I needed/wanted to raise my compressor to gain some space in my garage. Here is what I built. It's about 30" square stand thats about 30" tall at the rubber vibration issolators. Here are a bunch of pics as the build went on.
CK5
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Air compressor riser stand build is complete. Pictures as always
- Thread starter rdn2blazer
- Start date
Here I drilled & tapped the cleats for the leveling feet using a drill bar and drill bushing and a machinists tap block. I don't care who you are, noone can drill a perfectly straight hole freehand. I've been a machinist for over 20 years and I can't. I can get REAL close but not truely vertical. Thats why we use drill bars and drill bushings and tap blocks.
First I drilled the hole undersized by freehand. Then I used a tapered center to locate the drill bar and clamped it in place. Removed the center, put the drill bushing in the drill bar and drilled the hole on center perfectly straight. Now it's ready to tap. I removed the drill bar, and put the 1/2-13 tap through the tap block. I put the tap into the hole and let it self center.
I clamped the tap block in place, removed the tap, gave it a squirt of lube, put it back into the tap block and proceeded to tap my the cleat. Just repeated this for all four pieces. Cleaned them with acatone and alchol and they were ready to be welded on. Took about 20/30 mins.
First I drilled the hole undersized by freehand. Then I used a tapered center to locate the drill bar and clamped it in place. Removed the center, put the drill bushing in the drill bar and drilled the hole on center perfectly straight. Now it's ready to tap. I removed the drill bar, and put the 1/2-13 tap through the tap block. I put the tap into the hole and let it self center.
I clamped the tap block in place, removed the tap, gave it a squirt of lube, put it back into the tap block and proceeded to tap my the cleat. Just repeated this for all four pieces. Cleaned them with acatone and alchol and they were ready to be welded on. Took about 20/30 mins.
Perfectly square drill & tapped hole.
More pictures of removing the scale and welding and paint prep.
More pictures of removing the scale and welding and paint prep.
More as it gets finished...
Last couple pictures. Thank goodness for good buddies. Had three buds come and lift this onto the riser for me. Cost me three beers is all. 
Here is the air system I'm going to be using. It's a Maxline air system from RapidAir. 1/2 line of aluminum tube, brass nickle plated fitting. I'll give it a review as the install happens.
More of the kit. I had to order more fitting as I didn't order enough to begin with. Also, the air dryer for the mill so it's got clean dry air to the mill.
blowedupmotor87
1/2 ton status
SWEET!!! Nice work!!!! 
Awesome! I'll be very interested to see the outcome of the Maxline air system. I saw a posting earlier while searching and it had a competitor's system that was more expensive that doesn't look as easy to deal with as this one. (Or cost competitive!)
Where did you order yours from? I saw one at Northern Tool that comes with a supplied cutter - did you buy that nice cutter in your pic?
Where did you order yours from? I saw one at Northern Tool that comes with a supplied cutter - did you buy that nice cutter in your pic?
Thank you. I bought this system from www.rapidairproducts.com. I didn't shop around. I needed a system ASAP so I shopped and bought, done. The company is Engineered Specialties, LLC. They have a bunch of different systems but this was about $300 with some extra additional fittings I requested. I believe reg. kit price was $179.00 and this kit includes the cutters.
that tap block thing is awesome, where did you get that?
Most all machinists make them themselves. I'll be machining and selling tools to help home shop fabricators and this will be one of the tools I'll be making.
Please let me knoe when you make some. I like it and want it!
Of course, it should be know. Damn fat fingers.
sign me up too.
sixb
1/2 ton status
Is the compressor going in the garage or the container? I suggest the container.
I didn't know you could buy those tap blocks, I made mine out of 6061 back around 1982 and still use it today.
Nice work on the table
you definitely have what customers want in the quality dept.
I didn't know you could buy those tap blocks, I made mine out of 6061 back around 1982 and still use it today.
Nice work on the table
you definitely have what customers want in the quality dept. 
