Air dryer

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Bad Sport

Bad Sport

HALF A BUBBLE OFF
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Can someone recommend a decent air dryer/filter for my compressor. I bought one, and it's pretty much useless.
 
I don't know but I CAN tell you there's a few ways to skin this cat, depending on your weather (temp and humidity) and on the airflow you are using.

There's moisture absorbent type dryers---dessicant

There's various water trap "things"

And there are refrigeration dehumidifiers, of course expensive.

"One cheap way" to take a whole big bunch of moisture out is to construct some sort of trap/ condenser, that will condense moisture out of the air. This can be as simple as a pressure vessel immersed in a garbage can, etc, filled with water.

A water trap device can get things down to a manageable level, to where a much smaller dessicant device can "finish up"
 
The trick is to run your air from the compressor through 50' of galvanized pipe that zigzags up the wall to the ceiling and then drops straight down to a ball valve. Midway on that final drop of pipe, add a pipe that goes up about a foot to feed your water trap and subsequent dry air supply.

The length of pipe cools the warm moisture laden compressed air causing the water to condense out of it. By the time it gets to your water trap, most of the water is already gone.

I built this set-up in my garage after finding diagrams on the web. I've never had one drop of water in my water trap. It all drains out the galvanized pipe drop traps.
 
jbc426 said:
The trick is to run your air from the compressor through 50' of galvanized pipe that zigzags up the wall to the ceiling and then drops straight down to a ball valve. Midway on that final drop of pipe, add a pipe that goes up about a foot to feed your water trap and subsequent dry air supply.

The length of pipe cools the warm moisture laden compressed air causing the water to condense out of it. By the time it gets to your water trap, most of the water is already gone.

I built this set-up in my garage after finding diagrams on the web. I've never had one drop of water in my water trap. It all drains out the galvanized pipe drop traps.
Click to expand...

Galvanized? my instruction manual from my big new 80 gallon 3 cyl compressor says in big bold type, DO NOT USE PVC OR GALVANIZED PIPING WITH ANY AIR COMPRESSION SYSTEM.
 
Look at NAPA, I have used their brand for years.
My air compressor is outside, I put a moisture trap on the inside wall where the line comes thru.
Ran the line up the corner of the wall and branched in two different directions.
Every place I have a drop for a line for an air hose, I added another moisture trap.
Drain the tank and traps every so often, because the humidity is really high here.
 
I have is couple from Campbell Hausfeld. Also I put a "curly/coiled" hose Immediately after the compressor and before anything else. If extended its probably 25' at least. This allows the compressed air to climatize. Might work/help if u dont have one?
 
You can try plumbing in an old canister type oil filter and using a pack of Kotex placed inside the filter canister.

It is a little better than useless.
 
if painting, also use those traps that go at the gun. like $5-6 each, they are a must for me. the traps at H F suck IMO.
 
This is the simplest and best. Get a compressor tank 30 gallon minimum. Usually you can get a junk compressor for free. 60-80 gallon works best. Plumb your compressed air into the other tank. As the air moves from your compressor tank to the auxiliary tank, the moisture will condense in that tank. a smaller filter/dryer and desiccant pot will dry your air better than a refrigerant dryer. You also get the benefit of more stored compressed air.
 
I went through the supposed cheaper options before finally getting a decent used Hankinson air dryer on ebay. It works awesome, period. It's shocking how much water is in the air. I have a drain hose on it and it runs out like a trickling tap whenever i fire it up. Those desiccant units work but only if you live in dry areas of the country. Here in MO it can get very humid.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-3...hash=item4af3386180:m:mYV4c6d1mIs_jMmCaGILXXQ

It's not that much more than a quality desiccant system and it works, guaranteed.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...=nc&LH_ItemCondition=4&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

There are over a hundred used ones ready to go.
 
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