Getting the right compressor is essential if you intend to plaster walls with a hopper bucket. The plaster can be sprayed evenly and effectively with the air pressure provided by the compressor, which also speeds up and simplifies the process.
But not every compressor is made equally. The compressor’s specifications, power, and capacity can have a big impact on the caliber of your work. Making the incorrect choice can result in uneven texture, inadequate coverage, or even equipment failure.
We’ll go over the important things to think about in this post when selecting a compressor for your hopper bucket, guiding you toward a well-informed choice that will guarantee seamless and expert outcomes.
Selecting the proper compressor is essential for a smooth, even finish when plastering with a Hopper Bucket. To guarantee that the plaster sprays evenly, the compressor must provide a steady airflow at a high enough pressure, usually between 6 and 8 CFM (cubic feet per minute) at 90 PSI (pounds per square inch). By choosing a compressor that satisfies these specifications, you can improve the efficiency of your plastering process and steer clear of frequent problems like clogging or uneven application.
- What compressor is needed for Hopper Bucket
- For home craftsmen
- What to choose for advanced home craftsmen
- For professionals
- Requirements for the compressor
- Connecting a compressor
- Video on the topic
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What compressor is needed for Hopper Bucket
Pneumokovs are often made by artisans by hand. Maybe this explains why they write about the plaster shovel a lot more than they do about the air. No such "shovel" will apply a solution in the interim without providing pressurized air. Thus, the essential addition for the hopper bucket is the compressor. But not every unit is appropriate for plastering. The plastering unit’s quality and technical capabilities are important, but so are the air pump mechanism that is chosen carefully and the way it is connected.
The first difference between a novice’s and a team of builders’ tasks is volume. Even a novice can learn the plasterer’s trade by gradually completing plastering projects and learning the trade. Even a novice can easily achieve a high-quality plaster coating with a hopper. For specialized teams, productivity is critical without sacrificing quality. The best option is never the same for a team or a novice.
For home craftsmen
The speed at which the solution is applied is directly impacted by the air blower’s performance. Spraying the solution on the wall is possible with the assistance of the minimum air pressure that is supplied. The working mixture will be the only thing released by a well-designed hopper with a small air supply; no spraying or misting will occur. As a result, you cannot even take into consideration compressors that have a capacity of less than 200 l per minute.
Plastering with a low-power compressor will not allow you to apply plaster faster than a skilled finisher can do by hand; as a result, finishing time will be decreased. Nevertheless, regardless of the worker’s skill level, using even low-power mechanization presents a chance to produce a plaster layer of high quality.
Key requirements for utilizing a low-capacity device:
- The low speed of application of the solution does not allow producing a large batch of solution quickly enough. Therefore, when using gypsum mixtures (for plastering walls manually), it is recommended to mix the solution in small batches.
- When purchasing a dry gypsum-based mixture, give preference to mixtures for mechanical application. They have a lifespan of approximately one and a half hours.
Beginners can use a mechanism that delivers 200–350 l / min at the input, with a minimum receiver volume of 25–50 l, if using a more powerful unit is not possible. You will have to wait until the pneumatic compressor reaches the necessary pressure of 6 to 8 atm in this situation.
What to choose for advanced home craftsmen
If there is a significant backlog of plastering work and you need to finish it quickly, it makes sense to invest in a mechanism that is powerful enough to create 440–600 liters per minute at the input and has a receiver that holds between 70 and 100 liters. The selection of such a machine makes sense for private property owners, considering the potential to use a compressor for plastering and other pneumatic tool work around the property. Plaster solutions with any base, even heavy cement and clay, are easily handled by such a unit. You can also use it to paint surfaces, putty surfaces, and prime surfaces.
The speed and ease of plaster application are directly correlated with increasing power. The type of drive is another factor to consider when selecting a mechanism.
On sale are two varieties:
- coaxial or direct (torque is transmitted directly from the engine to the shaft);
- belt (torque is transmitted via a belt and pulleys).
The following factors make the second drive superior:
- Without a gearbox, starting the mechanism directly, especially in cold weather, is problematic.
- A two-kilowatt engine rotates at 2850 rpm (and the piston with direct transmission – too). Therefore, with direct transmission, there is a lot of heating and wear. With an identical engine, compressors with a belt drive have a different torque on the head (1020-1080 rpm) – 3 times less due to the belt. Consequently, there is less wear on the head. Plus, due to the gearbox, the load is removed from the engine. Starting such devices is usually not a problem.
- Usually, compressors with a belt drive are equipped with larger receivers. It is also possible to install an additional receiver. The larger the receiver capacity, the more comfortable the work.
- Such a unit is not very noisy, which can affect the choice (use of the mechanism in apartment buildings).
- Belt drive is easier to maintain.
- By replacing the pulley, the operating parameters of the compressor are changed.
The following are some benefits of direct transmission:
- lower cost of the unit;
- more compact design;
- slightly higher productivity.
There is little variation in the pumping speed. If the owner of the private home is not a plasterer by trade, compressors with this capacity are appropriate.
For professionals
A minimum of a 100-liter compressor with an input capacity of 440–460 l / min is needed for artisans who are continuously plastering. It won’t require you to pause operations while you wait for the device to reach operating pressure.
When selecting a compressor for professional plastering, speed and ease of use are more important considerations than cost. A group of plasterers would rather have two paired, less productive devices than one large one (weighing up to 90 kg). Two units with a capacity of 400–500 l/min (each) and a receiver of 50–70 l, for instance, would be a good choice.
When moving the compressor within multi-story buildings, these devices present fewer challenges. Even at locations with temporary electricity supply arrangements, two plastering compressors are started in an asynchronous bundle.
