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Painting - are compressor regulators model specific?
Looking at getting set up for painting. Someone has a 60 gal compressor for a pretty decent price but the regulator isn't included. To get a regulator does it have to be model specific or are regulators a more or less generic item?
The one I'm looking at is 1-stage, I see where a 2-stage is recommended for painting. How imperative is it to get a 2-stage?
I used a single stage for a lot of years and it will work but it will run a lot more using air tools. I purchased a 2 stage that I am using now and I like it a lot better and is quieter. A single stage is about 10 CFM and a 2 stage is around 16 CFM. Try to get air tools that use the lowest CFM if you get the single stage also a HVLP gun to get proper atomization need around 16CFM. There are paint guns that use lower CFM like the LVHP guns they use around 8CFM. Hope this helps.
To get enough air for painting with an HLVP gun I would look for a compressor that has a minimum of a 60 gallon tank and a true rated 5 hp motor. This compressor should produce about 15cfm @ 100psi. HVLP guns operate at low pressure, and a single stage compressor of the same 5hp rating will put out a bit more cfm than a 2 stage model.
I previously used a 3hp compressor with a 60 gallon tank and noticed it ran continuously when painting and you could see the pattern of spray from the gun change, because it could not keep up.
A key in painting is to mount the regulator a distance from the compressor to allow the air to cool so the water is trapped by the regulator. I use a large regulator/ filter plus another filter connected to it followed by a disposable dissicant filter.
I also use at least 20 feet of black pipe with a drop at the compressor and another before the regulator to help cool the air and collect the water.
Last edited by mark79,80; Feb 26, 2019 at 07:45 PM.
The type of compressor and volume of the tank is important BUT...getting the air to where it comes out of your air hose and goes into the paint gun CLEAN AND DRY is most important.
Keep in mind there are also high flow air fittings that are often times needed....versus those that you can normally use in your other air tools.
I was fortunate enough to go with a great compressor for both working and most of all painting. The Quincy runs a very low cycle time and for painting it;s great. As Dub mentioned I also upgraded to the larger fittings which also help air flow . Picked up 2 line filters which help keep things running smooth especially here in Florida where heat and humidity play a big part in what products I use and the results.
RVZIO
One of the line filters. You sort of get what you pay for but these work really well. Also recommend the blue air lines and not PVC! What impressed me with this unit was the short and quiet cycle times. Hardly runs under painting. A DIY booth that works for me but keeps evolving. Can't have enough light and air flow. Results are the rewards. First metallic job! First paint job I ever did. Using a test panel for me was important, ya think!
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Painting - are compressor regulators model specific?
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