Portable air tool water separator options

[Krician]

Upgrading my pneumatic tools to more expensive products, it pushes me more to do something about my shops air supply running MY tools. I've talked to my boss about installing water separators and filters but it seems like it's a heavy task the way that the shop was plumbed previously that he would have to really change the whole setup. I understand him but would still want to protect my investments. I was thinking getting those tiny water separators and attach them to a whip hose I can connect wherever I'm using my tool. I've never used the mini water separators and in my opinion they look cheap. I can go ahead and (I know it's overkill) but hook up a two stage industrial filter to a whip hose but does it have to be mounted upright? If it does I am thinking about mounting it to my work cart but that would mean id have to roll the cart everywhere with me which is why I was thinking about the mini filters.. opinions?

I wouldn't mind carrying this around <a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://image.ibb.co/gqvsAa/51_KAch_JCyw_L_SL256.jpg" alt="51_KAch_JCyw_L_SL256" border="0"></a>

Would 2 of the mini filters in line reduce performance?

 

[Krician]

Bump

 

[machine_punk]

I've found that the water separators are effective, IF you have them far enough away from the compressor to allow the air to cool and the water to condense.

This isn't the best picture, but here is my setup...
On the far left, near the back of the bench, you see a manifold I set up. I brazed a short piece of galvanized black pipe to a piece of angle, to attach it to the wall. Then, I used "T's" and 90-degree bends to give me three 1/4" outlets.

One is actually the inlet (the bright orange line is coming FROM the compressor. You see it come down on the right side of the manifold and loop back up to attach to the left side of the manifold. Then, you see the water trap, then two outlets with quick-disconnect couplers.

I have the exact same water trap mounted right on the compressor (it is just the inexpensive "Husky" brand from Home Depot). It NEVER collects any water. Now that I have the second water trap, approximately 20 feet away from the compressor, it collects a LOT of water.

Before adding the second water trap, I had water blowing out of my tools all the time. Now, I never notice water coming out of the tool.

For your situation (not your shop), you might consider building a small, portable frame, to sit on the ground. You could have the inlet, water trap and a couple of outlets in that protective frame (wouldn't want to step on it/break a high-pressure connection). The frame would be there to keep the water separator in a vertical position and protect it from bumps and damage. Then, you could have a 12- to 25-foot whip hose (a nice Flexilla or something) between that and your tools.

 

[evintho]

Here's my homemade setup. I use it with my portable sandblaster where it's critical that I have clean dry air. It's at the end of a 25' air line and not a drop of moisture gets through. I hang it on the fence in my backyard when doing blasting. Could easily be mounted to your toolcart to serve the same purpose.

 

[md21722]

I know the environment you're talking about, as I've seen it in shops with a stream of water coming out of the tool.. There SHOULD be a valve at every drop. In such case you could close the valve and then permanently plumb in a filter/regulator. If not, see if your boss will let you work on your own time, work late one day, whatever, and shut off the air system, to add to your bay. Short of that, put a plug on a filter/regulator and put a coupler on the end of that, so you can plug it in... Otherwise you'll need to resort to regulator treatments of rust preventive/ATF in your air tools instead of the regular old ATF. But that might be an OSHA violation because you're breathing the air tool exhaust. At a minimum there should be a drip leg below a T to your bay's coupler, with a valve to drain it. That in itself should help.

 

[Krician]

Here's my homemade setup. I use it with my portable sandblaster where it's critical that I have clean dry air. It's at the end of a 25' air line and not a drop of moisture gets through. I hang it on the fence in my backyard when doing blasting. Could easily be mounted to your toolcart to serve the same purpose.

Nice setup! I was actually watching a video that has EXACTLY what I'm looking for,

Easy to carry around! I'm planning to order everything (filter(s), carry box and hose from McMaster)

 

[Krician]

I know the environment you're talking about, as I've seen it in shops with a stream of water coming out of the tool.. There SHOULD be a valve at every drop. In such case you could close the valve and then permanently plumb in a filter/regulator. If not, see if your boss will let you work on your own time, work late one day, whatever, and shut off the air system, to add to your bay. Short of that, put a plug on a filter/regulator and put a coupler on the end of that, so you can plug it in... Otherwise you'll need to resort to regulator treatments of rust preventive/ATF in your air tools instead of the regular old ATF. But that might be an OSHA violation because you're breathing the air tool exhaust. At a minimum there should be a drip leg below a T to your bay's coupler, with a valve to drain it. That in itself should help.

Unfortunately I forgot to mention, my at my shop you don't stay at a dedicated rack... There's 9 racks and also sometimes work outside..So my last reply with the carry around seems the best

 

[nine4gmc]

I'll try to get a pic later but I took a broken shop light like the one below and removed the light. I attached a mini filter and regulator to the stand with quick connect in/out fittings for my air hose. When I paint parts outside, I hook up the long unregulated hose from the compressor to the input and a short coil hose from the output to the hvlp gun. The setup gets most of the moisture out of the line so I only have a inline filter like the second pic on the gun and the coil hose allows me to move around a table or whatever easily. I used the stand because it's what i had and instead of throwing it away, I made this.