If your plasma cutter is not performing as it used to or it isn’t cutting with precision, it is basically due to the air that is supplied to the cutter is contaminated. There are numerous dryers available, but choose the best air dryer for a plasma cutter that is compatible with your cutter. With a good air filter, your plasma cutter performs efficiently, and it prolongs the cutter’s life.
However, there are tube lengths that are required to be the same. If the air tube doesn’t fit properly, the air will leak, resulting in low performance. An air dryer should clean the air from every kind of containment, either be water, oil, macroscopic particles and deliver the cleaned and dried air at high pressure.
Depending upon the field of your work and scope, you will need a just air dryer that can fulfill your needs. And don’t get confused by the words dryer or filter, as both have the same meaning. To help you choose the best air dryer for your plasma cutter, we have put together the top five products that are capable of delivering maximum performance.
TOP PICKS
★★★★★
Desiccant Dryer
- Weight: 6 pounds
- Dimensions: 12.36×12.2×5.08 inches
- Airflow capacity: 100CFM
★★★★★
Ingersoll D42IN
- Weight: 44.9 pounds
- Dimensions: 17.64 x 17.32 x 13.86 inches
- Air flow capacity: 11 CFM
★★★★★
Motor Guard
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
- Dimensions: 5.2×5.2×7 inches
- Airflow capacity: 45 CFM
Contents
Best Air Dryer For A Plasma Cutter in 2022
IMAGE |
PRODUCT |
DETAILS |
PRICE |
---|---|---|---|
Best Overall |
Desiccant Dryer System For Plasma Cutters |
|
|
Best For Heavy Work |
Ingersoll D42IN Compressed Air Dryer |
|
|
Best For Money |
Motor Guard M-60 Air Filter |
|
|
For Small Work |
DeVilbiss QC3 Air Filter and Dryer |
|
|
3 Stage
|
PneumaticPlus SAU4030M-N04DG-MEP |
|
1. Desiccant Dryer System For Plasma Cutters
BEST Overall
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 12.36×12.2×5.08 inches
- Weight: 6 pounds
- Material: Aluminum
- Airflow capacity: 100 CFM
Edge Desiccant dryer system is an industrial air dryer for plasma cutters that carries out operations in three major steps. In step one, it removes almost all the moistures as small as 5 microns with the help of a powerful water trap filter. Air is then cleaned from any unwanted particles as small as 0.01 microns with the help of a coalescing filter in the second step.
Finally, the air is passed through a desiccant dryer that dries the air, and this way, cleaned, dried, pure air is supplied to the plasma cutter for continuous working. It is designed of the aluminum cast and used for industrial-grade works as with a 3-stage process the air is thoroughly cleaned.
Your plasma cutter will be able to cut even the hard metals with precision with the help of this dryer due to the auto-drain feature. It is constructed for industrial use, so it doesn’t leak and have a solid body that works efficiently.
Features
- 3-Stage Air Filtering
The air that is delivered to the plasma cutter is 100% clean and free of contaminants as it is passed through 3 different stages for cleaning and drying. It increases the efficiency of the plasma cutter and its life.
- Max Pressure Input
It has a unit that regulates incoming and outgoing pressure according to your preferred settings while removing moisture, oil, water from the air, drying the air, and then providing 100% clean air for your plasma cutter.
- No Leakage
Auto-drain feature allows the plasma cutter to cut metal precisely as there is no loss of air and 1/2 inches NPT that fits the plasma cutter pipe, so there is no chance of leakage, making it best for heavy-duty projects.
PROS:
- 100% clean air.
- Industrial-grade filter.
- Max pressure input and output.
- No leakage.
- Durable body.
CONS:
- Limited beads capacity.
2. Ingersoll D42IN Compressed Air Dryer
BEST For Heavy work
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 17.64 x 17.32 x 13.86 inches
- Weight: 44.9 pounds
- Air flow capacity: 11 CFM
- Voltage: 115 Volts
Ingersoll D42IN is a high-quality air dryer that delivers the best performance and long-lasting service at an affordable cost with a combination of components. This compressed air dryer is equipped with efficient heat exchangers and stainless steel demister that removes moisture or contaminants from the air and cleans it.
You can also check: Best Plasma Cutters under $2000
The programmable electronic valve is not only adjustable but also reduces air loss while consuming minimum energy. It is programmed to have complete control over its settings and system parameters due to the advanced microprocessor.
Coalescing filter removes unwanted materials from the air and delivers the same pressured air while maintaining the dew point. It is capable of a durable air supply for continuous work and bears up to 203 psi pressure. You can see the detailed features in the list below.
Features
High-Quality Air Dryer
The compressor air dry separates the water and oil from the air and delivers the dry air with the same pressure as it came for the plasma cutter. With the efficient heat exchanges and steel demister, your air is cleaned as it should be and deliver maximum performance for plasma cutters.
