A tip: re-use your inline desiccant filters

J

jaycoop

I buy 'Merlin' brand desiccant filters from Harbor Freight (not HF brand) .....or I have used Motor Guard brand....fit them with quick connect fittings to place them in front of your gun and inline pressure regulator, so you can swap them efficiently. Most important: re-use them! I have five of them....when they are spent, I bring them in the house, put them in the microwave for 5 or 6 minutes on DEFROST setting. They will dry out and turn back to blue; let them cool and put them in sealable baggies, and reuse them. The manufacturer doesn't offer this advice.
 
Due keep in mind, desiccant does break down, so not sure how many times you can get away with this but you will know when you start seeing dirt or sand type looks in your paint.
 
I bought some off ebay in bulk like this to put in my big containers, supposed to bake at 350 for an hour to turn it back. Eventually it does not turn between pink and blueanymore, just brown.
So I support the baking idea, as long as you are giving that moisture somewhere to go, but step down them from finish clear to base clear, to primer to air tools.
 
I will heed the advice of the more experienced members (that's the reason I joined!). I have noticed that the Motor Guard brand do a superior job (compared to the Merlin brand). I order them ahead of time from Amazon, to make sure I have them when needed.
 
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