Air tools not getting enough? Fittings causing issue?

[gi bro]

Hey All,

So I just upgraded my air supply from a 10 gallon to a 60 gallon. I plumbed the lines with copper 1/2inch, threw in some ball valves and used a hf 1/2inch regulator/filter.

Everything is ported to the 3/8 to 1/4 3 way quick disconnect.

I have been running 2 different (one is the new diablo, the others is standard rubber) 50 foot 3/8's rubber hf hoses with the 1/4inch fittings and it seems like my air tools are not getting enough volume.

An example would be taking off lug nuts that are torqued to 140ftlb. My neighbor who has the same compressor with a pvc hose was able to use my wrench and zip off the nuts.

Mine takes 5 to 10 seconds then rolls them off. (one was too tough and didnt budge)

Would changing to 3/8's fitting help? What is the best way to check the pressure at the tool?

Here are pics of the current set up.

 

[Ditch]

pics fail

 

[rburke65]

Check your photobucket acct.

 

[gi bro]

Whats wrong with the pics, they show up fine on my screen?

 

[gi bro]

I see, i will fix

 

[Ditch]

now get rid of the 1/4" junk

 

[Schurkey]

1. 1/2" tubing is not optimum.
2. I don't like that 1/2" tee. The sharp bend will result in low flow.
3. If that's a single-stage compressor, you can throw that regulator in the trash. You won't need it for air tools. Maybe for blowing-up inflatable toys--air mattresses, beach balls, pool floaties, or inflatable sheep.
3b. If that's a Harbor Fright regulator ("hf", you said) I wouldn't be surprised to discover that it's either outright defective, or has small internal passages that make it unfit for use.
4. The last three-way tee like the one you have the quick-connects screwed into, that I saw, looked pretty rough and turbulent inside.
5. What style of quick-connect are you using? I went with Milton "V", but that was before I knew there were competing products. At the time I switched from Milton "T", the "V" was the only high-flow coupler I'd heard of.
6. 50' of 3/8 hose should not kill pressure, but it's not helping any. Consider getting 1/2" hose, then reducing at the "far end" where the air tools plug in.





If a 1/2" impact wrench--or even a modern high-power 3/8" impact wrench--struggles to remove lug nuts, you've got some serious problems.

"I" would START by scrapping the regulator and see how things improve.

 

[Jbullfrog]

50' hoses have major pressure drop for impact use. The 3 way skitters and most filter regulators have 1/4" passageways thru them at best.

 

[sberry]

What is the regulator set at? The 1/2 pipe is fine, the connectors hurt a pinch, not a deal breaker but every one added in series hurts a little. Take all out you can, take it out of that 3 way **** and screw the hose direct.
3/8 hose loses close to a pound a foot, this is why 2 stage comps are really made for tools, you can turn it up. Improved fittings would help a pinch, either shorten the hose or go to 1/2.

 

[gi bro]

What is the regulator set at? The 1/2 pipe is fine, the connectors hurt a pinch, not a deal breaker but every one added in series hurts a little. Take all out you can, take it out of that 3 way **** and screw the hose direct.
3/8 hose loses close to a pound a foot, this is why 2 stage comps are really made for tools, you can turn it up. Improved fittings would help a pinch, either shorten the hose or go to 1/2.

I set it to 100psi. I will get a 1/2 in hose.

 

[rmmiller]

I'll second the regulator, I drop down to 3/8 right out of my compressor through an Amflow 3/8 regulator, ball valve, hose reel and 50' hose and have no issue with any of my air tools. Hook up to the valve opposite of the regulator and see what you get from it.

 

[larry_g]

Hook up to the valve opposite of the regulator and see what you get from it.

I'll second that. Hard plumb your red hose into that port without any quick disconnects. If you have a 2 stage compressor adjust the cutout to 150 psi. You'll have all the air you need. Save the regulated output for when you need lower pressure. Going to 1/2" hose is not going to help with air flow through that regulator/splitter setup you have.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[rlitman]

...Hook up to the valve opposite of the regulator and see what you get from it.

+1 I have not had problems with ONE 1/4" QD connector at the TOOL end of the hose. But having one at the compressor end of the hose too is going to greatly hurt your flow.

To be fair though, I would expect that a 25' coil hose plugged into another hose with a QD connector on each end would still send plenty of air to a top shelf impact gun to remove lug nuts at 140 ft-lbs. That's really not all that much torque for a quality impact.

What do you have the regulator set to?

 

[Schurkey]

What do you have the regulator set to?

I set it to 100psi.

An air tool needs 90 psi at the tool, while it's running.

I'd bet you're lucky to have 70 at the tool with the regulator at 100 and the plumbing and hoses you have.

 

[Sticks McGee]

Put a coupler on the ball valve to the left and connect your red hose there. End of problems. Use the regulator and the stuff to the right for light air pressure/flow stuff. 50' of 3/8" hose will be fine. Everything going off the T to the right is killing your flow where you need it (Impact)

I have a sears oiless 33 gallon compressor and I come off mine from a fitting before the regulator and it's all 1/4" fittings. I can run 100' of 3/8" hose to my shop 3/4" impact and it's no problem. 1/2" impact works awesome too..

 

[sberry]

Yes, the reason there is no power here is no mystery, you have it set to 100 when it should be at 140.

 

[79firebird]

three-way tee there doesent help much had one befor and flow was low. Swapped it out for one made with a brass tee and was fine as after you thread in the end theres not much room inside for the air to flow.

 

[Falcon67]

I run 1/2" lines and the usual 1/4 fittings with 1/2 hose. My $40 C-man 1/2 impact will blow the 120 ft/lb nuts off the F350 at 100+ psi, no issue.

