Compressed air needs a filter!
So... I was wondering to myself over the weekend why my regulator wouldn't regulate... Which brought back lots of wonder about these super cheap little compressor/tanks jobs like the one parked in my garage that go tank, main gauge, regulator, output gauge... With no filter prior to the regulator.
When the regulator worked over the weekend - and when I say worked, I could set a pressure, and it would leak down the main tank to match. Grumble... In any case... I could live with that until I made a trip to Harbor Freight or somewhere to get a cheapo filter/regulator combo befitting of the (ahem) expensive nature of this compressor.
Not so tonight. So it was time to be a bit more forceful in dis-assembly of the regulator. I quickly discovered that the reason it didn't appear to be serviceable was because it had bonded itself together with mineral deposits. I don't remember pumping water through it, but who knows. In any case, a considerable quantity of CLR and some wire brush work later, I removed all the gunk. I replaced the two o-rings and silicone sprayed all the gaskets. I left off some decorative trim, and hit the power switch.
Let's just say I was happy when I shot some oil in the oil hole and the blow-by pressure didn't shoot it back out.
It's still a crapulicious regulator, but it works, as I said until I visit the Harbor Freight again. Remember kids... dihydrogen monoxide is bad. Bad!
Maybe 4 wheels aren't so bad after all... wickett.org
It only goes to show when people can no longer discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, or sexual orientation, they can improvise and still find someone to hate. - Dave Moulton
My compressor has, maybe, a little much in the filter dept. I have used it to paint a car so I figured this was adequate. There is a 10 micron filter on the left and a 5 micron after that before it hits the regulator on the right.
You have to remember, as compressed air cools, water condenses. Hence the deposits in the regulator.
The filters do a good job of removing most of the water, so I just periodically drain the water from the bottom of the filter.
Last edited by Nexus Flux; 02-20-2007 at 03:42 PM.
'06 RSX Type-S NBP
Nice work! I wish I had room to mount stuff "onboard" my compressor like that to keep it portable, but it will probably spend the second half of its life as a truly portable tire filler and nothing else. Regardless of knowing how they got there... it was still a bit shocking to see all the minerals living in the regulator. Oddly, though... the minerals didn't kill it... A rubber piece about the size of a pencil eraser had lost its flex... and wasn't making a seal. Silicone to the rescue!
Maybe 4 wheels aren't so bad after all... wickett.org
It only goes to show when people can no longer discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, or sexual orientation, they can improvise and still find someone to hate. - Dave Moulton
Silly question... you do drain the water out of your tank occasionally... right?
--
Dave"Opinions are like
..."
Every morning and several times a day...Originally Posted by Dave04
Mine floats!
First thing in the morning and several times during the day!
Don't want to find out if mine does or not!
Maybe 4 wheels aren't so bad after all... wickett.org
It only goes to show when people can no longer discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, or sexual orientation, they can improvise and still find someone to hate. - Dave Moulton
--
Dave"Opinions are like
It's my thread, Imma hijack it if I wanna!
Maybe 4 wheels aren't so bad after all... wickett.org
It only goes to show when people can no longer discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, or sexual orientation, they can improvise and still find someone to hate. - Dave Moulton
Echo! Echo... echo... echo...
What of your's floats??? wait... don't answer that...Mine floats!
Yeah yeah... you said it first...
--
Dave"Opinions are like
Much like jeans... you have Levi's and Lee.
One is the original, and the other a cheap knock-off.
Or just too lazy to read.Much like jeans... you have Levi's and Lee.
One is the original, and the other a cheap knock-off.
Maybe 4 wheels aren't so bad after all... wickett.org
It only goes to show when people can no longer discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, or sexual orientation, they can improvise and still find someone to hate. - Dave Moulton
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