Just bought a bigger compressor and built a dryer pipe loop

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mrjohns

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Jul 4, 2016
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Arkansas
My little twin 4 gal twin tank air compressor was running all the time so I bought Husky 30 gal 5.3 scfm at 90 psi. I have read nothing but good reviews on this particular compressor. It is ultra quiet and fills the tank in about a minute. But it is still sitting in the back of my Toyota Tundra truck. My neighbor is bringing his big John Deere tractor over this morning, with a pallet on his twin forks. This young man is one the best neighbors I have. I work onand his guns and reload bullets for him and he mows my fields.
Well I got off subject again. I was wondering if any of you had tried this particular compressor and did you find it to be able to do the job of feeding the Altaros. I'm also going to build a dryer stem on my safe room wall. It will be two pieces of 1/2 " galvanized pipe, with two elbows and a 6' piece of pipe joining then together at the top. The left side pipe will have a t and two foot pipe to bottem of inlet pipe and at the bottom of that pipe, will be a water trap that automatically drain any water. The pipe on right side of loop will have a T at four feet down, below the T will be a 2'8" piece of pipe with a drain plug on the bottom, With these pipe drying systems you don't have to speed a lot of money on decissant filters. Auto painting shops build these air drying systems all the time. Some will add old automotive coolers to line. 
 
scubajeeper. I finished building it yesterday. The height of both loops are the same 7'. The length of the intake loop is 8" shorter on bottom ,so I would have room to attach self empting air water filter. The outlet section of 2nd loop has a drain valve in the bell on the bottom. Both inlet and outlet valves are four feet down from top. I ran for 2 hours yesterday ( it rained all day that day) and no water at all in the Altros water filter trap, that feeds to the decissant. After I designed this I took it to a friend who was in the Nave for 31 years. He said he built hundreds of the water driers for the Navy. He now owns the biggest plumbing, heating, and electrical supply in our town. He is also an air gun shooter and owns many of them. According to him it doesn't have to be very tall . Most of the ones that he built, were only four feet . But, he said if you go the short route, you need to put three or four loops on it. He also suggested I use black pipe so no scales in the filters. It is same cost as galvanized. The total cost was 55.00. Where are you going to buy any filter as good as this for that kind of money. I phoned in the parts I needed. 2-four foot lengths of black pipe ; 1-two foot black pipe; 1-two foot eight inches black pipe. 3 ells;1 four inch nipple to join top section together. 2 Tees for air intake and oulet; 3 bushing to reduce tee hole size ,for the quick connect. 1 bushing on inlet side bottom with bushing, to quick connect automatic water filter drain. I bottle of pipe dope/ w silicon. This pipe dope is the best sealer for this kind of pipe . My total cost is only 55.00. Total time to build was less than an hour. I was blown away that the day was so humid and rainid hard all day.and not one drop of moister was in any of the altaros filters. I have enough dope left to build two or three more. I think i'll help my neighbor build his system . He is a trucker and uses a lot of air tools works on his trucks. He also does a lot of painting truck parts and has trouble with moisture. If I can help anybody on this simple air dryer system let me know.
 
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[url="https://s19.postimg.org/nf562of37/20161123_145833.jpg"][img]https://s19.postimg.org/nf562of37/20161123_145833.jpg[/img][/url] The air from compressor moves to first pipe ,cools and moisture falls to auto flow water valve at bottom of first line. Any left over moisture that makes to top into other pipe falls to bottom of pipe, where you have a drain valve. The outlet and inlet valves are up higher and T off the main lines. This keeps moisture from entering the outlet line. It has been cold and raining here for two days. this safe room is just inside my garage and two feet from garage door opening. The garage door has been up both days and not one drop of moisture in Altaros water filter. When I was building it, I really didn't think it would work . A man from England was telling about how great his was , so I thought , they have a very damp climate in England and if it works there . Its got to work here. He built his from pipe he had laying around his house. There are many ways to build these dryer loops. I have seen them with 4 loops, 5 loops, taller and shorter. His was simple and worked for me. I can always add more loops. You are just cooling the hot air from the compressor and keeping moisture from entering your air lines to your tank. 
 
