Looking for decent in-line water dryer/filtering system for my home shop compressor

admin

I upgraded to a bigger compressor for my home shop (24 gal Porter Cable)…mostly to have enough air to run my plasma cutter.  I’ve put a cheapish in-line filter - which I picked up at Tractor Supply - below the compressor regulator, and another one at the intake on the back of the plasma cutter, but I have little confidence they’re removing enough moisture.  So I started looking at better drying/filtering systems. And many of them are awful spendy.  Any suggestions for a decent in-line setup that gets the job done economically?   The plasma cutter is the only tool I run off this compressor, although I may eventually add a paint sprayer.  As far as budget, 2-3 hundred bucks wouldn’t be out of the question, if a good solution was available in that range.I’m imagining something like one of these 3-stage setups:https://www.amazon.com/INDUSTRIAL-RE...0148354&sr=8-5I don’t know a thing about the system in the above link, except it was the first thing that popped up in my google search.  Anybody use something similar…and if so please recommend me a decent product I that’s in my price range.  Thanks!RedLast edited by SeenRed; 2 Hours Ago at 01:09 AM.God bless our military men and women and their families!  To all our veterans and active duty military...Thank You For Your Service!Hobart Handler 210 MVP
Reply:I use nothing just air tank.Dave

Originally Posted by SeenRed

I upgraded to a bigger compressor for my home shop (24 gal Porter Cable)…mostly to have enough air to run my plasma cutter.  I’ve put a cheapish in-line filter - which I picked up at Tractor Supply - below the compressor regulator, and another one at the intake on the back of the plasma cutter, but I have little confidence they’re removing enough moisture.  So I started looking at better drying/filtering systems. And many of them are awful spendy.  Any suggestions for a decent in-line setup that gets the job done economically?   The plasma cutter is the only tool I run off this compressor, although I may eventually add a paint sprayer…but for now it’s difficult to justify an expensive system…although 2-3 hundred bucks wouldn’t be out of the question, if a good solution was available in that range.I’m imagining something like one of these 3-stage setups:https://www.amazon.com/INDUSTRIAL-RE...0148354&sr=8-5I don’t know a thing about the system in the above link, except it was the first thing that popped up in my google search.  Anybody use something similar…and if so please recommend me a decent product I that’s in my price range.  Thanks!Red
Reply:I'm assuming that 24 gal is a single stage? For the volumes you are putting through it, that unit will probably help, but the harder you run the compressor to keep up, the more moisture is going to be a problem. If it's an older pump, oil can also become an issue.  The big thing is cooling the air before it gets to the desiccant. I think my drier recommended 20 ft between it and the compressor. So far I've had good luck with steel lines and moisture traps in a heated shop. I don't have any pellets in my drier because I heard they have been known to deteriorate and travel in the air stream. If you do go with a setup like that, I would add a second filter after the drier to catch any pellet fragments. Keeping moisture out of your plasma is a good idea. You might want to look online at some of the homemade cooling setups. Condensed water is easier to filter than water vapor.Last edited by whtbaron; 2 Hours Ago at 01:26 AM.The harder you fall, the higher you bounce...250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes