Air tools rant

[deereman75]

Well here it goes. I had bought a Campbell Hausfeld DA air sander at home depot, to use for stripping paint, rust, and mill scale before welding. At the store it was listed as 10 CFM, when I got home and looked at the manual, it says it comsumes almost 20 CFM. I cant stand when they list the average CFM only, which is normaly at like 50%, especialy when it is a tool used constantly, like a sander. So I am taking the sander back today, and I hope they will accept it, as it was only taken out of the box to read the manual. It seems that the only air tools that are honnestly listed are industrial ones like IR and CP, if you buy a CP sander listed as 10 CFM requirment, it will use 10 CFM, not 20. I had also bought a die grinder at home depot, and it also draws alot more air then listed, but my compressor will still be able to handle it, at about 75%, so I will keep it.

 

[JB4310]

Well here it goes. I had bought a Campbell Hausfeld DA air sander at home depot, to use for stripping paint, rust, and mill scale before welding. At the store it was listed as 10 CFM, when I got home and looked at the manual, it says it comsumes almost 20 CFM. I cant stand when they list the average CFM only, which is normaly at like 50%, especialy when it is a tool used constantly, like a sander. So I am taking the sander back today, and I hope they will accept it, as it was only taken out of the box to read the manual. It seems that the only air tools that are honnestly listed are industrial ones like IR and CP, if you buy a CP sander listed as 10 CFM requirment, it will use 10 CFM, not 20. I had also bought a die grinder at home depot, and it also draws alot more air then listed, but my compressor will still be able to handle it, at about 75%, so I will keep it.

I'm sure they will take it back.

I have a few air tools but find that even with my 5 hp compressor it is very inefficient, only get a minute or 2 at full power then the compressor comes on.

I know air tools are the industry standard for a commercial shop, but for the small shop I'm not sure. I use my electric 4.5 angle grinder for grinding, cutting and sanding. Never runs out of power.

I've got a nice Snap-on 1/2" impact gun and 3/8" ratchet from an estate sale but I rarely use them. I also have all the little air grinder gadgets.

JB.

 

[5030]

CH air tools come in in a container from offshore.

 

[RPW]

That would give me a reason to upgrade my compressor

 

[deereman75]

The other thing I hate is how places like princess auto say that air tools require a minimum tank size and hp, my 220v 3 running hp compressor with a 26 gallon tank will put out more air, at a higher duty cycle, then the 60 gallon compressors at home depot, with the 5 peak hp motors.

 

[Argosy]

20 cfm seems like a huge amount of air for a DA. It seems like it would need 1/2" hose and that would be miserable to try and use with a DA.

I'd go to CH's site and look for specs.

 

[deereman75]

Those specs were from the CH manual that came with the sander, for 100% duty cycle. Anyways I am just leaving to return it now.

 

[Bird]

CH air tools come in in a container from offshore.

Do you mean from a place like Japan where all the Snap-on tools come from?

 

[Stihlrunner]

Princess Auto Supply? That may have been your first indication....:laughing:

 

[MMagis]

CH air tools come in in a container from offshore.

What's that got to do with anything? The specs are written in english.

 

[ModMech]

What's that got to do with anything? The specs are written in english.

Specs are not written in english, but in S.I. units, you can be assured of that and the "language" is probabaly Cantonease (sp?)

The instructions and P.O. are written in english but also a few others.

Not one measurement or specification is in US measure (nor should it be), of that I am sure.

 

[bindian]

The other thing I hate is how places like princess auto say that air tools require a minimum tank size and hp, my 220v 3 running hp compressor with a 26 gallon tank will put out more air, at a higher duty cycle, then the 60 gallon compressors at home depot, with the 5 peak hp motors.

Deereman75,
Here is a link for generic CFM usuage........... How to Choose the Right Air Compressor - Jenny Air Compressors It is down near the bottom of the page.

Is that a D model in your avatar?
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

I'm sure they will take it back.

I have a few air tools but find that even with my 5 hp compressor it is very inefficient, only get a minute or 2 at full power then the compressor comes on.

I know air tools are the industry standard for a commercial shop, but for the small shop I'm not sure. I use my electric 4.5 angle grinder for grinding, cutting and sanding. Never runs out of power.

