Condensor for copper airline installation

[pony]

Hello, I've been using Byrdman's Post on piping my shop for air and I'm ready to take the plunge. Home Depot has a sale on type M 1/2" tubing and from this Copper Handbook - 6MB table 3c show that M grade will handle my 120psi. Jump in if I'm wrong here

My question is how to build a properly functioning condenser before my water traps. We get summers with relatively low humidity but 100F quite often. I was told to bury my pipes or coil it in a 5 Gal bucket, rain barrel etc etc. I was planning on making a pipe ladder system of 10 pipes 3' with 180 degree ends to allow the air to cool and condense to a drain **** at the bottom. This would start at the bottom of the wall and end at the top where I'd make the runs up high. Would this ladder be effective in cooling the air enough to condense the moisture? What if I sandwiched my ladder between two condenser grates you find off a pair off old refrigerators? Do I require a breeze or air to flow through this condenser or would it being 3" from a wall be sufficient?

What have you seen our there for DIY condensers?

Thanks

 

[Charles (in GA)]

If you are using a two stage compressor, it is unlikely you will need a condenser, the two stage creates some hot air in the tank and it cools and most of the water condenses in the tank, little will get in your air lines.

Charles

 

[pony]

Good point, though I don't think its a 2 stage. I has two cylinder but it a cheaper 20 Gal 2 cyl oiled, 2 HP, 115v, 18A, belt driven, 8.3 CFM 6@40 and 4@90 type compressor. Good enough for my tinkering, except my die grinder

 

[bhays]

Home Depot has a sale on type M 1/2" tubing

What's the sale price? I am at that stage as well.

 

[Ramblur]

I found byrdmans post inspiring also and just recently completed my system.
The only condenser I have is 25 to 30' of pipe before the first drop. The
ladder that your considering I think would be fine as long as the legs are
run horizontally with a little "fall" in each leg so that any vapor that does
condense will find its way to the low point/drain. If done vertically you
would have to put a drain on every bottom 180*. I will say in the few
weeks I've had my system up I haven't got more than a couple drops out of
either drain in my ladder and I live in humidity central. Another thing I would now consider with the price of copper headed to the moon is garage-pacs setup.
I'm sure its a much easier install, has anybody priced them lately?

 

[Rrumbler]

Check out this link for a condenser setup - description and picture.


http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23867

 

[gmasterman]

i have seen a refridgerated unit advertised at Harbor Freight. For years I used nothing more that a bunch of copper tube coiled up to fit inside a 5 gallon plastic bucket. Bucket was filled with water and a water seperator was placed downstream. Worked good for me. I was running two mediea blasting cabinents and never had a problem with water again. I live in south Louisiana, so humidity is very high year round

 

[mleichtle]

m type copper was over $30 a stick yesterday at home depot.

Edit: Whoops that was 3/4", still crazy expensive