Benefits of this kind of solution:
- The system provides stable power. Thanks to this air supply, losses of the mixture from falling on the floor during spraying are minimized, less time is spent on cleaning.
- Air supply is uniform and continuous. Spraying power is constant. A combination of two units and a high-performance hopper involved is comparable to a plastering station in terms of operating speed. At the same time, such mechanization costs several times less.
- The system allows simultaneous connection via quick release to one of the units of a paint sprayer or a hopper of lower productivity. Such connection does not affect the operation of the main hopper bucket.
- If one of the two compressors fails, the system will continue to work, although more slowly.
- When buying two devices at the same time, you can negotiate a significant discount. It is possible that the purchase of two mechanisms will be comparable in price to the purchase of one large compressor.
Requirements for the compressor
The principle of air compression varies amongst compressors. Piston-type household units are the most widely used. Screw ones are used for installations in industries. Because of their high cost, screw compressors are not utilized for small amounts of work.
The mechanisms are fitted with a receiver where compressed air gathers to guarantee a long-term, continuous supply of compressed air and to give the compressor head some downtime. Apart from this duty, receivers balance the air flow, smoothing out the fluctuations in the air mixture that arise while the pistons are operating. Pneumatic tools thus function in a favorable mode.
Receiver capacities of up to 50 liters are available for coaxial compressors. Belt mechanism receivers can hold between 50 and 100 liters of fluid.
Between the compressor and the pneumatic tool is an integrated receiver. As a result, it is where the air that has heated due to compression cools. Water vapor in the air condenses on the receiver’s walls during cooling, staying away from the pneumatic mechanisms. Condensate builds up at the bottom of the tank and is regularly drained using a valve incorporated into the bottom.
The plastering workflow is contingent upon the receiver’s volume. Therefore, the compressor installation by the second receiver is enhanced by those who work professionally in painting or plastering. The compressor head then takes longer to rest.
The air pressure is critical to the performance of the pneumatic tools. The manufacturer’s compressor passport, on the other hand, shows how much air is pumped to the receiver per minute at zero pressure. The input pressure is this feature.
The following coefficients are used to calculate the pressure on the output:
- For the belt device, the pressure at the entrance is multiplied by 0.65;
- For coaxial – at 0.75.
The process of separation is easy. For instance, if a passport has a performance of 320 l/min, the coaxial mechanism’s output will have a performance of 320 x 0.65 = 208 l/min.
Another crucial factor is air mixture pressure. Both atm and bar are used to indicate it (1 atm = 1.013 bar). The passport details the highest pressure that the apparatus can produce. A regulator lowers the pressure to the necessary level for work. The operating pressure should be one to two bars higher than the tool’s operating pressure (roughly 20% below peak). You can use a coaxial compressor for a hopper bucket with a pressure of six or more atmospheres (a worker), and a power of 1.2 kW, to renovate an apartment or house outside of the city.
The type of lubrication used in piston devices determines its classification:
- oil-free, producing air at the outlet that is not contaminated with oil droplets;
- oil.
Benefits of oil-free mechanisms include:
- do not require oil changes;
- low cost;
- the air does not contain oil (especially important for the plaster mixture);
- can be installed on an uneven surface (oil will not leak);
- facilitates transportation.
- have a limited resource;
- not intended for long-term loads.
Specialized oil filters are required in order to use an oil compressor with a hopper bucket. However, they cannot ensure that there are no grease particles in the air.
In conclusion, we observe that the following factors should be considered when selecting a unit:
- performance;
- type of transmission;
- receiver volume;
- working pressure.
For industrial use, screw and piston devices with a 500 l receiver are available. These kinds of mechanisms are appropriate for building sites where multiple plastering crews are operating concurrently. Although the devices are much more expensive, there are also more options. When multiple pneumatic tools are connected to it simultaneously, the compressor performance is compared to the total performance needed for each tool’s operation.
Connecting a compressor
In order to supply air to the pneumatic bucket from the compressor, a hose with a cross-section of no less than 9 mm or more is required. For this, an oxygen hose in blue or black would work well. Red hoses cannot be used because they are not made for high pressure.
"Rik-stal", a plastering bucket manufacturer, advises against using mini-buckets or buckets with multiple plugged nozzles unless you use standard hoses with quick-release couplings. For mobile mixes, such a connection is also more than adequate. Due to the 7 mm cross-section of the adapter in the quick-release coupling and the compressor’s transition unit, this connection is not appropriate for thick solutions if a high air flow is needed.
Using a shut-off device at the receiver outlet—such as a ball valve—is a requirement. It is self-installable. To learn how to do this, watch the video. Additionally, you can observe how to enhance the quick-release coupling’s and the adapter’s throughput at the pneumatic unit’s outlet.
Compressor Specification | Importance for Hopper Bucket |
Air Pressure (PSI) | Ensures consistent plaster application |
Airflow Rate (CFM) | Determines the volume of plaster sprayed |
Tank Size (Gallons) | Provides continuous operation without frequent refills |
Portability | Allows easy movement on the job site |
Power Source | Choose based on availability of electricity or need for a gas-powered option |
Making the correct compressor selection for your Hopper Bucket is essential to a successful and productive plastering job. The compressor needs to be powerful and capable enough to meet the demands of uninterrupted, continuous spraying.
When choosing a compressor, take into account variables like CFM (cubic feet per minute) and PSI (pounds per square inch). The proper PSI level will avoid problems like clogging or uneven application, while a higher CFM rating will guarantee a constant flow of material.
Purchasing a dependable compressor will simplify your work and improve the finish quality of your plaster work. For optimal performance, ensure that the specifications of the compressor and your hopper bucket match.