Smart Control
There is little to no air loss, and less energy is consumed with a programmable electronic valve that is fully adjustable. Furthermore, an advanced microprocessor allows you to control the settings and all the system parameters, and using it is very simple and easy.
Protection And Consistency
It not only separates water and air but also has a coalescing filter that removes unwanted particles and constantly delivers fresh air. It delivers air with consistency and consumes very low energy with variable fan speed while ensuring constant dew points.
PROS:
- Temperature-driven fan to eliminate heat.
- Smart controls.
- Continuous Air supply.
- Durable.
CONS:
- Slow draining of water.
Not one of the displays was placed correctly. Repair expenses are within the unit’s price range. Box is not broken; it was simply thrown away at the manufacturing. Installed inboard & outboard filters before sandblasting for two full days. There was no water or any problems at all. Regards, air dryer. Ingersoll D42IN Compressed Air Dryer is the best air dryer for large-scale plasma cutting work. It helps to filter out a large volume of air by providing an airflow capacity of 11 CFM.
3. Motor Guard M-60 Air Filter
BEST For Money
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 5.2×5.2×7 inches
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
- Airflow capacity: 45 CFM
- Filteration rating: 0.01 Micron
Motor Gaurd M-60 is famous for its impeccable design and construction that comes at a low price. This Air filter is best for cleaning out polluted air for your plasma cutter and enhance its cutting abilities. Its construction design can remove oil aerosols, moisture, and other harmful things from the air as little as 0.01 microns.
Furthermore, this air filter is made up of environment-friendly materials and doesn’t contain anything that may harm the surrounding. It doesn’t just provide protection from unwanted materials but also has low pressure and is easy to use.
M-60 is the modern model of air filters that can be installed on bigger lines starting from ½ inch. The wound of this filter traps contaminants and other unwanted materials that are large in quantity. The most important thing is that it is compatible with most of the plasma cutters and delivers maximum performance.
Features
Removal Of Containments
Your plasma cutter needs clean and compressed air to work correctly, and this filter is capable of removing even 0.01 microns of contaminants from the air and cleaning it. Oil aerosols, moisture, and other contaminants allow every arc to be precise, smoother, and faster. Furthermore, it has a wound that traps contaminants present in large and cleans it.
Durable Construction
M-60 body is coated with aluminum housing that increases its life and long-last. It is constructed so that it can be installed on lines bigger than ½ inch and ensure that it delivers the best and cleanest airflow to the plasma cutter.
Environment Friendly
All the materials used in this air filter construction are environment friendly and don’t damage the surrounding in any way. It is easy to use and has a very low-pressure drop giving the plasma cutter the cleanest air with just pressure.
PROS:
- Cleaning air efficiently.
- Compatible with plasma cutters.
- Environment-friendly.
- Durable.
- It increases the durability of the plasma cutter.
CONS:
- The compressor needs maintenance.
4. DeVilbiss QC3 Air Filter and Dryer
For Small Work
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 4.7 x 8.5 x 13 inches
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
- Filteration limit: 0.1 micron
DeVilbiss QC3 is a low-cost model capable of cleaning the air from water, oil, other particles and drying the air. The filter and dryer unit is specifically designed to filtrate the air with only a two psi pressure drop, and it is one of the most cost-effective dryers. Wet air can damage your plasma cutter, so this filter has a 3-stage filtering system that removes even 0.01-micron particles.
The draining system is of good quality, and you can easily remove the water, oil, other particles by using a removable bowl that is present in this dryer. Furthermore, this air filter uses a desiccant cartridge that lasts a long time, and you can easily replace it with the new one.
It is compatible with most plasma cutters and is best for those who are looking to increase their cutter’s life and performance while remaining on a budget as it is cost-effective.
Features
Complete Air Control
3 stage filtering system completely annihilates any residuals that are in the air and gives a constant supply of dry air to your plasma cutter. With this air filter, you will have complete control over air pressure, either it is incoming or outgoing.
Draining System
The draining system of this machine is top-notch, and there is a removable bowl that allows you to get rid of unwanted particles, oil, and water and is easy to clean. The cartridge air filter uses it lasts longer than most of the other cartridges and easily changeable.
Compatibility
It is compatible with most of the plasma cutters and comes at a lot of cost with its features. With only a two psi pressure drop, you can clean your air from water, oil, and unwanted materials and enhance your plasma cutter’s performance.
PROS:
- Durable.
- Affordable.
- Complete Air control.
- Compatible.
- 3-Stage cleaning.
CONS:
- A little pressure drop of 2 psi.
