I am trying to do some hobby painting, and at best I get a couple minutes before water is spitting out in the paint. I can stomach the $420 for the Harbor Freight air dryer, but the next model in the price range is $950. Has anyone had the HF air dryer for more than a year?
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Harbor Freight air dryer
- Thread starter ycgoat
- Start date
What is your pipe from the compressor to the gun?
A good air handling system including pipe, traps and passive filters is usually a cheaper way if not used frequently or exclusively for painting. I have usually used a longer length of pipe at least 20-30 feet with water traps and then an inexpensive water filter and then the attachment the hose attaches too. It cools the air and the water goes in the traps and filter. The filters which resemble toilet paper can be exchanged and dried between uses. Before that the water was not just in the first couple minutes of spraying it was there all the time just not in the volume. We also made sure the compressors get drained frequently. By backtracking the pipe and using traps at each corner this type of system does fit in the average garage.
The length of pipe and traps also are used for all air use so we get the benefit of the set up for tools, air fills, and painting. I was surprised at the amount of water in the traps even when not painting since I had fought putting a good air system together for years. I have learned a lesson and use a good set up everywhere. The current system I have in the garage was a few hundred less than the air dryers at the time. HF is not a local business. In the main shop where we paint more often we have an air dryer on the paint air line, but for the three or four times a year we paint in the garage I do not miss having an air dryer.
A good air handling system including pipe, traps and passive filters is usually a cheaper way if not used frequently or exclusively for painting. I have usually used a longer length of pipe at least 20-30 feet with water traps and then an inexpensive water filter and then the attachment the hose attaches too. It cools the air and the water goes in the traps and filter. The filters which resemble toilet paper can be exchanged and dried between uses. Before that the water was not just in the first couple minutes of spraying it was there all the time just not in the volume. We also made sure the compressors get drained frequently. By backtracking the pipe and using traps at each corner this type of system does fit in the average garage.
The length of pipe and traps also are used for all air use so we get the benefit of the set up for tools, air fills, and painting. I was surprised at the amount of water in the traps even when not painting since I had fought putting a good air system together for years. I have learned a lesson and use a good set up everywhere. The current system I have in the garage was a few hundred less than the air dryers at the time. HF is not a local business. In the main shop where we paint more often we have an air dryer on the paint air line, but for the three or four times a year we paint in the garage I do not miss having an air dryer.
You kinda got left hanging so I'll bump this up for you. I'm also curious about any reviews of the HF drier. I've done untold upgrades to my air system at this point, having installed pipe manifold, aftercooler, etc. and actually, I don't know that I really have issues with wet air at this point but it would certainly be a consideration for my next build out.Thanks I have considered a DIY copper pipe with traps but have not been convinced it would be enough. Thanks for the feedback
I installed a mini split in my garage and I get little to no moisture in the air now.
I have a large copper pipe run and goes through a dryer and a motorguard filter. I get completely dry air with that. BUT I would have to swap that dessicant out quite a bit and the toilet roll out as well after a long session... but mostly when it was hot out (I live in Texas)
Now with the AC everything just stays nice and dry and cool... including ME.
So something to think about as an alternative.
I have a large copper pipe run and goes through a dryer and a motorguard filter. I get completely dry air with that. BUT I would have to swap that dessicant out quite a bit and the toilet roll out as well after a long session... but mostly when it was hot out (I live in Texas)
Now with the AC everything just stays nice and dry and cool... including ME.
So something to think about as an alternative.
nitroracer20
Well-known member
I bought one of these for sandblasting. Got it about 6 months ago. I have no complaints. So far so good. Does what it should. I haven't plumbed it in permanently - I just use a 3/8" 10' hose going from compressor to dryer - and a 25' from dryer to blast cabinet/tool. Ill plumb it more permanently this winter.
Thanks for the bumpYou kinda got left hanging so I'll bump this up for you. I'm also curious about any reviews of the HF drier. I've done untold upgrades to my air system at this point, having installed pipe manifold, aftercooler, etc. and actually, I don't know that I really have issues with wet air at this point but it would certainly be a consideration for my next build out.