Running air tools without regulator.

[carl0s]

Is it safe to run my cheap air tools without a regulator, i.e. at ~150psi (I think that's what the compressor's cut-off is set to.. )

The specifications of most tools tend to state 90psi.

I have bought a regulator - a Sealey regulator/filter & oiler combination thing, but after seeing how rough it looks, and doing a bit of searching, I'm realising that it might just be unnecessary crap, and not very good at best. It's the same as all the other cheap eBay regular/oiler combinations. It came with two 1/2" - > 1/4" reducers, and the threads are so badly cut on those that no amount of PFTE tape will get a gas tight seal. Christ knows how bad the actual regulator-y bits are.

I'm generally only going to be using a 3/8" air ratchet, occasional drill and chisel and what not.

I realise that painting requires water traps, pressure control, etc. but I'm not worried about that for now.

Thanks,
Carl

 

[madkayaker]

Won't be an issue. Pressure will son drop off anyway

 

[carl0s]

Thanks.

Is that a reason why I should use a regulator? So that the pump isn't running as frequently? I hadn't considered that.

 

[madkayaker]

It saves lots of air being wasted as fast which will reduce pump running. They also give you adjustment for more special kit

 

[carl0s]

Great. Thanks for your advice

 

[Julian_P]

I'm generally only going to be using a 3/8" air ratchet, occasional drill and chisel and what not.

I realise that painting requires water traps, pressure control, etc. but I'm not worried about that for now.

Thanks,
Carl

I often use my 1/2 inch rattle spanner and always the 1 inch rattle spanner direct for undoing things. I think you'll find the drill may be a bit fierce and irritating maybe, depending on the job and similarly the air chisel. Though my cheap Clarke air chisel has a little throttling valve on the inlet so if yours is the same you'll be fine.

You just clamp the hose a bit if you wanted to run (say) a drill slower...

 

[carl0s]

I often use my 1/2 inch rattle spanner and always the 1 inch rattle spanner direct for undoing things. I think you'll find the drill may be a bit fierce and irritating maybe, depending on the job and similarly the air chisel. Though my cheap Clarke air chisel has a little throttling valve on the inlet so if yours is the same you'll be fine.

You just clamp the hose a bit if you wanted to run (say) a drill slower...

Good advice, thanks. I haven't bought the drill or chisel yet but I'll look out for throttling valves on them when I buy them. I just have ratchets, blower, cut-off saw & d/a so far.

 

[Faaluke]

Thanks.

Is that a reason why I should use a regulator? So that the pump isn't running as frequently? I hadn't considered that.

Main reason I would have thought would be that the tools are designed to work at less than 150psi? Going by the answers in this thread though they aren't needed... you won't catch me running tools without one though. Kind of surprised by the responses TBH.

Just sounds dodgy to me, if you can't afford to do it right, don't do it. A good reg can't be THAT expensive surely? I think I paid $80 (NZ$) so like 40 "quid" Last thing i'd be doing is cutting corners on things like that.

Just my opinion of course.

I also don't run an inline oiler as if I ever want to paint, the hose will be oiled. I don't imagine that being all too good for the paint finish haha.

 

[Pete.]

Just don't do it with a tool that has an abrasive stone fitted. I know of someone who had a stone burst from running a die grinder overspeed in that very way and it took out his eye socket.

 

[Julian_P]

Main reason I would have thought would be that the tools are designed to work at less than 150psi? .

I think you'll find that the standard Chinese/Italian elcheapo compressors that you find at he regular suspect retail outlets cut-out at about 115psi and cut back in at about 90psi with the regulators as set by the factory. So the airtools are hardly being used in 'over-drive' as it is.

Julian

 

[Faaluke]

You're probably right on the max pressure they run. I was just going off the 150psi posted. Pretty sure mine does 145-150psi but cost me a packet, I was forgetting the elcheapo ones run much less pressure to start with actually. I'd still run the right pressure either way, just part of the setup costs IMO. Over pressurising cheap tools just doesn't sit well with me. That stone exploding and taking out an eye socket, is exactly why.

