Air Compressor Water Filter

[Eyectcher]

Hey guys so reading up on some stuff on airbrushing I noticed that some of the people insist you have a water filter for air comeing out of your compressor I've been useing a contractor grade air compressor as I have a half dozen it had two tanks not sure on the specs but I leave it in my basement in my paint room and I always after finished painting empty out the air and pull out the plug underneath it and leave it out just something we do at work and on occasion I will run the compressor for a minute or so with the plug out to get any moisture that may be in there out my question is a water filter really necessary I have not had any issues so far and I've been painting for quite awhile I could understand if I was painting a car but then again I may be wrong and could benifit from one any help would or comments are appreciated

[BobP]

Hey, if you haven't had any problems without using a moisture filter, no problemo! I have a filter on my unit and have never had any water collect in it through several years of use.

[Eyectcher]

Hey bob I'm a contractor so we have quite a few air compressors I think if you keep it indoors were its always pretty dry air I also run a de humid afire in my paint room I leave it running all the time mabee that's why I get no moisture but what I also do is pull the plug out and let it run for a minute or so then before putting the plug back I leave it running at with my thum I push down on the hole that the plug does in and crank the regulator to the max then I'll let it fill with air then I pull my thumb off the hole ang it shoots anything tat is in the tank moisture I orbsntyhing else that in the and i do this a few times and it works great I think a lot if stuff is just a selling feuture I do the same st work and there a couple that are around twenty years old and still run great try it in sure you will get slot of particulate shoot out

Thanks for your reply bob I am now working in makeing some silicone moulds to copy some of the store brands in in Canada and prices are through the roof any decent crsnkbaits are over ten bucks they use to be six so I'm trying to make my own take care bob

[Travis]

I have two compressors I use.  First is a small stacked 4 gallon Craftsman compressor.  I use a filter on it but more so as a precaution for other tools I use with it to trap particulate, moisture, and oil.   Overall very little stuff has ever accumulated in the trap but I look at it for less than 15 bucks you eliminate potential issues so only makes sense as so little money.   I empty the tanks after use, etc... and definitely have moisture in it along with "dirt" that makes it way out.  I do see a very minimal amount of residue in the filter but hardly noticeable and that is after 15 years or so of use.

 

The other compressor I mainly use is a small airbrush compressor, it has no filter.  It is oil less and has no set of storage tanks.  Never had an issue with it either.

[Eyectcher]

Hey Travis I'm going to take your advise I'm going to pick one up today it can't hurt and for the cost your right what's fifteen bucks thanks Travis I'll send you some pics soon as I start painting again usually in the summer I fish both days of the weekend but this year has been a crazy year working so I have not even fished mucked but I have plenty of time when winter sets in I'm actually going to start casting some of my own plugs buying them has got ridiculous with the prices so I'm just shopping for all the mould material and the resins take care Travis

Gino