Dessicant Water Filters

[jake98]

Can you dry them out, or is it strictly a toss'em? I put in a QC 3 when I got my plasma cutter, a couple weekends ago, and it's already indicating 'replace'. I put a water separator before it, at the end of 50' of hose, and I haven't seen a drop come out of that yet.

 

[grsthegreat]

Can you dry them out, or is it strictly a toss'em? I put in a QC 3 when I got my plasma cutter, a couple weekends ago, and it's already indicating 'replace'. I put a water separator before it, at the end of 50' of hose, and I haven't seen a drop come out of that yet.

Good question..... i used to have one, but replaced it with a refrigerated dryer. I sold the other on craigslist. Ill see if i still have any instructions on file.

 

[colinc]

Can you dry them out, or is it strictly a toss'em?

The MSDS sheet http://http://www.autorefinishdevilbiss.com/ServiceSupport/MaterialsSafetyDataSheets.aspx indicates that the desiccant is silica gel. This can be dried by baking at temperatures above 300C (around 575F). You might get partial drying at lower temperatures. If you have any oil in the filter, be careful that it doesn't catch fire. A small amount of oil is probably ok. This of course assumes that you remove the silica from any plastic containers...

If you don't want to bake it, replacement silica gel isn't outrageously expensive, and it can be obtained from chemical suppliers.

SAFETY NOTE: Silica is dangerous when inhaled. Be careful when you handle it. A dust mask might be a good idea.

-Your friendly neighbourhood chemistry nerd

 

[jake98]

Good question..... i used to have one, but replaced it with a refrigerated dryer. I sold the other on craigslist. Ill see if i still have any instructions on file.

The MSDS sheet http://http://www.autorefinishdevilbiss.com/ServiceSupport/MaterialsSafetyDataSheets.aspx indicates that the desiccant is silica gel. This can be dried by baking at temperatures above 300C (around 575F). You might get partial drying at lower temperatures. If you have any oil in the filter, be careful that it doesn't catch fire. A small amount of oil is probably ok. This of course assumes that you remove the silica from any plastic containers...

If you don't want to bake it, replacement silica gel isn't outrageously expensive, and it can be obtained from chemical suppliers.

SAFETY NOTE: Silica is dangerous when inhaled. Be careful when you handle it. A dust mask might be a good idea.

-Your friendly neighbourhood chemistry nerd

Thanks for the info, folks. Now I'm wondering how they arrive at the $35 cartridge price.. ten of them is what a cheap reefer dryer costs, I may just make myself a 'ShieldArc Special' since I have the copper. I don't get why there wasn't 1 drop of water in the previous filter-separator, yet the thing says it's kaput.. I would think it would have to be pretty hot to be all vapor..

 

[grsthegreat]

I spent about $350 for my Harbor freight dryer about 6 years ago. still working great. never a drop of moisture in the paper post filter system.....not a lick.

 

[yomax4]

You can get a great filter tht removes Oil and Water that can be used over and over until it's too ugly to trust. Plus you get 2 extra filters with the kit. Look at Thermal Dynamics web site under accesories. It's about $75.00 with the extra Cleanable Re-useable filters. Run your plasma hard and you just take the filter out and put it in a Lunch bag to dry and to keep it cleen. Install one of the spares and rotate them out..

 

[ray66v]

I have a CamAir 10lb desiccant air drier. This unit was designed for the desiccant to be removed and dried in an oven.

I cannot remember the temperature, and time they said to use, because I have not done it in probably 10 years. But, it was not even close to 575F. I believe the process is more a function of time, than temperature.

They have since sold to Devilbiss, and gone to disposable desiccant, (clearly this increases their profits), so they have no info on their web site.

I will have to bake it again soon, but I keep putting it off because it is a LOT of desiccant. Those little balls end up all over the kitchen.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have a couple if bags of dessicant that I keep in my gun safe and dry them out occassionally by just tossing them in my dry rod oven with my welding rods and let them set for a few days. It is set on 300F so it dries out slowly but it is effective. Since the dry rod oven is on all the time anyway, why waste more electricity on the home oven.

 

[jake98]

I wonder if I pump some hot dry air thru the unit, it'll dry itself out.. all I'm going on is the stupid little indicator window, but it could be right, I guess. Where the heck can I get some dry air to heat up now.. I'll Google it. :confused2:

 

[colinc]

I have a CamAir 10lb desiccant air drier. This unit was designed for the desiccant to be removed and dried in an oven.

I cannot remember the temperature, and time they said to use, because I have not done it in probably 10 years. But, it was not even close to 575F. I believe the process is more a function of time, than temperature.

It could be a different desiccant; there are many. Calcium sulfate is a good one. It can be regenerated at around 200-250 C I think, or around 450 F. You can buy it with a built-in indicator (cobalt chloride, in case you're interested...) that is blue when the desiccant is dry and pink when it needs to be regenerated.

DRIERITE is a well-known vendor of the stuff. It's pretty cheap, and it can be used over and over again.

 

[jake98]

That's good info.. Thanks Colin :thumbsup:

 

[ray66v]

It could be a different desiccant; there are many. Calcium sulfate is a good one. It can be regenerated at around 200-250 C I think, or around 450 F. You can buy it with a built-in indicator (cobalt chloride, in case you're interested...) that is blue when the desiccant is dry and pink when it needs to be regenerated.

DRIERITE is a well-known vendor of the stuff. It's pretty cheap, and it can be used over and over again.

Thanks, looks like $90 for 10 lbs. so I will use what I have. There is an indicator on the tank.

I really don't do very much automotive painting anymore, so it is not that important now.

 

[colinc]

Thanks, looks like $90 for 10 lbs.

Incidentally, gypsum is calcium sulfate hydrate. I bet you could crumble up some drywall, dry it off in your oven, and use that. You'd need to make sure the powder didn't get into your air lines, naturally.

Plaster of Paris is also calcium sulfate with a different degree of hydration. That should also work if you bake it in your oven at 450 F or so.

 

[jake98]

Well, I looked at the indicator tonight and it was blue.. maybe I shouldn't check it right after welding a bunch.. :laughing:

 

[grsthegreat]

Well, I looked at the indicator tonight and it was blue.... :laughing:

I am not sure..but i think that means that your pregnant?? :laughing:

 

[ray66v]

Incidentally, gypsum is calcium sulfate hydrate. I bet you could crumble up some drywall, dry it off in your oven, and use that. You'd need to make sure the powder didn't get into your air lines, naturally.

Plaster of Paris is also calcium sulfate with a different degree of hydration. That should also work if you bake it in your oven at 450 F or so.

Gaining dust to get rid of water is not a good trade.

It is hard enough to keep the desiccant dust from from accumulating in one of these filters, if you change it regularly.

 

[colinc]

Gaining dust to get rid of water is not a good trade.

Agreed. Maybe that's why Jake's filter has silica gel as a desiccant. I would think that it's less likely to turn into powder than calcium sulfate.