Clean Air

[kempster]

Do you need to go to all the effort in this thread

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/air-system.htm

or can you just buy something which does all this for you ?

cheers

 

[rtbcomp]

You can buy a refrigerated cooling system if you want to spend a lot of money.

 

[MattF]

How successful are the desiccant type filters on their own?

 

[graffian]

How successful are the desiccant type filters on their own?

They should be very good. Look at the spec for the dessicant. Refrigerated dryers give a dew point no less than 4ºC, zeolite filled ones give air with
something like a -40ºC dew point!

 

[Premiershipman]

I purchased a norgren filter boxed set to have at the end of my compressed air line, wasn't cheap but will remove practically all moisture and oil.

I am running a small section of copper piping with 2 drop legs for moisture drain off and into the norgren filters go a pcl outlet.

Given that I am mainly using the compressed air for plasma cutting I want to keep moisture to an absolute minimum.

Shady

 

[GrahamGKD]

You can buy a refrigerated cooling system if you want to spend a lot of money.

I've been wondering about trying to get hold of a second hand one of those - I looked at the spec for one of the ones that came up on ebay and the minimum storage temperature was +1 degree C - is that the norm for refrigerant dryers - do they need to be protected from frost?

I think the frost has damaged the drain valve on my compressor – I should have been more diligent in draining it out!

 

[brightspark]

Do you need to go to all the effort in this thread

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/air-system.htm

or can you just buy something which does all this for you ?

cheers

what do u intend using the comp for ??a good filter water seperator on the tank and one near the end of line covers nearly all uses

 

[rtbcomp]

I'd wondered about trying to modify an old freezer to dry my air.

 

[GrahamGKD]

I'd wondered about trying to modify an old freezer to dry my air.

Yes, I've heard of that option - most likely one here. One potential issue for me is that I would need something fairly compact. I was thinking about some zig-zag gently falling pipe runs outside of the workshop (shaded from the sun) with water traps but the time to set it up seems to be an issue just lately. I'm also interested in the desiccant option Premiershipman mentions but I'm wondering how often you have to change the consumables?

 

[kempster]

what do u intend using the comp for ??a good filter water seperator on the tank and one near the end of line covers nearly all uses

air tools - nibbler grinder sander punch etc

and spraying a car mate

 

[Premiershipman]

Not sure how often you would have to change the filters in the norgren boxed set, suppose it would depend on how much you used the compresser i suppose.

The filtration i would have thought would be essential if paint spraying, otherwise you could end up with micro bilsters from the moisture in the paint finish.

 

[GrahamGKD]

Not sure how often you would have to change the filters in the norgren boxed set, suppose it would depend on how much you used the compresser i suppose.

The filtration i would have thought would be essential if paint spraying, otherwise you could end up with micro bilsters from the moisture in the paint finish.

Thanks for coming back - I'm not paint spraying at the moment - like you, my priority is plasma cutting. Are there online suppliers for the system you have?

 

[Premiershipman]

I got my set from my local compressed air dealer with the abac compressor, but thorite on the web were good when I contacted them about stuff.

http://secure.thorite.co.uk/akXaeb9...d-ancillaries/Ancillary-components/c-1-6-605/

Hope that helps !

Shady

 

[GrahamGKD]

Great - Thanks for that Shady.