When we tested the filter in different conditions, we found it worked under average performance when the humidity was high in the air. So if you have small work or less humid air in your atmosphere, this filter can be a great choice for you.
5. PneumaticPlus SAU4030M-N04DG-MEP
3 Stage
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Diemensions:10.1 x 8.5 x 4 inches
- Weight: 4.3 pounds
- Filteration rating: 0.3 microns
Suppose you are looking for an affordable air filter that is compatible with your plasma cutter and thoroughly cleans the air from any unwanted particles. In that case,PneumaticPlus is one of the choices you should consider. It is capable of cleaning up to 250 psi pressurized air and operate on 150 psi pressure.
Generates quality air for your plasma cutter and enhances its performance to its max by 3-stage cleaning that separates water and oil from the air up to 10 microns and unwanted particles up to 0.3 microns.
An automatic drain system that gets rid of oil and water that is extracted from the compressed air, so you don’t have to remove it manually. It has no moving parts, so you don’t need to adjust anything, and it will clean your air for your plasma cutter in one go.
Features
3-Stage cleaning
It is cleaning the air in 3 stages. First, it separates the water and oil as small as 10 microns using the particulate filter. In the next stage, it cleans the air of unnecessary particles up to 0.3 microns using a coalescing filter. In the final stage, it dries the air. It is making the wet air cleaned and dried.
Automatic Drain System
Now you don’t have to manually clean the dryer from the water, oil, or any kind of unwanted material as an automatic drain system does all that for you when the bowl is near to full.
Easy to Use
It is extremely easy to use this air dryer as it does all the work; you just need to connect the lines as it has no moving parts, there is no need to adjust anything specifically, and it will clean the air perfectly.
PROS:
- Durable.
- 3-Stage cleaning.
- Automatic draining.
- Easy to use.
CONS:
- Regulators need maintenance.
It is a good “all-in-one” product for removing particles, oils, and water while also offering an excellent, controlled supply. Compared to similar items, this air dryer is remarkably substantial and well-made. The bowls, frame, and assembly are all made of metal, and the entire thing is powerful.
Buyer’s Guide Best Air Dryer For A Plasma Cutter
There are many products on the market that can clean the air for your plasma cutter but choosing the best one that is fully compatible and capable of delivering the best results. Here is the buyer’s guide that will help you in understanding the kind of air filter you want to purchase and use. Don’t get confused if we use the terms dryer or filter, as both of them have the same meaning.
Air Filter Type
The first thing you need to know is the air filter type that you will need as there are numerous kinds of filters, but only two of them are considered the best for plasma cutters.
Desiccant Dryer
Most of the air filters that are available come under a Desiccant filter, and they are tube-shaped containers containing beads, also knows as ‘desiccant’ that helps in cleaning. They are extremely easy to use and remove any unwanted particles from the air and supply the dry air to the plasma cutter with the same pressure as it was delivered.
Refrigerated Dryer
The second type of filter is refrigerated dryers, and they are tower-shaped and work on the same refrigeration principle as a home refrigerator. However, compressor air is cooled in this filter, and moisture is extracted while air is allowed to pass on. They are allowing the air to be cleaned and enhance the life and performance of your plasma cutter.
Material And Use
The material used in the construction of an air dryer plays a vital role in determining its durability. There shouldn’t be any kind of material use that may harm the surroundings biologically. Most of the excellent air filters are made up of aluminum as it is durable and safe. After the material, the air filter should remove all kinds of containment from the air oil, water, unseen particles; everything should be removed and dried, 100% pure air should be delivered.
Size And Pressure
When choosing the air filter for the plasma cutter, be sure to select the suitable NPT size air dryer as some plasma machines only have ¼ inches tubes while some may have ¾ inches tubes, but all the reviewed products are capable of connecting with tube larger than ½ inches. Size is essential for connecting, or else the unit may leak. And minimum pressure required for compatibility between dryer and cutter is 100psi, and the more you have, the better the performance will be.
FAQS
Why do we use an air dryer with a plasma cutter?
If a dirty, oil-contaminated air with mixture goes to the plasma cutter, it spoils the cutter and does not generate any plasma. So an air dryer is a filter used to clean the air from dirt, dust, oil, moisture, and other contaminants.
Is it necessary to use an air dryer with a plasma cutter?
If you use an air dryer to filter out the contaminants from the air going to the plasma cutter, it will increase the life span of the plasma cutter and the consumables.
Conclusion
All the reviewed air dryers are best in their way, and choosing one of them rests upon you. Depending upon your budget and need, you can choose the best air dryer for a plasma cutter from the above products that suit you and need to work. If you have a low budget and work on only low-quality metals, you should probably go with a small-scale dryer, or if you are an industrial worker, you may need an industrial-grade dryer. We hope that we could help you choose the best air dryer for your plasma cutter.