Water filtration question

John742

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What filters are you guys using on your compressor? The stock one that came with my cheapy compressor is junk! Need advice about a really good water filter. Should I just get a good one? Or throw a second in line right before my brush?
I don't want to screw up my brushes balance with it though so not sure what you guys are doing. As always thank you in advance for your help.
 
I've got a standard one on the compressor and mini one at the brush end right before my quick connect.
 
What filters are you guys using on your compressor? The stock one that came with my cheapy compressor is junk! Need advice about a really good water filter. Should I just get a good one? Or throw a second in line right before my brush?
I don't want to screw up my brushes balance with it though so not sure what you guys are doing. As always thank you in advance for your help.
I am not sure where you live so this may or may not help, I use a water trap right of my compressor, then I have my compressor hooked up to an external tank for added air and then I use an inline filter before the hose coming off of my external tank connects to my airbrush hose. The ones I use are from Harbor Freight (I know a lot of people hate this place) they are cheaper than big box stores and work fantastic!
 
I live in Indiana, I'm using a cheap masters tankless compressor, but it does the job for me. My problem is I'm getting condensation in my airline after the water trap. I don't know if I got a good filter for off the compressor if that would do it, or if I should get one right before my brush.
Was just curious what everyone else does for thier setup.
 
tankless compressors will run hotter than a tanked one because the motor is always running. Try a mini filter at the brush, it may help
 
I live in Indiana, I'm using a cheap masters tankless compressor, but it does the job for me. My problem is I'm getting condensation in my airline after the water trap. I don't know if I got a good filter for off the compressor if that would do it, or if I should get one right before my brush.
Was just curious what everyone else does for thier setup.

My setup when I spray in my house is also a tankless master compressor, this is the one that I use the external tank (also bought at Harbor Freight) which helps with the condensation from the compressor that runs hotter. I will take photos to show you later tonight, everything to hook the external tank can be bought at harbor freight. I think the setup cost be about 20 bucks its a 5 gallon external tank for inflating tires, I just added other fittings so the hose coming off of my compressor can fit in it and then I used a T valve so it can feed my airbrush. (Sorry if that is confusing, pictures will help explain better than I can.) Adding the tank helps a lot, the compressor runs less and when the compressor does kick on if you are in the middle of spraying you wont get pressure changes, which it does not cause a big pressure change but just enough to mess up fine detail for instance while doing cracks on a skull that you are painting on a guitar (Sorry I'm still a little bit butt hurt about that onelol). I will post back later tonight with pictures of the setup.
 
I got a chance to take the pictures sooner than I thought. Like I said in my previous post it is a tankless master air compressor that I hooked up to a 5 gallon tank. I don't know if you can tell by the pictures but it is 2 brass reducers then a shutoff valve then a T valve one line going from the compressor to the tank the other line goes from the tank to a regulator, I do not have my moisture traps on right now because I am using them on my setup in my garage. Although I did use this setup last night without moisture traps on it and still did not get any water going to my airbrush. All the water gets trapped inside of the tank. If you would be interested in doing a setup like this let me know I can get a list of the parts that I used. I believe there are Harbor Freights in Indiana but I could be wrong. If not I know you can order from their site online (although I cannot say how good their online ordering is because I have not done it). But for around $20 in parts it will make your air compressor work just as good as more expensive ones.

I hope this helps
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That coiled hose also works like a water trap. Be wary if you were to use this, as is, for a long period. Water (condensation) will form in the hose as the hot air cools....Make sure you blow out the hose once in a while.
I have a noisy 2hp, 4 gallon double tank comp. I have the main regulator on there and another before my triple manifold. The one before the manifold reminds me of an over sized mac valve, but with a dial.....I set the comp. outlet at 60 and use the one at my table for dialing in the pressure for the a/b. I run a water trap after the comp. and before the second valve. I drain the comp. every month and less in the winter (now, when it is dryer than my grammas humour)...lollollol In the humid summers here, I drain it after a couple of days if I am using it a lot.

IMG-20150905-03312.jpg
Pic of manifold set up at table. This was before I added another T for my new Sotar....I have never had a drop of moisture in that trap.
Cheers
 
That coiled hose also works like a water trap. Be wary if you were to use this, as is, for a long period. Water (condensation) will form in the hose as the hot air cools....Make sure you blow out the hose once in a while.
I have a noisy 2hp, 4 gallon double tank comp. I have the main regulator on there and another before my triple manifold. The one before the manifold reminds me of an over sized mac valve, but with a dial.....I set the comp. outlet at 60 and use the one at my table for dialing in the pressure for the a/b. I run a water trap after the comp. and before the second valve. I drain the comp. every month and less in the winter (now, when it is dryer than my grammas humour)...lollollol In the humid summers here, I drain it after a couple of days if I am using it a lot.

Yes water will form in the first coiled hose (but gets trapped by the tank), I ran this setup without any water trap (as i stated above right now they are on my setup in my garage and I was to lazy to unhook them and bring them in:whistling:) I had about a 10 hour paint session and did not blow out the hoses and did not get any water through the airbrush. But it is still good practice to blow the hoses out which I do (again when not being lazy), and run a water trap ( normally I run 2 water traps, for extra precaution).
 
Awesome! I think I'm going to try an inline filter right before my brush to start, and see if this helps.
If not, I'm going to make a trip down the street to harbor freight and try an extra tank. I just need my setup to stay somewhat portable. Thanks guys, for the pics and advice.
 
Awesome! I think I'm going to try an inline filter right before my brush to start, and see if this helps.
If not, I'm going to make a trip down the street to harbor freight and try an extra tank. I just need my setup to stay somewhat portable. Thanks guys, for the pics and advice.
Not a problem, with the extra tank it is still portable just have to make an extra trip;). I hope either the inline filter or the extra tank helps with the problem you are having:thumbsup:. Good luck and keep us posted on which route you took and if it works for you!
 
I just ended up getting a mini filter right before my brushes. It seems to be doing the trick, don't quite care for the added weight and upsetting the brushes balance but it's not horrible. Easy fix for now until I can get a good air dryer for my compressor.
 
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