FLR - Filter, Lubricator, Regulator for Moisture Control

Two ways to go either a refrigerated dryer or a desiccant dryer. Recommendation on one or the other would depend on use. If it's just hobby use I would go with the desiccant dryer. I would still use the devices you have bought. The filter will remove a good amount of the water but not all. If placed before the desiccant filter will increase the life of the cartridge. Which will need to be replaced when the media get saturated with water. The make some that the media changes color as it gets saturated. Which is visual means to tell when to change it.

Refrigerated dryer is initially a little more costly. If this is the route you choose pick one that will handle a little more then the compressor volume(CFM). Then again use the filter you have already acquired. This time down stream from the dryer.

You may also want look at other filters. They most likely sold you one for general use of air tools. They come in other mesh sizes for smaller particles. The smaller you go the more water they will remove. Still you should use a dryer

I use a moisture separator when spraying, it attaches to the output of your compressor, via couplings that you will have to purchase separately. These are typically clear receptacles with the separator inside and a petcock valve on the bottom. While spraying, leave petcock valve open just a tad, it will release the water from the bottom as you are spraying and prevent it from getting to your gun. These are fairly inexpensive mine is made by Amflo and been working for years. Since you mentioned that you are an amateur, I should also remind you that it is important to drain your main compressor tank after every use. If I'm not mistaken, I think you can find moisture separators at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Sounds like you may have bought something way fancier than what you need.

I spoke too soon, the above post is correct in his statements about the desiccant dryer. I use an oil-less compressor, in which my recommendation would be fine. If you have a compressor that uses oil, the FLR is probably what you need. You don't want oil in your paint either.

Thanks for the info-- I will check out dessicant dryers and then I should be good to go.

I'm more used to the term FRL, because filter-regulator-lubricator is the more usual order of events. In this case, no lubrication is needed, so just don't put any oil into the lubricator bowl. The F and R parts are good to keep. I agree that an air dryer would most likely help.

Like most things, there are some things to look out for. Painters that earn a living from that profession, use small disposable filters right at the spray gun. Cheap insurance. Any air compressor is going to heat up the air as it is compressed. That is a fact of life. If you use an air hose directly attached to that compressor and it lays on the concrete floor, that air is going to cool down, and water vapor is going to form in that air hose. Where else can it go? Use steel pipe mounted to the wall at the end of the steel pipe install the water trap. All a water trap needs to be is a canister that will slow the air speed down, and let the water fall out of suspension, and fall to the bottom of the trap. I have seen remote oil filter housings used at the end of an air line in a paint shop. The owner changed the filter before each paint job. (small shop, two paintings per week at most.) If you are in a cool shop, try using a coiled air hose. They tangle, but transfer less heat to the floor. Lastly only uncoil as much hose as needed. good luck.

I do agree that you will need a good dry air for painting but since you claim to be amateur, I also presume that you are using the compressed air only occasionally for painting.

Well ! if that is the case then installing a dessicant dryer will become a costly affair.

My suggestion would be that you create a U-bend in the supply line with approximately 10 feet drop and at the center of U, at the bottom, install a heavy duty Filter with auto drain. The idea is that because of the gravity, the transporting of the moisture will be reduced even if the quantity of moisture is higher in the compressed air.

As Tornado already mentioned the unit that you are using are more appropriately defined as FRL (Filter+Regulator+Lubricator). Definitely, for painting jobs, you do not require lubricator so either you remove it from the assembly or keep it dry.

The filter size may be changed for attaining slightly better quality of air and you will need that regulator to control the pressure at the painting gun.

It is also a good practice to regularly drain the moisture at the compressor receiver.

good luck

You are correct, you were sold the wrong thing. You do not need (nor do you want!) a lubricator in the system if you are spray painting. a lubricator is only for air tools that have rotating parts, you do NOT want to be putting oil into your spray paint air supply. You may want to tee off the line and put the lubricator on a separate line for air motors and such, so you might still find a use for it, just not for your painting setup.

You do need a a coalescing water/oil separator (with an automatic drain), and you do need good filter after the water/oil separator to catch anything that gets past the separator, but you need to follow that up with either a desiccant dryer, or a refrigeration type dryer to get ALL of the moisture out of the air supply. Since these sorts of dryers have limited throughput and in the case of desiccant dryers, require recharging after "x" amount of moisture is absorbed, you may want to put your lubricator tap between the filter and the dryer.

You will need to flush your hose/plumbing with soapy water and dry it well to get all the oil and crap from previous use out of the plumbing or you'll continue to have problems even after you install all of the proper equipment. Or better yet, replace it with clean new plumbing/hoses (you can use the old hoses for your air ratchets and sanders and such) dedicated to JUST painting/blow-off use and nothing else.

Google the following:

Numatics Water Seperator, part number F900X-06A. Use this prior the the particulate filter and regulator. Discard the lubricator.

What is this numatics water seperator, and what can I do for packaging machine air supply to get dry air.

Please guide me

The Numatics water seperator is a centrifugal/mechanical seperator that makes bulk water drop out of the airstream. I would recommend a water seperator in conjunction with a particulate filter. Those two items will remove the majority of the water. If you are still experiencing some water issues, then you can add a coalescing filter.

To help specify exactly what you need it helps to discuss the actual problems you are experiencing. I am an industrial distributer specializing in fluid power products. You can reach me at ahawker@e-msales.com should you wish to look into a more detailed solution.

I have hadf airly good success by using another seperate air tank conected to air supply and second hose from there to spray gun. It will allow water to collect in second tank

It also acts as an additional air reservoir to allow longer spray time when the compressor is not sufficient. When ever the velocity of the water saturated air is reduced, moisture will fall out of suspension. Usually on the walls of the tank.