New TC-20 question

Joe, I do not have TC-20 directly applicable information for you. I hope other TC-20 owners will respond and this is a good information for potential buyer of TC-20. You should call the vendor on Monday to complain about this problem.

I do use an older pressure regulator moisture trap unit from TCPGlobal that I paid $12 for a few years ago.

The unit worked very well over the years. (The large face, 60-psi gauge was added by me.) The turning knob allows fractional psi adjustment because it takes almost half a turn to change 1-psi and the action of the knob is very linear. The reading was very accurate and does not fluctuate when the airbrush trigger on or off. Airbrush-Depot advertises it as a "true diaphram regulator" and still sells it as TRF-2000 for $20. The old TC-20 was supposed to use this same unit. If your does not, it may become a victim of cost cutting.

I recently purchased a newer regulator to test just out of curiosity. A picture of the new unit is shown below.

It was a complete disappointment. The adjustment knob was touchy. The reading fluctuates 2-3 psi when the airbrush was on and off.

When I inspect them closely. The pressure port (the openning where the pressure gauge was attached to) design in the new unit was changed the wrong way and could not have worked. In the old regulator, you see a small 1/16" hole leading to the adjustor chamber as it should be. In the new regulator, there is a 1/2" hole linking the pressure port to the adjustor chamber. No wonder neither one worked.

I must note that I have no first hand information whether the current TRF-2000 regulator is the same as the old one I have.

Joewat64

I just got my TC-20 last week and have been trying it out this weekend. I'm having an issue with the regulator not adjusting very well. I can turn it 2 to 3 FULL turns and the needle will not move. Then a little more turning and it jumps 10 psi at a time. It seems to go from 10, 20 or 30psi only. can't getting any smaller adjustments. Lets say im at 10 psi and I want 15, I'm having to turn it  A LOT just to get it to go five and then it will jump over 20 sometimes. Anyone else have this issue that owns a TC-20? I'm not sure if it's just a cheap regulator or broken. 

If you set the pressure at 10 psi first. How much does the pressure change when you turn the pressure knob up one quarter of a turn? No change or jump to 20 psi?

Hi,

That regulator behavior does sound a little odd but are you, perhaps, trying to adjust the pressure while air is NOT flowing through the brush? To adjust pressure you need to depress the air trigger on your brush and turn the regulator knob while air is flowing - the regulator setting will depend on the nozzle size of your AB but should be reasonably linear while air is flowing. My HF regulator behaves differently when trying to adjust pressure 'static' vs when air is flowing but not as erratic as you describe. Just a thought.

1/4 turn does nothing. I can make 2-3 turns before it moves. I have tried while air is going or not. Doesn't make any difference. 

They are sending me a new regulator. 

Joewat64

1/4 turn does nothing. I can make 2-3 turns before it moves. I have tried while air is going or not. Doesn't make any difference. 

It sounds like a defective regulator to me.

In a proper setup, you should be able to adjust the pressure statically. The pressure reading should stay the same when you get the air going. The driving pressure from the compressor should be steady and you want to measure the static pressure. However, the pressure in a moving airstream changes. It is a fact of fluid dynamics. A good regulator design measures the constant value that the regulator reduces pressure to to allow repeatable setting of airbrushing. You adjust the pressure high enough to get good atomization of the paint you use, but low enough to get least overspray.

Good data point on the TC-20 compressor:

1. Quality control not that hot.
2. Customer service seems reasonable. Awaiting detail report.

Did the service agent sound knowledgeable about the compressor? Is he/she helpful?

CS seemed responsive. It's all been handled through email. Here is what they said:

Thanks for the inquiry.  It seems as the gauge face is damaged and its
keeping the needle from freely moving.  We will send you a new regulator
and that should solve it.

UPDATE:

They sent me TRF-2000 regulator (different than the one I had) and it leaks on the output side. I have tried several layers of teflon tape, one layer, no layer, hand tighten, tighten with a wrench until just snug. No luck, still leaks. Went to get some pipe sealant putty called Rectorseal #5. Letting it set now but holding much hope. If it still leaks it's going back and I'm done with TCP Global and their cheap crap. VERY VERY aggravating. 

Where does it leak? How bad was the leak? Does the regulator come with a 1/4" male to 1/4" male adaptor?

You probably have a 1/4" BSP male on the regulator output. If the airhose is 1/4" NPT female, or vise versa, they may not match well. Make sure to use BSP on BSP or NPT on NPT.

I am sorry to say that your experience is not atypical of people who buys house brand make-in-China compressor equipment.

its the fitting on the output side of the regulator. The regulator they sent me the fittings were loose in the box. Its going back. Done with TCP

can you point me in the direction of a compressor that isn't made in China? 

Personally, I use the Paasche DA400 that is made in Taiwan and like it fine. However, beware that not all Paasche compressors are made in Taiwan. If interested, ask the seller before you buy.

The best known airbrush compressor manufacturer outside of China are Werther International in Italy and Ding Hwa Co. in Taiwan.

Ding Hwa makes most of the Iwata range of compressors. I will recommend their Power Jet Pro or Power Jet Lite. If the Iwata compressors are too pricy for your budget, Ding Hwa also markets the compressors under their own brand Sparmax. The Sparmax TC-2000 and TC-5000 are popular with modelers. If you have a Hobby Lobby store nearby, you  can get the TC-2000 there for about $210.

The biggest Werther distributor in the US is Silentaire. The Super Silent 20A is their low end model. It is also marketed by Badger Airbrush as the Badger Million-Air 480-1 model. These Werther made compressors are super quiet, but will set you back $500 or more.

Google the best deal in your area or by mail order by compressor name and model. Price varies quite a bit for every model.