Someone was killed down the road from me recently when a grinder disc exploded. It was likely not air related at all. But it gives an idea of the potential for things to go wrong. I just wouldn't push my luck.

 

[Julian_P]

I was forgetting the elcheapo ones run much less pressure to start with actually..

I know, but I don't know why. I always adjust my elcheapo ones up to around 140psi and it doesn't cause the motor or pump any problems. The tanks on mine are certified to 10 bar and tested to 15 bar. (the legal requirement of 1.5 times working pressure) Sometimes you find that the safety valve needs a little tweak too,

Julian.

 

[rtbcomp]

I'd be a bit wary of tweaking up cheapo imports - their tanks may not be certified according to EU standards, despite any labels that may be attached to them.

There was such an issue with imported blast pots.

 

[Julian_P]

I'd be a bit wary of tweaking up cheapo imports - their tanks may not be certified according to EU standards, despite any labels that may be attached to them.

There was such an issue with imported blast pots.

I think they have more than 'labels' these days, this is my elcheapo 2hp jobby, seems perfectly OK to me with all the relevant legislation catered for:



Julian

 

[brightspark]

6personaly i wouldnt use any of my air tools past 90 psi apart from a pressure pot . why would u want to use them at 150psi and put more strain on the vanes in the air motor and have them wear out quicker for no extra gain if they were ment to run at that pressure the manafacturers wouldhave said so

 

[Julian_P]

6personaly i wouldnt use any of my air tools past 90 psi apart from a pressure pot . why would u want to use them at 150psi and put more strain on the vanes in the air motor and have them wear out quicker for no extra gain if they were ment to run at that pressure the manafacturers wouldhave said so

If it gets the job done quicker that may be less total wear? Though I think these nah-sayer type arguments are starting to get a little pissy. I've a cheap Machine Mart windy drill and I've abused it (by your reckoning) for 20 years plus, including drilling thousands of #30 holes in Cessna winds for 1/8th rivets and it's still going strong. If if busts it will go in the wheelie bin and I'll buy a new one - no dearer than a pint and a packet of fags!

Julian

 

[MattF]

Though I think these nah-sayer type arguments are starting to get a little pissy.

They're not being pissy, especially Roger's point regarding the label/tag thing. On imported stuff, what's printed on the tag or specs is worthless, half the time. I've known of plenty of stuff in the past, (electronic equipment), which is supposedly certified, yet wouldn't even pass muster under a first year students visual scrutiny. They either seem to have a vastly different interpretation of what the standards mean, else just don't give a damn. There is some good import kit out there, obviously, but you can't rely implicitly on what it says on a label/tag unless you know it's a reputable manufacturer.

I've a cheap Machine Mart windy drill and I've abused it (by your reckoning) for 20 years plus, including drilling thousands of #30 holes in Cessna winds for 1/8th rivets and it's still going strong. If if busts it will go in the wheelie bin and I'll buy a new one - no dearer than a pint and a packet of fags.

Conversely, there are some who like to look after their equipment and treat it well. Not everyone has a "bin it and replace" philosophy.

 

[brightspark]

If it gets the job done quicker that may be less total wear? Though I think these nah-sayer type arguments are starting to get a little pissy. I've a cheap Machine Mart windy drill and I've abused it (by your reckoning) for 20 years plus, including drilling thousands of #30 holes in Cessna winds for 1/8th rivets and it's still going strong. If if busts it will go in the wheelie bin and I'll buy a new one - no dearer than a pint and a packet of fags!

Julian

everyone to there own . most of my air tools are over 40 years old and were second hand from an american engine plant production line not a million miles away and still in good nick price of a norgren water seperator regulator free

 

[rtbcomp]

I reckon the CE mark applies to the label it's printed on, rather than what the label's stuck to.

Case in point - I bought a laptop PSU, complete with CE sticker, that had a moulded mains plug fitted that didn't have sleeved pins or a fuse holder.

 

[madkayaker]

CE marking is a joke these days china just stick them on everything (even stuff that is CE exempt) have found a few bits on last PAT at a sight that had CE marking but blatant faults (no fuse in plug, safety pins etc)