Air Line "Double" Regulation?

[Greatwhitewing]

Looking to put an oiler and filter on my compressor that already has a regulator. Most combo units for filtering and oiling have a regulator also. Is DOUBLE regulation a bad thing? Should I set the first one at MAX and let the second one do the final regulation? I guess I could take the supplied regulator off but "prefer" to leave it alone...

And is oiling something I should reconsider? All my air tools require oiling..

I use my air intermittently as most homeowners do and live in a New England where cold moist air is prevalent..

Thanks in advance

 

[bob15]

The problem with inline oilers will come in to play, if you decided to use a DA or a paint gun or even using a blow gun that you don't want oil on. There will be oil on your surface. I find it's better just to put a few drops in the tool inlet before using it, then there is no oil in the air line or ever on any work you're doing. I've never had any issues, and I live in the Constipation State or Connecticut, so I understand the weather you're talking about.

bob

 

[kc-steve]

I agree with Bob, once you install an oiler you can never use a paint gun ever. There will always be oil in the system. A mechanic friend also tells me that when he checks his oiler it is always empty anyway.

A couple drops daily in the tool itself is plenty.

Steve

 

[littletoes]

What are you guys talking about????

Tell me this! Why couldn't you put a "T" in before the oiler, and use that ONLY, for painting??? And also, a guy should know if he is EVER going to paint anything.

I know me, and I can safely say, I will never paint anything with air....BUT, if I did, I could sure as easy as pie cut a T in, and run a bit of paint out of a clean line.

Now isn't that simple?

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Okay, got the oil issue and thanks...Something I didn't think about.. No current plans to paint but it's possible so a fresh hose and connection.. Probably just continue with manual oiling..

Can anyone discuss the double regulation issue please..

 

[kc-steve]

What are you guys talking about????

I'll tell you what I'm talking about . . . I bought a compressor to exclusively use for painting and air tools are secondary. Besides, it is just too easy to put a couple drops in the tool itself and not worry about filling the oiler and making a mess.

Steve

 

[kc-steve]

. . .

Can anyone discuss the double regulation issue please..

I don't really have a problem with double regulation. I set the first at a higher point because there is always a drop in pressure down the line. That's just my system. As long as the last one is set to the desired LOWER regulation it should be fine.

I actually use TRIPLE regulation because I also have one at the paint gun. For painting, having the right air pressure at the gun is VERY important.

Steve

 

[KPSquared]

Oilers are bad news. A couple drops of oil is so simple before you plug the tool in.

Get a really good air dryer and your good to go. No problem with double regulation. The last regulator is the only one that matters.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Oilers are a waste of time and generally intended for production purposes where the operator doesn't have time to stop and oil a tool that is used continuously for 8 hrs a day. If you are using one tool frequently in your shop, keep an oiler and hose just for that tool, and don't use it for anything else.

Air tools don't need near the oil that everyone seems to think they need. A few drops in the inlet, hook up the hose, run it free for a few seconds (and most of what you just put in blows out) and it will do the tool fine for quite a few uses.

If you have a regulator, why do you want another? Just buy a filter/separator and don't get a regulator. I don't care for combo units. If something breaks then the whole thing is scrap, and thats more money.

Charles

 

[bob15]

What are you guys talking about????

Putting a couple drops of oil into a tool and not having a second air hose is a easier and much cheaper idea. It isn't just painting. What about using a DA. Or using the air hose to blow the sawdust off a piece wood you're getting ready to stain or paint. And I love the "I will never" statements. Who knows what you or I will be doing in 10, 15, 20 years from now. Or on Dec 22, 2012


To the OP, the regulator on the compressor is fine. I have a water separator, a filter and a regulator. If using a paint gun, you would want an regulator on the gun as well for fine-tuning.

here are a couple ideas:

http://www.tptools.com/p/90,110_Filter-Regulator-System.html

or

http://www.tptools.com/p/88,110_1and2-Deluxe-Regulator-Separator-Combo.html

bob

 

[chevy.stroker]

If you are the only one who uses your air tools then oiling them manually is a no brainer. If others use your tools (as mine are used) then I would recommend putting a whip on the end of your air hose with an inline oiler between the whip and the air hose. Epsteins sells all the parts (Milton) for around $26.

Now back to the original question from the OP. If your compressor does not have a water filter on it then I would recommend you install one. I don't regulate my air. I run at full compressor pressure. I'm sure others will tell me why that is wrong to do.

