To buy or not to buy? That is the question. But for those who have an old faulty refrigerator with a working compressor, this question disappears - of course, make a compressor for painting using the available materials yourself!

Self-assembly of the compressor is not as complicated as it seems at first glance, especially if you know the principle of its operation. To assemble the compressor, you will need an engine driving air into a container where the same air will be under pressure. The mechanism is designed in such a way that excess air, due to which the pressure in the tank may exceed the necessary one, exits through a special bleed valve. This is necessary so that during the process of painting the car (or whatever else is needed), the paint lays evenly on the entire surface, and this effect can be achieved only when there is constant pressure in the sprayer.

The compressor can be used in a wide variety of areas - for tire inflation, airbrushing, painting spare parts and so on. Possessing necessary tools and certain knowledge, it is quite possible to independently manufacture this unit based on a conventional refrigerator. A homemade compressor gives about 7 atmospheres, which is enough for an ordinary garage workshop. The refrigerator compressor will turn out to be quite quiet and, most importantly, cheap at cost.

Which is better - homemade or purchased?

In total, there are several main differences between them:

1. The design of the factory compressor contains an electric motor that transmits torque to working chamber through a belt drive. As for the homemade compressor, it consists of a housing and the engine itself, without belts.
2. In the factory version, automatic pressure relief systems, inlet and outlet filters, pressure gauges, etc. are already installed. In the compressor from the refrigerator, you will have to install the adjusting equipment yourself, taking into account all the features.
3. Although most factory compressors are equipped automatic systems, in some budget models this feature is not implemented. In other words, these units will have to be turned off on their own, marking the time by the clock. Homemade compressors are mainly equipped with a protective relay that turns off the engine when there is a risk of overheating.
4. In some factory models, any lubrication may be completely absent. Of course they are small, but there are no various exhausts. This circumstance is very important, especially if the spray gun behaves rather capriciously, not tolerating various impurities. As for homemade compressors, there is plenty of oil.
5. The main feature of a homemade compressor is that it works very quietly, especially if you put all the tubes on it correctly, observing tightness. As for factory compressors, they behave more noisily, so its use is only possible outside the home.
6. The cost of manufacturing a home-made compressor is very low, because the main components are taken from old technology, and the control equipment will cost a maximum of 1000 rubles.
7. It is not possible to make any technical changes to the factory compressor. In other words, if the unit is not powerful enough, then it can only be used as a tire inflation pump, no more. Homemade options are good because you can add some details to them, for example, a large receiver, so you can significantly increase the power of the device.

As practice shows, a home-made compressor for painting a car breaks down much less frequently than its foreign and domestic factory counterparts. On the Internet you can find many instructions for building compressors with your own hands. So let's discuss a few options that can help in this matter.

Schemes for the manufacture of a homemade compressor

Here are several options for device assembly schemes - choose which one is best suited for your purposes:

Compressor Assembly Parts

• pressure switch;
• manometer;
• gearbox with oil separator;
• oil separator filter;
• adapters;
• cross;
• fitting and nut;
• clutch;
• nipple;
• a tube;
• car clamps;
• receiver;
• nuts, studs, washers;
• furniture wheels;
• motor oil;
• toggle switch;
• plug and cord;
• fuel filter;
• plywood panels (chipboard);
• refrigerator compressor;
• oil and petrol resistant hose, screws, Epoxylin, sealant, paint, fum tape, rust remover and other small things.

In my options, I checked several different control valves. After several attempts ordered check valve RUCK14IAMSV, it does not buzz and can be perfect for building a compressor from refrigeration units. You also need to buy a safety valve (MINI SVM14-12). Take a tank from a powder fire extinguisher 16 kg. The pressure in the tank is 9.5 bar and the shelf life is 2 months.

Important: pay attention to which oil to fill in - synthetics are very poorly combined with regular ones, so you do not need to pour everything that is horrible.

1. An oil separator must be installed between the compressor and the tank.
2. Oil should be added through the third brazed tube.
3. It is best to solder the connector and screw it in with a screw or a metal plug.
4. Install a dehydrator, it also captures oil.

