Got a compressor tank, where to find fittings?

[DennisCA]

Got this 96l tank to replace my old 25 liter tank that is old and looking a bit worrisome on the inside. This is a coolant compressor tank I found cheap, made in 1999, rated for 26 bar so nice overkill on the specs, looks great on the inside too. The idea is actually to mount this one upside down, because the top valve (1) is perfect for a drain valve, with a length of pipe before a valve water should run into the pipe and hardly remain in the tank even if you forget to drain it after use. The old base plate will then make a new mounting point for the compressor block, making for a very tall compressor that uses very little space.

I'd like to use connections 2 and 3 for inlet and outlet but the connections are a bit odd, not seen this size before, 44.3mm, which according to wikipedia is a 1-3⁄8" BSP fitting (we use BSP for pipe threads in finland, everyone but the yanks do afaik). Anyone know where I can find a female adapter, I'd like to neck it down the much more common 1/2".

 

[Burdekin]

You can be buy pipe fittings online or your local plumbers merchant will be able to sort you out.

 

[DennisCA]

I've been searching for 3-4 days now for pipe fittings in this size in english, swedish and finnish plumbing site before I decided to make this thread. I haven't found jack.

 

[Burdekin]

You sure it's 1 3/8 bsp? Is that the ID or OD of the female bush fitting?

 

[DennisCA]

To be honest I am not sure... I measured the outer diameter of the thread (which is male on the tank) and it was 44.3mm and looked up the diameter here, so it seems right to me:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Standard_Pipe#Pipe_thread_sizes

So I need a female reducer from that size to preferably 1/2"

 

[Burdekin]

Sounds right then. The places I have bought fittings don't stock them on the net so if no one comes back to you on here I'd email a few internet sellers and ask them, maybe they can order them for you.

 

[DennisCA]

I'm sourcing local dealers now and seeing if they can find something for me. I suppose if I can't find anything, the option of TIG brazing a fitting into the ports could work.

 

[rtbcomp]

You might have to do it in 2 steps, but 1-3/8 doesn't appear to be a preferred size.

 

[Burdekin]

I'm sourcing local dealers now and seeing if they can find something for me. I suppose if I can't find anything, the option of TIG brazing a fitting into the ports could work.

Yes that wouldn't be an issue Tig welding in a steel boss.

 

[WorkshopChris]

Do you have anyone locally who could machine a pair of threaded flanges,(should be able you bore and thread something stock) then you can go with an off the shelf BSP threaded flanges down to your preferred size.
I have been working with BSP pipe up to 5" for years and never seen a 1 3/8" fitting although the data sheets say there is a specification for it.

 

[DennisCA]

I do know of a machinist nearby who could probably turn something for me, but I think the cost of that might easily be as much as the tank itself was (I paid 80€ for it).

 

[knighty]

1 3/8 is an odd size

if I were you I'd try to take the tank somewhere that sells fittings as ask them - there's a chance it's not really 1 3/8 - it cold be an odd thread?

 

[DennisCA]

Ah well it's a bit of PITA to get it in and out of my car (yaris) :P

 

[DennisCA]

Yes that wouldn't be an issue Tig welding in a steel boss.

Do you think it needs welding or will brazing suffice?

EDIT:
The makers of the tank answered and they say

You may use 2 pcs of 35 mm rotalocks.
The thread is 1 3/4” for both connections.

 

[DennisCA]

I am gonna raise this thread instead of making a new one. I found the fittings and I built my compressor and it has served me well over the years. However the compressor block itself, an old single phase motor and compressor unit, is starting to behave badly. It's also not big enough really. I found this compressor block for sale locally for 100 euros, seller says 355l/min at 6 bar, sounds better than my current one which is 200l/min perhaps.

Does it look like a good block? Mehrer is the name, some old german brand. Doesn't have a motor but I have several suitable candidates, including one 2.2kw 3phase motor I got from an old compressor (otherwise that was junk).

 

[Kayos]

I very very much doubt it is 1 3/8 bsp, try 1 1/4 as that is the nearest standard size

 

[DennisCA]

I very very much doubt it is 1 3/8 bsp, try 1 1/4 as that is the nearest standard size

This issue has been resolved, I raised it for antoher purpose, see my latest post please.

 

[Seadog]

I'd certainly give it a try. That equates to 12.5 cu.ft/min, which, if it is at 6 bar, is quite a respectable amount of air.

 

[DennisCA]

Yeah I talked to the seller and going to get it tomorrow, apparently it was in use in the local hospital previously, got the idea he worked there.