Thanks TinW; I am wary of the HF dryer only due to reviews. Your additional info is very helpful. I run a fairly low “compressor” pressure (118 max) probably due to the age of my compressor. Would I be correct in assuming MOST users here running the HF dryer are happy with their units? I’m also looking at a Hankison HPR5-10 which I can get for about $765. THX!
I don’t know what to tell you for the harbor freight version, it’s not the refrigerated air dryer I have. The biggest problem with these air dryers is normally people piping them into systems with too much pressure drop and having to deal with too much temperature and when they don’t work well they blame the equipment instead of realizing that the issue was them not understanding the limitations of the equipment.
Only speaking for myself, I have the HF dryer and have no problems. I live in a very wet area (western Washington state). I have at least 3 water traps, the transmission cooler and my “mission to Mars” 100 foot coil of 1/2 inch pex line with a 20 inch fan blowing on the transmission cooler and the pex coil all before the air reaches the HF dryer.
I don’t know what is working but I also have various other filters, the auto drain on the tank and a one quart desiccant bead filter.
Now that I think about it, it would be hard for me to review the effectiveness of the air dryer. I just didn’t want to keep modifying my setup so this was my second attempt and I haven’t needed a third revision.
I’m curious to see what sort of drops in pressure people are seeing with these units.
I ask because I’ve been running one for awhile, always on an air compressor that this entire forum would deem inadequate for my plasma cutter (even if I remove my filtration).
Jim, I just saw the picture of your “system” from a few years back. Throw a Tesla Coil in the middle of it and you could sell tickets! . Quite a rig, my friend. Thx, Edward
Yep. And, it is working just fine. I know it is removing moisture but I don’t know where it is because the water traps aren’t catching anything. I do know it is dry because I have another line that does not go thru all of the drying paraphernalia and when I disconnect things, I feel a light mist of moisture. That does not happen with my dry line.
I don’t like to keep showing it because enough people have seen it. Plus, PEX tubing is not certified/designed for compressed air so I don’t really want to push the idea. I have read lots of posts of people using PEX without problems. One thing to be aware if you do use it, some adapter fittings may not fit snug enough without adaptation. It will leak or completely separate under pressure (perhaps while you are on a road trip with your spouse…don’t ask!!!)
Side-by-Side Specifications
. Quite a rig, my friend. Thx, Edward
