Suggest air pressure regulator for airbrush?

[dawgvet]

Ok, so I've got my Badger 155, a 25 gal shop compressor, and want to get started airbrushing. My compressor has a built-in regulator but it goes all the way up to 100 psi. I'd like to have a regulator that is scaled for the smaller increments that we need for an airbrush. I know that I need the regulator and water trap/filter close to the airbrush but can't find one with small adjustments locally (Harbor Freight, Sears, WalMart, etc.). Can you guys suggest a good one that's reasonably priced?

Thanks,

Jed

[jas1957]

Any regulator that will go down to 15 or 20 pounds will work.

[58 Impala]

Any regulator that will go down to 15 or 20 pounds will work.

Then fine tune from there based on how you mix your paint and your painting technique.

Edited May 22, 2015 by 58 Impala

[Snake45]

I bought my water trap and regulator at Walmart, same place I got my compressor.

[Mike_G]

Avoid the el-cheapo regulators from Harbor Freight.

[Miatatom]

Avoid the el-cheapo regulators from Harbor Freight.

Yeah, like the one I use.

Mine works fine. YMMV

[jwrass]

Jed,

I totally agree with a regulator/oil and water trap.

I only way to know the true pressure at your Airbrush is to have a regulator at or near the brush itself as the pressure will change from the compressor to the airbrush through fiction loss of the air traveling through the hose.

Most airbrush outlets carry these gauges with all the bells and whistles yada yada. I use a simple regulator that most people have on air tools, I really don't need to know the pressure as I adjust that by how the paint is flowing through the brush and by sound.

I hope this helps!

"RASS"

[Mike_G]

Yeah, like the one I use.

Mine works fine. YMMV

I'm glad you got one that works- I got two that didn't.