I am trying to cobble together a poor boy's air dryer. This is an old old
project for me. I scrounged most of a roll of 5/8" copper tubing back about
1985 and I've been hauling it around ever since. It's survived many moves,
two house purchases and one complete marriage, never used. However, I *knew*
I would do this someday. I met up with Scott Logan once and bought one of
his last "Aridifier" air filter units once. I hauled it out last night and
looked at the drain plumbing. Hmm. I looked at the paperwork and saw this
graphic of an airline drain:

http://www.tinyisland.com/images/airDrain.jpg

This looks really cool to me. Not only that, but I have nearly everything
I need to make it. Except the sight glass. Anyone know how such a sight
glass might be made (or purchased) and installed on a biggish pipe nipple
like the one in the picture?

I got the copper tubing manipulated into a reasonable 20" coil, vertical
axis, with the ends sticking straight up. I also scrubbed all the years of
oxide off the outside of the tubing, figuring it would lower the thermal
resistance (that's what they say to do on the copper arms of my spot welder
so I figure it would help here too). I used the Armstrong copper tubing
polisher my mom gave me along with a couple of pads of 0000 steel wool.
Today my arm is kind of sore, but I have a thing that looks like a weird
tuba down in my basement, and it's SHINY.

Today I'm going to cut off the bottom of a black plastic drum and the
copper coil should fit nicely in there. Pix if it works, eternal misery
if it doesn't .. this is all in support of getting my plasma cutter working.
I bought one and haven't dared cut with it because there's so much water
in my air, sigh.

Grant Erwin
in soggy W. Washington

"Grant Erwin" wrote: (clip)one complete marriage, never used.(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What a shame.

Look up gauge glass at McMaster-Carr web site, page 465 of the catalog. Lots
of gauge glasses to pick from, not very expensive at all.
Lane


"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...
I am trying to cobble together a poor boy's air dryer. This is an old old
project for me. I scrounged most of a roll of 5/8" copper tubing back
about
1985 and I've been hauling it around ever since. It's survived many moves,
two house purchases and one complete marriage, never used. However, I
*knew*
I would do this someday. I met up with Scott Logan once and bought one of
his last "Aridifier" air filter units once. I hauled it out last night and
looked at the drain plumbing. Hmm. I looked at the paperwork and saw this
graphic of an airline drain:

http://www.tinyisland.com/images/airDrain.jpg

This looks really cool to me. Not only that, but I have nearly everything
I need to make it. Except the sight glass. Anyone know how such a sight
glass might be made (or purchased) and installed on a biggish pipe nipple
like the one in the picture?

I got the copper tubing manipulated into a reasonable 20" coil, vertical
axis, with the ends sticking straight up. I also scrubbed all the years of
oxide off the outside of the tubing, figuring it would lower the thermal
resistance (that's what they say to do on the copper arms of my spot
welder
so I figure it would help here too). I used the Armstrong copper tubing
polisher my mom gave me along with a couple of pads of 0000 steel wool.
Today my arm is kind of sore, but I have a thing that looks like a weird
tuba down in my basement, and it's SHINY.

Today I'm going to cut off the bottom of a black plastic drum and the
copper coil should fit nicely in there. Pix if it works, eternal misery
if it doesn't .. this is all in support of getting my plasma cutter
working.
I bought one and haven't dared cut with it because there's so much water
in my air, sigh.

Grant Erwin
in soggy W. Washington

In article ,
Grant Erwin wrote:

I am trying to cobble together a poor boy's air dryer. This is an old old
project for me. I scrounged most of a roll of 5/8" copper tubing back about
1985 and I've been hauling it around ever since. It's survived many moves,
two house purchases and one complete marriage, never used. However, I *knew*
I would do this someday. I met up with Scott Logan once and bought one of
his last "Aridifier" air filter units once. I hauled it out last night and
looked at the drain plumbing. Hmm. I looked at the paperwork and saw this
graphic of an airline drain:

http://www.tinyisland.com/images/airDrain.jpg

This looks really cool to me. Not only that, but I have nearly everything
I need to make it. Except the sight glass. Anyone know how such a sight
glass might be made (or purchased) and installed on a biggish pipe nipple
like the one in the picture?

McMaster Carr has something like that tube. Item 1138K52, or 5071K61
for a bigger one, but pricey.
Or for one that looks just like what's in your picture,
http://www.jmoncrieff.co.uk/Sites/tubular.html
For a cheap option you might be able to get a few screw-in plug-style
sight glasses and place them at various heights. Or just one up high
for "Time to drain" or "not time to drain." Not as cool, though.

--
B.B. --I am not a goat! thegoat4 at airmail dot net
http://web2.airmail.net/thegoat4/

Go to a place that sells supplies for HVAC guys. Here in the NE lots of
old houses still have old steam radiator heating systems. those sight
glass tubes are on them so you know when to refill the boiler. A boiler
supply place will have those valves with the fittings for the glass
tube. Around here you can usually find them in your local plumbers
boneyard pile.

