Should I have an Air Dryer on my compressor?

[Greatwhitewing]

Unheated but covered space in chilly northeast.

Most common tool using air is my IR 1/2 impact wrench with air chuck comin in a close second place. In warmer weather a framing nailer gets used sometimes. Just trying to give you an idea of the volume.

Last time I drained my 33 gallon tank it was bone dry. No water at all.

If I need one can you suggest an economical unit to meet my "homeowner" needs?

Thanks

 

[JoeFin]

Air Dryers on seldom used compressors is pretty much a waste

Now if you maintain air pressure/use for more then 30 minutes you'll start to see the effects of condensation building up in your lines. The compressor when it get "Hot" from use is the main problem

 

[skruft]

Generally speaking, I think there is no need for an air dryer for use of the typical tools, unless you plan to do a lot of very high quality spray painting or spray furniture finishing. Those folks will use dryers and multiple filters. For other work, it is common to have an ordinary filter that also removes some moisture, but nothing fancier than that. The tools you mention are often run with small compressors that have no filters at all.

 

[Mazdaspeed]

No need...I would do a small filter on it just to separate some of the moisture out of the air, but no need for a full on dryer.

 

[tshetter]

I have a cleaner/desiccant between my 15gal compressor and a 100Lb/23gal propane tank, which I used to bump up the capacity of my older compressor.

The compressor has a drain in the bottom, but the propane tank of course does not. It was also designed to contain propane and not air. Therefore I had fears of it rusting out at some point. Add to that wanting my tools to last longer and I thought it all added up to a good idea.

Also, I live in FL and the humidity is insane here. In the summer I get a large amount of water in the compressor as well as in the cleaner.

The cleaner/desiccant is from Campbell-Hausfeld, I think it was about $120 at Tractor Supply. It came with enough desiccant to change it out probably 3 times.

 

[Sureshot]

I have a cleaner/desiccant between my 15gal compressor and a 100Lb/23gal propane tank, which I used to bump up the capacity of my older compressor.

The compressor has a drain in the bottom, but the propane tank of course does not. It was also designed to contain propane and not air. Therefore I had fears of it rusting out at some point. Add to that wanting my tools to last longer and I thought it all added up to a good idea.

Also, I live in FL and the humidity is insane here. In the summer I get a large amount of water in the compressor as well as in the cleaner.

The cleaner/desiccant is from Campbell-Hausfeld, I think it was about $120 at Tractor Supply. It came with enough desiccant to change it out probably 3 times.

Why not use the propane tank upside down?

 

[gte718p]

I'll second your good unless you are doing something that requires dry air. I only run mine when I am painting or using the plasma. I never get any water out of my tank in the winter, however especially with the plasma you can tell the difference with the drier.

Summer is a different story. I'm close to water so ill drain the tank a couple of times a day and get a cup or to each time. I still only run the drier for paint and plasma.