Air tools rant

[deereman75]

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.

They only listed the avg CFM in the store, and didnt even say it was avg. The only way I could find out what the actual CFM was, was to look in the manual and see what it said, and it was 2x the listed CFM. From now on I think I will just buy Ingersoll Rand air tools, because they are much better quality, and list the true CFM. Also, home depot took the return no problem, they didnt even look in the box.

 

[MMagis]

They only listed the avg CFM in the store, and didnt even say it was avg. The only way I could find out what the actual CFM was, was to look in the manual and see what it said, and it was 2x the listed CFM. From now on I think I will just buy Ingersoll Rand air tools, because they are much better quality, and list the true CFM. Also, home depot took the return no problem, they didnt even look in the box.

Are you sure it wasn't on the back of the box? I just happen to have a CH brad nailer at home, and right on the back of the box, under the "specifications", is a box listing the air compressor requirements for continuous use.

 

[deereman75]

Are you sure it wasn't on the back of the box? I just happen to have a CH brad nailer at home, and right on the back of the box, under the "specifications", is a box listing the air compressor requirements for continuous use.

That just says the needed tank size, even though my compressor only has a 26 gallon tank, it produces the same cfm as most 60 gallon compressors. It is 220v 3 real hp, 10.2 cfm at 90 psi. It is a campbell hausfeld, 5000 hour rated life (will last me forever) from their extreme duty line. (love the KMS tools sales)

 

[Bird]

Are you sure it wasn't on the back of the box? I just happen to have a CH brad nailer at home, and right on the back of the box, under the "specifications", is a box listing the air compressor requirements for continuous use.

I'm sure it's probably different for different tools and different times, but you made me curious. The only CH air powered product I currently have is a cheap DH3800, nearly 6 year old, paint spray gun. So I just now carefully examined the original box it came in (yep, I clean it up and put it back in the box each time I use it) and on the box it does list air consumption as "2.0 avg" and that's the only air consumption information anywhere on that box. Now the manual does list "2.0 avg" and "4.0 continuous" so I have no doubt deereman75 is right.

However, I would probably have not been concerned with the sander he bought. I know some people think a sander runs "continuously", but for how long? I'll bet it's a rare person indeed who would run it long enough at a time to use more air volume than what they list as "average".

 

[MMagis]

Maybe it’s a new thing they do, or like you say, maybe it’s just certain products. I think it’s clear deerman75’s compressor isn’t big enough, no matter how good it is. Honestly, even our large industrial compressors here at work would have a tough time running any sander continuously. 10 cfm just isn’t enough unless it’s a very small sander.

 

[deereman75]

I agree my compressor wasnt big enough, I returned the sander. Since the box listed 10 cfm, I thought my compressor would be big enough, but Since it actually needs 20 cfm, it is way too small. I will just use my 7 inch angle grinder with a flap disc for heavy sanding. For my needs this compressor is perfect, but it is too small for sanding, that is something I will just use electric tools for.

 

[bindian]

Very good link, Brandi.:thumbsup:

Thanks Bird.:thumbsup:
hugs, Brandi

 

[not2old]

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

That's a dangerous practice. You can actually blow stuff into your skin. I ignored it as a kid and had a piece of stainless steel imbedded in my hand for 20 years before it festered out.

 

[JB4310]

This is mine, 30 gallon tank and 5 hp

Does not keep up well with my air tools. bought this at NAPA I believe but it is a CH.

JB

 

[bindian]

That's a dangerous practice. You can actually blow stuff into your skin. I ignored it as a kid and had a piece of stainless steel imbedded in my hand for 20 years before it festered out.

I am a professional aircraft mechanic that has been using the same air nozzle for 30 years. I know how to squeeze and regulate the "trigger" to get low pressure flowing.
Nothing to see here folks, move along.
hugs, Brandi