 

[gi bro]

Sounds like I need to crank the psi. I was airing on the side of caution as the tools said 90psi max. I will also change the fitting at the tank to 3/8.

 

[Jazz1]

I agree you just need to crank up pressure to compensate plumbing. I leave my compressor at 120psi. Plumbed 25' to HigH Flow Milton 1/4" fittings and als good. I run a RK 5hp 18cfm@90 compressor

 

[TractorJeff]

3/8" hose is fine!
Just turn up the pressure so you have 90(100) at the tool while operating.
(You aren't GJ material if you don't run the biggest and baddest.....2 stage/1/2" hose/ High Flow couplers)

 

[WhiffySpark]

Sounds like I need to crank the psi. I was airing on the side of caution as the tools said 90psi max. I will also change the fitting at the tank to 3/8.

I have a 60 gallon and don't run a regulator. They want 90 at the gun. There's a way you can do it with a t adaptor but I would worry about it

 

[koditten]

You do know there is a screen in the handle of the impact tool? Remove the quick connect and take a look see to see if you have crud blocking the air supply.

Almost all air tools are designed to run at optimum efficiency at 90 PSI.

 

[Schurkey]

3. If that's a single-stage compressor, you can throw that regulator in the trash. You won't need it for air tools. Maybe for blowing-up inflatable toys--air mattresses, beach balls, pool floaties, or inflatable sheep...

..."I" would START by scrapping the regulator and see how things improve.

Sounds like I need to crank the psi. I was airing on the side of caution as the tools said 90psi max. I will also change the fitting at the tank to 3/8.

You need to remove the regulator.

I have a 60 gallon and don't run a regulator.

When I had single-stage compressors, I just screwed the hose right into the tank. I should have--but didn't--put in a ball-valve first.

You do know there is a screen in the handle of the impact tool? Remove the quick connect and take a look see to see if you have crud blocking the air supply.

He says his impact works fine with the neighbor's air compressor.

My elderly Snap-On IM510B impact wrench was getting weak. I really needed to get a job done, so I tracked the Snap-On Man down, bought an MG725.

When I went to remove the whip-hose from the old impact so I could transfer it to the new impact, I discovered that the screen was plugged with ****. I cleaned the screen...and put the new impact back in it's box for the next two or three years. The MG725 went out-of-warranty before I gave up on the ol' 510B.

 

[Falcon67]

Sounds like I need to crank the psi. I was airing on the side of caution as the tools said 90psi max. I will also change the fitting at the tank to 3/8.

If you are running nail guns, then I'd recommend sticking to the mfg recommendations because you can blow out a seal. Done that. Never had a problem hooking an impact directly to an air line even with no regulator in the path.

 

[claymont]

Have you tried to run the gun off the other side of the tee with just the ball valve?

Hey All,

So I just upgraded my air supply from a 10 gallon to a 60 gallon. I plumbed the lines with copper 1/2inch, threw in some ball valves and used a hf 1/2inch regulator/filter.

Everything is ported to the 3/8 to 1/4 3 way quick disconnect.

I have been running 2 different (one is the new diablo, the others is standard rubber) 50 foot 3/8's rubber hf hoses with the 1/4inch fittings and it seems like my air tools are not getting enough volume.

An example would be taking off lug nuts that are torqued to 140ftlb. My neighbor who has the same compressor with a pvc hose was able to use my wrench and zip off the nuts.

Mine takes 5 to 10 seconds then rolls them off. (one was too tough and didnt budge)

Would changing to 3/8's fitting help? What is the best way to check the pressure at the tool?

Here are pics of the current set up.

 

[Sticks McGee]

My shop at work has the compressor set at 160 lbs. The only things regulated down are my oil pump (bulk oil) and the air release for my lift safety locks. My air drills, air hammer, die grinders and impacts run with the full line pressure. My compressor at home is 150lb and the only thing I run off the regulator is my nail gun. My shop at work opened in 1997 and everything still works as it always has. I regularly run a 3/4" drive impact off my hose reel in the warehouse that has a 150' 3/8" hose..Stick a coupler on that left side of the T and run your impact off of your full compressor pressure without the restrictions of that stuff on the right and you will then see it work as it should.

 

[87GN]

Might not be visible, but is there anything supporting all that copper tubing, ball valves, regulator?

 

[GYPSY400]

Get rid of the 3way manifold and juice up the regulator to 125-130psi.

What is the tank pressure, not sure if you can jack it up higher than 125, but it would help as the compressor cut-in pressure will be higher and you won't have a big loss at the hose end.

I.e.: my compressor runs at 150max-125 cut-in.. regulator set to 125 , system pressure never falls much below 125 as the compressor is already running before regulated pressure drops much.

Sent from my SM-G903W using Tapatalk

 

[sberry]

I was going to by pass a swivel in a reel and see how much juice it gave it? I suspect the loss to be about that of a connector.
Today 5 hp is the common, back in the day everyone made a 3, it is a mechanics comp. It was made for garage tools and small enough not to sock down 60A service. While they were not big they were 2 stage 175 units.

 

[maxpower_hd]

The one thing I didn't see answered here so far is how to check the pressure at the tool. Just install a gauge right at the tool with some fittings. That is how I have my plasma and paint guns set up so I can carefully regulate the pressure at the tool. You don't have to leave it like that but it will give you an idea of what you are running. I had my pressure drop a bit when I went from a 25' hose only to a 50' real hose. I just cranked the pressure up. I was at about 75-80 psi at the gun with the 50' hose. I cranked up to about 130 at the regulator and now I have 90 or so at the gun.

 

[sberry]

Yes, gages. Of all the things one can do is shorten or upsize the hose which really makes the most difference.