Well, It looks as if by moving the water trap 6ft away from the tank I have
stopped my water vapor in its tracks. For painting anyway, I still get
noticable water in the air tools, but only if the compressor is running
continuous. I can see that in the near future I will be running steel pipe
to my main work area then putting in a second water trap.
So, for painting and sandblasting purposes my current configuration is
working well enough. I got a nice finish on my camper today and plan on
painting the top tomorrow.
Another thought is that todays humidity level was only 43%. That may
have also helped with the painting.
Rich
J. Clarke wrote:
> Copper is no longer allowed by code for gas pipes in most localities--some
> folks I know found out why the hard way. Perhaps that's what he has in
> mind. But those considerations shouldn't apply for shop air--if the pipe
> breaks nothing particularly terrible happens.
What's the problem with copper? In my old dive shop days, I can remember many
shops used copper tubing for pressures up to 2475 psi. I never did as my
compressor could crank out 5000 psi at 15 cfm; we used stainless steel tubing
instead. But copper was common throughout the industry (at least back in the
1970s and 1980s).
I can't remember ever hearing of a fitting letting go or tubing failing.
--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
[email protected]
http://www.mortimerschnerd.com
I have a large water trap approximately 20' from my
compressor. I run a flexible 25' 3/8" line to my
sandblasting pot which has a water trap as well. I
haven't been able to do any sandblasting for over a
week now because of moisture. I have a drain in my
compressor which is a large 42 cfm four cylinder,
dual stage. Our humidity and dew point has been
very high during this time. I have the recommended
drains and elevations but still can't get beyond
the moisture problem. Guess I'll just have to wait
for some cooler, drier weather. This configuration
worked great for several days before the humid
weather moved in. sdh.
Searcher wrote:
> Well, It looks as if by moving the water trap 6ft away from the tank I have
> stopped my water vapor in its tracks. For painting anyway, I still get
> noticable water in the air tools, but only if the compressor is running
> continuous. I can see that in the near future I will be running steel pipe
> to my main work area then putting in a second water trap.
> So, for painting and sandblasting purposes my current configuration is
> working well enough. I got a nice finish on my camper today and plan on
> painting the top tomorrow.
>
> Another thought is that todays humidity level was only 43%. That may
> have also helped with the painting.
>
> Rich
>
>
I know this subject has been beat to death but I'll venture in and offer
some advise.
I manage operations for several auto dealerships and we have some twenty air
compressors including some specifically for our painting operations.
In the paint booths we use refrigerated air dryers. They dry the air
completely. However, in all other applications, I have designed a
non-refrigerated air dryer system. Its very simply and I use it at my home
shop as well.
Simply install 4 sets of 3/4" iron pipe in 7'-8' sections vertically (up
and down) against a shaded wall inside out as long as it's in the shade all
day. Install a 6" drip leg at the bottom of each section with a ball valve.
This creates a simple condenser that relies on air and wall temperature to
cool the air and condense the moisture.
From your compressor, run a line (flex line or otherwise) to the condenser.
At the end of the home-made condenser, install a filter/dryer, then plumb
the rest of your system or simply connect directly to the filter/dryer.
Drain your compressor at the end of each day and drain the drip legs as
well. You will have sufficiently dry air with no other issues. I do NOT
recommend PCV or copper pipe or will I get into any debates on thier merits.
Dave
"Steve Hopper" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a large water trap approximately 20' from my
> compressor. I run a flexible 25' 3/8" line to my
> sandblasting pot which has a water trap as well. I
> haven't been able to do any sandblasting for over a
> week now because of moisture. I have a drain in my
> compressor which is a large 42 cfm four cylinder,
> dual stage. Our humidity and dew point has been
> very high during this time. I have the recommended
> drains and elevations but still can't get beyond
> the moisture problem. Guess I'll just have to wait
> for some cooler, drier weather. This configuration
> worked great for several days before the humid
> weather moved in. sdh.
>
> Searcher wrote:
> > Well, It looks as if by moving the water trap 6ft away from the tank I
have
> > stopped my water vapor in its tracks. For painting anyway, I still get
> > noticable water in the air tools, but only if the compressor is running
> > continuous. I can see that in the near future I will be running steel
pipe
> > to my main work area then putting in a second water trap.
> > So, for painting and sandblasting purposes my current configuration
is
> > working well enough. I got a nice finish on my camper today and plan on
> > painting the top tomorrow.
> >
> > Another thought is that todays humidity level was only 43%. That may
> > have also helped with the painting.
> >
> > Rich
> >
> >
>
In article <[email protected]>,
Mark <[email protected]> wrote:
>I used schedule 40 PVC which has printed on it a 600PSI rating. No problems
>yet.
>
>
Oh for crying out loud! Now you've done it!
--
Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland
[email protected]
mp wrote:
>> I do NOT
>> recommend PCV or copper pipe or will I get into any debates on thier
> merits.
>
> I can understand not using PVC, but what's wrong with copper? Is it a
> pressure rating issue or is there some other reason? I don't care to
> debate merits. Just curious.
Copper is no longer allowed by code for gas pipes in most localities--some
folks I know found out why the hard way. Perhaps that's what he has in
mind. But those considerations shouldn't apply for shop air--if the pipe
breaks nothing particularly terrible happens.
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
"Lawrence Wasserman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Mark <[email protected]> wrote:
> >I used schedule 40 PVC which has printed on it a 600PSI rating. No
problems
> >yet.
> >
> >
>
> Oh for crying out loud! Now you've done it!
