greatwhitenorth69 wrote:
mlts22 wrote:
One of my old habits with air compressors is to pull the ring so the tank blows itself out when done. This comes from the expensive Iwata compressors that are used in airbrush makeup work. Very precise machinery, but they do need to have the tanks emptied after a work session so there is no chance of water getting in the tank (there are water traps, but even then, any water going out the end severely screws up an airbrush job.)
I can easily see that happening though. It can be easy to position an air compressor near a generator's exhaust.
The thing with the "ring on it" as you call it is the PRV, it is usually mounted near the pressure switch near the top of the tank. You need a drain on the bottom of the tank to remove water from it. This is important to do unless you want the bottom of the tank to blow off from years of water sitting in it.
Yep, we're talking about the PRV, or pressure relief valve.
I agree its a good idea every once in a while to open the drain on the bottom of the tank (if it has one, some do not).
However, I also have to disagree with the implication here, that no water is removed via the PRV. On an older compressor I used to own, I remember when opening it, if it had been a long time since I had previously done such, I could feel some moisture coming out with all the air.
Will
