should my regulator be set for the drop pressure

[WhyMe]

or the static pressure? I have been trying to figure out why my impact does not work well.

i have my regulator set at 95 psi and when in use it drops to about 80. to get it to 90 -95 psi while running a tool, i need to set it about 115.

All the manuals state that 90 psi is the max rating. so is this while in use, or static?

 

[JustAnotherJeeper]

WhyMe:

Let's think this through:

The impact, like any other pneumatic tool, is basically an air motor. There's (presumably) an impeller, air pressure makes it spin, that does the work....

Given that flow is a function of pressure and volume, at lower pressure there is less flow. Thus less work.

The tool is rated at x lbs/ft of torque at a given pressure/volume.

All that really matters is when you pull the trigger, that pressure/volume is delivered to the tool.

So yes, set the reg to the proper pressure while the tool is being used. As you call it, the "drop pressure".

I actually set mine a bit above this pressure, but then I am using cheap HF impacts, and when they die in 10 years I buy a new one. I am likely damaging them by doing so, but since I didn't spend $200 on the tool, I'm not sweating it.

I have been doing this for 15 years now, and have only had one impact tool fail. I suspect this is due more to my not tightening the bolts on the back cover of the unit even though they were VERY loose. I know better now.

 

[dirtydogintex]

iirc when some mfgs state max pressure, they mean max press period, dot, eos
To be sure call the mfg's tech support line.

Is your air system properly sized?

 

[pipsters]

Presumably the more expensive the impact, the more abuse it can take. Ironically people beat on cheap tools and use their expensive ones with care. I beat on my HF Earthquake, set it to the running pressure, that is what matters. Static pressure means nothing.

I have to set mine to about the same 115 psi to achieve 90-ish PSI at the tool. But sometimes I crank it up a lot higher. At 150 psi the HF 1/2" Earthquake is scary strong.

 

[WhyMe]

iirc when some mfgs state max pressure, they mean max press period, dot, eos
To be sure call the mfg's tech support line.

Is your air system properly sized?

i have a 80 gallon 2 stage set at 150psi going to 1/2 pipe to a regulator set at 95 psi now.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

First of all, you should be running at least 3/8" line, I'm assuming you are. (Edit, I see you answered already.) Most shops don't seem to even regulate them, so don't worry about upping the pressure a bit. For best performance/reliability run it at 90 at the gun under load.

 

[larry_g]

If you are experiencing a pressure drop across the regulator then the regulator does not have the flow capacity to handle the flow your asking of it, or your line feeding the regulator is to small.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[HaroRider]

I run mine over the reccomended 90psi.

Simply because what you said, and also 90psi at the tank doesnt mean 90psi at the tool.

You need to take into consideration air in the hose as well.

 

[JustAnotherJeeper]

Great info here, I should have realized the size of the line and the reg quality would come into play...

 

[dirtydogintex]

Regulators being undersized from a pressure drop standpoint is all too common
(don't go by the connection size, get the charts to be sure)
as is not having a coalescing filter immediately upstream....