Ssshhhhhhhhh . . maybe no one will notice. In the meantime Mark, go take a
look here:
http://groups.google.com/groups?safe=images&ie=UTF-8&as_ugroup=rec.woodworking&as_usubject=PVC&lr=&hl=en
--
Nahmie
The law of intelligent tinkering: save all the parts.
Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
> J. Clarke wrote:
>> Copper is no longer allowed by code for gas pipes in most
>> localities--some
>> folks I know found out why the hard way. Perhaps that's what he has in
>> mind. But those considerations shouldn't apply for shop air--if the pipe
>> breaks nothing particularly terrible happens.
>
>
> What's the problem with copper? In my old dive shop days, I can remember
> many
> shops used copper tubing for pressures up to 2475 psi. I never did as my
> compressor could crank out 5000 psi at 15 cfm; we used stainless steel
> tubing
> instead. But copper was common throughout the industry (at least back in
> the 1970s and 1980s).
>
> I can't remember ever hearing of a fitting letting go or tubing failing.
Problem with copper for gas pipe is that if it gets flexed at all it work
hardens and eventually breaks. Steel will do this too but it's a lot more
rigid and so takes a lot more effort to work harden it.
Story time. Outfit down in New Haven had a computer store downstairs and
lived upstairs in an old building--one of the owners' father used to have
his dental office there. I went down there one cold day and found that
they had no heat. Asked why. Seems their marketing director had a cat.
He had a pipe sticking up in his room. He tied a rag to the pipe for the
cat to play with. The cat played with it. After several years of cat
play, the pipe work-hardened to the point that the next time the cat pulled
on it it let go. Turned out to be a copper gas pipe.
They pulled the main breaker on the way out (main breaker was in the
basement, gas leak was on the third floor) and called the gas company from
next door. The gas company came, turned off the gas, let the place vent,
then took a look at the problem and called the building inspector. He
looked at it and told them that the gas couldn't be turned back on until
they replaced all the copper with steel. While they waited for a gasfitter
to get some free time they shivered.
It's much more of an issue with gas than with air--if you get an air leak
you get an air leak. If you get a gas leak and don't spot it in time the
whole place goes up. The problem is more severe with flexible copper than
with rigid, but the particular pipe was rigid.
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Robert Galloway wrote:
> I believe the problem with copper and natural gas has to do with sulfur
> and pinhole leaks from corrosion, if memory serves. Not catastrophic
> failure.
The problem with natural gas is that enough pinhole leaks result in
catastrophic failure, not of the pipe but of the building when the gas that
leaked out lights off.
> bob g.
>
> Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
>
>> J. Clarke wrote:
>>
>>>Copper is no longer allowed by code for gas pipes in most
>>>localities--some
>>>folks I know found out why the hard way. Perhaps that's what he has in
>>>mind. But those considerations shouldn't apply for shop air--if the pipe
>>>breaks nothing particularly terrible happens.
>>
>>
>>
>> What's the problem with copper? In my old dive shop days, I can remember
>> many
>> shops used copper tubing for pressures up to 2475 psi. I never did as my
>> compressor could crank out 5000 psi at 15 cfm; we used stainless steel
>> tubing
>> instead. But copper was common throughout the industry (at least back in
>> the 1970s and 1980s).
>>
>> I can't remember ever hearing of a fitting letting go or tubing failing.
>>
>>
>>
>>
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
I agree completely. I didn't mean to imply that the leaks were trivial,
just that the pipe itself didn't rupture catastrophically. Pinhole
leaks shouldn't be a big deal with compressed air as opposed to what can
occur with some plastic pipe.
bob g.
J. Clarke wrote:
> Robert Galloway wrote:
>
>
>>I believe the problem with copper and natural gas has to do with sulfur
>>and pinhole leaks from corrosion, if memory serves. Not catastrophic
>>failure.
>
>
> The problem with natural gas is that enough pinhole leaks result in
> catastrophic failure, not of the pipe but of the building when the gas that
> leaked out lights off.
>
>
>>bob g.
>>
>>Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
>>
>>
>>>J. Clarke wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Copper is no longer allowed by code for gas pipes in most
>>>>localities--some
>>>>folks I know found out why the hard way. Perhaps that's what he has in
>>>>mind. But those considerations shouldn't apply for shop air--if the pipe
>>>>breaks nothing particularly terrible happens.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>What's the problem with copper? In my old dive shop days, I can remember
>>>many
>>>shops used copper tubing for pressures up to 2475 psi. I never did as my
>>>compressor could crank out 5000 psi at 15 cfm; we used stainless steel
>>>tubing
>>>instead. But copper was common throughout the industry (at least back in
>>>the 1970s and 1980s).
>>>
>>>I can't remember ever hearing of a fitting letting go or tubing failing.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
I believe the problem with copper and natural gas has to do with sulfur
and pinhole leaks from corrosion, if memory serves. Not catastrophic
failure.
bob g.
Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
> J. Clarke wrote:
>
>>Copper is no longer allowed by code for gas pipes in most localities--some
>>folks I know found out why the hard way. Perhaps that's what he has in
>>mind. But those considerations shouldn't apply for shop air--if the pipe
>>breaks nothing particularly terrible happens.
>
>
>
> What's the problem with copper? In my old dive shop days, I can remember many
> shops used copper tubing for pressures up to 2475 psi. I never did as my
> compressor could crank out 5000 psi at 15 cfm; we used stainless steel tubing
> instead. But copper was common throughout the industry (at least back in the
> 1970s and 1980s).
>
> I can't remember ever hearing of a fitting letting go or tubing failing.
>
>
>
>