Due to the sudden failure of the refrigerator, he became the owner of an efficient 110 watt unit. Of course it can be converted into a compressor. There is an automotive airbrush, which was previously used with a 12-watt compressor, as well as a high-power compressor. These devices are noisy and short-lived. So I had to make my own.

Compressor assembly instructions

It is important to properly dismantle the compressor in order not to damage it. First, use the wire cutters to cut through the tubes coming out of the engine leading to the grille. Next, the wires from the relay are cut off, but their length should remain approximately 20 cm. Before unscrewing the compressor, it is necessary to make a mark on the relay cover.

After the compressor blower circuit from the refrigerator is broken, the spindle will be exposed to the atmosphere, which will lead to the loss of its properties. If the factory oil is not replaced in the supercharger, its pistons will quickly wear out, as a result of which the engine will fail. Therefore, it is recommended to first replace it with a motor semi-synthetic one. like from a car.

In addition to the outlet and inlet tubes, the compressor from a conventional refrigerator is equipped with a third tube with a sealed end. In order to use it for painting cars in the future, it is necessary to remove the clogged part. To do this, using a hacksaw for metal, you should make a neat incision around the tube, but without sawing it to the end, and then break off the filed piece. It is important that metal chips do not get inside.

The remaining pipe must be flared and drained of the old oil, then pour semi-synthetics into it in the same amount. After that, the pipe is clogged with a screw wrapped in fum tape.

The fire extinguisher body will go great for the receiver. It is important that it be cast, seamless and have a volume of 10 liters or more. Before using it, you need to inspect the inside of the fire extinguisher for corrosion. A flashlight is used for inspection. If corrosion is still present, it must be removed with a special liquid.

Stages of assembly work

To make a compressor from the refrigerator means to follow a simple sequence of steps:

1. Take pliers, a spanner wrench for 12, 2 screwdrivers - for plus and minus. At the bottom of the back panel, bite with pliers the tubes connecting the compressor to the cooling system. Unscrew the start relay, after marking the upper and lower sides on it. Disconnect the relay from the plug. We take all the fasteners with us.
2. Function test: connect the relay back, provide air access to the compressor through the pipes, connect to the network. If everything is done correctly, then the device works. Air will enter one tube and exit the other. Label these tubes.
3. Attach the compressor with self-tapping screws to a wooden board.
4. We take an old fire extinguisher, 1 hose 600 mm long, 2 others - 100 mm, fuel filter, clamps, pressure gauge, sealant. We already have a drill, screwdriver, pliers.
5. If there is no fire extinguisher, then we will make a plastic container. To do this, you need to take a container with a volume of more than 3 liters. Make 2 holes. Insert the inlet tube into 1 hole at a distance of 2 cm from the bottom of the container. We lower the outlet pipeline 10 cm deep. It is impossible to install a pressure gauge on a plastic tank.
6. If there is an iron tank, then the tubes can be fixed by welding. We install a pressure gauge on the iron receiver.
   We fasten the receiver and compressor together.
7. Put a filter on a hose 10 cm long, attach the free end of the tube to the inlet of the designed apparatus. Connect the receiver inlet to the compressor outlet with another hose. We fix the docking points with clamps. A diesel filter is attached to the last hose, and its free end is inserted into the outlet of the receiver. Equipment can be put on the remaining end of the tube, if necessary, so that airbrushing and painting become available.

The second version of the step-by-step instructions:

1. We drill a special hole for the adapter to be fixed. You can choose different ways, for example, the most affordable is cold welding (using Epoxylin).
2. We carefully clean the bottom of the receiver from dirt - plaque and rust. This is necessary in order for Epoxylin to adhere well to the surface for strong bonding. And, of course, so that the paint does not get dirty and does not stray into lumps with debris. This can be achieved by cleaning the bottom of the fire extinguisher to a metallic sheen with a rotary-circular motion with sandpaper.
3. We fix the adapter, clamping it on the front side with a nut, and give time to harden Epoxylin according to the instructions.
4. We turn to the base for the compressor, for which you need to get three wooden boards or a piece of plywood measuring 30 by 30 cm. For the convenience of further moving our device, you can screw mobile wheels for furniture to the base. We do not specifically describe the dimensions of the holes and other trifles, since this will all be purely individual, as it depends on the material chosen, the type of compressor, and so on.
5. We drill holes for the compressor and studs and mount them. The studs are secured with nuts and washers.
   We put on the breath of the compressor an automobile filter with a special paper core. This will help prevent dust and other small contaminants from getting inside the compressor.
6. Next, let's take a look at the electrical. To make our home-made compressor for painting a car convenient to use, we equip it with a pressure switch (for example, PM5 or RDM5), as well as a shutdown toggle switch. The first device, a pressure switch, is necessary for us in order to turn off the compressor in the process of pumping air into the receiver, when the pressure reaches the allowable maximum, and vice versa, turn it on when the pressure drops below the allowable minimum. You can set the value of the maximum and minimum pressures directly on the relay using springs, with the large spring responsible for the minimum pressure (and the corresponding activation of the compressor), and the small one for the difference between the maximum and minimum pressure values.
7. Take a closer look and you will see 2 contacts on the relay, designed specifically for connecting it to the network. Since such relays were originally used in the water supply system, we will slightly change its purpose and connection features. Our task is to connect the first contact to the network, and the second to the compressor.
8. We put the general shutdown toggle switch on the gap between the pressure switch and the 220V network. This will help to de-energize the entire installation, so as not to constantly run to turn it on and off.
9. We paint the receiver and proceed to the final assembly.
10. We screw the nut with the fitting onto the filter-oil-moisture separator.
11. We take the hose and put it on the fitting with one end, and pull it on the compressor tube with the other and clamp it all with clamps. To do this, we take a reinforced, oil-resistant hose. Each threaded connection should be sealed with fum-tape.
12. We fasten the filter to the bottom of the receiver and treat the silicone joint with sealant.
13. We fasten the cast-iron cover, but pre-treat its threaded connection with the same sealant. To improve the seal, you can put a rubber gasket under the cover.
14. A tube must be screwed onto the lid, the thread of which should be a quarter inch, and a crosspiece must be screwed onto it.

Installation of device parts

For ease of storage and movement, it is best to arrange all compressor parts compactly on one base. We will use as a basis wooden board, on it we securely fix the engine - supercharger and fire extinguisher housing.

We fix the compressor engine with threaded studs threaded in advance drilled holes, and nuts with washers. We place the receiver vertically, using three sheets of plywood for fixing, in one of which we cut a hole for the cylinder.

The other two, with the help of self-tapping screws, are attached to the carrier board and glued to the sheet holding the receiver. Under the bottom of the receiver, at the base, we hollow out a recess corresponding in size. For maneuverability, we fasten wheels from furniture fittings to our base. Next, we perform the following operations:

We provide protection for our system from dust and coarse particles, for which, as an air intake, we use a coarse fuel filter for gasoline engines. For this purpose, we use a rubber hose that tightly compresses the filter fitting and the inlet tube of the supercharger. At the compressor inlet, low pressure and strengthening of contact with automotive clamps is not required. Thus, we made an inlet filter for the compressor with our own hands.

An oil separator should be installed at the compressor outlet to prevent liquid particles from passing through. As this protection element, we use a filter in the diesel engine power system. We connect it to the supercharger using an oil-resistant hose. Since the pressure at the compressor outlet is increased, here and everywhere below, to strengthen the contact, we use automobile clamps with fasteners tightened with a screw.

The oil and moisture separator is connected to the input of the gearbox. We need a reducer to untie the pressure receiver and the outlet of the supercharger. His way out high pressure we screw into the water cross on the left or right.

We fasten a pressure gauge from the opposite entrance of the quadruple, using it we will control the pressure of compressed air in the cylinder. We screw the adjusting relay on top of the cross. We seal all connections with fum tape and sealant.

The relay will allow you to set a wide range of pressure levels in the receiver, timely interrupting the power supply circuit of the supercharger. As an actuator, you can choose PM5 or RDM5. These devices will turn on the compressor if the pressure of compressed air in the receiver drops below the set mark, and turn it off when the specified range is exceeded. The required pressure is set on the relay using two springs. A large spring sets the minimum pressure level, and a small one regulates the upper limit, setting the compressor shutdown limit. RDM5 and RM5 were originally produced for use in the water supply network and are electrically passive, that is, they are ordinary switches with two contacts. We connect one contact to the zero of the 220 V network, and the second to the supercharger.

