Tag: drum pump

One Product, Two Solutions: EXAIR’s Vac-U-Gun for Blowing and Vacuuming

Published on by Tyler DanielLeave a comment

I’m a big fan of any device that has numerous applications or dual uses. This is even more critical when it comes to kitchen appliances in our household. I love spending time in the kitchen cooking, but we’re limited in the amount of space we have for gadgets and appliances. So, anything kitchen-related that comes with many possible applications is immediately something I can get behind. I’m not sure what rock I’ve lived under, but I recently found this clip-on colander/strainer for a few bucks the other day and keep finding myself using it instead of the traditional colanders. The latter is pretty bulky and takes up some prime real estate in my kitchen cupboard, while this little gadget fits nice and snug in a drawer and can accommodate just about any size container. In fact, it could easily replace all (3) of the colanders shown the photo below!

The ol’ trusty colander I’ve used since moving into my first apartment has now been relegated to what I deem the “kitchen appliance graveyard”. Now tucked in a forgotten cabinet downstairs in the basement along with the other misfits and devices I use 1x/year (or less….).

Which brings me back to the purpose of this blog, EXAIR’s Vac-U-Gun. Speaking of dual-use devices, the Vac-U-Gun has the ability to be operated both as a standard compressed air operated blow gun or as a handheld, powerful vacuum gun.

EXAIR’s Vac-U-Gun is a low-cost solution to a wide variety of industrial housekeeping problems. The Vac-U-Gun has a durable die-cast construction and no moving parts to replace or wear out. In addition to being easy to use, the Vac-U-Gun is also more efficient than ordinary blow guns. By injecting a small amount of compressed air through directed nozzles, a vacuum is then produced on one end and a high output flow on the other. The amplified outlet flow through the Vac-U-Gun is 12 times the compressed air consumption of the gun.

In vacuum mode, the work surfaces can be easily cleaned by vacuuming the debris away rather than blowing it off of the surface. Rather than simply moving the material around the shop floor, it can be contained and transferred to a waste receptacle using the 10’ vacuum hose, or straight into the filter bag.

Switching from vacuum mode to blow mode can be achieved in just a matter of seconds. To change the Vac-U-Gun from vacuum to blow mode, simply remove the threaded cap and change the orientation of the generator inside. Since the Vac-U-Gun has a large 1-1/4” diameter air outlet, it covers much more surface area in less time compared to traditional air guns. This can help to reduce the time needed for a variety of different blowing, cooling, or drying applications. Due to the nature in which the Vac-U-Gun entrains ambient air, it allows for more force and flow through the gun at a minimal compressed air consumption.

The Vac-U-Gun system is available by itself, or in one of three different kits. It can be used with or without the 10’ (3m) vacuum hose or the filter bag. Various vacuum accessories are included in the kits to accommodate a variety of different materials and applications. If you’re looking for a versatile gun that can help boost productivity in a number of applications within your facility, look no further than the Vac-U-Gun.

Tyler Daniel, CCASS

Application Engineer

E-mail: TylerDaniel@EXAIR.com

Twitter: @EXAIR_TD

EXAIR Heavy Duty HEPA Vac Overview

Published on by Tyler DanielLeave a comment

There’s still time left to take advantage of EXAIR’s Industrial Housekeeping Promotion, now through the end of May order any of EXAIR’s Industrial Housekeeping Systems and receive a free Vac-u-Gun! At EXAIR, we have a variety of different systems designed to provide you with a maintenance-free solution for cleaning up messes throughout your plant. We offer systems for liquids, solids, and even one that can handle both. All of which will provide many years of useful life; something you cannot claim for the typical electrical vacs you may be all too familiar with replacing. For any of these applications involving fairly dusty materials, look no further than EXAIR’s Heavy Duty HEPA Vac.

Electrically powered vacuums or shop vacs are not designed to be operated in a rugged industrial environment. Filters clog, motors wear out, and you find yourself frequently replacing them. The GIF below demonstrates how many of these failures occur, leaving you without a solution until it’s been replaced.

EXAIR’s Heavy Duty HEPA Vac has NO moving parts to wear out, doesn’t require maintenance, and needs nothing but a source of compressed air to operate. A static resistant hose also prevents painful shocks that can be common when working with dry, dusty materials.

The vacuum generator is constructed of a hardened steel alloy designed to be resistant to abrasion. The lever lock drum lid fits any open-top 30, 55, or 110 gallon drum. Moving the system from one drum to another can be done quickly, allowing customers to keep different materials separate for recycling. Recycling companies will pay a premium for pre-sorted materials so this can be touted as another selling point of this system. It can be used with any open head steel, fiber, or plastic drum in good condition (ANSI Standard #MH2-2004). Complete premium systems with the drum and dolly are also included for customers who do not have a usable drum already. All of EXAIR’s filters are 100% tested in strict accordance to IEST-RP-CC-007 for a minimum 99.97% filtration down to .3 microns to meet HEPA standards.

