Ghetto air dryer?

[Toreadorranger]

I'm looking to run some airlines in my garage, I dont use a ton of air but I just picked up a chinese plasma and run my HF blaster occasionally. It's not in the cards to run an actual dryer. Is some black iron pipe with drop legs and a good desiccant filter enough? Any other budget methods?

 

[clodhopper]

look here for some direction: https://irate4x4.com/forum/general-tech/shop-and-tools/29761-plasma-cutter-air

 

[cagcig]

I have 4' vertical legs with 3 drops with ball valves to empty drops and I still get moisture. Almost to the point of trying one of the HF dryers.

 

[Toreadorranger]

I have 4' vertical legs with 3 drops with ball valves to empty drops and I still get moisture. Almost to the point of trying one of the HF dryers.

I was hoping to avoid buying a dryer since I so infrequently use air. How much piping do you have between the compressor and the drops?

 

[cagcig]

About 3'

 

[Drummer79]

I'm looking to run some airlines in my garage, I dont use a ton of air but I just picked up a chinese plasma and run my HF blaster occasionally. It's not in the cards to run an actual dryer. Is some black iron pipe with drop legs and a good desiccant filter enough? Any other budget methods?

Ok this is apparently a Tuesday type question, but I used to work at a body shop, and maybe there were systems at play that I was aware of when i was 16, but the little orange ball things you screw on right at the paint gun, sand blaster, etc..aren't enough? I know there were occasional glass bowl things in the line to catch water very so often too.

 

[tracyb]

i have 100' of 1/2" pex sloping back to the compressor before the first air drop. i run almost everything straight off that. plasma etc..

for painting and blasting i have this drying/ filter. i made it a long time ago and it has served very well, nice being portable.
View attachment 08Xj2-en5jl8aTKB1kXap6x60zbLrz8WIUy5bgFEfiG5pnTaG0XL_RpoLRWYuii9snfB0Xmay_ELcehbwf77agxeGH_A4Os88v27

 

[not2hye]

I bought a harbor fright water trap and a quart of rechargeable desiccant beads off of eBay to run my plasma.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/283327757232
https://www.harborfreight.com/industrial-air-filter-regulator-unit-68247.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/industrial-air-filter-regulator-unit-68247.html
https://www.ebay.com/itm/283327757232

Opened the canister up and up and packed the bead inside. Bought a short whip hose to run from the output back to the input to keep the unit sealed when not being used.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Being on the east coast, I don't think piping will be enough to draw moisture out of the air, not if the plasma is continuously used.

An after cooler inbetween your compressor outlet and tank is a good first step. You could build a franzinator if you wanted even cheaper. Even with that, I get moisture in my lines that catch in the filters/dryers.

Dessicant works, but you need a lot of it for it to last, and the air system needs to be tight so that the dessicant doesn't just waste away when you're not using it.

 

[Fredycruger]

HF dryer is on sale 300$ instead of 400
first time i see it on sale