Dual Air Tank on single compressor Q?

[FugginZukin]

Hello,
When using my 60 amp plasma on my 25 gal craftsman compressor I am getting maybe a good couple of minutes of constant cutting before I have to let the compressor air back up. I have a feeling I am going to burn it up one of these days. Don't want to fork out tons of cash to upgrade to a much larger compressor. Looking for a cheap and safe alternative.

Has anyone every attempted to hook up a 2nd tank to increase the air capacity? If so what did you use, who did you buy the tank from? Tips and tricks?

Thank you.

[bgaidan]

All you're really doing is increasing your initial cut time by a few mintues. Once you drain the tanks down and the pump kicks on you're back to constant running....only for an even longer period of time to fill both tanks. I'd even dare to say you'll burn the compressor up faster that way. A bigger tank is really only good if you have a fast compressor that can fill it in a relatively short time.

[guidolyons]

I added a 13 gal air tank to mine. I have a POS Cambell Hausfeld oiless 12 gal so it doubled the volume, I does seem to help when running air tools, but like bgaiden said, it really only adds a little extra time before the pump has to kick on.

[max adams]

What is the duty cycle on your compressor? Filling more or larger tanks will just run it longer and hotter, make sure the motor is thermally protected. I would put a ball valve between the tanks and only use the aux as needed.

[FugginZukin]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I thought about the motor having to work harder by adding the second tank; however, it seems it wouldn't work any harder than it is now. Not sure.

It will blow a consistent ~65 psi when kicked on; therefore, it is constantly running when doing a long cut and then has to catch back up when torch is shut off to fill the tank. As opposed to finishing the cut without the comp. kicking on till toward the end of the cut to run and fill itself back up in twice the time.

It may just be a wash. I can pick up a small aux. tank at the hardware store for cheap (15 gal. 135 psi). I may just pick it up to see how it works.

If anything, maybe it will cut down some of the noise annoyance when using little air for smaller air tools.