Air regulators on a piston air compressor?

How would you use a compressor without a regulator. Example I need 15 psi for some types of work and down to 5 psi for others. Whilst the tank does help in making the psi very consistent, just because I dont have a tank, I still need to regulate the air supply. Otherwise you'll get air at one default psi setting. Not to mention what bleads the air off when you dont have the airbrush trigger depressed.... Some sort of regulator is required or you will also adversly affect the life of your compressor. imho

I concure. No matter what air source you are using you need a regulator and moisture trap(unless you are using CO2 then no need for a moisture trap).

A lot of smaller compressors do not come with regulators on them. They typically have a "Bleed Hole" somewhere to allow pressure to bleed down and prevent pneumatic lock.

I agree with the rest of the answers though. A regulator is a necessity as far as I'm concerned.

As far as the origional question goes, I would think that by hooking a regulator directy to the air compressor outlet, you would degrade the performance of the compressor and quit possibly burn it out. I would go to Wally World, K-mart or an auto supply store, get a 5 gallon portable air tank, and a t-fitting that fits the tank inlet/outlet. Hook one side to the air compressor and add your regulator to the other side of the t fitting. Most of the tanks have a guage which shows the pressure contained on the tank. I would turn on the compressor and run the tank pressure up to 60 to 75 psi and shut the compressor off. Start spraying and continue until the pressure in the tank is down to 2 or 3 psi above the psi that you are spraying at and turn the compressor back on. That way you won't burn out the compressor motor.

[As far as the origional question goes, I would think that by hooking a regulator directy to the air compressor outlet, you would degrade the performance of the compressor and quit possibly burn it out. /quote] This is not completely true, or put differently it depends on the regulator. I have two setups one with a tank, water trap and regulator and the other is a small compressor with a water trap and a different regulator. I got my regulators at a supply store and the one with no tank has a blead off valve. Not sure if that is the correct term, but basicly when I am not airbrushing the regulator bleads the air off, thereby not stressing the compressor. Why have a set up like this. well i travel a lot and I want to do some work on the road. I agree with a regulator that doesnt do this your going to burn the compressor out with prolonged use, that was my original point, airbrush connected directly to compresssor would do this too. tttthhhhaaatttssss aaalllll ffffoooolllkkkksss Reply ABARNE Member since February 2003 From: Southern California, USA Posted by ABARNE on Thursday, February 24, 2005 2:15 PM I think the design of the compressor also comes into play. I have a Badger 180-1 which is tankless, but has an internal bleed, presumbly to prevent the kinds of damage being discussed. I've had for about five years without any trouble. And in response to the original question, it works a whole lot better with a regulator than without. Reply Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 24, 2005 6:07 PM Abarne, I have that same compressor. Which regulator do you use? Jesse Reply Edit ABARNE Member since February 2003 From: Southern California, USA Posted by ABARNE on Saturday, February 26, 2005 1:29 AM It is one that I got from eHobbies but which they no longer seem to carry. I think the brand name is Finite. Basically it is the fairly typical kind, with the filter and clear moisture trap below, the pressure adjustment knob on top, and the pressure gauge to the side. Works like a champ. Reply JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login Register SEARCH FORUMS FREE NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. FORUMS PRODUCT REVIEWS READER GALLERY HOW TO VIDEOS SHOP ABOUT US FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy