Regulators and moisture traps

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Greetings, this is my first post anywhere on any forum, but you folks are too full of knowledge to pass up. I use the following Aztek set-up -

http://www.testors.com/product/136949/A4709/_/Deluxe_Resin_Airbrush_Set it is about one year old.

My compressor is a simple, Campbell Hausfeld 1 gallon portable. it too is about one year old.

In an attempt to improve my airbrushing I decided to buy a regulator and a moisture trap last night. I’m confused in which order the attachments should go on.

I installed the regulator right next to the gauge on the the compressor; then the moisture trap into the regulator and then the compressors coiled hose into the moisture trap and then the airbrush hose connector at the end of the compressors coiled hose. Is this the right way? Any suggestions you have on setting this up and using it properly would be a great help.

2

I have installed many regulators, and I have always put the trap before the regulator. Keeps the water out of the regulator.

3

Either way will work, but as said the regulator is better upstream of the trap.

Congratulations on your first post!

4

One rationale is that the water trap should be as far from the compressor as possible to let the air cool down as much as possible before the trap, to let water condense. On the other hand, makes the airbrush heavy if you put it on that end of hose :slight_smile: Anyway, that rationale says put trap last. I have even seen some folks add a length of pipe between rest of stuff on compressor and the trap.

5

I have a regulator and trap on the compressor, another regulator and trap on my spray booth, and a third inline trap on my air hose to the AB. That last trap is about 3’ away from the AB. In all cases the traps are after any pressure regulation. I’ve never had water issues.