Regulator issues

My guess is that the item you bought at Lowes is NOT a pressure regulator even though it may say so on the package. It may be an adjustable orifice with a knob to change the opening size, thus, no regulation at all. The spike from the compressor startup passes right through the orifice. An air pressure regulator usually costs over $100 at Lowes and should work very well.

You can get rid of the problem by investing in a quality airbrush compressor with tank and its own regulator. There are many posts on this forum on compressor choices.

If you provide more details on your compressor, other may have more specific advise for you on your problem.

I have first hand experience with a few airbrush compressors, but no Badger, and garage type too. All of them take a short while to build up the pressure and none have the pressure spike problem you mentioned. Is it possible that your compressor may need repair? You can email Ken at Badger directly to ask if the spike is normal. kenbadger@aol.com Ken occasionally visits this forum.

Mike V is another good resources for Badger product too. Hope that he will respond to your post.

You don't need to spend $100 for a regulator at Lowes. Lowes don't sell hobby items. Airbrush Depot has a decent regulator if your compressor is working properly.

http://www.tcpglobal.com/airbrushdepot/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=ABD+TFR-3000

Byrne0ut wrote:

I have a regulator for my compressor that i picked up at lowes, now it will regulate the airflow from 40 psi down to around 10 psi, the issue is when i take my finger off of the button the pressure builds back up and when i squeeze the trigger again it starts pumping out around 40 psi down to where i have it set.  Is there any way handle this?  because when I am painting camo or highlighting i need low pressure so i can keep the brush close to the subject I am painting and I dont want to run into the problem of having the paint give me the spider effect and that is exactly what will happen.  Any thoughts or help would be highly appreciated.

Are you saying that if you set the regulator at say, 10 psi it goes back up to 40 psi until you press the trigger and then it drops to 10 psi? 

OK, here is my take on what is happening. My guess is that the compressor has no air tank correct? If so that can be a fluctuation problem in pressure. What many people don't realize is that when you set your regulator for airbrushing, you set it with the airbrush in a static state, that is, at rest. If you set your regulator to say 20 psi with the airbrush at rest and then press the airbrush trigger, you will see the pressure drop to maybe 15 psi or so. My silent compressor has an air tank so when I press the trigger on the airbrush it only drops about 2 psi or so.

Is this what is happening?

In regards to a good regulator, Dixie Art has this Paasche regulator/moisture trap for $28.

It's real similar to the one I have on my Jun-Air compressor.

http://dixieart.com/Paasche_Compressors.html 

This interests me, as well.  I use a large garage air compressor with a 25g tank and a built in regulator.  My problem is two fold:  the built in gauge/regulator starts at about 15lb, and is difficult to fine tune, and I use much higher pressure for all my other tools, even inflating tires.

I bought a "regulator" for a couple bucks and found exactly what you found: run air through the brush and fine tuen it to 18 lb easily enough, then let off the air and it spikes to whatever the tank regulator is set at.  Use the air again, the reading changes downward, but not to the 18 lbs I selected.

So I am watching this thread with interest. 

Citadelgrad87 wrote:

This interests me, as well.  I use a large garage air compressor with a 25g tank and a built in regulator.  My problem is two fold:  the built in gauge/regulator starts at about 15lb, and is difficult to fine tune, and I use much higher pressure for all my other tools, even inflating tires. I bought a "regulator" for a couple bucks and found exactly what you found: run air through the brush and fine tuen it to 18 lb easily enough, then let off the air and it spikes to whatever the tank regulator is set at.  Use the air again, the reading changes downward, but not to the 18 lbs I selected. So I am watching this thread with interest.

Since you are in Southern CA give Dave Monnig a call at Coast Airbrush, he will help you out.

He is one of the most knowledgable airbrush experts in the country. 

