by Gary Fredericks

www.dungeonworks-art.com

Here is a quick, easy and low cost modification that can be done to most air compressors. My air compressor a Sears Craftsman 5hp 20 gallon model had a very cheap and hard to use drain plug as it came from the store. With this modification, you will no longer need to tip your compres- sor and fight with this awkward device. Draining your compressor after each use is essential pre- ventative maintenance tasks that can keep your compressor healthy and may help it last longer.

Tools and Supplies:

All of the supplies were bought at a local outlet for a big name hardware and home improvement center. You can also find them at your local hardware store and purchase all items for less than $10. I bought some extra’s just incase I needed them, but ended up not using everything. One 1/4” elbow (not pictured), One 1/4” x 4” nipple, Two 1/4” x 2” nipple (I had one extral left over), One 1/4” x 1” nipple,1/4” Ball Valve, Channel Locks (pliers), Tube of “Pipe Dope” or other plumbing thread sealer.

Remove the old drain

plug and

clean up any rust and gunk from the threads and surrounding area. Mine was

really rusty and actually crumbled apart as I re- moved it, as you can see in the picture. I just used my channel locks to remove the broken valve.

Apply pipe dope to the other end of the 1” nipple and insert your assembly into the threaded drain hole on bottom of your compressor using chan- nel locks. Do not over tighten, but make sure it is “snug”. Remember, tighten only and do not back off. Stop when elbow is facing in the direction you want your moisture ejected too.

Apply pipe dope all the way around the 1” nipple covering half of the threads that are going in- side the elbow. In- sert into elbow and tighten by hand as it goes in fairly easy.

Using channel locks may damage the threads.

Get your 4” nipple and apply pipe dope to one end. Insert and tighten nipple into the elbow with channel locks.

Apply pipe dope to the other end of your 4” nipple and assemble Ball Valve onto it. The Ball Valve will have an arrow on it indication which direction the airflow should go. It is imperative to be certain that you install the Ball Valve in the cor- rect direction. Here again, tighten chan- nel locks only untill it is “snug”, do not over tighten!

At the end of your airbrush session, be sure to turn off your compressor and drain the air from the tank until you get to about 20psi in the tank. At this point, you can open your new and improved drain valve and let the remaining air drain from the tank. I find that this modification gives my air compressor a better drain than the stock valve did. I have been using this for a few years now and it has never given me a problem. It is easy to do, cheap to make, and best of all, it is easier to get to. You can modify this design to suit your needs. You can get some 1/4” hose and run it outside or into a drain or other receptacle to keep things tidy. A trip down the plumbing isle of your local hardware store can also give you other ideas on

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