Aftercoolers, Dryers & Moisture – Do You Actually Need Them?

What Happens If You Don’t Remove Moisture

Moisture in your air supply can cause:

• Wet or clogged blasting media

• Inconsistent blasting performance

• Poor finish quality

• Blocked hoses and nozzles

• Increased wear on equipment

👉 For blasting, moisture is one of the biggest causes of poor results.

What Does an Aftercooler Do?

An aftercooler cools the compressed air as it leaves the compressor.

This causes moisture to:

• Condense quickly

• Be separated out before entering the hose

Benefits:

• Removes a large percentage of moisture

• Improves consistency

• Reduces risk of blockages

👉 Think of it as your first line of defence.

What Does a Dryer Do?

A dryer goes further than an aftercooler.

It removes:

• Remaining moisture

• Fine water vapour

Types of dryers:

• Refrigerated dryers (common for workshops)

• Desiccant dryers (very dry air, higher spec)

👉 Dryers are typically used where very dry air is critical.

Do You Actually Need One?

For Sandblasting

👉 Yes — strongly recommended

Without moisture control:

• Abrasive can clump

• Flow becomes inconsistent

• Performance drops

An aftercooler + moisture separator is usually enough for most jobs.

For Vapour Blasting

👉 Less critical, but still beneficial

• Water is already part of the process

• Moisture won’t cause the same issues

But:

• Cleaner air still improves consistency

For Dry Ice Blasting

👉 Yes — important

• Moisture can freeze in the system

• Can affect pellet flow and performance

For Air Tools

👉 Depends on use

• Occasional use → not always needed

• Continuous use → recommended

Moisture can:

• Damage tools

• Reduce lifespan

• Affect performance

For Spray Painting

👉 Essential

• Moisture ruins finishes

• Causes defects in paint

A dryer is usually required, not just an aftercooler.

Real-World Setup (What We Recommend)

For most blasting applications:

👉 Compressor + Aftercooler + Moisture Separator

This gives:

• Reliable airflow

• Reduced moisture

• Consistent performance

For more sensitive applications:

👉 Add a dryer to the system

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Running blasting equipment with no moisture control

• ❌ Assuming dry weather = dry air

• ❌ Using undersized or poor-quality separators

• ❌ Ignoring moisture until problems occur