Air compressor in the rafters

[JHZR2]

Im toying with this idea, as my 1920's concrete garage does not have enough space for two cars and a big compressor on the ground.

Not sure I need a giant one, just enough capability to charge the air tank up and then run car lug bolts on an air impact or something similar.

I like the upright units, like the IR Garage mate type, but I think they have some horizontal tank ones that might work.

Getting it to fit and be supported up high may be a challenge, but thats why Im asking. Anyone do something like this?

Id be mounting it on the horizontal joists that the tires are hanging off of.

Bad idea?

It just seems that my Makita MAC2400 (whch I could mount up there too) is too inconvenient for me to lug around all over the place, so Id like to have something hard mounted for garage use.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

What about draining the tank? You would have to modify bracketry so the drain is pointing down.

 

[daman]

The only problem i see is heat,heat rises and in the summer i know up in my rafters it gets hot! so the added heat will be tougher on the pump but i know your running synthetic. Also draining condensation will be more of a PITA getting to the tank.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
What about draining the tank? You would have to modify bracketry so the drain is pointing down.


I figure that is easy with a few NPT fittings and some 1/4" pipe with a ball valve on the end.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: daman
The only problem i see is heat,heat rises and in the summer i know up in my rafters it gets hot! so the added heat will be tougher on the pump but i know your running synthetic. Also draining condensation will be more of a PITA getting to the tank.


True, but the roof is peaked so this would only be at the halfway point. A fan to aid in airflow would be doable, and if it is THAT hot, my driveway gets strong PM sun so you can be sure I wont be working out there!

Im no pro or "regular" user of air tools. Most use I imagine will be spring or fall when weather is pleasant. My ntermittent, and seldom use I think will make the heat issue a non-issue, and I do run syn.

 

[Donald]

Vibration.

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: daman
The only problem i see is heat,heat rises and in the summer i know up in my rafters it gets hot! so the added heat will be tougher on the pump but i know your running synthetic. Also draining condensation will be more of a PITA getting to the tank.


True, but the roof is peaked so this would only be at the halfway point. A fan to aid in airflow would be doable, and if it is THAT hot, my driveway gets strong PM sun so you can be sure I wont be working out there!

Im no pro or "regular" user of air tools. Most use I imagine will be spring or fall when weather is pleasant. My ntermittent, and seldom use I think will make the heat issue a non-issue, and I do run syn.

Yea,,just throwing it out there, like i said mine gets hot up there a good 10-20deg. difference.

 

[BobsArmory]

I put one up in the attic of my garage once. It worked great except that the garage is attached to the house. Sharing the same roof line/attic allowed a lot of compressor sound to travel into the living portions of the house.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Bad idea.

The vibration will shake the daylights out of the ceiling and all the junk you have attached to it. I certainly wouldn't want to work in an environment with a vibrating air compressor rattling away over my head, not to mention the heat and drain issues. Ever seen a florescent light like the one you have flicker when it encounters a significant vibration?

If you're that hard up for space, a better alternative would be to build a small bumpout on the garage and keep the compressor outside. Just drop the air lines through the wall into the garage. Even one of those plastic sheds would work as an outside location to house an air compressor. Just back it up against a wall, drill a couple holes for power and the air lines, and you're set. It has the added benefit of keeping the sound out of the garage when you're working.

 

[SuperDave456]

If you are really thinking about doing this take a look at your rafters.

If they are 2x4's I'd double up, if they are 2/6's I'd still double up, for their entire length, at least 3 of them. Then I'd use cross pieces every 24-36" to connect the doubled up rafters together. Connecting them will help spread the load and vibration. You can then drop a 3/4" piece of plywood and screw that sucker down.

I recently did something like this on my folks garage. Except it was to better support a new garage door opener.

I worry about old wood and vibrations. Also, if you start putting in the Air Compressor, Hanging retractable lines, and the electrical box, you might want some space to work up there with it.

All that weight is going to add up.

Pretty much you want space to get to it and work on it from either the attic or from a ladder down below. All the while leaving as much space open as possible for air circulation, dealing with the added weight, and vibration.


Edited to add: I really like the Shed Idea... I may just steal it.

 

[JHZR2]

Vibration... Yeah... I thought they were installing big heavy AC systems in the attics of homes and there were mounts that could really isolate that. Is this not the case, or the compressor vibrations a different frequency?

I dont work IN my garage typically, just due to lack of space to move around. I usually like to work on my driveway, so the noise and related components are not as important.

But I dont want to shake the place apart!

 

[morris]

just build a small shed next to the garage, but put lots of vents in it, compressors make a lot of heat and noise. this will keep noise down.

 

[Donald]

For some uses, like an impact wrench, more and more people are going to cordless.

 

[Fazzone]

My grandpa had one up in the rafters of his shop. It wasn't very big, probably a 20 gal one. Overall it was a pretty good setup-he plumbed air lines to a few points in the garage. I do remember it being pretty noisy, but don't recall it causing any issues(I think it just sat right on a couple 2X6's). As for getting hot, we never had issues and there were many days when it ran almost non stop when it was in the 90's in the garage.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Donald
For some uses, like an impact wrench, more and more people are going to cordless.


I have the cordless setup.

I may not be doing this out of absolute necessity, more because I want to

 

[yonyon]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Vibration... Yeah... I thought they were installing big heavy AC systems in the attics of homes and there were mounts that could really isolate that. Is this not the case, or the compressor vibrations a different frequency?


Assuming a reciprocating compressor, much lower frequency. Imagine an idling V-Twin mounted to your rafters.

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Vibration... and there were mounts that could really isolate that. Is this not the case, or the compressor vibrations a different frequency?


I guess you are familiar with Lord rubber mounts?

http://www.lord.com/products-and-solutio...-and-mounts.xml

They probably have something off the shelf that would isolate it, but I think like the others said, by the time you bulk up the structure, diddle around with isolating it so it doesn't disturb the wife and new baby, and considering future maintenance (it will be required as soon as it is near impossible to remove and repair) you would be better off having it outside and plumbing it in.

Don't forget about running adequate electric to it.

 

[JHZR2]

My garage is detached, so no worries about wife and baby.

I figured that there would be sufficient isolation.

Our garage is unfinished, so getting it up there, weight aside, is no big deal.

Worth the hassle? We were just talking about putting up a bigger shed, so might go that route anyway...

Thanks!

 

[nstoolman1]

I mounted my 13 gallon compressor on the wall under my bench. Use rubber between feet and wall. It reduces the vibration noise.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2

I like the upright units, like the IR Garage mate type, but I think they have some horizontal tank ones that might work.


Get rid of, or store that stack of tires someplace else and you'd have a nice spot for an upright compressor.