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                        A couple regulaor questions

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                        26 replies
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        A couple regulaor questions
                        Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 25, 2004 7:30 PM
                        I finally picked up a regulator and moisture trap today. Hooked it up and everything seems fine. On to my questions. When I turn on my compressor the regulator read 30 psi. So I turned the switch, to go to a lower pressure but the gauge did not move. Only until I pressed on the AB trigger did the pressure drop. Is this thing broken or is that the way it works? Also I was wondering what psi range should my regulator be set to for spraying broad coverage, such as a car body. and what should it be at for fine detail? Thaks.

                        Casey
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                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Sunday, April 25, 2004 7:38 PM
                        Casey,

                        Regulators will do that when dropping the pressure down because they work on air pressure present in the gauge and to drop that pressure the gauge needs some air released. When you increase the pressure though, the needle on the regulator should go up immediately.

                        For general coverage on something like a car body or an aircraft I use around 20-25 psi myself as the lower pressures don't put out the volume well enough.
                        For fine spraying I would work in the 10-15 psi range as that allows for a fine line with little overspray.

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
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                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Sunday, April 25, 2004 8:19 PM
                        As Mike said, that is perfectly normal. If you already had your airbrush and hose hooked up there was air in the hose under the pressure the regulator was set at. Lowering the regulator setting does not bleed the air already in the regulator and hose, so it would stay there under the initial pressure setting until it is bled out.

                        Also, when you first air up the compressor the regulator may show a slightly higher than set pressure. It will also bleed down as soon as you release a little air.
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 25, 2004 8:36 PM
                        Ok, thanks guys. For a minute I thought It was broken.

                        Casey
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 26, 2004 12:45 PM
                        One question: once the pressure drops to the regulated pressure after the initial squirt, does it stay down there or does it go back up to the tank pressure? A proper regulator will keep the pressure down. Some very cheap regulators won't do this and it results in an overly high-pressure spray when the trigger is first pressed.
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                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Monday, April 26, 2004 2:35 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by limd21

                        One question: once the pressure drops to the regulated pressure after the initial squirt, does it stay down there or does it go back up to the tank pressure? A proper regulator will keep the pressure down. Some very cheap regulators won't do this and it results in an overly high-pressure spray when the trigger is first pressed.

                        They shouldn't do that. That's the whole purpose of a regulator, to isolate the high-pressure side from the low-pressure side. The only way the low and high sides should be the same is if 1) The regulator is broken or 2) The regulator is set wide open.

                        Thanks for the info. Hope I don't run into one of those! My compressor is a 150psi compressor. I'd really hate to see that at my airbrush Smile [:)]
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 26, 2004 2:56 PM
                        limd21, Once I press the trigger the pressure drops and stays at the PSI I set it to for the duration of the time Im' holding the trigger. Once I let off the trigger the pressure goes back up. Hope I made that clear enough. Im not sure if the regulator is a cheap one, it is one of the Campbell Hausfield ones.
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 26, 2004 3:03 PM
                        I guess I will throw in a fe more questions while im here. These dont have anything to do with the regulator, but with using my airbrush. Im completely new to using an Ab so these are probably basic questions. I was wondering what what the knurled knob does at the end of the needle. And also the same for the bigger piece that screws into the main body part of the AB. I thought about buying the book How to Use an Airbrush, that was put out by Kalmbach. I s this a very good book to help me learn more about my AB and how to use it? Thanks

                        Casey
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                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Monday, April 26, 2004 7:55 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by caseyn5

                        I was wondering what what the knurled knob does at the end of the needle.


                        That is the needle chuck and you loosen it to remove the needle or to clear a blockage from the airbrush.

                        QUOTE: And also the same for the bigger piece that screws into the main body part of the AB.


                        If you mean at the back of the airbrush, that is the needle tube that contains the needle spring, back lever, etc.

                        There are some good photos and information at Badger's web site here:
                        http://www.badger-airbrush.com/

                        Click on the 'Catalog' link and on page 1 there is a cutaway photo of the internals of an airbrush.

                        I don't know much about that book you mentioned, but you could learn all you need right here on this forum. There are many years of combined airbrushing experience on this forum. Wink [;)]

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 26, 2004 9:17 PM
                        Thanks MikeV. I guess I wont buy the book, and just flood all of you with questions as I learnBig Smile [:D]. Thanks again.
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                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Monday, April 26, 2004 9:42 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by caseyn5

                        limd21, Once I press the trigger the pressure drops and stays at the PSI I set it to for the duration of the time Im' holding the trigger. Once I let off the trigger the pressure goes back up. Hope I made that clear enough. Im not sure if the regulator is a cheap one, it is one of the Campbell Hausfield ones.

                        How much does the pressure go back up when you let off the trigger? Mine sits idle at about 3 psi higher than when I am spraying, and that's pretty normal. If it's much more than that something may be wrong with it.

                        Cambpell-Hausfield makes good regulators, I have a CH compressor and regulator. They are designed for the higher end of the pressure spectrum though, say in the 90 psi range, and when you get down around 15 psi they act a little strange. As long as the pressure stays pretty consistant when you are spraying and as long as there isn't a big difference between the pressure when you are spraying and when you aren't, don't worry about it.
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
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                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Monday, April 26, 2004 9:43 PM
                        QUOTE:
                        I don't know much about that book you mentioned, but you could learn all you need right here on this forum. There are many years of combined airbrushing experience on this forum. Wink [;)]

                        Yeah, and most of it is his! Listen to this man when he talks, he knows what he's talking about! I, for one, would be lost without his help.
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 26, 2004 10:06 PM
                        Im not exactly sure how much higher the pressure goes back up, i will have to check it out tomorrow. i could be completely wrong but does it really matter what the pressure is at when im not spraying, just as long as it drops to the desired PSI when I press on the trigger.
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                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Monday, April 26, 2004 10:26 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity

                        QUOTE:
                        I don't know much about that book you mentioned, but you could learn all you need right here on this forum. There are many years of combined airbrushing experience on this forum. Wink [;)]

                        Yeah, and most of it is his! Listen to this man when he talks, he knows what he's talking about! I, for one, would be lost without his help.


