[tbaker2500]

I'm considering getting a power draw bar for my series 1 1100.
There has been discussion around these parts about making sure the belville washers are tight and the PSI is high enough. What PSI do you guys run? I'm contemplating also getting the compressor Tormach sells, since it's quiet. And I would LOVE a quiet compressor. But its range is 95-116 psi. Is this good enough for the PDB?
Thanks buds,
Tom

[TXFred]

I run the exact same compressor as the Tormach Compressor. Mine is a California Air Tools 4610, purchased through Home Depot. (Cost a bit more, but has free shipping.)

It is THE BOMB. You can talk over it. The sheet metal vibrating is actually louder than the compressor itself. It can run continuously for an hour before needing to shut down and cool off.

I have the PDB and ATC, and it handles both just fine. When I got it, it would shut off at 110 PSI and on at 80. I had to open up the on/off switch and adjust it so it would shut off at 120 as advertised, and turn on at 90. This is easily done. Instructions are on the underside of the switch's cover.

My ATC has a pressure sensor, and I set the sensor to kick on at ~88 PSI. That way, if I forget to turn the compressor on, the ATC will halt. And I set my PDB tension so that it will fire correctly when at ~88 PSI. I've had no problems with air pressure.

For a while I had this compressor connected to my old 33 gallon Husky's tank, just to increase the volume of available air. But since I'm not mounting tires, I don't need that much air at once. I got rid of the Husky and now just use the 4610 for everything.

I have only one complaint about it. The water drain is not on the bottom of the tank as it should be. This means that there's potential for the tank to eventually rust out. There's a simple solution. Home Depot has a version of the compressor with an aluminum tank for a few more bucks.

Frederic

[twocik]

Fred this is great info., I'm going to check this out tomorrow. At some point I too am looking at the PDB, but need a compressor for blowing the vises off and random stuff around the shop. Shipping is expensive, so homedepot + warranty without having to ship back, no brainer.

Are you running it off the same power line as the Tormach computer or separate ?

[TXFred]

Are you running it off the same power line as the Tormach computer or separate ?

It's on the same outlet. The computer has a surge protector, but UPS. Sometimes the compressor kicks on while the mill is cutting, for instance, if I use the blowgun to clear away chips. It works fine.

Frederic

[tbaker2500]

Sounds very nice. Nice to have a brand website to go with it. Thanks!

[Steve Seebold]

I treated myself a couple of months ago. I bought a 3.5 horsepower Kaeser Screw Compressor on a 60 gallon tank. That thing is so quiet and efficient when it cycles on, while the machine is running, you can't hear it run, and it will charge the 60 gallon tank from 90 to 150 PSI in about 45 seconds.

It was a little on the expensive side though. It was close to $4,500.00 with the tank and the drier, but I can stand next to it while I talk on the phone if it's running, and you can't hear it run

[tbaker2500]

Ok, that's a nice compressor! :-)

[TiagoSantos]

I also have one of the Syclone compressors, mine is the 6310. Same pump, slightly bigger 6.3 gallon tank. I love it so far, so much quieter than anything else I had ever tried. LOW LOW LOW CFMs, so when I use it with the fogbuster, it seems to be on about 50% of the time. Couple minutes off, couple minutes on. The upside is, with my current gear driven mill (RF-40), I can barely tell when the compressor is on anyway.

I got mine for a little over $200 with free shipping from Mayfair.com 3 months ago. There is also a dual pump version apparently, that is only slightly louder (70dB vs 65dB or something?) that doubles the CFM output, which could have been nice, but I'm happy with mine for what I do It definitely won't be running an impact wrench anytime soon, though..

[tbaker2500]

So what pressure are people running their PDB's at?

[david parkhurst]

Im useing 125 psi

[kevinro]

So what pressure are people running their PDB's at?

90-100psi works fine for me.

[nitewatchman]

Compressor cycles on at 95 to 100psi. FRL allows the pressure to rise to 110psi.

Seems to work.

niewatchman

[tbaker2500]

88 through 125, with 90-100 being most common.
Thanks guys!

[johnyac]

CAT-10020 - California Air Tools - The Largest Manufacture of Ultra Quiet, Oil-Free & Lightweight Air Compressors

A really big thanks about the Calif Air tool compressors! Very peaceful garage times ahead.

[tbaker2500]

Got the GMC compressor in today. WOW it's quiet. It basically purrs. I'm happy.

[DiverBob]

Got the GMC compressor in today. WOW it's quiet. It basically purrs. I'm happy.

I'm in the market for a quiet compressor, what manufacturer (GMC?)/model did you get? The next question would be where can it be purchased from?

Thanks, Bob

[tbaker2500]

I got the GMC SYCLONE 4610A Ultra Quiet & Oil-Free Air Compressor (Twin Aluminum Tank)
I bought it from Wayfair. Here's the link:
GMC Power Equipment GMC SYCLONE 4610A Ultra Quiet & Oil-Free Air Compressor (Twin Aluminum Tank) | Wayfair

Don't have many hours on it yet but WOW it's quiet.