Adjusting the Cut-Out Pressure on Your Air Compressor
One of the essential tools you require for any mechanical and carpentry job is an air compressor. Like other tools, understanding how to use and maintain an air compressor will assure you get the work done correctly. For maximum performance, air compressors need to be adjusted properly.
For instance, it will be difficult to drive pneumatic nail guns to the appropriate depth if the air compressor isn't properly adjusted. With low pressure, the nails won't completely stay in the lumber. In case the pressure is excessively high, the nails will sink deeply, causing dents in the lumber. For this reason, the pressure must always be set correctly, depending on the task at hand.
This post will outline how to adjust your air compressor's cut-out pressure once you get an air compressor that suits your tool's requirements.
Understanding cut-out pressure
Cut-out pressure can simply be defined as the pressure that comes out of the compressor and rises when you are using it. For example, when the pressure increases to a specific quantity (the place you set it to cut out), the air compressor automatically stops; it will not increase anymore. This prevents excess pressure from being transferred into the tool, damaging it.
But, different tools require different amounts of PSI to function, meaning the pressure might need to be at a high rate. This can be solved by adjusting the cut-out pressure to make sure it cuts at a specific point and not when it exceeds the desired pressure for the tool.
Steps for adjusting cut-out pressure
It's essential to adjust the air compressor's cut-out pressure to avoid wasting time and damaging the tools you work with.
Identify the air compressor compartment and remove the cover. Check the pressure gauge, and let the pressure build up in the unit's tank if all the wires are still in place. Once it's full, it will kick off at a specific reading, which will be its cut-out pressure. To identify the cut-in pressure, open the drain cock and let out the air. The compressor will kick in at a certain point, so be sure to observe the pressure gauge to note the cut-in pressure as well.
Close your drain cock, then confirm if the cut-out and cut-in pressure you just identified matches with what the manufacturer has indicated in the manual. Be sure to give it an allowance — it doesn't necessarily need to be exact. Turn the power supply off, then start loosening screws to remove the pressure switch cover. Now you can make adjustments by tightening the spring to increase pressure or loosening it to reduce the pressure.
If you're looking for your own compressor, buy air compressors from a reputable supplier.