setting up a plasma

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alright so im just about to pull the trigger on a used plasma cutter, hypertherm PM1000. i have used plasma before and know how to use them, my question is regarding the air....im pretty sure i will need to be running some sort of water trap or be using some other method to dry the air right? what are you guys using for this? air will be regulated down to 90psi and i have the 220v power for my welder so neither of those are a concern...just wanted to make sure about this.
Reply:The best way to make sure you have the best air is purchase Compressed air in cylinders. Or buy this: http://www.motorguardplasma.com/1plasma.htmlVern
Reply:Depending on your location....and the ambient humidity...as well as how often you will use the plasma...your requirements for mosture removal from your compressed air will vary. A good rule of thumb is to install the same type of filtration and moisture traps that would be required for automotive paint operations. These filters/traps are reasonably priced....and are well worth the cost as they will make the plasma consumable parts last longer. In worst case scenarios a refrigerated condensate trap ( one that reportedly works well is from Harbor Freight for $350)...these have automatic moisture drains...and require little mainenance.Jim Colt
Reply:The plasma cutter will be used just north of Victoria, BC (canada) so...its on the west/wet coast, it'll be high ambient humidity. i think what we run for doing paint and lacquer in the shop is a drying system from Princess auto and a water trap upstream. will have to stop in at Princess auto before i leave for the island again. Vern, do you know if those filters can be bought in canada?something along those lines woud probably be easiest im thinking...
Reply:If you can paint ok with it shouldn't it be fine for a plasma? I would think that wet air would do more damage to your painting than your plasma consumables.
Reply:Yes.....if the air is acceptable for paint spray applications...it is acceptable for an air plasma system.Jim Colt
Reply:....paint is at the other end of the shop and all the setup is over there so i will probably be looking to replicate that setup on my plasma cart-when i get one built- thanks guys
Reply:Check out KMS in Victoria too. Usually have better quality brands than Power Fist at Princess Auto.
Reply:well....i have been into KMS in victoria...and every time i have been in there looking for anything metal or welding related they have not been able to be of ANY help to me...not really for lack of trying, they just dont have a clue with a few things on products that they carry which kinda makes supporting them a bit of a problem for me, i would like to support them but you have to know your products if you want my $$$, will PA, nope ill probably be on my own but my wallet will also have alot more in it when i walk out the doors....while the powerfist might be crap but....its cheap and right now im kinda of pushing it to get the plasma cutter as it is...(the last of my saved up money from the summer) and....im a student, i wanted to get a cutter before school started and made myself wait for a used one..this onecame up and i couldnt pass it up...
Reply:I used to go to the Kamloops KMS lots there they had an old guy that had his own welding company for years, a little opinionated towards the red side of things but KMS is VERY blue so he was coming around. Lots of good prices on gloves, machines, consumables, setup tools. I moved to North Bay in May and I sure wish there was a KMS here. This place sux for buying stuff. The best they have is Cambodian Tire and Acklands Grainger! And there are 54,000 people here!!! C'mon, not even a NAPA? I used to live in 100 Mile, 3,200 people and we had a NAPA!
Reply:thanks for the reminder! i will be passing through Kamloops on my way back to the island, i think im going to be driving back instead of flying...this could work. right now im living in Edmonton but i dont know the tool stores here and....truck was stolen a month or so ago so no wheels to get around either...
Reply:Yeah the KMS is just off the highway on the Vancouver end of Kamloops. Just turn left at the big Petro-Canada on the hill and make your way back a block or so to the KMS. But Princess Auto would probably be good enough for cleaning your air for the plasma. Like I was saying anything that is OK for painting will be better than average for your plasma.I used to live in Edmonton too! Where did your wheels get pinched? I take it you had some sort of Toyota type unit. I bought an 07 Tundra when we were living in Kamloops.
Reply:ya, im here for school....got my wheels pinched at Belvedere LRT station in the north end...truck was my 1981 BJ42 Landcruiser....love that truck and it goes ne where...probably going to trailer it home and drive out a turbo'd BJ60on the topic though...it looks like i wont have to look into this too much, buddy that im buying it from is throwing in the air drying stuff that he was using so hopefully i dont have to worry about it.
Reply:I worked with a guy in Sparwood that bought a couple of Land Rovers from the UK, same kinda "boxy" look, he got the CHEAP though, like $6500 delivered to Vancouver.