlier



war trophy

I've carried on my gear in 14 countries

[johnnymac46]

Greg I have a temporary fix.

My dad is coming down in a week and is going to help me put in copper lines.

this is where my questions being.

1) on the regulator do i want 90 PSI static or with max flow?

2) when I run my copper lines should I have 1 drop down for tools and a seperate for paint gun?

I'll rarely use a paint gun but i assume i dont want oil in my gun therefore a seperate line with a clean air hose and just a regulator/ dryer?

Thanks for the help heres my fix for now.

[GregWeld]

Well --- that looks good for a temp ---

I use 90# WORKING so with the tool operating.

If you want to paint ---- you'll need water separator - which you have - but I also run a filter that looks almost like it would hold a roll of toilet paper -- it's for OIL... but I also use a separate hose that is just for paint - and I use the desiccant hose in line for super dry air. I don't paint enough to have a big wall mounted desiccant filter... the in line hose works just fine for what I do. Inner fender wells - a firewall now and then -- or a core support etc. I'm not painting entire cars.

[bonecrrusher]

Whats the war trophy say?

Good looking setup!

[redss86]

Looks like you have scored some awesome deals. One way you can eliminate about 90% of the moisture, and some of the oil from the air is to go buy a cheap rubber air hose. Leave it rolled up, and put some fittings on each end. Then place it directly off your compressor. The further the air has to travel before it gets to the tools, the more it cools therefore condensing water. So if you have a 50' air hose directly off the compressor, thats equivilant to 50' of hard line. Then probably once a year (depending on amount of use), just replace the hose. A buddy of mine was having a real bad problem with water when he was painting at home, so I suggested this. He did it, and hasn't had a problem with water since, and he has painted almost a full car with it.

Nice work space you have, and this is just my .02,
Joe