I had the same problem  Here is my setup

http://www.happinessismandatory.com/misc/Tools/Compressor.htm

Basicly I just need an additional regulator

MikeV wrote:

Citadelgrad87 wrote: This interests me, as well.  I use a large garage air compressor with a 25g tank and a built in regulator.  My problem is two fold:  the built in gauge/regulator starts at about 15lb, and is difficult to fine tune, and I use much higher pressure for all my other tools, even inflating tires. I bought a "regulator" for a couple bucks and found exactly what you found: run air through the brush and fine tuen it to 18 lb easily enough, then let off the air and it spikes to whatever the tank regulator is set at.  Use the air again, the reading changes downward, but not to the 18 lbs I selected. So I am watching this thread with interest.      Since you are in Southern CA give Dave Monnig a call at Coast Airbrush, he will help you out. He is one of the most knowledgable airbrush experts in the country.

Wow, excellent, thank you very much.

Byrne0ut wrote:

that is excellent, thankfully i have two regulators, coincidentally enough i have the same regulator as you had in the second picture there with the new set up, i just need a double male adapter, or i guess i could just screw the second regulator directly into the first?  would that work, i dont know.

 If they fit I would not see a problem with it.  Lucky lowes as about any adapter you would need.  Make sure you use treading tape and sealer, that will save a load of headaches.

keilau wrote:

You don't need to spend $100 for a regulator at Lowes. Lowes don't sell hobby items. Airbrush Depot has a decent regulator if your compressor is working properly. http://www.tcpglobal.com/airbrushdepot/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=ABD+TFR-3000

That's the exact one I bought from TCP. I wanted a small regulator/trap and many of them marketed "for airbrush" start around $50 and they're plastic. Haven't used this yet as I'm still "hunting and gathering" stuff but it's nicely made.

One thing though the gauge that comes with it reads in MPa and kgf/cm2. While it's no big deal to do the math (kgf/cm2 = 14 psi) doing so reveals the range of 1-10 to be 0-140 psi. Much too large a range to be accurate at our scant little airbrush levels. So plan on another $5 or so for a finer gauge for it.

I went with an 0-60 psi guage simply because I happened to find one that very easily reads down to individual psi. A 0-30 gauge would probably meet all bench needs. Is it worth the extra trouble? Knowing ahead of time I need to replace the gauge I'd do it again. Seen too many plastic regulator/traps bone out or get all hissly with age.

Sorry I can't help with the fluxuation problem. Just figured I'd pass along some info about that particular regulator since it came up. ~Spure

Sprue wrote:

keilau wrote: You don't need to spend $100 for a regulator at Lowes. Lowes don't sell hobby items. Airbrush Depot has a decent regulator if your compressor is working properly. http://www.tcpglobal.com/airbrushdepot/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=ABD+TFR-3000   That's the exact one I bought from TCP. I wanted a small regulator/trap and many of them marketed "for airbrush" start around $50 and they're plastic. Haven't used this yet as I'm still "hunting and gathering" stuff but it's nicely made. One thing though the gauge that comes with it reads in MPa and kgf/cm2. While it's no big deal to do the math (kgf/cm2 = 14 psi) doing so reveals the range of 1-10 to be 0-140 psi. Much too large a range to be accurate at our scant little airbrush levels. So plan on another $5 or so for a finer gauge for it. I went with an 0-60 psi guage simply because I happened to find one that very easily reads down to individual psi. A 0-30 gauge would probably meet all bench needs. Is it worth the extra trouble? Knowing ahead of time I need to replace the gauge I'd do it again. Seen too many plastic regulator/traps bone out or get all hissly with age. Sorry I can't help with the fluxuation problem. Just figured I'd pass along some info about that particular regulator since it came up. ~Spure

High quality gauges are quite expensive at regular hardware/plumping supply house. But I found some good ones at the tools/air compressor section of Ebay and paid less than $10 each. They are 2" faces with 60 and 100 psi scale each. I connect the regulator/filter via a 20" plastic hose to the compressor, Iwata style. The 60 psi gauge replaces the one on the regulator. I connect the 100 psi gauge to the compressor tank using a T connector. They give me better control for the AB pressure.

I use an old TCP regulator from years ago. The new one has glass bowl and the control is more precise according to TCP.