We connect the phase wire of the network through the toggle switch to the second network input of the compressor. Introduction to wiring diagram The toggle switch allows you to quickly turn off the system from power without running to the outlet every time. All electrical connections solder and carefully isolate.

Compressor testing and tuning

Now it remains only to paint the entire compressor and proceed to field tests.

Having assembled the structure, you should check its performance. We connect an airbrush or a tire inflation gun to the compressor outlet. After that, with the toggle switch off, turn on the plug in the network. We set the control switch to the minimum pressure and then apply power to the supercharger. The pressure created in the receiver is controlled by a pressure gauge. After making sure that when a certain level is reached, the relay turns off the engine, we check the tightness of the air ducts and connections. This is easy to do with soapy water.

After making sure that the compressed air does not leave the system, we bleed it from the receiver chamber. As soon as the pressure in the cylinder drops below the set mark, the relay should work and start the compressor. If everything is functioning properly, you can try to paint some unnecessary part. Preliminary work on preparing the surface for applying enamel is not required here - it is important for us to develop skills and determine how much pressure is required to paint the product. Experimentally, we determine the value in atmospheres at which excess pressure is enough to paint the entire part with a uniform layer with a minimum amount of blower operation.

Adjustment and testing

The main test of a homemade compressor is to determine the possibility of effectively regulating the pressure that is created in the assembled system. The easiest way to do this is to test paint any surface. In this case, the following is sequentially performed:

1. Set the relay to 4 ... 5 atmospheres.
2. Connect the compressor to the network.
3. The pressure gauge monitors the stability of the parameter. If the relay is operable, then when the pressure is exceeded, it will turn off the compressor, otherwise open the relief valve and immediately turn off the unit.
4. Check the system for the absence of spontaneous bleeding of the energy carrier, for which you can use a regular soap solution.
5. When the pressure drops to a level below the minimum allowable, the relay should automatically turn on the compressor.
6. After painting a surface, it is necessary to check the quality of the paint applied to it - during an external examination, traces of moisture, foreign particles and dirt should not be detected. If such defects still occur, you should additionally check the operation of the output filter - oil and moisture separator.

Video instruction for the compressor

The operation of the assembled unit will be long and reliable if it is periodically carried out routine maintenance. It comes down to replacing the inlet filters, periodically blowing out all air lines, and also changing the oil in the compressor.

It is undesirable to load the compressor by more than 75% of its capacity. But it is quite difficult to understand where the line is, which cannot be crossed, to predict what pressure the compressor will show. It depends on when the refrigerator was released, what brand it is. On older models, this figure will be better. Then, for comfortable high-quality work, you only need to replace the consumable filters.

It is not necessary to buy a compressor for painting work or pumping wheels - you can make it yourself from used parts and assemblies taken from old equipment.

We will tell you about the designs that are assembled from improvised materials.

In order to make a compressor from used parts and assemblies, you need to be well prepared: study the diagram, find it on the farm or buy some parts. Consider several possible options for self-designing an air compressor.

Air compressor from refrigerator and fire extinguisher parts

This unit runs almost silently. Consider the scheme of the future design and make a list of the necessary components and parts.

1 - tube for filling oil; 2 - starting relay; 3 - compressor; four - copper tubes; 5 - hoses; 6 - diesel filter; 7 - gasoline filter; 8 - air inlet; 9 - pressure switch; 10 - cross; 11 - safety valve; 12 - tee; 13 - receiver from a fire extinguisher; 14 - pressure reducer with pressure gauge; 15 - moisture-oil trap; 16 - pneumosocket

Necessary parts, materials and tools

The main elements are taken: a motor-compressor from a refrigerator (preferably made in the USSR) and a fire extinguisher cylinder, which will be used as a receiver. If they are not available, then you can look for a compressor from a non-working refrigerator in repair shops or at metal collection points. A fire extinguisher can be purchased on the secondary market or you can bring friends to the search, at work who may have decommissioned OHP, ORP, DU for 10 liters. The fire extinguisher must be safely emptied.

In addition, you will need:

• pressure gauge (as for a pump, water heater);
• diesel filter;
• filter for gasoline engine;
• pressure switch;
• electric toggle switch;
• pressure regulator (reducer) with pressure gauge;
• reinforced hose;
• water outlets, tees, adapters, fittings + clamps, hardware;
• materials for creating a frame - metal or wood + furniture wheels;
• safety valve (to relieve excess pressure);
• self-locking air inlet (for connecting, for example, to an airbrush).

Another viable receiver came from an automobile tubeless wheel. Extremely budget, although not very productive model.

Wheel receiver

About this experience, we suggest you watch a video from the author of the design.

When the refrigerator breaks down, a person prefers to immediately send it to a landfill and purchase a new unit for freezing food. The compressor from the refrigerator should still be left, because this part of the household appliance can be useful to a person. You can use the compressor from the refrigerator to inflate tires, to pump out water, and even in airbrushing this tool will come in handy. But before discussing the nuances of using the unit, it still needs to be mined. To do this, you need to find a unit that looks like a large black bowler hat at the bottom of the refrigerator. Next, unscrew the bolts and nuts with which the part is attached to the refrigerator itself. Using a hacksaw, the compressor must be sawn off from the refrigerator radiator. Now it remains only to check the functionality of the compressor. To do this, it is connected to the network, and if the part starts to make characteristic sounds, then it works.

The extracted compressor from the refrigerator can be used to repair another large-sized household appliances. So, for example, if a person’s compressor failed on another refrigerator, the part can be safely replaced and the equipment can continue to be used. However, often craftsmen find completely different areas for the use of this unit. So, for example, very often the compressor is used in garages for pumping tires and pumping oil. But before you start using it, you will have to install a special receiver. The receiver itself is required in order for the unit to work normally and smoothly, without overloading the network too much. Also, this nuance should be observed so that during operation, the compressor does not spray oil. The receiver should be fixed on the compressor tubes, additionally checking the strength of the connection. After that, you can proceed to the operation of the compressor for your own purposes.

The old refrigerator compressor finds its widest application in the garage. It has already been mentioned above that the technique can be used to inflate tires, due to the fact that the compressor itself is able to distill air. To inflate tires, the unit only needs to be plugged into an outlet and connected to the bus. It’s just that you can pump up no more than two tires in this way, since the compressor from the refrigerator works quite slowly, but at the same time it can noticeably overload the network. Refrigerator compressor has enough pressure to pump car tires. In order to inflate a bicycle wheel, you can use, for example, a part from an air conditioner. Another area of ​​​​application for a compressor in a garage is to pump out excess oil. Here you need to unscrew the oil filter, and use the compressor to pump out the required amount of oil. The process itself usually takes no more than 2-3 minutes, but the oil level must be monitored all the time.

One of the most popular uses for an old compressor is for airbrushing purposes. The art of airbrushing involves the use of a special apparatus for drawing a picture within the framework of a special technique. The compressor will just become such a unit, and quite powerful. To assemble the airbrush, you will need an old compressor, a receiver, a rubber tube, fine filters, a vinyl chloride tube, mounting clamps and furniture screws. Before starting the assembly of the airbrush, it is necessary to replace the oil in the compressor with a simple car, as this will positively affect the operation of the equipment. Next, you should connect the receiver, connect the start relay and the filling tube to the compressor. The petrol filter should be mounted on the compressor itself, the diesel one on the receiver. By connecting the entire structure using the existing tubes, you can connect the airbrush to the network and use it to create original drawings.

