This is a picture of the air pressure regulator adjustment. As a rule,
turning the knob clockwise will allow more air to flow through the
regulator.Paint gun accessories
Paint gun accessories should also be considered upon purchase. A
good water trap is very important. There should be a trap on the
compressor, but there should also be a trap on the gun itself. This allows
condensation in the air line to be kept out of the paint gun. Nothing
fouls up a great spray pattern as much as water droplets! There are two
common filter types that attach to the paint gun. The less expensive is
the ball-style, which works great. The more expensive is a desiccant
style, which has the added advantage of allowing the painter to see
when it is about to fill with moisture. Both of these attach to the paint
gun right where the air hose enters.
Speaking of air hoses, more is better. HVLP guns, in particular, prefer
a lot of flow. Larger-diameter air hose and high-flow fittings such as
Prevost and RBL are much better than standard air hoses and fittings. A
paint gun has a much higher duty cycle than an impact wrench or an air
ratchet, so the amount of air used is much higher. This means the
compressor has to be up to the job. A compressor that has to run
continuously will build more heat and therefore develop more
condensation in the line. Smaller compressors will therefore have more
trouble with moisture buildup than larger ones. Any restriction in the air
line reduces air flow. While this seems like an obvious statement, it is
common to see painters with 100 feet of air hose between the paint gun
and the compressor. This is asking for pressure and volume issues.