Setting up new compressor for spraying

[davidni]

Ok so need a little help here...

Since I got offered stupid money for my (high end) HVLP Turbine & fancied having an airline again...I bit the bullet...

Just got a new 200 litre compressor, bought myself a 10mm hose & a sealey gold gun.

So I know I need a water trap etc but am confused regards setting up???

Compressor has the usual regulator & 2 outlets on it...

Do I need a water trap at both ends of hose, or just an inline at the gun end???

A few people have mentioned upgrading the regulator to a wall mounted one but how do you set this up? Is it really needed????

I've also been told to upgrade the regulator as most of the cheaper ones sold on the tanks restrict airflo???

Whip hose? Does the gun need one???

And connectors? I'm confused as hell? Which is the best? A few have mentioned hi flo euro's or something like that??? Then I keep reading about pcl fitting etc...its confusing.

In fact any tips regards compressor set up & use would be appreciated as the instructions suck...no pics etc. I've figured out the basics but just could do with a hand to grasp it all.


Many, many thanks in advance.

 

[the snooper]

I have a water trap about 18 feet away from the compressor, they work on the condensation method so if its close to the compressor they heat up and stop working it also incorporates the regulator and is the only water trap I use, with no problems at all

 

[brightspark]

pcl fittings will do u ok and use a whiptail on your gun its better than the conector direct to gun , more flexible

 

[anjum]

Which compressor did you buy and what regulator and filter is on it?

If you want to run high cfm tools on like good sprayguns, high cfm airtools, sandblasters, then a high flow regulator is useful.

Some high flow euro connectors may be worth investing in depending on the length of air hose.

The whip hose/s are useful so you can have a seperate whip for air tools with an in line oiler, and one for spraying with an inline water filter and possibly an inline regulator.

 

[davidni]

Its an italian jobbie VIENTO something or other. Had originally ordered a 200l 3hp 14cfm Bergin Germany, but this arrived instead. Its about same spec...got good reviews buy other buyers & it was delivered in person, set up and with years doorstep service warranty for £370, which suits me well enough. It all seems well made, but even a novice like myself can spot the regulator looks a bit cheap on it.

So if I upgrade the regulator...do I buy a combined reg & water trap and fit that in its place???

I see many are advertised as wall mountable...how do I set this up? Or do I even need to be thinking about this?

Any reccomendations?

I bought a Laser HI VIS 10mm 10 metre air hose. Probably wont need the length very often but bought it for 8 quid on Ebay so hard to beat...

So do I attach an inline filter to the gun, then plug whip hose to that, then attach to airline?

Do I need a regulator at the gun?

Basically if anybody could talk me through a good set up step by step I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Daz1968]

I put my compressor in a different workshop and piped the air with John guest fittings with water trap tee and drop legs, then a seperator filter regulator mounted where I can paint, not had any water in my lines at all. But depends if you want it permanently mounted or moveable. The pipe and fittings are cheap, I used 22mm from compressor with 15mm drop legs. Think the regulator filter needs to be min of 20ft from compressor to be effective.

 

[davidni]

I would prefer to keep the compressor sort of mobile ie - no fixed plumbng etc.

My garage is not big but I can easily brace the airline to the wall in order to have the filter regulator about 16 feet away.

So if I go for a wall mountable filter/reg I assume I should bypass the one on the compressor? Surely connecting to both would be quite restrictive in itself? If advisable, how do I bypass the reg? I see a plug on each end of the tank...one looks like standard bolt head & one looks like hex key plug? Is there something that I could fit into these that would allow direct hook up with an airline?

I will look for a shorter airline to run from compressor to wall mounted regulator.

I have been told to def fit an inline water trap and a mini reg at the gun end. So if this is advisable is there a good mini regukator that doesnt cost big money? What about the SEALEY inline traps & mini gun reg's? Are they decent?

 

[anjum]

Any cahance of a pic of the compressor and regulator.

For the fittings I prefer something like these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ferm-6-Pi...Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item3cc6f9abf1, but there are some issues of compatibilty between brands. There are also high flow versions.
You will need various plumbing bits which are cheaper form a plumbers than machine mart etc.
I have my regulator and filter mounted on a tail (or pre-tail??) which I connect into the unregulated compressor and mount onto the wall and plug my airline into that. I also have the original regulator on the compressor as an alternative. As said earlier I have two seperate tails for the sprygun with a filter and a seperate one with an oiler for air tools. Next investment is a good flexible/rotating joint.

The regulator/ filter is worth spending some extra money to get a good high flow one without going stupid.

 

[davidni]

Yes I will certainly get a photo on. I'll do that tomorrow.