I've got a nice Snap-on 1/2" impact gun and 3/8" ratchet from an estate sale but I rarely use them. I also have all the little air grinder gadgets.

JB.

JB,
Sounds like you could use a bigger tank. It takes about 5 minutes for my air nozzle to lower tank pressure enough to kick the compressor on. I love my air tools. But I am bias as my specialty is aviation sheetmetal. You can't unplug an extenstion cord and hook up a nozzle and blow the metal shavings off of your face and arms.:laughing:
hugs, Brandi

 

[deereman75]

Is that a D model in your avatar?
hugs, Brandi

Nope, a 1959 830

JB,
Sounds like you could use a bigger tank.
hugs, Brandi

I agree it isnt the biggest tank, but it produces 10.2 cfm at 90 psi, the same as alot of 60 gallon compressors, it also has like a 75% duty cycle, so it can actually supply more air then the 60 gallon compressors at home depot. If I find it re starts too often, I might hook up another tank to it. I actually havnt got around to using it yet, I will in a few weeks though.

 

[bindian]

Nope, a 1959 830

I thought it looked too "new" to be a D model. I am not actively hunting for one now, but someday I want to buy one. First tractor I fell for was my Grandpa's 1948 D model.:licking:
hugs, Brandi

 

[5030]

Other than my snide domment about CH air tools being Chi-com, I never want for air quantity or capacity either. I have a Quincy QT with a 150 gallon receiver and a 7.5 horse Champion on standby if I'm sandblasting.

I don't even look at CFM consumption on an air tool.

I'm hard piped in 1.5" main runs and 1.00" drops.

 

[ToadHill]

I'm like 5030, a number of years ago the guy I worked for bought an old building that had been a collision shop. He planned to have it taken down to build a new building. He gave me the keys and told me to make sure it was cleaned out before the wreckers got there.

I asked what I should do with anything left in the building he told me to throw it out or sell it and I could keep what I got. Well one of the things left in the building was the compressor. It's a 5 hp 220 3 phase unit with a large tank. I've never had an issue with it since then and that was 47 years ago.

 

[5030]

...a valuable lesson. There is no replacement for displacement. The bigger the receiver (displacement) the bigger tools you can run.

The ideal setup (but costly to operate in a home shop) is a continuous run/continuous unload compressor. My champion is like that. It runs continuous and when it reaches cutoff pressure (150 PSI) the unloader unloads the head and dumps the air to the shop, but the compressor keeps right on running. When it drops to 135, the unloader closes and the compressor compresses air again. It's designed for high usage application with larger horsepower motors. The inrush amperage is typically 10 times the running amperage so it's economical to continuous run with a large unit and it's 3 pahse. Running amps on the 7.5 Baldor is 36. Inrush is 10 times that or 360 amps ocross all legs.

The Quincy is a start stop unit with a 27 amp true 5 horsepower, single phase 220 century capacitor start motor. It shuts off and unloads at 150 and starts in an unloaded state at 135.... remember, that's 270 inrush amps at start. That's a bit more than the average home shop can handle.

I back off my compressors from the advertised 175 psi to a much more friendly 150 maximum psi. The compressors last 3 times as long and they run less. Much less carbon buildup on the reed valves and less heat in the heat exchangers. I also run Mobil Rarus 427 synthetic compressor oil and K&N filters on the intakes.

I probably should have a rotary screw but I like the whomp-whomp sound of a reciprocating compressor......

 

[MMagis]

Specs are not written in english, but in S.I. units, you can be assured of that and the "language" is probabaly Cantonease (sp?)

The instructions and P.O. are written in english but also a few others.

Not one measurement or specification is in US measure (nor should it be), of that I am sure.

Okay, you got me. But my point being that it doesn't have anything to do with the issue. To the OP, if you look under the specs there should be a box somewhere that lists the air compressor requirements for continuous use. That should help for future purchases.

 

[Bird]

Deereman75,
Here is a link for generic CFM usuage........... How to Choose the Right Air Compressor - Jenny Air Compressors It is down near the bottom of the page.

Is that a D model in your avatar?
hugs, Brandi

Very good link, Brandi.:thumbsup: