Scuba reg to air tool adaptor.

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Gave up on my small shop compressors and as I have way too many AL80s, just switched over to them. Have one on my general scuba workbench and one on the gun cleaning bench. I may go through 1-2 bottles a year in my normal general usage. I don't run pneumatic tools off of them, but they're there for airing tires, air blasting parts, drying stuff, etc.

I got a fitting to match up the LP side of the regs to 1/4 NPT and then into an adjustable Ingersoll Rand regulator. An additional 1/4 NPT adapter to add a schrader valve to dump LP pressure if I want (air gun works fine for that purpose, but if there's not one on the line or there's an air chuck on it, the schrader works ...). Included a pressure relief button you can't see in the pic and a small SPG to the setup to monitor bottle status. Comes in handy to just lug the air source wherever you want. Also has the option for smaller bottles for portability. Had it outside last week to help purge the lawn sprinkler system before freezing WX.

 

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

@rhwestfall I'll look that up, thanks for the tip.

@broncobowsher y'know, I hadn't thought of that. Does make it a lot simpler. As for the overpressure issue, I had planned to take the simple approach of just leaving one of the equally old and useless second stages on the setup, but if this is a bad idea, let me know. As for the pressure through the tools, I wonder if the adjustment screw on some of these old regs could tune them down to 90 psi. Either way, worth fooling with I reckon. Thanks!

Edit: could've sworn I posted this early. Thanks to all the others who responded, and especially @tmassey for the link!

 

[Umuntu]

As for the pressure through the tools, I wonder if the adjustment screw on some of these old regs could tune them down to 90 psi.

It’s possible with a diaphragm regulator which has an external adjustment screw.

I have an old Apeks regulator on a pony bottle with the IP set low for filling car and bike tyres, and for a brad nail gun.

 

[broncobowsher]

Finally got around to taking a picture of my setup. It's on a rebreather bottle at the moment as that was easier to fire off the brad nailer. No further detuning needed. Also has the BC hose on it for doing drysuit work (that takes more than a rebreather cylinder).

 

[Jim Lapenta]

@rhwestfall I'll look that up, thanks for the tip.

@broncobowsher y'know, I hadn't thought of that. Does make it a lot simpler. As for the overpressure issue, I had planned to take the simple approach of just leaving one of the equally old and useless second stages on the setup, but if this is a bad idea, let me know. As for the pressure through the tools, I wonder if the adjustment screw on some of these old regs could tune them down to 90 psi. Either way, worth fooling with I reckon. Thanks!

Edit: could've sworn I posted this early. Thanks to all the others who responded, and especially @tmassey for the link!

On some diaphragm regs you can tune them to 90 PSI or so. BUT the caveat is that you are better off setting it up initially for that after a rebuild. Once you try to turn the pressure down, you may have problems with leakage past the HP seat. The seat takes a set and now has a groove in it from the orifice. Turning it down can compromise that groove.
I say that having seen this as a now retired regulator technician instructor.

 

[TrimixToo]

FWIW, this sort of setup works *very well* for air tools. I have three or four regs set for air tools and tire filling (and one set normally, to fill motorhome tires). A friend and I did his entire cottage roof with less than one steel 98. There's a pony bottle in each car along with a plug kit, too!

 

[happy-diver]

I can’t believe no one included a link to such an adapter:

I consider it sharing the load, where all of us adds their little bit, and contributes valuable info to the thread
At the same time there is a line where if a person can't find something cutting and pasting, or from a photo

then with too much info we are not learning much at all