Pressure (and compressor) for Metcal desoldering gun? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: LaurentR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 09:38:33 pm
content: The user manual for the Metcal desoldering gun (MX-DS1 / MX-UK5) says that the preferred operating pressure is 80psi. I have been looking for a smallish, quiet indoor compressor, but haven't found much.My wife has an exceptionally quiet and reasonably sized Silentaire Super Silent 20-A, but it's still expensive and bulky.I found a whole pile of airbrush compressor that are both readily available and inexpensive, but they all seem to be set to about 50psi, like:http://www.tcpglobal.com/ABD-TC-20T.html#.WAk0T_krKUk(there are many more all over Amazon and EBay).Anybody has experience with using those? 50psi is below Metcal's recommendation, but I wonder how much of an issue that really is.Related thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/air-compressor-for-metcal-mx-500/msg639124/

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 09:47:27 pm
content: I got a Jun Air. Another type is a Bambi. You can pick them up for good price from eBay, given time.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2016, 03:39:20 am
content: There was here recently a similar thread for a weller station with a few suggestions for compressors. You may want searching for it.

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2016, 02:50:13 pm
content: I use one of these:http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/maximum-4g-quiet-compressor-0581292p.htmlIt has a built-in regulator so you can dial in the required 80 PSI, and it really is very quiet. By far the loudest sound it makes is when it stops running and the unloader valve opens to depressurize the pistons. I'm planning to find it a semi-permanent home in my basement and plumb it up to the workbench and garage. I don't like the idea of keeping it in my garage all winter.Maybe you can find something similar in the US, or do some cross border shopping. With the sale price and the strong USD-CAD conversion rate, it is a good deal.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2016, 03:59:00 pm
content: If you are going to put it in a basement or other place please make a note to go at least every month and drain the water from the tank, or get an auto drain kit for it. Otherwise you will use it one day and find out that there is no air, only soda water coming out of the pipe.A tale i heard of was a large industrial plane where, due to some internal reorganisation, there was no person responsible for checking the compressed air tankage weekly. After a few months one process on the other side of the plant started up, which required a large volume of air for normal operation. Turns out the water in the tank had built up to the level of the air outlet, and this large draw drew a large slug of water into the pipe. Half way down the plant this air line had to make a dogleg around a larger pipe assembly, and this water slug, travelling at supersonic speed, did not make the turn with the pipe. Luckily nobody was killed, though there was a very urgent need for underwear in the vicinity.

author: Assafl
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2016, 05:35:17 pm
content: Can one use a CO2 canister like used for Soda Stream?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2016, 06:30:36 pm
content: Not unless you have a very high pressure regulator to attach to it, the pressure inside will blow any normal gas regulator into pieces when you open the cylinder. Those have an internal pressure of over 2000PSI in them.

author: LaurentR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2016, 02:15:45 am
content: Quote from: Assafl on October 23, 2016, 05:35:17 pmMy wife uses a hand engraver, and beside the usual compressor-driven arrangement, they also have a portable based on paintball CO2 cartridges. They use special regulators as shown here:http://www.airgraver.com/CO2.htm