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I thought the same thing about pvc , jking, but several that built them said not to use it. They didn't say why you shouldn't. Afriend of mine that was in the Navy for 31 years said he had built hundreds for the Navy and they would only build them with metal. He said he only used black pipe and or copper tubing. He said never use galvanized because it would flake in the air supply. Maybe pvc puts more moisture in or something to do with air pressure and pvc. All I know is that it was easy to build , didn't cost much and it works.
 
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Mrjohns, I need to upgrade my little shop compressor and have been looking at various compressor from Home Depot and Tractor Supply. Been kinda eyeballing a Dewalt, Kobalt and Husky. I haven't even decided on conventional or oil-less. Looks like you went with the conventional, Husky. Is it a twin cylinder, I really couldn't tell from the photo. Which model is it?How the noise level? That's one of my concerns with the oil-less.
Jimmy

Just checked HD's site. is it the C302H? for $399
 
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"mrjohns"I thought the same thing about pvc , jking, but several that built them said not to use it.  They didn't say why you shouldn't. Afriend of mine that was in the Nave for 31 years said he had built hundreds for the navy and they would only build them with metal. he said he only used black pipe and or copper tubing. He said never use galvanized because it would flake in the air supply. Maybe pvc puts more moisture in or something to do with air pressure and pvc. All I know is that it was easy to build , didn/t cost much and it works.


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http://www.usplastic.com/knowledgebase/article.aspx?contentkey=787

https://www.osha.gov/dts/hib/hib_data/hib19880520.html

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/ruptured-pvc-air-lines-what-not-do-230253/SUBJECT:
  • Safety Hazard Information Bulletin on the Use of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe in Above ground Installations
The Dallas Regional Office has brought to our attention a potential serious hazard existing with the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic pipes for transporting compressed gases in above ground installations. An employee in a Texas plant was injured recently by a rupture in a PVC compressed air line. Plastic projectiles from the point of rupture caused lacerations of the employee's hand. This is noteworthy because the Plastic Pipe Institute, in its Recommendation B dated January 19, 1972, recommends against the use of thermoplastic pipe to transport compressed air or other compressed gases in exposed plant piping. (See attachment.)Furthermore, sections 842.32, 842.43 and 849.52(b) of the American National Standards Institute/American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ANSI/ASME) B31.8-1986, Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems Standard, limit the operating pressure of plastic piping distribution systems to 100 pounds per inch (psi) and prohibit the installation of such systems above ground except where ". . . the above ground portion of the plastic service line is completely enclosed in a conduit or casing of sufficient strength to provide protection from external damage and deterioration." (Excerpts attached.)Additional consensus standards applicable to PVC compressed gas systems include American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) D1785-86, Standard Specification for Polyvinyl Chloride Plastic Pipe, Schedules 40, 80, and 120, and ASTM D2513-86a, Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Gas Pressure Piping Systems.Please disseminate this bulletin to all Area Offices, State Plan States and Consultation Projects.
 
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"jking"Mrjohns, I need to upgrade my little shop compressor and have been looking at various compressor from Home Depot and Tractor Supply. Been kinda eyeballing a Dewalt, Kobalt and Husky. I haven't even decided on conventional or oil-less. Looks like you went with the conventional, Husky. Is it a twin cylinder, I really couldn't tell from the photo. Which model is it?How the noise level? That's one of my concerns with the oil-less.
Jimmy

Just checked HD's site. is it the C302H? for $399
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I know for the ShoeBox compressor they say to only use an 'oil free compressor' for the air source. Is that the case for the Altaros. Might want to find out before buying a new compressor. Bill
 
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The Altaros will not achieve short fill times unless a larger flow air compressor is used. Most small oil free compressors will exceed their recommended duty cycle when used with the Altaros which results in shortened primary compressor lifetime and a far greater potential for water in the output of the primary compressor due to excessive heating of the air caused by the long run times.
A good sized shop compressor is needed for maximum performance of the Altaros.

Thurmond
 
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"T3PRanch"The Altaros will not achieve short fill times unless a larger flow air compressor is used. Most small oil free compressors will exceed their recommended duty cycle when used with the Altaros which results in shortened primary compressor lifetime and a far greater potential for water in the output of the primary compressor due to excessive heating of the air caused by the long run times.
A good sized shop compressor is needed for maximum performance of the Altaros.

Thurmond
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My point was not about fill times but as I understand an oiled compressor has the potential for oil to get into the compressed air particularly as it ages and the piston rings wear. Oil in your PCP rifle is not good for seals and the firing of your rifle. Bill
 
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