Tale of two compressors

AAE

AAE

Learner
Gun: Prolite with either 1.3 or 1.4 needle.

#1- Harbor Freight 30 gal. Barely makes 7 cfm. When used for my mobile work produces a really nice finish.

#2- Quincy 80 gal. Makes 17 cfm. Finishes are horrible. A lot of peel.

Does this make sense to anyone? I've complained about the Quincy ever since I got it.
 
I would want to switch everything from the tank outward between compressors just as a test. It just about has to be something besides the compressed air itself. My gut feeling is you have a gauge that is lying or a restriction in part of the system.
 
If I'm reading the specs right, the Prolite 1.4 tip requires 14 CFM to operate properly.

So I'm thinking you probably have the gun set up for operating on half of the air supply it needs when using the Horrible Freight compressor.

Without properly readjusting the gun it would give you a dry spray when getting the proper volume of air.
 
I go through the gun set up process for each job. Good thought!

BTW, that Horrible Fright compressor is about 8 years old.
 
Sounds like you have maybe already narrowed it down to your QC3 filter. Do you have this valve in place? It looks undersized and may be restricting flow. I had a similar valve that was not fully opening when “open”. It was limiting flow and causing issues. Even the regulator size looks small. I think that whole filter setup is suspect.

IMG_3283.jpeg


A Harbor Freight dryer is some of the best money I ever spent.

Don
 
dhutton01 said:
Sounds like you have maybe already narrowed it down to your QC3 filter. Do you have this valve in place? It looks undersized and may be restricting flow. I had a similar valve that was not fully opening when “open”. It was limiting flow and causing issues. Even the regulator size looks small. I think that whole filter setup is suspect.

View attachment 26960

A Harbor Freight dryer is some of the best money I ever spent.

Don
Click to expand...
Are you operating @100psi with the dryer? That's what the specs recommend.
 
AAE said:
Are you operating @100psi with the dryer? That's what the specs recommend.
Click to expand...
I run max pressure to the dryer. No problems in 7 years. All my regulation etc is after the dryer. Long run of 3/4” copper pipe with drain drops between compressor and dryer.

Don
 
I second the air dryer. I went 29 years draining oil/water separators and baking desiccant before I finally installed a refrigerated air dryer. A world of difference! I put it in 4 weeks ago and haven't drained a separator since. I still drain my compressor tank at the end of each day, and I have an oil/water separator just before the dryer that also gets drained daily.

I couldn't use the Harbor Freight dryer as it was too small for my compressor; a big enough dryer (20 CFM) cost me $1,400.00, and is worth every penny.

To your problem, I think something is choking off CFM. Could be the valve, I can't say for sure. I would also try setting your pressure at the wall as high as possible, then regulate at the gun. Make sure your pressure at the gun is with the trigger pulled.
 
64avanti said:
I second the air dryer. I went 29 years draining oil/water separators and baking desiccant before I finally installed a refrigerated air dryer. A world of difference! I put it in 4 weeks ago and haven't drained a separator since. I still drain my compressor tank at the end of each day, and I have an oil/water separator just before the dryer that also gets drained daily.

I couldn't use the Harbor Freight dryer as it was too small for my compressor; a big enough dryer (20 CFM) cost me $1,400.00, and is worth every penny.

To your problem, I think something is choking off CFM. Could be the valve, I can't say for sure. I would also try setting your pressure at the wall as high as possible, then regulate at the gun. Make sure your pressure at the gun is with the trigger pulled.
Click to expand...
Pressure is maxed out. I'm thinking Don is on the money. In my van, I only have an air hose running to the paper filter. That's the good results set up.
 
64avanti said:
I second the air dryer. I went 29 years draining oil/water separators and baking desiccant before I finally installed a refrigerated air dryer. A world of difference! I put it in 4 weeks ago and haven't drained a separator since. I still drain my compressor tank at the end of each day, and I have an oil/water separator just before the dryer that also gets drained daily.

I couldn't use the Harbor Freight dryer as it was too small for my compressor; a big enough dryer (20 CFM) cost me $1,400.00, and is worth every penny.

To your problem, I think something is choking off CFM. Could be the valve, I can't say for sure. I would also try setting your pressure at the wall as high as possible, then regulate at the gun. Make sure your pressure at the gun is with the trigger pulled.
Click to expand...

I was blessed when I bought mine. It was listed for quick sale as the company was going out of business and I happened to see the ad the day they posted it.
Got this thing for $200:
Speedaire.jpg


Handles up to five times my compressor's (80 gallon 2 stage Porter-Cable) output.
 
low cfm makes for bigger drops so they flow together to make a wet coat.
high cfm makes for small drops so it's harder to get it wet and to flow together.
in the old days of lacquer i would shoot at lower pressure thicker paint with retarder to get it wet.
 
I got a new hose today and found that the adapter (L) is a 1/4 inch and that the old hose(R) is a 1/4 NPS. Could that possibly be the issue?
16938474011377779165656106610161.jpg
 
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