I have a courtesy loan of a Badger 180-12 Cyclone air compressor. I got a “Central Pneumatic” air line filter- Harbor Freight Item # 43242 (with a pressure gauge and a moisture filter). I also got a 10 ft braided hose, as well as appropriate brass fittings.
The Badger is described on the mfr website as having 2cfm airflow with a 30-40lb pressure range at the top end.
The configuration is: Badger compressor-Harbor Freight regulator/filter-hose-airbrush.
In this configuration, there was NO airflow from the airbrush. The valve at the base of the filter was where the air was flowing out of. I tried loosening the top (black) knob, to increase the air flow, no joy.
I re-configured without the regulator/filter and obtained airflow from the airbrush.
In both scenarios, all fittings were made with teflon tape, as per recommended practice.
Perhaps I should replace the regulator, but is there some other possible problem, given the description above?
My friend AntonioFP45 thinks that the Badger is underpowered for the task and that the hose may be too long, but I obtained good airflow without the regulator. He recommends a tool-grade air compressor (such as used for brad /finish nailers) and a shorter hose.
You do know thqt the knob on top regulates the airflow, kind of like a faucet. Occasionally there will be an arrow on the regulator indicating the airflow direction. Turn the knob to the left and/or right and see what happens. The regulator is either open or closed and its purpose is to regulate the volume of air passing through it just like a water valve. 30-40 pounds of pressure is more than adequate for an airbrush and the reason for the regulator. Air flowing out the bottom of the filter indicates that you do not have the filter tightly sealed or have your inputs and outputs screwed up. Air should not be passing out of the filter except when you wish to drain the moisture (if any).
I wonder if the release valve at the bottom of the moisture trap is stuck open. If so, that would obviously bleed off almost all of the pressure in the line. I can’t see the length of the air hose being an issue. If you think about the air brake systems on a train, the pressure has to stay constant along the entire length of the train to prevent the brakes from coming on, so logically the length of your hose is not a factor. If it was, everyone with a 10 ft air hose would have trouble.
Remove the hose from the airbrush, then turn on the compressor. Does air come out of the hose? If so, the brush might be clogged.
Do you hear air leaking from the brush? I got a free airbrush that had internal leaks, the internal seal was leaking past the airbrush needle.
If there’s no air coming from the hose when you remove it from the airbrush, check for pressure at the regulator. To adjust the pressure on most of those small compressors, you have to pull up on the pressure adjustment knob, then turn it.
The valve at the bottom of the moisture trap is for draining any accumulated moisture…it sounds to me like the regulator was shipped with that valve open…have you tried turning that valve clockwise to see if you can close it?
Well guys- Hergy (UP Logo) was the prize winner. The Harbor Freight tech support told me that the top airflow adjustment knob was a weak link in the regulator+air filter item I was having trouble with in getting my air compressor to deliver air to the airbrush. He said there had been several calls on this issue with this item, and I should exchange it at the store I bought it at, but ask them to test the replacement on one of their small compressors first- which I did. The second time was a charm and when I put it in the set up at home, it worked fine! Now, I’ll practice with water in the paint feed jar to get some skill training on the airbrush before I start wasting paint and ruining precious-built cars and structures![:D] Looks like the Sioux Lake Line paint shop facility is up and training, if not painting![:D]
Many thanks to all who replied. Once again, the community support on this website is outstanding!
You have to tell us why and how air was coming out of the drain valve on the original unit. The regulator control should not have had anything to do with the drain valve. Did you close the drain valve before you called HF tech support?
The top airflow adjustment knob pulls up to rotate and pushes down to lock into position, the “locking” being a push past a plastic circumferential molded-on ring, then down into a series of dentil “teeth”. Mechanically, this was defective inside and therefore, any increase/decrease turning of the knob had no effect. It was “always closed” at a no-airflow setting.
The airflow coming from the compressor then had nowhere to go and the unit sensed the back pressure and shut off (this is a feature of the Badger 180-12). The bottom air filter moisture trap was at first open, so air was leaking out the bottom. When I closed it tight, the compressor shut-off began to occur. Needless to say, no air was flowing to the hose.
The fact that the top knob is standard grade industrial plastic and not a more durable engineering plastic might be the problem, but I would replace the “cheap design” altogether with a screw-down type of adjustment mechanism- but, since i cannot speak Chinese, I guess I will lose that million-dollar bonus!
I am not trying to be sarcastic, but I hope that is a sufficient response. As a non-engineer, just a handy guy (aren’t we all, as modelers?), that is my view of things.
But…wait, there’s more:
This all started because I have a free air compressor, so going to Harbor Freight was a logical move, because a Badger regulator+air filter runs at least $37.00 on Amazon and that is more with shipping. I saw prices for the specific part on other hobby-serving sites as high as +$50.00 plus shipping.
So you can see why Harbor Freight is akin to Wal-Mart for handy guys and toolheads alike.
Not to fault them, but I have returned tool-related stuff at Sears, as well (but isn’t a lot of their stuff now made overseas, as well?). Believe me, I would rather drive a few miles locally, than try to mess with shipping something back I bought on-line.
If you continue to have any issues w/ that cheap regulator, just swap it out While you’re at it add the quick connect or multiple connection for standard compressor fittings and hoses.
I need to do this often w/ many of my compressors. Using them on a daily basis and getting beat in a truck doesn’t help those cheapos much.