I have an air compressor I used for working on cars; now I would like to use it for painting models.
Problem is, where the on/off switch is at, (a black box) that’s where the quick connect is for the air hose and I wanted to put an Air-Pressure regulator there but it doesn’t fit.
[not enough room between where the regulator would screw in and tank]
Do they sell extensions or something so that I could move the regulator out 2 to 3 inches to make it fit?
*** Campbell Hausfeld Up-Right Compressor 5 Hp - 26 gal. tank
I use a “garage” compressor and run a hose into my man cave to my airbrush booth. That’s where I have the regulator mounted. You can put a regulator whereever you like, but you will have to customize the installation out of parts available at decent hardware stores.
Check the plumbing department at your local hardware store. They have a selection of piping which you will be able to use. Brass or galvanized nipples, tees, & elbows will allow you to extend the outlet from the compressor and allow the regulator to fit. Most compressors & regulators use standard sizes. While picking up the fittings pick up a roll of teflon thread-lock tape. Wrap some around the threads as you assemble the pipes for a leak-free fit.
I don’t know about the US, but here in Australia we have specialist compressor shops which can accommodate these type of requests. Look in your local yellow pages.
All you need to do is replace the nipple coming out of the tank with a longer one. Or add a coupler and another nipple of the appropriate length to meet your needs. Check the plumbing section of the local hardware store. Everything you need should be standard NPT sizes. Be careful though, if you expose it too far away from the compressors itself you are risking damage if something should drop on it. Be sure to protect it.
Also USE COPPER, gavanized will corrode from the moisture in the system.
If you plan on using a dual air pressure setup you need to add a ball type gate valve comming off a tee fitting mounted on the tank (known as a “male run tee”) One side will have the normal line for your shop use at full pressure. The other (the one with the gate valve) will have a second regulator installed after the gate valve. When using the low air pressure set up you open the gate valve so the lower air pressure regulator will reduce the system pressure to something like 25psi. If you leave the gate valve open the low pressure valve becomes the main pressure control valve which is not what you want. But if the air is cut off from the pressure reducing valve the high pressure regulator becomes the master controll valve in the system.