Now that I have my computer issues solved, I’m starting to think about air systems. Of all the variables, this one seems to be the most critical. Read all I can find on the forum so I think I understand what I need; my question relates to manufacturers. Been cruising Amazon and find there is lots to choose from.
If we are allowed to critique specific makes, what brand seems to work, not necessarily the best, but perfectly functional, without having to take out a second mortgage.
OK, thanks for the reply. I was considering one of those as I noticed they are very highly regarded on this forum. Are you familiar with the Nanpu brand of desiccant dryers and their oil coalessing filters?
By the way, have you heard of anybody trying an automotive transmission cooler for an aftercooler on their compressor? I”ve seen pics of some pretty elaborate looking jobs made from copper tubing, that would put Buckminster Fuller to shame! What about a coil immersed in a bucket of water?
Many people use transmission coolers as an after cooler - yes it’s extremely common.
You’ll get better performance out of it if you can run an aux fan on it, but just the cooler itself helps many.
I can’t speak on behalf of anything else as I simply went with a refrigerated setup. I don’t have the room for copper tubing with drops (I think those are cool), and I also don’t have the extra CFM’s to run tons of tubing.
I’m sure others will share their experience, and recommendations.
Budget, space, and how-to are 3 factors that come into play when setting up for dry air. You still haven’t mentioned these.
For this reason you’ll see tons of different recommendations that will all work.
Location is also another large factor as one person may need all the extra filtering, whereas someone like myself doesn’t need as much (central CA, dry).
I definitely get your point. As for budget, around $500 would be nice; I still don’t have a plasma cutter yet! Space is always at a premium in back yard shops, but I suppose I could make anything fit if I had to.As for location, I’m on the west coast of B.C., so I would have to say “moist”.
Read this thread. I have read every single post in that thread. Tons of questions and testing. Like Kwikfab said most people do the aftercooler. Questions is before the tank or after the tank? All explored in that thread. What I have discovered is at a minimum you will need 2 solutions. If you get an oil water separator you will also need a motor guard or desiccant dryer. If you do and after cooler either Cooper tubing or Transmission cooler you will also need a water separator..
My system worked fine for over 2 years with just a 2 stage Nanpu water separator. Last 3 months I have had all kinds of anomalies. I now have a transmission cooler, 2 stage water separator, and a motor guard filter. Getting the hoses together to get the transmission cooler installed. Most popular one is a Derale 15300. I just got mine on amazon 2 days ago for $71. says cheapest price in 30 days. My 2 stage Nanpu was $74 (2 years ago), I just got the Motorguard M-45 kit for $101 (last week). I’m going with flexible braided stainless steel hoses. I want to mount the cooler on the wall to avoid the vibration from the compressor some people have had there inlet or outlet break due to the start and stop vibration from the compressor. I using flexible hoses because I suck with cooper and I want some flexibility in location. If you just a hose you need one that can handle well over 300 degrees. Many air compressors the outlet form the pump is right at 300 degrees. I hope some of that helps. I got luck with a few low humidity days and was able to finish up the rush cutting I needed to get done
Wow, that’s quite the read, it will need to be chewed on a few times to fully digest it all. I too was looking at the Derale model you mentioned. I heard somewhere that the “stacked plate” style cooler may be more efficient at cooling than the tube and fin style. I have no personal experience with “car” stuff. Having grown up on the coast, I’m more of a boat person. The trick I suppose will be finding a cooler that can handle the pressure.
Been cruising Amazon and noticed that Motorguard also has coalessing filters as well as desiccant dryers. If these are as good as everybody considers the M30’s to be, then I wonder if it”s better to go with a “unified” line? All depends on the bottom line I suppose.
Getting back to after coolers, I was thinking of going after the tank, never been fond of tearing things apart that work, too much to lose. But I wonder how effective a spirally wound coil of copper tubing immersed in a tank of water would be; heck, in the winter you could throw a couple of shovels of snow into it!
Don’t want to stretch this out too long but you seemed fairly happy with the Nanpu line untill you didn”t? Was it a quality issue or a combination of a multitude of other factors?
Thanks for the come back, gotta re-reread those threads.
I did have a break in cutting regularly and had to take the water separator apart. Something was stuck inside and it was blocking air flow dropping my pressure at the plasma cutter. Only happen once. I do not cut alot. Currently just do it for fun and usually run less than 1 hour per session. I started doing longer runs and this summer has been humid.
Bottomline you are going to be stacking types of air dryer equipment no matter what you get.
Not wanting to put you on the spot or anything, but brands differ in quality and performance as you know, so have you heard much about which ones are the ones to aim for. Motorguard seems everyones favourite particle filter. Any insight into desiccant or oil coalessing filters?
I have read hundreds of post on drying air in the past 10 days since I started having problems.
The Motor Guard filter is your last filter inline to your equipment.
Derale seems to be the 15300 is the most popular aftercooler.
I have no experience with coalescing filter. I did not know anything about them until reading the long post I referred to above.
I do not currently have a desiccant dryer. I have the materials to build one out of a whole house filter. Never put it together because until 10 days ago my system was working good enough.
Bottomline like I said above. Build an air dryer system with at least a cooler (derale or copper tubing) and water separator at a minimum. The Motorguard is going to be a third line in the system. Or go with powered air dryer/refrigerator unit.
I don’t want to beat a dead horse. . I am by no means a expert at all …..
Here is my honest opinion and advice.
Trans cooler works well. It is intended for fluid to air exchange. More money you can buy one for compressed air. Both need a fan to be efficient. I myself use a trans cooler but want to upgrade.
Absolutely please reconsider the house water filter as a desiccant filter. Your not saving much if you consider the risks. At least contact the manufacturer and get them to sign off on the use.
After my compressor and under the table I have another portable air tank which is just a pass through that adds additional capacity and water falls to bottom then out of that have a HF water trap then a water filter housing with 1 inch pvc pipe with multiple holes drilled in it and wrapped in fiberglass cloth replacing the filter. Fill with dessicant. Been running all hot humid summer amd haven’t had to dry the dessicant yet.
I have an Ingersoll Rand refrigerated dryer, which I installed on the air compressor outlet line. That dries all air going anywhere in the shop. Then, I have a Motorguard filter which is only for the plasma cutters. I have zero issues with moisture and get very clean cuts and excellent life out of the tips.
What is the model, shape, colour, size etc,etc,etc of your dryer if you don’t mind me asking. Do you have other filters and whatnot as well beside the Motorguard?
