Desiccant before Air Filter or other way around?

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 12:14 pm
Hello. I'm getting ready to paint and I'm fine tuning my air setup. I have a 60 gal/5hp compressor which feeds about 40 feet of semi-horizontal 1/2 inch copper line with a few vertical drain lines. I'm getting ready to add my air filter and desiccant dryer and I'm curious what others recommend regarding which order these should be configured in. Desiccant first or air filter first??

I have a Motor Guard M60 air filter
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WZYKAE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and a Air Guardian2 large desiccant dryer.
https://www.airguardian2.com/

Any thoughts? I see some complete systems put the desiccant dryer last but I'm worried the paper filter element in the M60 will get saturated with moisture if I do it this way...



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PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 12:43 pm
You can put the drier in either way Before or after but I would put it in after.
(I'm not a fan of the Motor gourd filter myself)

You Need a Water Trap before BOTH!!!! You've got the length of Pipe, you've got the Air filter and an a decent desiccant Air Drier, BUT you still need a WATER TRAP.

Something as simple as this :
Image


Even an old air Tank after about 20 feet down stream from the compressor before you air filter. It does not need to be big or elaborate or expensive just allows the air a chance to briefly expand giving up more heat so the water can condensate allowing the water to be trapped it should also have a drain all before your air filter and your drier.

If you use the one above discard the regulator your only interested in using the filter tank and drain valve.

By the way you do know that desiccant drier you got only flows 25 cfm right?
Dennis B.
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 7:56 pm
Grabbit wrote: Any thoughts? I see some complete systems put the desiccant dryer last but I'm worried the paper filter element in the M60 will get saturated with moisture if I do it this way...


Don't use a paper element for that reason.

I use a Rapid Air regulator moisture trap
https://shop.rapidairproducts.com/filte ... ith-gauge/

followed by a set of Pneumatic Plus filters then followed by a Devilbiss QC3 desiccant dryer

Only my Spray gun air goes through the desiccant dryer - I tap off before for my air tools.

I know my install isn't the prettyest but then either am I!

Pig Barn Air .jpg
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2018 12:36 pm
Thank guys. I forgot to mention I do have a cheap HF filter/drain just after the compressor before a large vertical run up the wall of my copper pipe.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-sta ... 68279.html

Should I put this after the copper pipe but before the Motor Guard filter and desiccant? For as much painting as I do I just cant justify any extra costs right now to add to this setup...

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PostPosted: Fri Sep 21, 2018 2:28 pm
Grabbit wrote:Thank guys. I forgot to mention I do have a cheap HF filter/drain just after the compressor before a large vertical run up the wall of my copper pipe.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-sta ... 68279.html

Should I put this after the copper pipe but before the Motor Guard filter and desiccant? For as much painting as I do I just cant justify any extra costs right now to add to this setup...


Put that as far away from your compressor but prior to your other filters.
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