It is also possible to effectively use an old compressor for pumping water from a water supply system. For example, when replacing or repairing a water pipe, it is often difficult to pump out all the liquid from the pipes, and this complicates all further actions. That is why experts recommend using a compressor. To create a water pumping system, you will need a simple, glass bottle, two suction tubes and liquid in a special container. One suction tube must be connected to the compressor, leaving the other end in the bottle. After that, it is recommended to close the bottle itself to create a vacuum. The second tube should also be taken into the bottle, and its end should be left in a container of water. In fact, the water pumping unit is ready, and you can start using it. With the help of another hole on the compressor, you can safely pump out liquid from the water supply system, significantly facilitating the repair process for yourself

All of the listed ways of using the compressor are real, but, of course, they should be resorted to only with special technical knowledge. If the person himself has a poor idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhat a compressor looks like and how to create a tire inflation unit from it, then it is better not to work with this part of the refrigerator. On the Internet you can find many instructions for converting a compressor for a variety of purposes, and here it is very important to consider the scope of the unit. Also, when working with it, it is necessary to observe safety precautions, making sure that the network is not under too much voltage. An old and rusty compressor can serve a person for a long time. That is why, if the owner of the refrigerator does not plan to use it, it is better to immediately give the equipment for recycling, where the old compressor will definitely find its application in various fields.

The refrigerator has a reliable compressor, so you can work with it fearlessly. This is a single piston pump that creates excess pressure. It compresses, moves hot refrigerant vapor when used for its intended purpose.

To do this, we need an old refrigerator, about a thousand rubles for expendable materials, adjusting devices, a little knowledge and desire.

Advantages and disadvantages of a homemade compressor

Each person decides for himself what he will do: buy ready-made or do it yourself.

1. The factory compressor runs on a belt drive, which allows you to work at high speed, does not require lubrication, has a large size. The belt must be protected from oil. Even under all operating conditions, the belts quickly fail. Home - does not have a belt.
2. A pressure relief system is installed in the factory apparatus, which allows you to work from 4 to 10 hours per day, depending on the class of equipment. The system is capricious, to constantly maintain air pressure, an excess amount of air is required due to the possibility of losing it on the pipeline line or when filters are dirty. The pipeline must be of large diameter, otherwise the risk of pressure drop increases. This adds bulk to the system.
3. In expensive models, the pressure level, as well as the termination of its supply, is regulated by a pressure switch, in which the pressure difference is already set by the manufacturer. Budget options have minimal automation, so you have to time the clock to turn on and turn off the device.
4. The refrigerator contains a compressor without a regulator, so in the home version you yourself will have to make a protective relay that will only work if there is a risk of overheating.
5. The cost of self-made equipment is significantly lower, it works much quieter. The versatility of the home device is obvious: tire inflation, painting, airbrushing, connecting pneumatic devices have become available.
6. As experience shows, it is not possible to make changes and additions to the factory equipment. If the device is intended only to pump up tires, then you cannot increase its power. On a homemade one, you can install a large receiver, which will lead to an increase in power, equip it with a handle for ease of transportation, and provide an external fan for cooling.
7. The car pump runs on 12 volts, and the home compressor runs on 220 volts.

Stages of work

To make a compressor from the refrigerator with your own hands means to follow the sequence of steps:

1. Take pliers, a spanner wrench for 12, 2 screwdrivers - for plus and minus. At the bottom of the back panel, bite with pliers the tubes connecting the compressor to the cooling system. Unscrew the start relay, after marking the upper and lower sides on it. Disconnect the relay from the plug. We take all the fasteners with us.
2. Function test: connect the relay back, provide air access to the compressor through the pipes, connect to the network. If everything is done correctly, then the device works. Air will enter one tube and exit the other. Label these tubes.
3. Attach the compressor with self-tapping screws to a wooden board.
4. We take an old fire extinguisher, 1 hose 600 mm long, 2 others - 100 mm, fuel filter, clamps, pressure gauge, sealant. We already have a drill, screwdriver, pliers.
5. If there is no fire extinguisher, then we will make a plastic container. To do this, you need to take a container with a volume of more than 3 liters. Make 2 holes. Insert the inlet tube into 1 hole at a distance of 2 cm from the bottom of the container. We lower the outlet pipeline 10 cm deep. It is impossible to install a pressure gauge on a plastic tank.
6. If there is an iron tank, then the tubes can be fixed by welding. We install a pressure gauge on the iron receiver.
7. We fasten the receiver and compressor together.
8. Put a filter on a hose 10 cm long, attach the free end of the tube to the inlet of the designed apparatus. Connect the receiver inlet to the compressor outlet with another hose. We fix the docking points with clamps. A diesel filter is attached to the last hose, and its free end is inserted into the outlet of the receiver. Equipment can be put on the remaining end of the tube, if necessary, so that airbrushing and painting become available.

