Dry air and plasma?

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Every thing I've read says you need dry air. How can you tell if the air out of the compressor is dry enough? Is a franzinator after the tank equal to a couple runs of piping?
Reply:get a water separator as used by the auto body refinish industry.  Paint guns don't care for water either.
Reply:a water seperator and then an air dryer would be ideal. When you compress air, the moisture just falls out or precipitate, if you will.It will save you bookoo $ on consumables.
Reply:The best thing to use is a Motor Guard M26 air filter. It looks like it has a roll of toilet paper in it & gets ALL the water out. They cost about $85 but you will not be sorry. This web site below has them or go to your local welding supply store & ask for onehttp://www.weldersource.com/plcusy.html[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]www.migfix.com
Reply:I know about separators and dryers.  But how do you know when the air is dry enough? Maybe a person needs more or less intervention depending where you live.
Reply:I dont think there is a 'too dry' setting... but worst it will do is cause you to go thru consumables more often.well... I should clarify... if you have water dripping out the end of the hose it might cause more problems...chances are: if you can paint with it, it's dry enough to cut with.
Reply:You can always go to Compressed Air in cylinders and be assured it is dry.SMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:The quickest way to know your air is too wet is if you start to see your consumables going south very quickly.  I connect my plasma cutter to the end of a run that goes from floor-level to overhead and back to floor.  I also have a water trap at the plasma cutter.  I also use one of the motorguard filters mentioned above.  I started out with the plasma cutter connected directly to the compressor...consumable life was horrible...then I added the overhead run to allow water to drain back toward the compressor.  This added noticably more life.  Then came the trap on the other side...again, noticably more life...then came the MG filter...again, more life.  Now, I didn't do any kind of scientific evaluation.  It is based entirely on my perception, but my perception is that now I can use my gun parts for several projects rather than several cuts.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:go to the automotive paint store and buy one of those round spray gun filters.there orange plastic and they screw to the back of the plasma just like an air fitting about 12 bucks for 2,i built an entire bbq pit and didnt go through any consumables,i have a water seperator but it still lets water through,dont get the harborfreight ones they restrict the air flow,the one im using right now has lasted 2 months they say change every week but with a plasma you just use them till you start using consumables
Reply:Paintman, I don't know my way around auto paint stores--how about a link or a photo?
Reply:i could get a pic tomorrow but if you just go to the paint store ask for a spraygun water filter they should give you a round plastic orange thing with male threads on one side and female threads on the other but ill try to find a link tonight
Reply:it looks like this but its orange Attached Images
Reply:Found a link and good discussion of air treatment: http://www.spraygunworld.com/Informa...rFilters10.htm
Reply:I suggest Thermal Dynamics  "dry air" style air filter. catalog number 7-7507 Filter assembly supplied with short innerconnecting hose and 2 replacement elements. If there is no oil in the air line the filter elements can be dried and reused. The filter is designed to shut off air flow when dirty. Thus giving the indication to replace the element.Looks like cost is around $100Would attach a picture if I knew how.   suggest you Google "7-7507 Thermal Dynamics"The thing to remember with filters like Motor Guard is that no one maintains them. When the paper element gets saturated it starts breaking up and getting pushed into your airline and plasma torch.ThanksGene
Reply:You can test your air for contaminants, water oil and anything that may be in your air lins.Build a little fixture to hold your air line 3 inches from a mirror tilt the mirror 45 degrees up turn on the air for 20 minutes if there is anything in your lines you will see it.
Reply:Originally Posted by smithboyThen came the trap on the other side...again, noticably more life...then came the MG filter...again, more life.
Reply:Thermals Dynamics has a single stage and 2 stage filter kit for their plasma cutters.  Does anyone know what the difference is between them?  I'm using compressed air from a portable oil less compressor (Thomas T-2820ST):http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Compres...2387989&sr=8-7Thermal Dynamics 2 stage filter:http://store.cyberweld.com/thdypl2stair.htmlThermal Dynamics single stage filter:http://store.cyberweld.com/thdyplairfik.html
Reply:Originally Posted by Stang LoverSmithboy,Out of curiousity, does the water trap go before or after the Motor Guard filter?