Compressor Pressure Regulator Needed

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

All;

I have a Badger 180-1 and it ha no pressure regulator. I have read on several of the threads about adjusting pressures for fine detail work and was wondering if a regulator is needed or does the 180 handle the task?

I don’t want to buy what I don’t need. Thanks very much.

John

2

what are you using for air? I dont think you need one with compressed air in a can. but a compressor will ussually have 80-125psi air stored; you want maybe 40 or 50 max; many use 15 or 20. so you need a regulator to reduce the pressure for you. the handle itself does nothing to regulate the air; its on or off with air basicly; even in a dual action so the pressure needs to be regulated elsewhere.

3

If a regulator will work on the 180-1 it should help somewhat. Badger’s site indicates that the 180-1 has a maximum pressure of about 28 psi and I suspect that in use that would drop to around 20 or so. For detail work that is a bit high in my opinion, I usually run more like 8-10 psi for close-in work.

Badger’s site also indicates that the 180-1 has an internal bleed so I’m not sure how that will affect the ability to use a regulator, perhaps not at all but I just don’t know. Hopefully someone who has put a regulator on a 180-1 will be able to provide more input. If not drop Badger an email and ask them.

4

Thanks. I’ll wait a bit and see and then drop badger a note. What is “typical” PSI for normal work?

Thanks.

John

5

Depends on who you ask; how they thin their paint, what kind of paint, how far from the surface, etc. For me spraying “General Coverage” it’s about 12-15 psi about 3" from the surface.