Let's look at the video "How to make a compressor from an old refrigerator with your own hands."

Oil change

When you create a compressor from a refrigerator for painting with your own hands, you need to take into account all the nuances. The oil needs to be changed. The plant was filled with mineral, which needs household refrigerator. It doesn't suit us. It has no additives, because the refrigerator is isolated from the outside world. When there is air access, the composition oxidizes, clogs, the equipment overheats and breaks with noise. How is it replaced?

Scheme of actions: find a tube with a sealed hole, open it by removing the sealed end of the hose. Drain the oil into a suitable container, fill in half a liter of new oil with a syringe. At the end of the procedure, the hole must be soldered.

Possible problems

We figured out why we need an old refrigerator, we understand the scheme of actions with our own hands. It is necessary to discuss possible complications and malfunctions in the operation of the unit we have created. Protect the equipment from overheating, as this may harm it.

With a frequency of 1 time per year, it will be necessary to replace filters and oils.

It is contraindicated to load the compressor by more than 75% of its capacity. But it is quite difficult to understand where the line is, which cannot be crossed, to predict what pressure the compressor will show. It depends on when the refrigerator was released, what brand it is. On older models, this figure will be better. Then, for comfortable high-quality work, we only need to replace the consumable filters.

An old refrigerator will come in handy if you want to make a vacuum pump out of a compressor.

The most important thing to remember is that the equipment must be used for its intended purpose. The piston in 95% of modern refrigeration compressors does not have rings, and without freon and a closed system, it jams after 24 hours. The scheme of its work is such that it can withstand pressure from 12 to 24 bar due to weak valves. But you can use old models of Soviet cast-iron compressors. We must remember about safety.

A small-sized compressor is a very necessary thing for a garage or personal workshop. It is used to solve many problems.

For painting with a spray gun and applying a layer of glue on large surfaces, for art work with an airbrush, for blowing dust from a workplace or simply for inflating tires ...

At the same time, the need for this unit for many is not one-time, but episodic. Therefore, if you, for example, are not an airbrush artist, buying an industrial compress is simply unprofitable.

However, having certain master skills, it is easy to make such a device yourself. In this article we will tell you how to make a master compressor from a refrigerator.

There are many examples of such artefacts of technical creativity. It is enough to type the appropriate request and look at the photos on the Internet. To build a compressor from a refrigerator with your own hands, you must first understand what all these designs have in common.

What are the design elements and why do they contain? Of course, the question of whether or not you possess the necessary artisan skills is not even discussed here. Of course you have!

All these structural elements can be very conditionally divided into basic and additional. "Conditionally" - because it all depends on the purposes for which you will use the compressor.

If it's just to inflate the tires of a car, then practically only one compressor is enough. Although in this case it must be fixed on some basis.

Perhaps it is better to install this base on wheels in order to more conveniently move the compressor around the garage. It will need to be equipped with inlet and outlet pipes, air filters on them.

It is necessary to put a pressure gauge at the outlet and consider a reliable fastening of the air hose.

Important! But if you work with an airbrush, then the most important thing for you is the stability of the air flow. Therefore, you will inevitably have to install a receiver in the system.

The receiver is, roughly speaking, a cylinder into which air is supplied from the compressor. And already from this cylinder it is consumed as needed.

Here you already need to clearly understand what air pressure you are going to work with. The working pressure of the compressor of a typical refrigerator is 15-20 atmospheres. Although it’s better to clarify according to the documents for the unit ... 3 atmospheres are enough to inflate tires.

Interesting! To solve most other problems, 6-8 atmospheres are enough.

Unless you are going to work with some particularly powerful pneumatic tool. But in this case, for example, for a jackhammer, even 20 atmospheres may not be enough.

That is, when installing a receiver in the system, you need to think about two things:

1. What pressure rating is it designed for? Of course, the maximum pressure must be higher than the working one! For example, a receiver from a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher cylinder was originally designed for the highest working pressure of 15 MPa or 148.04 atmospheres. For a powder fire extinguisher cylinder, for example OP-8, this will be 15.79 atmospheres. At the same pressure, a receiver from a cylinder for domestic liquefied gas can also work. And the receiver from the KAMAZ brake system operates at 16 atmospheres. These are proven options. It is more difficult with home-made or theoretically not designed to work at elevated pressure containers.
2. How will the receiver be protected from excess pressure in it? There are two options here. The first is the release of excess pressure into the surrounding atmosphere using a bypass valve. The second is the automatic shutdown of the compressor.

These are all the main points that you need to think about when thinking about how to make a compressor.

In order not to "everything like clockwork" ...

The main difference between a refrigerator compressor and industrial compressors is that it was originally designed to work in a closed system. Therefore, he is literally bathed in oil!

Oil is mixed with freon, freon with oil, then separated, then mixed again ... That is, the lubrication system in the refrigerator compressor is in no way isolated from the flow of the main reagent that this compressor pumps!

Therefore, when you start pumping air with this compressor, oil will inevitably splash out of the outlet pipe. The first thing to do is to make this pipe in the shape of an inverted letter "G".

At the top, in front of the second L-shaped bend, behind which the receiver is located, an oil filter is installed.

In it, just below the middle, a conical plate directed upwards is installed. Gaps are left between the plate and the chamber walls. The air flow from the compressor, entering the chamber from below, is decelerated on the conical plate and the oil drops that it carries with it roll back down.

Important! Although it must be understood that the microparticles of oil and moisture in this air flow still remain. Therefore, first of all, do not even think about “filling” air into scuba cylinders with this compressor!

And secondly, the receiver will be gradually filled at the bottom with oil-water condensate. In order not to unwind the entire system each time to clean it, it is better to provide a drain hole in the bottom of your supposedly fire extinguisher.

Next is a matter of fantasy

Anyone who has ever ridden "for power" on a moped or motorcycle without an air filter knows what deep scratches this seemingly "clean air" leaves on piston skirts and cylinder walls.

Therefore, when thinking about how to make a compressor with your own hands, you must inevitably think about the air filter at the inlet. It is enough to make an inlet pipe for the inner diameter of the car air filter.

It must be done in the form of the same inverted letter "L" to avoid splashing oil out. Of course, it is also necessary to make a seal in order to exclude air leakage from below. Surely there is something suitable for this in the corner of your garage?

... So, let's trace the path of air through the compressor we are creating. Through the air filter from the car and the inlet pipe, air enters the "pump".

Coming out through another pipe already under pressure, the air gets rid of oil dust in the oil separator and oil filter. The air then enters the receiver.

It should be noted that the air must pass through the receiver in order to dampen pressure surges. Therefore, if you simply screw a tee into the neck of your fire extinguisher - into the inlet, outlet and pressure gauge - this will not give any result.

Ideally, this scheme looks like this. Air enters almost to the bottom of your fire extinguisher through one of the two, longer tubes - and exits through the second, shorter one. Between the inlet and outlet is a third, which has a pressure gauge screwed into it to show the air pressure in your fire extinguisher.

In parallel with the pressure gauge, a bypass valve or relay is included in the circuit. There are also pressure gauges that combine the relay option. Further, from the outlet pipe of the receiver, air enters a hose that can withstand a pressure of 6 - 8 atmospheres for use.

With a frequent change of the tool connected to the compressor, it is reasonable to install a special pneumatic lock-connector at the end of the hose. It allows you to connect and disconnect the tool with one simple movement of your fingers.

Interesting! If you work every time with only one thing, then you can get by with an ordinary ball valve in front of the hose. In the same way - convenient, useful, but not included in the "required package" - the second pressure gauge showing the pressure in the hose.

As already mentioned, this is the required level of configuration. These are the tasks that must be solved if you decide to build a compressor for your workshop yourself. Further - it is only a matter of the master's imagination.

You can, for example, install a cooler for cooling. It's no secret that air heats up when compressed. You can, instead of an air car filter at the inlet, put a water one, according to the principle of a hookah.

You can install two in series - instead of one receiver. Or make a salt filter, dehumidify the outgoing air ... For each purpose - its own means.