New/Old Compressor question

[Jordan Baker]

Hi all

My uncle picked up an old compressor from work that was being thrown away. its a huge tank (60gal.) and the compressor part is a double piston type that turns at 1100rpm.

However he said it had a very old electric motor on it that was shot. We'd like to set this up for use on the farm and so that I can sandblast with it. What we were thinking was to use a gas engine instead so that it could be moved around that farm as the need arises.

Can anyone suggest what kind of engine and the HP that would be needed, also, how does one hook it up so that the engine throttles down when the air insn't being used.

Thanks for any and all help.