 

[KPSquared]

If you're just filling tires or blowing air around, what ever pressure is fine. Some tools have max pressures ( can be hard on stuff to run to high) or if you use a nailer you have to turn it down. 120 psi will put a brad nail a LONG ways into your project.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

If you are the only one who uses your air tools then oiling them manually is a no brainer. If others use your tools (as mine are used) then I would recommend putting a whip on the end of your air hose with an inline oiler between the whip and the air hose. Epsteins sells all the parts (Milton) for around $26.

Now back to the original question from the OP. If your compressor does not have a water filter on it then I would recommend you install one. I don't regulate my air. I run at full compressor pressure. I'm sure others will tell me why that is wrong to do.

Mostly me using air but my son does also use it occasionally and he is not the most conscientious tool user. I use it for my impact wrench, tire inflation, air ratchet and dust/debris removal. Use it about 3x a week...

 

[larry_g]

What are you guys talking about????

Tell me this! Why couldn't you put a "T" in before the oiler, and use that ONLY, for painting??? And also, a guy should know if he is EVER going to paint anything.

I know me, and I can safely say, I will never paint anything with air....BUT, if I did, I could sure as easy as pie cut a T in, and run a bit of paint out of a clean line.

Now isn't that simple?

Won't work quite so simply as you think. If you Tee into the line before the oiler you effectivly have two receivers, one the tank, and the other the piping system downstream of the oiler. When you draw air from the Tee then air will back flow from the piping system through the oiler that will oil the air and now you've contiminated the 'clean' stuff. Been there done that.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[6-Speed]

I have no problems with running dual regulators in series; the first one's opened up and set to max pressure.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

I have no problems with running dual regulators in series; the first one's opened up and set to max pressure.

Thanks 6 speed

 

[AndyA]

Won't work quite so simply as you think. If you Tee into the line before the oiler you effectivly have two receivers, one the tank, and the other the piping system downstream of the oiler. When you draw air from the Tee then air will back flow from the piping system through the oiler that will oil the air and now you've contiminated the 'clean' stuff. Been there done that.

lg
no neat sig line

That's why the regulator-filter-oiler combos are nice. Your main-line pressure will be greater than your post-oiler line pressure (unless you screw up and dump the main-line without bleeding the downstream lines first). With the main-line pressure higher, you won't have any backflow of the oil.

Personally I like oilers. I run a lot of cutoff tools, and die grinders. I don't work in the shop every day, but when I do it's usually long hours.

Before I got the oiler I was manually putting oil in the tool, two or three drops at the start of day. After about half a day of hard use the die grinders would start getting hot! Put in another drop or two and they would run cool again. That's when I decided to get an automatic oiler.

The air outlet with the oiler has a dedicated hose that stays with that outlet. All other outlets are dry. I have an aftercooler between the pump and the tank, an automatic drain on the tank, and a regulator-seperator-filter between the tank and the main line. I run the main-line at near 125 psi. I didn't adjust the compressor switch, but I don't get any main line pressure fluctuations so the kick-on point must be above 125 psi. Air outlets for tools are regulated around 90 psi.

 

[larry_g]

That's why the regulator-filter-oiler combos are nice. Your main-line pressure will be greater than your post-oiler line pressure (unless you screw up and dump the main-line without bleeding the downstream lines first). With the main-line pressure higher, you won't have any backflow of the oil.

You need to understand what littletoes is proposing, and then you will understand my answer. FRL's will back flow.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[AndyA]

I understand exactly what he's proposing. The point I was trying to make is that oilers aren't necessarily an evil device never to be used. If designed and used properly they can be setup so they don't contaminate the rest of your piping.

 

[chevy.stroker]

I never really contemplated putting an oiler way back at the compressor. So, forgive my ignorance: does tool oil harm the rubber air hose after extended exposer?

 

[kc-steve]

I never really contemplated putting an oiler way back at the compressor. So, forgive my ignorance: does tool oil harm the rubber air hose after extended exposer?

No harm, but you can't use the air system or the hose with tools such as a paint gun, ever. It would ruin the finished product just the same as water vapor in the system does. The oil will always be in the system. The OP admits he might wish to use it for painting someday. The OP is really talking about personal use and AndyA above is talking about professional use.

I thought this thread was done by now.

Steve

 

[GarageEnvy]

I actually have a filter/regulator at every outlet point in my shop. Good ones are pretty cheap on Ebay and it's convenient. The large (3/4") Wilkerson off the tank is usually set to 90. Down the line I've got one set for my plasma cutter and another one set for the kids bicycle tires so they don't over-inflate them. It's pretty rare that I would need more than 90psi but if I do I can just dial up the main and one outlet. Needing less than 90 is more common for me so multiple regulators is nice. Not necessary, but nice. I hardly ever find much water or filter contamination in the downstream filter/regulators.