wet air

[fourperf]

I have been noticing a lot of moisture comming from my air nozzle on my vf2. My regulator was making a hissing sound (leaking air) and the tech told me it is because of the moisture in the air. I need to get an air dryer or some device to remover the moisture from my air source.

any suggestions.

Mark

[Geof]

Get a dryer now!!!!!! You will only notice water coming the blow gun and the trap on the regulator spitting for a while. Then at the most inconvenient time possible you will find one of the solenoid valves located in the most inaccessible location decides to stick because it has a bit of corrosion from the water. And then you are stuck.

Dry, oil free air is essential.

[fourperf]

thanks geof, can you recommend something? I have seen them priced from 50$ to 4 or 500. what do you use.

Mark

[Geof]

I have refrigerated air dryers which can handle over 30 cfm and cost around $1200. I think you can get one from Chicago Pneumatics for about $500. Just try Googling 'Chicago Pneumatic Air Dryer'

[big_mak]

we've put an air filter just before the line, and it tends to keep all the water out. Our Air lines are copper, and we've run a maze of pipe right after the compressor to rid the condensation in the lines and this does wonders for the air. Hardly any gets to the machine. If I check the small filter at the machine it's pretty much dry. Just remember to drain your compressor from time to time. If I let ours go 2 weeks, I can get a few pints of water out of the compressor.

[ImanCarrot]

Seriously- get it filtered now! and empty the tank of water regularly- I get about 1/4- 1/2 a gallon per day here in the UK depending on the weather.

Safety- remember that if you're draining the tank completely of air for safety inspection the air escaping drops the temperature of the hoze/ nozzle and this can freeze it up so it seems empty when it's not.

My setup is: Compressor- Tank- Moisture Trap Filter- Conditioning Unit- Another Trap- Air Pipes to- Another Trap- Short line to- Another Trap to- Machine.

I am paranoid about moisture!

The chaps I use are:

http://www.airwco.com/at-team/wco-webmenu-homepage/en

But I think they're Europe only.

Oh! change the filters regularly!

[DR-Motion]

An additional way to keep water under control is to plumb your airlines on a gradient with the low end away from the machine. Adding u traps at take offs doesn't hurt either.

[Geof]

Haas machines now come with a trap at the inlet to the regulator and the blow gun is actually the vent for this trap. This is why you notice the water coming out of the blow gun. Problem is if you do not use the blow gun much then the trap fills with water. Even if you do use it regularly the air still carries some moisture into the machine lines. With my first machines I used small compressed air tanks at each machine as a similar trap and also as a ballast tank to compensate for small diameter air lines. Everything worked great for about eighteen months then I started getting machines shutting down with solenoid valve problems. That was when I installed the new compressor and dryer and all new airlines.

[fourperf]

well, due to the location of my compressor and the enclosure around it (to keep the neighbors happy) I hadnt drained it in about 2 yrs. I just did and f%$#K me there was a lot of water in there.

Mark

[DEAN]

I hate to suggest china stuff. So I will put on my fire retardant suit. Just seems like you cant beat the price on this unit: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40211
Also, put a auto drain on your compressor. Cheap and they work.

[cam1]

Hi:
Automatic drains for compressors are a cheap way to avoid some of the troubles. They are under $100, and have an adjuster to set the blow-off interval and duration.


cheers

[fourperf]

well, I did it. spent the day pickingh up an air dryer, particle filter before the dryer and another filter after. NOW I have clean dry air. $1000 later, ouch.

Mark

thanks for the advice guys.