Air Compressor Filter Options

[Everyday]

Hi All, new to the board but been lurking a while.

I just installed a new 7.5 HP Bel Aire compressor and am looking at options for air filters to connect the 3/4 inch tank fitting to 3/4 hard lines I'm running throughout the garage.

Compressor is 175 PSI max so I need something more than the standard parts store variety I've been finding. Ideally I don't want to step down to 1/2 inch and then back up to 3/4 but I also don't want to pay $400 for a filter.

Any ideas?



--Matt

 

[russlaferrera]

I recommend copper lines, or high pressure plastic (Plastic made for compressor lines. Not PVC) This in it self will be better than using a filter for all the system. I would put a filter only on a spray gun outlet.

Using a better grade airline will reduce or eliminate junk (corrosion) in the line that must be filtered out.

 

[e-tek]

Hey Matt,
I just did mine and I did it recalling my Dad's set-up for his bodyshop. You don't want to have a filter next to the tank - these should down the line - but you do want a regulator. Attach the reg right off the tank, then run a flexible (to account for vibration)3/4" line a short (1-3 ft) way to hook into the solid 3/4" lines that go to where your hoses/dryer/sandblaster are located. Make sure when you run your lines they run slightly (1/4" per 3 ft) downhill so condensed water will run to the trap. Where the hard-lines end install a watertrap and/or filter combination, then your hose. If it's a line to a sandblaster, a watertrap/filter combo should procede a large dryer before attachment to blaster. I ran 3\4" line all the way to the filters and to the sandblaster and then to a 3/8" hose on a reel.
Hope it helps - hope it makes sense too!

 

[Everyday]

So you're regulating down your 175 PSI to 125 or 150 at the tank and then using standard smaller water traps at the ends?

 

[rsanter]

I have a couple of filters I am happy with. one is a snap on filter/water separator that is intended for painting. excellent.
HF has a copy of this but I a unsure of how good they are
the other is one that is for a plasma cutter. that one works very well also.
I actually have a spare of that one that I could part with

bob

 

[e-tek]

Yes - you won't need 175 too often! I forgot to mention I have shut-offs at the end of each hard line. In the rare even I wanted full pressure at one outlet I could shut off the others to avoid blowing out filters/hoses.

 

[Everyday]

I guess what's confusing me is I see some filter regulator combos that are 125 or 150 PSI max. Does this mean I can use that regulator to cut it down to 125 or so I need a different regulator with a higher max pressure first coming off the tank?

 

[1320stang]

Matt, go to eBay and look for Norgren, Watts, Wilkerson, Parker or Speedaire for what you need. I bought new 3/4" Norgren 250 psi max filter and also a new 3/4" Norgren 250 psi max regulator for less than $50 each shipped. I'm planning on the filter off the compressor and putting the regulator on down the line somewhere. I'm going with copper for my lines as I'm hoping to add on a 32'x42' garage in a few years and I'll relocate it out of the garage and I'll be able to reuse the lines. After the big regulator (which will regulate down to something that I can use a more common regulator on) I'll run lines for air tools, but I wanted volume and pressure for media blasting.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Mcmaster page 945 for regulators (don't know how to link mcmaster)

 

[e-tek]

You will never need more than 150 psi out of the tank - that's why the reg there. Larry says he'll put a filter at the tank - WHY?? Most of the contaminents (rust, sediment, scale, etc.) comes off the piping! YOu want the filter as close to the end as possible. I was advised (correctly) to put a filter AFTER the airdryer for the sand blaster to catch even the particles coming from the dryer pellets. Larry is coorect - you want volume for blasting - hence the 3/4" lines all the way there. But you don't need more than 125-150 there either - more will just blow your hoses off the fittings insdie the cabinet.
I'm not trying to be a know-all, but I've done a few. A good source comes in the manual with big compressors - I'm sure you can find sources on-line as well - it specifies where to put filters, regs, etc.

 

[e-tek]

As for prices, in Canada the place I got the compressor, as well as discount parts and tools stores have the regs, fittings, etc. but I bought all mine at a wholesale plumbers outfit and had all my piping cut and threaded to fit there as well. They have the best stuff.

 

[1320stang]

So how will my copper piping rust/sediment/scale? I forgot to add that I'm planning on a Franzinator right off the compressor then the filter. When I get down to the end with the media blasting (that's where my big regulator goes), I'll add a coalescing filter as well as the one that I'll use for painting with. Plus, I won't always be using a cabinet, I live in the sticks, I can blast outside as well.

 

[Everyday]

This is all very interesting info. I'll look for a 3/4 inch regulator and just filter at each outlet with those mini water traps. Possibly I'll put a better filter on the blast cabinet just to keep contaminants out.

 

[1320stang]

One reason I was filtering before regulating is I was worried about getting trash in the regulator.

 

[Everyday]

I agree. I've always run a large filter at the tank and then smaller ones at the outlets. Depending on your environment the tank can collect moisture inside it and pump that into the lines.

 

[rubadub]

Heres this if it will help. http://www.1969supersport.com/draw1.html

Rob

http://www.1969supersport.com

 

[e-tek]

Sorry - I forgot you are using copper - very smart. But even if you use copper or plastic lines condensation will form with compressed air as it cools through the tubes. You are right - maybe no scale or rust - but water and oil. A filter at the tank and then at the line ends can't be bad - just redundant!

Here's mine - you can see the flexible hose going to the solid line. I'm going to enclose it to decrease sound, even though it's much quiter than my old single cylinder!

 

[e-tek]

Dryer AND filter before blast cabinet and paint hose - I put a "T" after my Dryer and Filter/Reg so I can run the blaster or paint gun with clean, dry air.

 

[1320stang]

Well, you don't need to build an enclosure, you just need to remotely pipe the intake either outside or up into your attic. That's where most of the noise comes from.

The Franzinator device should take care of most all the moisture, a coalescing filter at the other ends takes care of the oil.

 

[PoorOwner]

http://www.tptools.com/StaticText/airline-piping-diagram.pdf

I followed this diagram very closely except I use 3/4" copper pipes, I have had good results with just a I-R regulator with filter unit. I can drain a bit of water out of each ball valve at the end a day if I used the die grinder for a long time. If I need to paint then I would add a coalescing filter, but I have used the blast cabinet without it and it did fine.. seems like a good piping layout does most of the work..