Inexpensive way to rid Moisture in line?

[Trevtastick]

Ok, so I will easily admit I'm a n00b to painting, as I'm sure you will come to find, and I don't have the greatest setup, but I've layed down some decent stuff on a couple fairings. The problem now, is that the temperature here in OK is a constant 100f and high humidity, and no matter how many desiccant inline filters I use in combination with filters, I still get an immense of moisture in my lines. I can't afford a dryer, but I can afford to spend a little money and time to do something... ANYTHING that will not break the bank and help rid this moisture problem.

The real problem stems from my compressor only being a 20gal, and needing to spin up a lot. Is there any hope? :crap:

 

[TAZ]

You could always be another larger tank to tie in with your current one.

While you are spraying, there should be a valve on your 20 gal tank that you can crack open to let moisture out.

There is a filter ball that you can purchase that goes on the end of your gun, this might also help.

 

[tomsteve]

Homemade air dryer - OFN Forums

scroll down the page and you'll see a copper piping setup sitting in front of a kobalt compressor. you can make a setup like this, which is what i did, and it removes moisture and cools the air pretty good. to make it even better on the cheap, take a 25-50' long air hose off the compressor, coil it in a 5 gallon bucket, then to the copper dryer. fill the bucket with ice water. on the copper cooler i made, i have a valve at the bottom of each run so i candrain any water. then i have one of these Autobody Store: DeVilbiss QC3 Air Filter/Dryer

the air line filter is pretty good, but i dont like it on my gun as theres already a regulator there and dont need more hangin off the gun.


do a google search for homemade water seperator or homemade air dryer and you'll find all kinds of ideas.

 

[tomsteve]

well, lookin at that picture again, mine isnt quite the same. i ran the piping in a zig zag pattern and it isnt all tied together at the top and bottom so the air has to run down, back up, down, back up, down, back up 6 times before enteriing into the filter/dryer. i have been running air tools a lot this week tearing down an 87 blazer. i just happened to go by the filter today and drained it for the 1st time in over a week. just a drop of water came out.

 

[TAZ]

Pretty innovative idea tom!

You're right about the 'filter balls' though. They do extend the gun a about 3" or so.
The new EPA rules say you can't use these any more to. BUT, we still do.

 

[Trevtastick]

Thanks guys. I have another compressor I'm going to run in Tandem, and I'll use my existing Separator/Filter setup and see if I still have moisture problems. If so, I'll look into Copper Tubing and Ice cooling.

 

[tomsteve]

okay, now when you say in tandem, are you talkin about piping the 2 together and havin 2 motors runnin? or piping the tanks together for more air volume?

 

[Trevtastick]

okay, now when you say in tandem, are you talkin about piping the 2 together and havin 2 motors runnin? or piping the tanks together for more air volume?

Yes. Using a "T" coupling and having them both run, will effectively put me at 51gals and 16cfm. My gun only takes 3.8cfm, so I bet that will help immensely.

 

[tomsteve]

i read somewhere that it would be better to pipe the running compressor into the other one and have your air line off of there.

 

[Trevtastick]

i read somewhere that it would be better to pipe the running compressor into the other one and have your air line off of there.

To tell you the truth, I don't know which is better. Using the 'T' is easier to do and I haven't run into any trouble with moisture. Even using my hopper-style sand blaster has been much better. Running from the T I'm using a 3ft 3/8'' line to a Separator & Desiccant filter then an additional 25ft to my gun with another desiccant filter and gauge. Don't really need the extra filter now, but it's working beautifully!

Also, running the T makes it super easy for me to disconnect one of my compressors and it places where I need little air volume.