How to build a water trap?

[Srubrn]

I remember somewhere on here about a building a water trap for the compressor. I can't find it. Someone tell me how to build one.

[Dave Haak]

Srubrn,

Both Franz and deere_X475guy have made them, maybe others, try a search of their posts. I have all of the components "roughed" together (no chiller tubing) for one like Franz's but haven't had chance to complete it.

Dave

[deere_x475guy]

Sorry this took so long to get to you. Anyway here is a pic of what I done. It seems to go a great job of taking care of the water problem. I drain the tank daily and the trap at the bottom of the column. This is a shot of the drop at the bottom of the column. It extends 8 inches below the T

Bob

[deere_x475guy]

Here is on overall shot. It shows where I came out about half way up the column and the 8" out with another 8" riser before the separator.

[ChadRat]

Bob,
I am in the process of building something similar. I am debating on whether I need to buy a Coalescing Air Filter or not. What did you use to connect from your compressor to your pipe? How is the air with that regular filter?

Chad

[Snidley]

Like Bob mentioned in his earlier posting - it's important to drain your compressor tank daily. For those you have awkward or hard to get at drain locations due to installation or whatever - - there are automatic compressor drains available.

Myself I like, and have put in a water separator at the hose plugin. I prefer the ones with the glass/clear bodies so I can see how much water it is collecting. Especially important when painting.

[Roger]

If your using air supply for plasma cutter or spray painting then need Coalescing Air Filter as close to end use as practical. Farther away from compressor lets air cool and Coalescing Air Filter can do better job.

[Franz]

Well, I think I'll let a little secret out here guys. I learned this years back from a company called Taylor Instruments, who were a major manufacturer of pneumatic control systems.
The finest cost effective air filter and moisture remover is a product called KOTEX. Taylor used to employ a chamber (2" pipe with end caps) stuffed with 2 KOTEX at the air inlet of their panels.

[boilerman]

yep they are the best water catchers....in a pinch we use them to dry air before boiler controls

[deere_x475guy]

Originally posted by ChadRat
Bob,
I am in the process of building something similar. I am debating on whether I need to buy a Coalescing Air Filter or not. What did you use to connect from your compressor to your pipe? How is the air with that regular filter?

Chad

Hi ChadRat, So far I have no fogging going on if I hold a mirror infront of the air. I am holding off doing anymore till it finally get the plasma cutter. Let me know what you end up doing...

Bob

[Ed Heimbach]

A while back I built a water trap for a paint booth, the unit consisted of a piece of 2" steel water pipe about 8' long, inside was stuffed full of stainless steel wool, ends had reducer fittings for the 1/4" air line, one end had a tee and a drain ****.
Whole thing was on a slight angle, with drain on lower end. This was also the end that the air came in, with the outlet being on the higher end.
I sold the building that the set-up was in, from what I'm told , the same drier is still in place and being used, this is about 15 years after I built it .
If you have room for it, this is a good low-tech solution.