Need a good nitrogen regulator

[Grant Gunderson]

I need a new nitrogen regulator. The Chineseium one I’ve been using from Amazon is really hard to adjust when changing working pressure. My typical working pressure is between 100-500 psi as I use it for charging shocks.

 

[willf650]

My only experience is with a Uniweld nitrogen regulator as that’s what the supply house sells. I had two over the course of 30 years but use them for HVAC work. I don’t believe they go to 500# though if that’s what you truly need. I generally only take them to 250#.

 

[Chipm]

Pretty sure mine is Smith. It goes to 150 or so but they have different ranges. I pull it down to 90 for running air tools.

 

[L.Cheapo]

We have a couple at work that are at least 5 years old. Our mechanic uses them all the time in the 150-250psi range. I'll try to remember to check them out next time I'm at work on Tuesday if you can wait that long.

 

[goldtang]

When I was a work the 2 makes we used were Harris thay have a good selection and quality
or Comet by Cigweld but may not be available in USA ,

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Thanks guys. I’ll do some research and see what I can find.

 

[rlitman]

...I use it for charging shocks.

Most people using inert gas regulators don't care too much about pressure stability, and in that case Chinesium is just fine. I've been using Chinese argon regulators on my TIG welder after my Victor failed, because the rebuild was more than a replacement (and current production Victor is Chinesium anyway).

But I'm sticking with good regulators for my OA torch (I use old Harris two stages), and your use case is the same. Cheap regulators can be touchy with how the knob turns and presses on the diaphragm, so dialing into a specific pressure is much easier when they use tight fitting low friction components in the right places (since regulators don't get lubricated). Smith has a great reputation in the welding community, but there's lots of good stuff made in the USA and EU.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Thanks guys. Got it narrowed down to 3
Victor
Smith
Harris

Victor looks good and robust but don’t like that it’s made in Mexico. All 3 seem to have good reviews tho.

 

[Mr.Josh]

Look at Harris, Concoa and Smith if you want a quality regulator.

 

[L.Cheapo]

My phone reminder came through today. Our mechanic likes our Harris 8700 series. It's at least 5 years old, probably much more. Gets used multiple times per week. No issues.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Ended up going with the Victor as the enclosed gauges seemed more robust. It’s a million times easier to adjust pressure than the Amazon Chineseium one I had before. Can’t dial in pressure bellow 200psi, but I have two valves and a bleed off on the fill manifold to do that.

 

[Beerhippie]

Ended up going with the Victor as the enclosed gauges seemed more robust. It’s a million times easier to adjust pressure than the Amazon Chineseium one I had before. Can’t dial in pressure bellow 200psi, but I have two valves and a bleed off on the fill manifold to do that.

The enclosed gauges look much more difficult to replace when they go out of whack--which all gauges eventually do.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Ended up going with the Victor as the enclosed gauges seemed more robust. It’s a million times easier to adjust pressure than the Amazon Chineseium one I had before. Can’t dial in pressure bellow 200psi, but I have two valves and a bleed off on the fill manifold to do that.

Got a link? I just tossed my old shock fill setup.

 

[pcmeiners]

Was curious so I Googled..... 2 stage nitrogen purging regulator 0-500 psi....., a 2 stage regulators produces even pressure all the way down, no need to re-adjust as the tank lowers in pressure. Seems like your stuck with a single stage unless you have big bucks. Matheson makes a number of 2 stage high output regulators at a high prices, you might get lucky on Ebay.

 

[dnschmidt]

Victor Regulator Repair Kits – Regulator and Torch Exchange, Inc.

regulatortorchrepair.com

These guys are the best. Great customer service and they can build whatever you like. The only thing that would have to be changed from a normal Harris regulator to get to 500# would be the spring and the gauge and they can easily handle that.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

The enclosed gauges look much more difficult to replace when they go out of whack--which all gauges eventually do.

That’s a good point. We will see how long these hold up for. I just need the regulator to get within ball park, then I fine tune it with a digital gauge on the fill manifold.

Got a link? I just tossed my old shock fill setup.

Nitrogen regulator my manifold is pretty old, if I was to buy a new one it would be one of these and then upgrade the gauge to digital.

Victor Regulator Repair Kits – Regulator and Torch Exchange, Inc.

regulatortorchrepair.com

These guys are the best. Great customer service and they can build whatever you like. The only thing that would have to be changed from a normal Harris regulator to get to 500# would be the spring and the gauge and they can easily handle that.

That’s an awesome resource. Thanks for posting it.