Grant Erwin wrote:
looked at the drain plumbing. Hmm. I looked at the paperwork and saw this
graphic of an airline drain:

http://www.tinyisland.com/images/airDrain.jpg

This looks really cool to me. Not only that, but I have nearly everything
I need to make it. Except the sight glass. Anyone know how such a sight
glass might be made (or purchased) and installed on a biggish pipe nipple
like the one in the picture?

Use two hose connectors, and a piece of transparent hose.

Kristian Ukkonen.

Since this is RCM, I would go to Boeing Surplus and buy a piece of
aluminum about 3/4 or 1 inch thick and maybe 1.5 wide and as long as
you want the sight gage.
Mill a groove in it and cover it with some lexan also from Boeing
Surplus. Attach the lexan with screws. Who says that sight gages have
to be round or a glass tube.

Dan


Grant Erwin wrote:

http://www.tinyisland.com/images/airDrain.jpg

This looks really cool to me. Not only that, but I have nearly
everything
I need to make it. Except the sight glass. Anyone know how such a
sight
glass might be made (or purchased) and installed on a biggish pipe
nipple
like the one in the picture?



Grant Erwin
in soggy W. Washington

In article .com,
wrote:

Since this is RCM, I would go to Boeing Surplus and buy a piece of
aluminum about 3/4 or 1 inch thick and maybe 1.5 wide and as long as
you want the sight gage.
Mill a groove in it and cover it with some lexan also from Boeing
Surplus. Attach the lexan with screws. Who says that sight gages have
to be round or a glass tube.

Dan

The Tube-Makers' Union. Also, all tubes must be priced at $330. (:

--
B.B. --I am not a goat! thegoat4 at airmail dot net
http://web2.airmail.net/thegoat4/

Steam boilers are rated for 15 psi.

Tony


"GMasterman" wrote in message
...
Make real sure that whatever you use is rated at a higher pressure that
you
will be using. Don't know what heating system sightglasses are rated at
but I
suspect that it is not 150#. It'd be bad news to have the sightglass blow
out
in your face!

"Tony" wrote in message
news
Steam boilers are rated for 15 psi.

Tony


Except for the ones which are rated much, much higher than that:

http://www.pioneer.net/~carlich/RSE/RSEboilers.html

--
Jeff R.

"GMasterman" wrote in message
...
Make real sure that whatever you use is rated at a higher pressure that
you
will be using. Don't know what heating system sightglasses are rated at
but I
suspect that it is not 150#. It'd be bad news to have the sightglass blow
out
in your face!


Depends on the length-I've run borosilicate higher than that....

"GMasterman" wrote in message
...
Make real sure that whatever you use is rated at a higher pressure that
you
will be using. Don't know what heating system sightglasses are rated at
but I
suspect that it is not 150#. It'd be bad news to have the sightglass blow
out
in your face!

http://www.johnernst.com/glass_gaskets_p42.html

Grant Erwin wrote:

I am trying to cobble together a poor boy's air dryer. This is an old old
project for me. I scrounged most of a roll of 5/8" copper tubing back about
1985 and I've been hauling it around ever since. It's survived many moves,
two house purchases and one complete marriage, never used. However, I
*knew*
I would do this someday. I met up with Scott Logan once and bought one of
his last "Aridifier" air filter units once. I hauled it out last night and
looked at the drain plumbing. Hmm. I looked at the paperwork and saw this
graphic of an airline drain:

http://www.tinyisland.com/images/airDrain.jpg

This looks really cool to me. Not only that, but I have nearly everything
I need to make it. Except the sight glass. Anyone know how such a sight
glass might be made (or purchased) and installed on a biggish pipe nipple
like the one in the picture?

I got the copper tubing manipulated into a reasonable 20" coil, vertical
axis, with the ends sticking straight up. I also scrubbed all the years of
oxide off the outside of the tubing, figuring it would lower the thermal
resistance (that's what they say to do on the copper arms of my spot welder
so I figure it would help here too). I used the Armstrong copper tubing
polisher my mom gave me along with a couple of pads of 0000 steel wool.
Today my arm is kind of sore, but I have a thing that looks like a weird
tuba down in my basement, and it's SHINY.

Today I'm going to cut off the bottom of a black plastic drum and the
copper coil should fit nicely in there. Pix if it works, eternal misery
if it doesn't .. this is all in support of getting my plasma cutter
working.
I bought one and haven't dared cut with it because there's so much water
in my air, sigh.

Grant Erwin
in soggy W. Washington
Hum - call a large type plumbing house or plummer - In chemical labs and hospitals....
they install glass pipe for both inlet and soiled liquids. Acids don't eat glass.