                        Ah come on Scott. You are making me blush my friend, Blush [:I]
                        I appreciate your confidence in me but I am still learning just like we all are and I learn just as much from the good folks on this forum as you do. Wink [;)]

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
                        Report Abuse
                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 5:16 AM
                        QUOTE:
                        I appreciate your confidence in me but I am still learning just like we all are and I learn just as much from the good folks on this forum as you do. Wink [;)]

                        The day I quit learning is the day I die because life is a continual learning experience. The difference between you and a few others and the rest of us is in our positions on the learning curve Smile [:)]
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 4:32 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity

                        QUOTE: Originally posted by caseyn5

                        limd21, Once I press the trigger the pressure drops and stays at the PSI I set it to for the duration of the time Im' holding the trigger. Once I let off the trigger the pressure goes back up.

                        How much does the pressure go back up when you let off the trigger? Mine sits idle at about 3 psi higher than when I am spraying, and that's pretty normal.


                        Yes - a few psi higher than when spraying is normal, but if it goes back up to tank pressure it is either faulty or it's one of those really cheap "regulators" that I've run across from time to time. These are not really regulators, in my book, but more of a simple restriction valve. They're ok for things like shop tools where pressures aren't super critical, but simply don't work for most painting.
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 1:57 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by caseyn5

                        limd21, Once I press the trigger the pressure drops and stays at the PSI I set it to for the duration of the time Im' holding the trigger. Once I let off the trigger the pressure goes back up. Hope I made that clear enough. Im not sure if the regulator is a cheap one, it is one of the Campbell Hausfield ones.


                        I'll bet you got an air tool regulator. I've got one (for my air tools), it's basically an air restricting valve. I tried to use it with an airbrush, but I just went out an bought a real regulator from Harbor Freight. It came with a moisture trap, and I was able to mount it on my wall. It was about $20, IIRC.

                        HTH,
                        Dan
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 2:37 PM
                        i checked it out, and once I let off the trigger the pressure goes back up to tank pressure. I guess i could take it back and get my money in return and buy a different regulator, but it worked fine as long as I triggered the airflow and allowed the PSI to drop and then draw back for paint flow.
                        Report Abuse
                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 3:18 PM
                        QUOTE: i checked it out, and once I let off the trigger the pressure goes back up to tank pressure. I guess i could take it back and get my money in return and buy a different regulator, but it worked fine as long as I triggered the airflow and allowed the PSI to drop and then draw back for paint flow.

                        The problem is that you are showing tank pressure all the way to the air valve in your air brush. How much pressure is in your tank? I don't know what the airbrush valves or hoses are rated at but I'd be surprised if it's over 90 psi. MikeV would probably know. If you have pretty high pressure in your tank, say 100psi or more, you may be exceeding the rating for the valve and/or hose.
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 7:30 PM
                        Im not completely sure but I believe it is just under 40, atleast I know its not over 40.
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                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 7:35 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by MusicCity
                        [br I don't know what the airbrush valves or hoses are rated at but I'd be surprised if it's over 90 psi. MikeV would probably know. If you have pretty high pressure in your tank, say 100psi or more, you may be exceeding the rating for the valve and/or hose.


                        I am not sure what the ratings are but I have shot my airbrush at 90-100 psi before with T-shirt paints. I don't think any compressor will hurt it even if it's 120 psi.

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 7:56 PM
                        my compressor runs at 65 psi, and it doesnt hurt aztek hoses, so i would think its safe for braided. braided's i think can do 120+
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                        MusicCity
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by MusicCity on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 8:07 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by caseyn5

                        Im not completely sure but I believe it is just under 40, atleast I know its not over 40.

                        OK, then you are fine. I still don't understand why your regulator is allowing tank pressure through, and it could be that Jonas Calhoun is right. Regardless, you aren't going to hurt anything at that rating.

                        Mike and 1337, thanks for the info. At least I know they'll handle that much.
                        Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 8:52 PM
                        ok cool, thanks everyone for helping me out.

                        Casey
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 29, 2004 5:35 PM
                        Here's a "regulator" that is nothing more than a restriction valve - it goes back up to full tank pressure once the trigger is released, which means the initial part of the next spray burst will be at full tank pressure (bad!):
                        http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36797

                        Here's a "real" regulator that keeps the low-pressure side regulated down to the set pressure range even after the trigger is released (the big blue part is the moisture trap/filter, not the regulator itself):
                        http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=1118

                        This type of unit has a diaphragm mechanism that allows it to control pressure much more precisely.

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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 29, 2004 7:07 PM
                        the one I have looks just like "regulator" that is a restriction valve. Maybe I will get my money back and get a real regulator. But at the same time its not that bad if the inital part of your next spray is a burst. As long as you make sure that you aim your AB away from the model until pressure goes down.
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 30, 2004 9:43 AM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by caseyn5

                        the one I have looks just like "regulator" that is a restriction valve. Maybe I will get my money back and get a real regulator. But at the same time its not that bad if the inital part of your next spray is a burst. As long as you make sure that you aim your AB away from the model until pressure goes down.


                        True enough as long as you don't need to start an effect that begins in the middle of the painting surface.
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