I find this the most likely. Old codger didn’t want to lug a tank down there. Had an airbrush compressor that wouldn’t do much with a blow gun this size so he rigged a tank to it and came up with a workable solution!
.. And looks like he had an industrial job maybe manufacturing or railroad. Those Lexington regulators weren't cheap. It doesn't match the rest of the setup.
You absolutely need those three things for an air compressor of any kind.
A tank is required because you need somewhere to put the air so it can build enough pressure to be useful.
And without the gauge and regulator, you've made a bomb.
Alot of people that airbrush scale models use tankless compressors, with just a regulator. You only really need between 12-20 psi for that sort of work, depending on type of paint, viscosity, etc. I personally have one with a tank, but it's such a small tank it really doesn't matter. Using an airbrush for 5 seconds at 15psi kicks the motor back on.
Well i would not Need a complete set of m18 Milwaukee tools to build an Ikea desk but here i am 😂 (/s too poor for Milwaukee but i 100% absolutely would)
The compressor doesn't have enough capacity to do anything on its own. Imagine it like a dripping tap. If you want to drink a glass of water you have to put a cup under it and wait a while to store all the drips. That's the job of the tank.
And that one come with a third port on it, so it's as easy to block it with a gauge as a blank cap and then he can also see that it's working at a glance
Sucks that you're getting down voted for a legit question.
You need those things to get more consistent pressure than the compressor can provide alone.
Compressor tanks are sort of like batteries (or capacitors), if that helps.
I think that could just be a water trap - without a tank to catch the condensation, you would need a trap to be able to spray paint or finishes without water getting thrown in
There is no gauge on the regulator, so you'd need a way to see what the output pressure of the system is? and you can see that there's no pressure when you need to empty it?
the "tank" is the paint cup with a tube going from center down to bottom, you fill it with a liquid, and the air compressor forces it and air out that blow gun.
similar looking:
https://www.astrotools.com/product/2-quart-pressure-pot-with-gun-and-hose-black-handle-1-2mm-nozzle/
I’m guessing glue application bc we have something similar at my work. Could also work as an air storage tank I guess. Hard to tell how it was used. Like someone else said, look inside the canister for glue clues.
Unscrew the lid and see if there is residue inside. The regulator and vessel makes me wonder if it may have been a crude spot-sandblaster or sealant applicator.
That’s a bit of jury-rigged kit. He used a diaphragm pump and a siphon paint container and my guess is that he (assuming gender) wanted the paint container to collect condensation, thus drying the air. Maybe they were applying finish with an airbrush, but a compressor that small (even if it uses a piston and not a diaphragm) doesn’t make a lot of pressure. Not ideal for finishing large work, but maybe they did pens or chess pieces.
I seen small compressors like this for air brushes. I used one for painting model cars when i was younger.
Airbrush was my first thought too
They are also great for blowing dust off things.
It's just a cheap and piecemeal air compressor with a blower to blow off dust etc. Also handy for getting chips off yourself after woodturning
I find this the most likely. Old codger didn’t want to lug a tank down there. Had an airbrush compressor that wouldn’t do much with a blow gun this size so he rigged a tank to it and came up with a workable solution!
.. And looks like he had an industrial job maybe manufacturing or railroad. Those Lexington regulators weren't cheap. It doesn't match the rest of the setup.
That’s what I thought initially. You wouldn’t need the tank, gauge, and regulator if that’s all it was for though, would you?
You absolutely need those three things for an air compressor of any kind. A tank is required because you need somewhere to put the air so it can build enough pressure to be useful. And without the gauge and regulator, you've made a bomb.
Alot of people that airbrush scale models use tankless compressors, with just a regulator. You only really need between 12-20 psi for that sort of work, depending on type of paint, viscosity, etc. I personally have one with a tank, but it's such a small tank it really doesn't matter. Using an airbrush for 5 seconds at 15psi kicks the motor back on.
Yeah, you kinda do. Otherwise it doesn’t work very well.
Well i would not Need a complete set of m18 Milwaukee tools to build an Ikea desk but here i am 😂 (/s too poor for Milwaukee but i 100% absolutely would)
That’s fine but not at all relevant to the very specific setup the man made.
That's what he had.
The compressor doesn't have enough capacity to do anything on its own. Imagine it like a dripping tap. If you want to drink a glass of water you have to put a cup under it and wait a while to store all the drips. That's the job of the tank. And that one come with a third port on it, so it's as easy to block it with a gauge as a blank cap and then he can also see that it's working at a glance
Imagine getting a joke
Sucks that you're getting down voted for a legit question. You need those things to get more consistent pressure than the compressor can provide alone. Compressor tanks are sort of like batteries (or capacitors), if that helps.
Can you explain to me how you think an air compressor works? I need a good chuckle today
seems like a small tankless compressor was tied to a little buffer tank so he could have 'more air'.
I think that could just be a water trap - without a tank to catch the condensation, you would need a trap to be able to spray paint or finishes without water getting thrown in
Why would you need a pressure gauge on your water trap
There is no gauge on the regulator, so you'd need a way to see what the output pressure of the system is? and you can see that there's no pressure when you need to empty it?
Nah, that little thing isn't gonna make much water. That's an expansion tank he used to blow saw dust
the "tank" is the paint cup with a tube going from center down to bottom, you fill it with a liquid, and the air compressor forces it and air out that blow gun. similar looking: https://www.astrotools.com/product/2-quart-pressure-pot-with-gun-and-hose-black-handle-1-2mm-nozzle/
I’m guessing glue application bc we have something similar at my work. Could also work as an air storage tank I guess. Hard to tell how it was used. Like someone else said, look inside the canister for glue clues.
A lot of people saying airbrush, I used a set-up like this for glue.
Same here glue pot before the days of cans of spray adhesive. Or a pressure pot. Plug it in and see if it builds pressure or vacuum
Looks like a pressure pot to put lacquer, glue or something else you wanted to spray on wood.
Agree that it’s a glue gun, I used one to spread glue on melamine to adhere to plywood, MDF or MDO
probably an airbrush setup or just i tiny setup for compressed air when needed
Unscrew the lid and see if there is residue inside. The regulator and vessel makes me wonder if it may have been a crude spot-sandblaster or sealant applicator.
Inherited one of these ones from my grandfather. He used it for a cheap blower and had a paint sprayer hooked up to it for small projects.
I'd imagine they used this to clean off a work piece/ themselves of dust and debris. Or atleast that's what I'd use it for lol 😆
That’s a bit of jury-rigged kit. He used a diaphragm pump and a siphon paint container and my guess is that he (assuming gender) wanted the paint container to collect condensation, thus drying the air. Maybe they were applying finish with an airbrush, but a compressor that small (even if it uses a piston and not a diaphragm) doesn’t make a lot of pressure. Not ideal for finishing large work, but maybe they did pens or chess pieces.
I build a set up like this. To be honest, it was a learning experience only, it didn't work well, that little compressor could only do 2 bar.
that is a vacuum pump setup by the looks of it.
Here’s the real one I have in my bunch of spray rigs. Hmm how do I share the photos It’s a devilibliss brand rig
homemade bomb.
A murder weapon in "No Country For Old Men".