Notice on the picture - there is a iron bar that is parallel to the glass so flexing
or elongation doesn't break the sight glass.

Keep us posted - moving from a rain forest to a rain checkerboard (same amount every month).
Martin

--
Martin Eastburn, Barbara Eastburn
@ home at Lion's Lair with our computer
NRA LOH, NRA Life
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder

McMaster-Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com) carries some, search for sight
gauges.
Paul

I knew that going in, Paul. My diapers just couldn't handle the pricing! - GWE

Oh, you're looking for the entire assembly.

Try
http://www.statesupply.com/displayCategory.do?Id=2115

They are only rated for 125 psi though.
They sell a 1/2in pipe one rates for 200psi, but it is about twice as
much.

They are a good company. My building is heated with a steam boiler
dating to the Eisenhower administration, so I've had occasion to use
them a few times.

Paul K. Dickman

On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 08:27:03 -0800, Grant Erwin
wrote:


McMaster-Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com) carries some, search for sight
gauges.
Paul

I knew that going in, Paul. My diapers just couldn't handle the pricing! - GWE

On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 08:27:03 -0800, Grant Erwin
wrote:


McMaster-Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com) carries some, search for sight
gauges.
Paul

I knew that going in, Paul. My diapers just couldn't handle the pricing! - GWE
Grant-Try a glass blower. Someplace that makes arc lamps. There used
to be one in the Seattle area. They would have pure quartz glass tube.
It is very strong. Maybe they would sell you a piece. Also, try a
glassblowers supply.
ERS

"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...

McMaster-Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com) carries some, search for sight
gauges.
Paul

I knew that going in, Paul. My diapers just couldn't handle the pricing! -
GWE


If I was trying to do it on the cheap I'd probably just make an acrylic
window by slotting the pipe and forming the sheet to the correct radius....

It doesn't matter, I've already let go of this. But did you notice
you have to order the glass separately? - GWE

wrote:

Oh, you're looking for the entire assembly.

Try
http://www.statesupply.com/displayCategory.do?Id=2115

They are only rated for 125 psi though.
They sell a 1/2in pipe one rates for 200psi, but it is about twice as
much.

They are a good company. My building is heated with a steam boiler
dating to the Eisenhower administration, so I've had occasion to use
them a few times.

Paul K. Dickman

On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 08:27:03 -0800, Grant Erwin
wrote:


McMaster-Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com) carries some, search for sight
gauges.
Paul

I knew that going in, Paul. My diapers just couldn't handle the pricing! - GWE

reinforced clear pvc tubing, 1.44 per foot in my brandy new mcmaster
catalog. some hose barbs and right angle fittings. Figure total cost 10
bucks including the beer

Grant Erwin wrote:
It doesn't matter, I've already let go of this. But did you notice
you have to order the glass separately? - GWE

wrote:

Oh, you're looking for the entire assembly.

Try
http://www.statesupply.com/displayCategory.do?Id=2115

They are only rated for 125 psi though.
They sell a 1/2in pipe one rates for 200psi, but it is about twice as
much.

They are a good company. My building is heated with a steam boiler
dating to the Eisenhower administration, so I've had occasion to use
them a few times.

Paul K. Dickman

On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 08:27:03 -0800, Grant Erwin
wrote:


McMaster-Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com) carries some, search for sight
gauges.
Paul


I knew that going in, Paul. My diapers just couldn't handle the
pricing! - GWE

On an earlier page they say, that the complete sets include the glass.
I suspect the order separately part is so they can cut it to length.


Paul K. Dickman

On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 10:24:29 -0800, Grant Erwin
wrote:

It doesn't matter, I've already let go of this. But did you notice
you have to order the glass separately? - GWE

wrote:

Oh, you're looking for the entire assembly.

Try
http://www.statesupply.com/displayCategory.do?Id=2115

They are only rated for 125 psi though.
They sell a 1/2in pipe one rates for 200psi, but it is about twice as
much.

They are a good company. My building is heated with a steam boiler
dating to the Eisenhower administration, so I've had occasion to use
them a few times.

Paul K. Dickman

On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 08:27:03 -0800, Grant Erwin
wrote:


McMaster-Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com) carries some, search for sight
gauges.
Paul

I knew that going in, Paul. My diapers just couldn't handle the pricing! - GWE

McMaster-Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com) carries some, search for sight
gauges.
Paul

I knew that going in, Paul. My diapers just couldn't handle the pricing! -
GWE

Grant,
The picture in the link you provided looks like it's just a holding tank for
the water with a drain and a sight gauge. Do you really need a sight gauge with
valves at each end of the glass? Wouldn't a gauge like McMaster # 1192K15 (over
10" of sight length, 125 PSI for under $25.00) fullfill your needs if you put
one valve upstream from the tank?
Paul