Hello,

I'm in the planning stages of a new install and could use some advice. I have a small shop and a small setup compressor wise. I'm spraying topcoat on musical instruments, not cars, so my spray time is a fraction of what you all are typically considering (I think ).

Components I've purchased so far:
- Camair QC3
- California Air Tools 2HP 10 gallon compressor (aluminum tank w/ auto drain)

I only need two things to connect to the compressor, a spray gun (Devilbiss SRI Pro) and a blow gun for dusting off parts before taking into the booth.

The manual for the QC3 says to have 20' of pipe between the compressor and the QC3. I'm considering the Rapidair system for that.

My questions:
- Do I need any other filter between the compressor and the QC3? I see a lot of pics on this site and elsewhere that show filters in front of the QC3.

- For my simple setup, where I just need distance from the compressor, and not multiple tool drops, is the Rapidair the right choice?

Appreciate any feedback.

Thanks!
Brad

That's a small compressor, I am sure others will chime in. There have been many many threads on compressor size.

Do you have your spray gun yet? Others on this forum can suggest some of the smaller guns that will require less compressor power. For real small stuff, I LOVE my Iwata Lph-80s. Also the little ANI.

I do use both the RapidAir stuff and a QC3. The RapidAir is a great system if you don't want to spend the $$$ on copper. It is also easily reconfigurable. Don't use PVC (has to do with compressible vs non-compressible fluids).

You will want to add in a water trap prior to that QC3, I use the Pneumatic Plus stuff easily obtained from my good friend Jeff Bezos https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0149L0SAC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you don't you will be replacing that QC3s cartridges often.

Below are pics of my Pig Barn's "air wall".

Thanks so much!

Yes, the compressor is small. I'm shooting musical instruments. I've done 20 instruments with that compressor, seems to work fine. It doesn't cycle usually when spraying a coat and I intentionally cause it to cycle between coats just to be sure.

I shoot with a devilbiss SRI Pro with their dekups system. This works really well for the UV cured coating I'm using (Cardinal polyester & polyurethane).

Thanks for the pointer on the water trap. Uncle Bezos gets a lot of my money too.

I saw your setup in another thread where you showed the pipe going up and down the wall. I don't quite have the same amount of space in my shop. Would you recommend just achieving the 20' recommended by Camair for the QC3 with a single drain? Or will I be wasting my time? (Hard question to answer I'm sure.

Brad

bcombs510 wrote:...Would you recommend just achieving the 20' recommended by Camair for the QC3 with a single drain? Or will I be wasting my time? (Hard question to answer I'm sure.

Brad

Add the Pneumatics Plus water/oil traps after as much line post compressor and before the QC3 as possible. Just do the best that you can do. That setup with all the hoops and auto-drains is my second setup that I added when I replaced my compressor. The photos here are what I used for the 3 or 4 years prior to the new compressor.

Not too many folks out there other than Painter Dave have access to million dollar booth setups!

BTW; Forum rules are that you need to post some photos of your work - completed, during, before - doesn't matter post pics!!!

Awesome. Thanks so much for your help!

OldFatBald wrote:That's a small compressor, I am sure others will chime in. There have been many many threads on compressor size.


Below are pics of my Pig Barn's "air wall".

Air Wall.jpg

]

OFB
Just an observation and suggestions of your system.

1. loose quick disconnect on your regulator, Screw a dedicated air hose strait into the regulator and use a dedicated air hose for Painting. Eliminate all unnecessary flow restrictions by reducing connections fittings using a Dedicated air hose eliminates possible contamination issues.

2. Loose the descant ball filters on your guns hanging their you only need your Q3 descant filter. Those gun desiccant filters are huge flow restrictions.

3. I hope your using real Hi flow quick disconnects on hose and at Guns.

Doright wrote:loose quick disconnect on your regulator,

That's a good idea. I have a couple of connections where I might be able to do that and improve flow.

Doright wrote:Loose the descant ball filters on your guns

Agree. They're essentially useless if you have good filtering and drying and just get in the way.

Doright wrote:OFB
Just an observation and suggestions of your system.

1. loose quick disconnect on your regulator, Screw a dedicated air hose strait into the regulator and use a dedicated air hose for Painting. Eliminate all unnecessary flow restrictions by reducing connections fittings using a Dedicated air hose eliminates possible contamination issues.

I have that as I use two different hoses, one is pretty beat up and covered with stuff from shooting high builds or the FFG2. The other one I keep a lot cleaner and use for the stuff that I really care about, BC and Clears.

2. Loose the descant ball filters on your guns hanging their you only need your Q3 descant filter. Those gun desiccant filters are huge flow restrictions.

Good idea, now that I have the new compressor and better filtering. I only really change the media in the QC3 once a year now and just do it as a precaution.
I'll start yanking them off as I use them!

3. I hope your using real Hi flow quick disconnects on hose and at Guns.

I'm using the Legacy Manufacturing High Flow stuff. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EYR3AF6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
I was going to switch over to the Prevost style but I have so many plugs (guns, tools, DAs etc) that it started adding up $$$ fast.
If I could figure out which of the Prevost stuff would work with my current stuff that would help me out.

OldFatBald wrote:

Doright wrote:OFB
Just an observation and suggestions of your system.

1. loose quick disconnect on your regulator, Screw a dedicated air hose strait into the regulator and use a dedicated air hose for Painting. Eliminate all unnecessary flow restrictions by reducing connections fittings using a Dedicated air hose eliminates possible contamination issues.

I have that as I use two different hoses, one is pretty beat up and covered with stuff from shooting high builds or the FFG2. The other one I keep a lot cleaner and use for the stuff that I really care about, BC and Clears.

2. Loose the descant ball filters on your guns hanging their you only need your Q3 descant filter. Those gun desiccant filters are huge flow restrictions.

Good idea, now that I have the new compressor and better filtering. I only really change the media in the QC3 once a year now and just do it as a precaution.
I'll start yanking them off as I use them!

3. I hope your using real Hi flow quick disconnects on hose and at Guns.

I'm using the Legacy Manufacturing High Flow stuff. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EYR3AF6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
I was going to switch over to the Prevost style but I have so many plugs (guns, tools, DAs etc) that it started adding up $$$ fast.
If I could figure out which of the Prevost stuff would work with my current stuff that would help me out.

Normal High flow is all compatible buddy, shouldnt have a problem switching over few parts at a time.

and just to taunt you a little here is a pic for ya.

PainterDave wrote:Normal High flow is all compatible buddy, shouldnt have a problem switching over few parts at a time.

and just to taunt you a little here is a pic for ya.

I was wondering when I'd get taunted with a PD pic!!!