Thread: Air compressor Dryer / Filter

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Where is the best place to buy a Air compressor Dryer / Filter.
Also should I use a in line dryer / filter with the other dryer or will
I be alright with just the one. Is there anything else I should put
in the line to keep debre and water out of my paint.
Thanks Kurt

Well – it depends.

A home owner that uses air for a few tools and maybe an occasional pain job could be served by something like one of these from Home Depot:

Husky Model VT6314HDRB – 3,2 HP, 60 Gallon Compressor (Rebuilt) for $399 including shipping. “This compressor offers a solid cast iron, twin cylinder compressor pump for extreme durability. It also offers 135 PSI maximum pressure and air delivery 11.5/10.2 SCFM @ 40/90 PSI. It has a space saving vertical design that is perfect for your home, garage, or work shop.”

If you’re looking for a bit more, Home Depot Model HS7810 is a “solid cast iron, oil-lubricated pump for extreme durability. Offers 175 PSI maximum pressure and air delivery 12.6 SCFM @ 90 PSI. The unit has an 80 gallon ASME code tank for more stored power.” The price is $1,079 including shipping.

Both of these units will run on 240 Volt (standard residential current)

If you’re making a living with air, you’ll definitely want to go to a commercial grade screw type compressor but the prices will start at $5,000+ and go up quickly.

Filters and dryers are all over the place as well. Northern Tools has a filter/regulator combo for $49.99. To get a “hobbyist” grade dryer you’ll need to pay another $100.

Professional grade dryer/filter units are in the thousands.

Another resource is Harbor Freight (there’s on in Tampa). They carry a lot of stuff from “one-time-use” throw away up to some pretty decent equipment. They have a PUMA compressor for $499 that has some pretty decent specifications (Air delivery: 12.9 CFM @ 40 PSI; 11.4 CFM @ 90 PSI) and I know several guys on the site swear by their “purple” HVLP guns.

I’m sure others will chime in. In the end, your budget may dictate.

Good Luck,
Glenn

I have the blue HF filter/ regulator/ drier plumbed into my paint lines.. never get water out of it. piping for the paint lines does go to the celing of my shed which is 8' up, and back down 8' into the drier.. all in all, probably the best $30 spent there. the wing nut for the drain came off, but a small wrench opens the drain just fine

Thanks Glennsexton and Matt; I allready have the air compressor.
I was just looking for a good dryer/filter that I could plumb
in to my pipe air line permently. Maybe just change the filter
once in awhile. I've got a 80 gallon tank 200psi max. 18 cfm @ 90.
I'm looking for something more permminate I've got the in line dryer
but want something better for painting flames on my truck.
Just got me a 6 color air brush kit with the holder stand.
All the air lines tie in to the stand with their own air valve.
It's got one air supply line coming in to the stand with it's own air pressure regulator.
I also picked up a in - line Air pressure regulator.

Kurt

http://www.tptools.com/ try them , I built a home made sandblaster thru them.

I used a HF $20 unit as a prefilter then a Sharpe self draining final filter at the end of an approximate 50 foot run. The HF as a final filter I felt really didn't pull out all of the entrained water, but the Sharpe did for sure. I also had a small filter at the compressor outlet to pull out any potential oil carry over (never had any, but.....). I also did my primary air pressure adjustments, i.e. to ~25psig at the outlet of the filters and the final adjustments at the gun (14-16psig for my Iwata LPH400) with a separate very good larger diameter gauge - that is one the would read something a bit finer then the 160psig of most of them. In all, I spent about $150, or about the price of a quart of good brand paint for this equipment.


Photo w/o the primary regulator


Primary regulator


Gun regulator

The gray speckles (SPI epoxy)on the filters are from a HF 43430 (purple gun) - a POS that spits out more overspray then any gun I used - ever. It's long gone!!!