My first plasma; how's my air/filter setup look to you?

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Howdy, I'm Tim and this is my first post.  I've been lurking here for a while doing lots and lots of reading.I'm a home hobbyist DIY guy who is currently infatuated with TIG welding, mostly aluminum.  My main hobby is bicycling (road, mountain, cargo, fatbiking, cruising, ...) , so I plan to be able to make/mod frames, trailers, racks, car racks, storage racks, etc., mostly related to cycling.  I will also be working with steel and stainless but to lesser extent.  I've taken a couple of TIG classes and will be enrolling in another class at the local community college this spring.  I was recently introduced to a local pro welder with lots of aluminum TIG experience who has agreed to let me follow him around pestering him in his shop in exchange for cold IPA. Anyways.....After much research I finally bit the bullet and ordered a Miller Spectrum 625 X-Treme plasma cutter.My (reasonably priced) planned setup:I have a newer Husky C331H 33 gallon compressor that will feed the 625.  I know that it is not the most powerful compressor on the planet, but this will be for my hobby shop, not for production work.  It's fairly quiet for a compressor which is welcome when I am out working in the garage.  I installed a T on it with a separate regulator which will be for a dedicated run over to the 625.  After the regulator I will be installing a Motor Guard M-26 filter, and at the machine a Motor Guard DD-1008 desiccant cartridge.  I live in CO, so high humidity days are not the norm.Do you think this is a smart way to go or would you recommend something else?  Thanks in advance for the help.
Reply:Sounds like a good setup for a home shop.
Reply:After a bit more reading I think I am going to skip the DD-1088 and use a Miller 228926 inline filter instead.
Reply:Originally Posted by LuMaxI have a newer Husky C331H 33 gallon compressor that will feed the 625.  I know that it is not the most powerful compressor on the planet, but this will be for my hobby shop, not for production work.  ...Do you think this is a smart way to go or would you recommend something else? .
Reply:One more thing, There should be a pressure gauge right at the inlet to the plasma, after all filters......within a few inches of the inlet. Without this you will never know the inlet pressure......as every filter, every fitting and every length of hose creates a restriction. As the filters eventually saturate or clog, expect higher levels of restriction that create a drop in pressure at the inlet under flowing conditions.Install the gauge, then take a reading under static pressure (no air flowing at the torch) at the gauge back at your regulator....then at the gauge at your plasma.....they will be essentially the same. Activate the airflow, take the same two readings again, you will see a lower pressure at the gauge at the plasma. The difference in pressure is the pressure drop from the restrictions in the air system (filters, fittings, hose, etc.).Jim Colt Originally Posted by LuMaxHowdy, I'm Tim and this is my first post.  I've been lurking here for a while doing lots and lots of reading.I'm a home hobbyist DIY guy who is currently infatuated with TIG welding, mostly aluminum.  My main hobby is bicycling (road, mountain, cargo, fatbiking, cruising, ...) , so I plan to be able to make/mod frames, trailers, racks, car racks, storage racks, etc., mostly related to cycling.  I will also be working with steel and stainless but to lesser extent.  I've taken a couple of TIG classes and will be enrolling in another class at the local community college this spring.  I was recently introduced to a local pro welder with lots of aluminum TIG experience who has agreed to let me follow him around pestering him in his shop in exchange for cold IPA. Anyways.....After much research I finally bit the bullet and ordered a Miller Spectrum 625 X-Treme plasma cutter.My (reasonably priced) planned setup:I have a newer Husky C331H 33 gallon compressor that will feed the 625.  I know that it is not the most powerful compressor on the planet, but this will be for my hobby shop, not for production work.  It's fairly quiet for a compressor which is welcome when I am out working in the garage.  I installed a T on it with a separate regulator which will be for a dedicated run over to the 625.  After the regulator I will be installing a Motor Guard M-26 filter, and at the machine a Motor Guard DD-1008 desiccant cartridge.  I live in CO, so high humidity days are not the norm.Do you think this is a smart way to go or would you recommend something else?  Thanks in advance for the help.
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcThe 625 X-Treme needs a 6.0 SCFM compressor, if you want to get all of the useable "horsepower" out of it.    Your compressor will be tripping on constantly because it only puts out 5.1 SCFM.  It's like your new V8 Chevy is only running on 6 cylinders.  IMHO,  you need a bigger compressor or smaller (375 X-Treme) PC.  If you can and since you asked, return the compressor for one that puts out more SCFM.  Your PC doesn't know if its cutting a particular piece of steel for a "hobby shop" or "production work."  It just knows that it needs a rapid air "dump"  and lots of it when you pull that trigger. Welcome to the forums.
Reply:The 625 is a nice plasma for sure. The Powermax45 is more efficient if compared to the 625 on a 230 volt input (less amps in with more killowatts out), but it doesn't have the 120 volt capability. The 45 is the best selling plasma....with over 50,000 currently in the field, so it is a well proven design!  Good luck, and happy cutting..Jim Colt Originally Posted by LuMaxI took a long look at the 375, but it's published ratings for aluminum cutting were not as robust as I desired.Jim Colt; I read that post in another thread and already stole a similar gauge off of an old, leaky regulator that I had in a junk box.  FWIW I spent three days  agonizing over getting either the Hypertherm 45 or the Miller 625.  I do think the 45 is the better machine, but in the end for me having the flexibility to be able to utilize 120v mains if necessary swayed my decision.  I know I can't TIG thicker aluminum on 120v, and if I never end up connecting it to 120v then I made a bad decision, but either machine should handle any projects that I throw at them.  Thank you also for the excellent and informative answer to my email.
Reply:Originally Posted by jimcoltThe 625 is a nice plasma for sure. The Powermax45 is more efficient if compared to the 625 on a 230 volt input (less amps in with more killowatts out), but it doesn't have the 120 volt capability. The 45 is the best selling plasma....with over 50,000 currently in the field, so it is a well proven design!  Good luck, and happy cutting..Jim Colt