Air Dryer Report

[Downeaster]

You may recall that in the process of setting up my new shop, I built this copper loop air dryer. I had some reservations about it's effectiveness, but information from this site and Ewe Toob was quite positive, so I went for it.

You may also recall that I bought a Zeny plasma cutter, again based on information from this site (Jim, I think...). Quite frankly, I wasn't impressed. For whatever reason, I couldn't keep the plasma arc going. It'd cut briefly and then quit. Sometimes it would restart, sometimes it wouldn't. I got fed up with it, rolled it into a corner and went back to my oxy/acetylene torch.

Today, I needed an 8x12 piece of flat plate. Nothing in my stash so I had to cut it out of a piece of mobile home frame I beam. Decided to give the Zeny one more try.

Wholly Bat, Shitman! It worked like a champ! Instant start, stable plasma, blew threw the 3/16ths like paper! The ONLY difference was the air dryer in the supply line. Apparently, I had some pretty nasty air coming out of the old setup.

I'm a happy camper.

 

[Kevin Werner]

So...., is that really a "drop it out of the lowest point" system? Simply brilliant...

 

[Downeaster]

So...., is that really a "drop it out of the lowest point" system? Simply brilliant...

Sort of. The main point is that the extra length and the thermal conductivity of the copper allows the air to cool, which allows the moisture to condense out. Then, yes it collects at the bottom of the loops and I can drain it by opening the valves.

I have yet to see anything other than a faint mist at the loop drains and nothing whatever at the drops in the shop.

 

[MaxPete]

Now THAT is cool (see what I did there? ) DE - I'm gonna steal that for my (forthcoming) workshop!

Pete

 

[Rhy650]

Awesome! I love clever little solutions like that!

 

[Rhy650]

Now you need to rig up a CNC table for it! A CNC plasma is on my "long-range" projects list. With your 3D printer you already have a good idea of what would be involved in it. Get a couple of stepper motors, linear rails, a microcontroller and run it off the same G-CODE as the printer.

 

[Downeaster]

Now you need to rig up a CNC table for it! A CNC plasma is on my "long-range" projects list. With your 3D printer you already have a good idea of what would be involved in it. Get a couple of stepper motors, linear rails, a microcontroller and run it off the same G-CODE as the printer.

Hmmmmmm...

 

[Downeaster]

Now THAT is cool (see what I did there? ) DE - I'm gonna steal that for my (forthcoming) workshop!

Pete

Speaking of which, what IS the status on your new headquarters?

 

[Mailman]

Now you need to rig up a CNC table for it! A CNC plasma is on my "long-range" projects list. With your 3D printer you already have a good idea of what would be involved in it. Get a couple of stepper motors, linear rails, a microcontroller and run it off the same G-CODE as the printer.

Haha! I’m still finding new things that I didn’t know my phone could do. I’m more of a hacksaw and hammer guy.

 

[Jim]

You may also recall that I bought a Zeny plasma cutter, again based on information from this site (Jim, I think...). Quite frankly, I wasn't impressed.

Yeah, it was me. I was a little bummed at the time that yours didn't work as well as mine. Glad to see you got it sorted and sparks a flyin'.

Mine's been as dependable as sunrise.

 

[MaxPete]

Speaking of which, what IS the status on your new headquarters?

We have now moved and are settling into the new house (which we like very much). I am about to sign the contract for the pole barn (needless to say, the cost is substantially higher than when I did the original planning for this project).

Pete

 

[bosco659]

View attachment 199785

You may recall that in the process of setting up my new shop, I built this copper loop air dryer. I had some reservations about it's effectiveness, but information from this site and Ewe Toob was quite positive, so I went for it.

You may also recall that I bought a Zeny plasma cutter, again based on information from this site (Jim, I think...). Quite frankly, I wasn't impressed. For whatever reason, I couldn't keep the plasma arc going. It'd cut briefly and then quit. Sometimes it would restart, sometimes it wouldn't. I got fed up with it, rolled it into a corner and went back to my oxy/acetylene torch.

Today, I needed an 8x12 piece of flat plate. Nothing in my stash so I had to cut it out of a piece of mobile home frame I beam. Decided to give the Zeny one more try.

Wholly Bat, Shitman! It worked like a champ! Instant start, stable plasma, blew threw the 3/16ths like paper! The ONLY difference was the air dryer in the supply line. Apparently, I had some pretty nasty air coming out of the old setup.

I'm a happy camper.

Nice, 1/2 or 3/4 pipe?

 

[Downeaster]

Nice, 1/2 or 3/4 pipe?

3/4 all the way, except for the first 12" or so out of the tank on the compressor. 1/2" bung on the tank.

 

[RustiePyles]

DE, I'm glad this is working so well but how much did it cost? Copper is expensive... Does it seem preform better than a standard air water separator?

 

[Downeaster]

DE, I'm glad this is working so well but how much did it cost? Copper is expensive... Does it seem preform better than a standard air water separator?
View attachment 199917

If I were to buy all the copper new, it would've no doubt been cheaper to get the type you show. However, being a world-class pack rat, I had everything but the valves and one short bit of tubing on hand.

So far, I haven't had so much as a drop of water in the traps in the shop.