RTi makes dryers and filters for every point in a shop's air system, from the compressor room to the paint gun and the painter's mask. This guide walks you to the right unit in a few questions. If you'd rather talk it through, tell us about your setup and we'll recommend one. We're an authorized RTi dealer.
Step 1: What is the air for?
| If the air feeds… | Look at |
|---|---|
| A paint spray gun | A point-of-use desiccant dryer. Go to Step 2. |
| A painter's supplied-air respirator | BRAD breathing air. Go to Step 4. |
| A prep station: primer, sealer, critical blow-off | STEALTH 6060B two-stage filter (activated carbon + 0.01 micron, 60 SCFM) |
| Air tools, sanders, impacts, blasting | STEALTH 6950B (water and dirt) or 6960B (adds oil vapor), 60 SCFM |
| The whole shop, at the compressor | Eliminex® mainline filters (EX108 / EX208 / C108, 150 SCFM) and an RDNC refrigerated dryer (35 or 50 SCFM) |
Step 2: How many spray guns?
- One gun: PERF-25 Perfect Air®, EH4000 Eliminator® II or EH7000 Eliminator® II. Go to Step 3.
- Two guns: PERF-50 Perfect Air® (50 SCFM to two guns). RTi designs the Eliminator® II for one gun only.
Step 3: One gun: which dryer?
| Your shop | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| High daily volume, mostly waterborne | PERF-25 Perfect Air® | Self-regenerating desiccant: -40°F all day, no cartridges to change, desiccant lasts 3–5 years. RTi calls it its best system for waterborne. |
| Moderate volume, lowest up-front cost | EH4000 Eliminator® II | Activated carbon + desiccant cartridge to -40°F, no power or purge air. Pick the ¼", ⅜" or ½" outlet your gun calls for. |
| Oil or fisheye problems from the compressor | EH7000 Eliminator® II | Adds a 0.01-micron coalescer between the carbon and desiccant stages. RTi designs it to eliminate fisheyes from compressed air. |
Step 4: Do your painters need breathing air?
- Breathing air only, 1–2 painters: BRAD-BD1. Activated carbon and 0.01-micron filtration with a CO monitor that alarms at 10 ppm, rated up to 60 SCFM. Add an operator kit (mask, 35 ft hose, flow control valve) for each painter.
- Paint air and breathing air from one system: BRAD-PERF-25C (one gun) or BRAD-PERF-50C (two guns). A Perfect Air® dryer combined with a breathing air pre-filter and an inline CO monitor.
Breathing air has its own OSHA requirements. Our guide to supplied breathing air for paint booths covers them.
Step 5: Check your compressor can feed it
| Unit | Air delivered | Plan your supply for |
|---|---|---|
| PERF-25 | 25 SCFM to one gun | 29 SCFM inlet flow at 100 PSI (includes purge) |
| PERF-50 | 50 SCFM to two guns | 54 SCFM inlet flow at 100 PSI (includes purge) |
| EH4000 | 25 SCFM | Gun demand only; no purge air |
| EH7000 | 30 SCFM at 100 PSI | Gun demand only; no purge air |
| BRAD-BD1 | Up to 60 SCFM | Total demand of the masks connected |
| STEALTH 6950B / 6960B / 6060B | Up to 60 SCFM | Tool or station demand |
Point-of-use dryers work best when the air reaching them has already had its liquid water and bulk oil knocked out. If your shop has no mainline filtration, add an Eliminex® filter at the compressor. See water, oil and dirt in your paint air.
Step 6: Plan the upkeep
Every RTi unit has replacement elements on a schedule, from every 3 months to every 12. Budget for them up front. The full list is in our element change schedule.
Replacing an older DeVilbiss, SATA or Sharpe unit?
Look up your part number on our RTi cross-reference to find the matching RTi unit or rebuild kit.
Still Not Sure? Let Us Spec It
Tell us your gun count, paint system, compressor size and whether painters need breathing air, and we'll recommend the right RTi setup. RTi can also build a custom unit. RTi orders over $1,200 ship free.
Ask us which RTi unit fits →
See the RTi line →
RTi cross-reference →