HF air regulators???

[have2goski]

anybody using an air regulator setup from HF. I was looking at a few today and couldn't bring myself to pick one up without knowing any feedback from users. They are on sale.

AIR FILTER/REGULATOR UNIT

125 PSI FRL AIR REGULATOR

1/2'' AIR FILTER, REGULATOR, LUBRICATOR UNIT

1/4" FILTER REGULATOR LUBE UNIT

The above links are the 4 I saw in the store. I am looking to control the air from a 60 gal kobalt compressor I got during te holidays from Lowes. At this time I will just be using a hose for my needs but down the road would like to install air lines around the garage.

 

[krusty the clown]

spend the extra $ and buy a good one

 

[alohavw]

spend the extra $ and buy a good one

Any suggestions on a good one?

 

[PoorOwner]

from what I have read the HF ones are not that good.. I can recommend the I-R one.. with filter and good flow and specifically listed 175 PSI Max OK.

 

[Hawk231]

I've got the 1/2" one on my bead blast cabinet, minus the luber. The trap hasn't caught anything yet, but I wouldn't really expect it to have since there's another trap between it and the compressor. The regulator works "okay" in this application because it's oversized compared to the hose. I'd expect a serious unwanted pressure drop if you need it to flow a large volume though. Mine also has a slow leak that I can't get rid of, so I turn off the valve at the wall pipe now. I may ditch the trap this summer and see if the static/run pressure drop improves. It's getting plenty of supply capacity on the input side. If I hadn't gotten it for close to free it would have went back, or in the dumpster. YMMV

 

[Hawk231]

Forgot to mention this.

If you're trying to run a water trap directly off the compressor it's not going to work very well. The traps need cool air to be effective. 15-20' of 3/4" copper or iron pipe would help a lot.

 

[Rockhouse]

My HF trap/reg/lube just failed after 1 month of light use. It took a ton of work to get all the leaks to seal and the gage did not fit without a little grinding. I paid $20 for and didn't expect alot out of it, but geez.

I ended up buying the Kobalt (Lowes) regulator and filter. Looks good and sealed up with no issues. Happy so far, but it's only been a week. TSC also carries the same filters.

 

[NSXSOON]

As said above, spend the money for quality that will last and do the job properly. I bought mine from TP Tools:

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

They sell very high quality for fair prices. I have used these in my last shop for 15 years without a failure and have them in my current shop for 3 years now without any problems.