 

[jacksparrow]

a regulator at the gun is not needed, you can regulate the air flow on most spray guns

 

[davidni]

Ah right ok...thanks

 

[anjum]

Only problem is that most guns don't have a read out of the pressure at the gun.

I haven't got a regulator at the gun, but wondering if it would help getting a more consistent set up. I normally adjust by ear but I'm wondering why the best guns seem to be getting digital readouts and some professional sprayer have regulators at the gun end.......??

I'm going to try next time I spray anything see if I can calibrate my ear!!

 

[davidni]

http://s1095.photobucket.com/user/pikeflyco/library/Compressor

Here are a few pics of the compressor. The regulator is made by FERM 0.5-8bar rated.

Ok so basically just got it going to day for a test. Connected my new air blow gun (just for testing) as my new spray gun hasnt arrived yet.

Few questions though?

I set the regulator to 4 bar for the blow gun (recommended). I Kept the trigger pressed & the regulator at the pressure switch started going down pretty fast. And the regulator feeding the hose also started dropping?

Is this normal??? Do you have to keep adjusting the regulator to keep the pressure correct? I thought that once the regulator was set, it would consistently supply that pressure to the tool/gun you are using???

And then because I have adjusted regulator to compensate for pressure drop...once compressor kicks in the regulator (feeding the hose) pressure starts to rise which required me to quickly adjust it again or the pressure was rising to above what the tools recommended pressure rating is.

I kept the trigger compressed for curiousity & got just over 2 minutes before the compressor kicked in...this seems awfully quick? Or is this normal...should a compressor with such a big tank be kicking in every few minutes if you are using air continuously???

Ok so if the above are normal then please tell me how you are supposed to get consistent pressur to your spray gun when using it?

On a plus....its far quieter than I ever expected. Yes you have to speak loudly but its not deafening & I dont think I will have to start soundproofing etc unless I want to use it in the evenings.

 

[davidni]

Oh, forgot to say. Gun connected to 10metre 10mm hose. Just screwed onto reg and tool as havent gotten to QR fittings yet.

No extension lead connected to compressor. Just tested on its 1.5 metre power cord.

Cuts out at 8 bar...seems to kick in just under 6 bar.

 

[davidni]

Since posting above have discovered if I adjust pressure whilst actually fully pressing trigger on gun then it seems to maintain a consistent 4 bar every time I press trigger...right down until compressor kicks in.

Maybe this is how I should be setting regulator on all tools/guns etc?

Anyway please have a look at compresor pics and above post and if you guys can offer me a few pointers then I would be very grateful.

 

[anjum]

Yes, that's a better way, and definitely for the spray gun. Shame about that regulator, seems a good machine apart from that.

I assume there a safety over pressure valve on the compressor.

Give that, I personally would remove the regulator and screw on a two way adaptor and fit quick fit female connectors to both outlets.

I would then make up a lead to a new bigger filter/ regulator with a female connector on the output side.

It might be possible/worth making up a lead for the original regulator and adapt a lead to provide an female quick release connector on that one as well, in case you ever need one, for an air fed mask, or power tool. But it may be cheaper or easier to buy a cheap regulator filter off ebay.

 

[davidni]

Yes, that's a better way, and definitely for the spray gun. Shame about that regulator, seems a good machine apart from that.

I assume there a safety over pressure valve on the compressor.

Give that, I personally would remove the regulator and screw on a two way adaptor and fit quick fit female connectors to both outlets.

I would then make up a lead to a new bigger filter/ regulator with a female connector on the output side.

It might be possible/worth making up a lead for the original regulator and adapt a lead to provide an female quick release connector on that one as well, in case you ever need one, for an air fed mask, or power tool. But it may be cheaper or easier to buy a cheap regulator filter off ebay.

So I take it you are confirming that the regulator is not great? Any recommendations on a decent regulator for doing as you suggest? Sealey or clarke ones any good?

When you mention safety over valve do you mean the lever that allows air to be released or is it whatever the puff of air keeps shooting out of from somewhere in the pressure switch when the compressor reaches its 8 bar maximum? sorry for so many questions but the instructions are pretty grim.

 

[davidni]

Sorry for all the questions...its just the web seems to be lacking on helpful info...

Plenty about what compressor to buy, cfm, fad etc...

But very little good info on things related to setting up, good regulators etc.

 

[jacksparrow]

I'm wondering why the best guns seem to be getting digital readouts and some professional sprayer have regulators at the gun end.......??

been a painter for 15 years, never had a digi read out or regulator at the gun

can set gun up perfectly without

 

[brightspark]

been a painter for 15 years, never had a digi read out or regulator at the gun

can set gun up perfectly without

im not a painter but been spraying for 40 years .same here set the gun and paint viscosity without anything just a gallon oil can to test spray 1st