Hi Group, I have a small oil bath compressor and now have the opportunity to place it just outside my shop in a small shed. I live in eastern Pennsylvania and am not sure if keeping it in the cold is practical or even possible. It wont free up a lot of space in my shop but every little bit helps. Thanks. Tony Manella ndd1"at"prolog.net (remove "at")
Outside is better in the even of old age compressor tank issues.
Starting might be a problem. Putting some insulation in the shed, with a heater that you kick on before the first compressor start of the day might do it. If there's some wat to keep it unloaded until the motor is _really_ up top speed, that might also help. I used to have my (grampa's previously) 1954 shopsmith in an unheated shed in Maine - throw a blanket over it, put a light bulb under it, wait 45 minutes, fire it up was the routine there.
I worked for a guy that kept his compressor outside. Here on the south west coast of canada it doesn't get any where near as cold as you in pennsylvania but there were some cold days where the compressor would barely turn over in the morning. I wouldn't do it to my compressor
Hello Tony
For your compressor it will be healthy not to suck in al the wood dust and tool grinding dust, the problem with the cold is only with startup as heat generated running it should be enough to keep the unit above freezing temp. I would use a full synthetic 5W30 oil to keep the power needed for startup down and yes drain water off daily before it freezes. When I was still at home we had a larger compressor in an unheated sheet metal shed, for safety and the noise, it ran for years and years, never a problem, and yes it gets not that cold in Holland but freezing temps are normal in winter. You can always rig up some heating, as simple as a light bulb under the unit that you turn on some time before you need the compressor or some small heater blower etc. and if it gets really cold stay out of the shop you'll freeze your butt off. VERY BIG
Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo
T> Hi Group,
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