Air Compressor filters

[Mikea57]

When I bought my house with a detached garage, the guy that sold it to me left a bunch of stuff in the shop, among which was an air compressor. I've used it since then for everything but now I'd like to spiff up the air system a little bit. I found a couple of old air filters for the compressor lying around and I'm wondering if there would be a problem using them. What would I look for to tell whether they're OK or not? Is there anything I need to be aware of?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[CNGsaves]

Details . . . ?? Pictures . . ??

 

[stonesfan68]

Pictures...

 

[Mikea57]

I'll try to get some and post them.

 

[sberry]

Probably cant hurt.

 

[Mikea57]

Got a pic of the air filters I found. Across the top it reads: "Max in 150 PSI"

Are these usable?

Thanks!

 

[Fixnair]

They look like they were made to hang on the belt of someone using the air for breathing purposes. Probably a sandblaster. You ought to be able to use them to clean up your compressed air if you are doing some serious painting. Otherwise for the home handyman they are kind of overkill.
Open them up and see what kind of filter element is inside.

 

[Mikea57]

I took one of them apart and took a couple of pictures of the innards. Nothin fancy, just old. I figure it'll work for what I'm using them for. Glad I had 2. When I put the one inline that I'd opened it leaked so I ended up having to use the other one.

Now that I've gone to all this work though, I'm not sure that I'm getting as much pressure to the tool as I had when I went straight out of the compressor right up to the hose reel. But I'm not hearing any leaks. I think I'll see about installing a regulator at the hose reel to see how it compares with the output of the compressor. I moved the compressor from the front of the garage near the roll-up door to the back of it under an open counter. I used HF red hose (3/8" 300psi ) to extend it. I know it's not pro but until I take the plunge and set my shop up right it gives me a little more room to pile more **** in there!

 

[Fixnair]

Almost any filter will impose a pressure drop. The more the filter element becomes plugged with dirt the more pressure drop it will exibit. If you cannot get new elements for them I would not use them.