DIY air compressor. help needed

[peterr]

Lately I have been looking for ways to improve my air bearing Ladegaard tone arm. One of the most obvious conclusions is that I need a heftier compressor than the aquarium pump I have used to date. Since I like to DIY my audio stuff whenever possible I want to try and make my own. It needs to be in the best Frugal-fi tradition
I have done a little Google-research and the most promising route seems to use an old refrigerator pump. like this one Such a pump should be easy enough to find but what else do I need and where could I get it?
Does anyone have experience making such a beast?
What kind of pressure can it reliably produce?
Any tips are very much appreciated.

[dnsey]

Those pumps can produce something like 100 psi, albeit al low volume - I've used them for pumping up tyres with no problems.
However, I understand that the oil in which they run can become dangerously acidic, and cause very nasty skin burns - what it would do to your precision engineering I hate to think!
Most are also only intermittently rated, and will be likely to overheat during the playing of an LP.
How about an airbrush compressor instead?

[peterr]

How about an airbrush compressor instead?

the way I understand it airbrush compressors are nothing other than a refrigerator pump with a few bits added

[dnsey]

Yes, some are just that, but with the important addition of an oiltrap ( and perhaps using different oil - I don't know).
I was thinking, though, of the little diaphragm pumps.

[x. onasis]

Certainly you could do it. The first shop compressor I had was home built using a walk-in cooler compressor, 3/4 HP motor, and a used bottled gas tank. It was comparatively cheap 30 years ago. The trade off between it and commercial units was slow recovery time.

Any compressor needs a pressure relief valve, a pressure cut off/on switch that bleeds the incoming line so the compressor doesn't have to start under a load. A drain in the storage tank is also important.

Installing these three items and accompanying fittings might run the price higher than a small commercial unit. I see them at the big box stores pretty cheap lately, especially the small ones.