An optional add-on, the Model 901373 filter protector, can help to reduce the time between cleaning out the HEPA filter itself as well as provide protection against wear. When looking to get the absolute most out of any of your HEPA rated filters, this filter protector is a must. It slides right over-top of the HEPA filter and pre-filter and is secured with a simple drawstring that holds it in place. The filter protector is an inexpensive tool that should be kept in the tool crib for periodical replacements.

EXAIR also offers a HEPA rated filter with our newest EasySwitch Wet/Dry Vac. It doesn’t matter what type of spills and messes you’re trying to clean up throughout your facility. At EXAIR, we have a Vac that’s Built to Last and ready for the task! Most importantly, make sure to get those orders in ASAP to take advantage of the free Vac-u-Gun with purchase!!

Tyler Daniel, CCASS

Application Engineer

E-mail: TylerDaniel@EXAIR.com

Twitter: @EXAIR_TD

High Lift Chip Trapper For Machine Tools With Below Grade Sumps

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost ten years since EXAIR introduced our High Lift Chip Trapper Systems…but here we are, and users have proven to be just as pleased with them as Chip Trapper users always have been. I’m gauging that not only on the positive reports we get, but from the impressively low rate of returns. EXAIR honors a 30 Day Unconditional Guarantee on all catalog products – you get a month to try it out – if it’s not going to work out, for any reason, we’ll arrange return for full credit. And, to date, nobody’s returned a High Lift Chip Trapper System.

If there’s one thing that machine shops have in common, it’s that housekeeping is ALWAYS a concern. It can be tough to keep with production and still keep the floors, machines, and even the air, clean. Then there’s the machine tool coolant. That’s a job that a good number of shops simply ‘farm out’ to someone else; oftentimes their coolant supplier, who’s also in the business of removing and disposing of (or recycling) used coolant.

That’s precisely what a recent caller who works in the machine shop of a company (that actually makes CNC machine tools) wanted to talk about the other day. He was tasked by his boss with finding a better way to deal with coolant maintenance. Their coolant supplier showed up according to schedule, pumped the old coolant out of their machines, and pumped new coolant right back in. It was convenient, but pricey. So they called EXAIR.

Since some of their coolant sumps are below grade (remember, these are machine tools that MAKE machine tools), we went straight to the High Lift Chip Trappers. Consider:

  • They develop a suction lift of 180″H2O (336mmHg), so below grade pumping is no problem.
  • With a sound level of 83dBA, they’re likely going to one of the quieter things running in a typical machine shop.
  • They’ll pump water (or water based coolant) at a rate of 30 gallons per minute, so even a 100 gallon coolant sump can be serviced in less than 15 minutes.
EXAIR High Lift Chip Trapper Systems come in 30, 55, and 110 Gallon sizes. All systems come complete with drum, dolly, switching valve, High Lift RDV, 20ft vacuum hose & pickup wand, two Filter Bags, and even a compressed air supply hose with a gauge & shutoff valve. They assemble in minutes…all you need is a supply of compressed air!

In their case, even their largest machines only have 50 gallon coolant sumps, so they bought a Model 6190 55 Gallon High Lift Chip Trapper System, and put it to work the same day they received it. After a ‘trial run’ on a couple of select machines, their plan is to cancel their used coolant removal service, and after getting a feel for the extended life they can get out of their coolant with regular cleaning, save some money on new coolant deliveries to boot!

This is just the latest development in a long line of EXAIR Chip Trapper success stories. If you’d like to consider being added to that list, give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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Spring Cleaning & Free STUFF

Published on by Brian FarnoLeave a comment

That’s right in case you didn’t notice, Spring is upon us and that generally means a good amount of cleaning is coming into your lives. I have been cleaning up the yard, garage, patio, shed, and even basement just trying to get everything for being outside more and making sure all of my equipment is ready to go for the warmer weather. The good news for you is that EXAIR is making Spring cleaning even better in your industrial setting with our new promo.

Right now, purchase any EXAIR Industrial Housekeeping System and receive a FREE Vac-U-Gun! The best part about these pneumatically driving vacuums is that there are no carburetors to clean them, and no batteries to charge, just plug them into your shop air and go. Whether you need a liquid vacuum, dry vacuum, or wet/dry vacuum, we have a product that will fit your need and if you aren’t sure, we have a dedicated team of Application Engineers here to help.

EXAIR's new Chip Trapper
EXAIR’s new Chip Trapper

For liquid vacuums, we offer the Chip Trapper which permits you to filter solids from the liquid being sucked up, then pump the filtered liquid right back out of the 30, 55, or 110-gallon drum. Filter bags are available in 1, 5, 25, 50, 100, and 200-micron ratings. The High Lift Chip Trapper is the same principle just near double the vacuum level so you can suck more viscous liquid or sub-grade sumps clean.

The Reversible Drum Vac and High Lift Reversible Drum Vac use the same vacuum generators as their Chip Trapper counterparts and give you the ability to use a 5, 30, 55, or 110-gallon drum to empty a sump and pump all the contents into another container. (5 gallon is only available in the standard Reversible Drum Vac, no High Lift version.) I know I’ve told the story before, I used to utilize a Reversible Drum Vac when I was in the metal cutting industry. As I was setting up trade show booths full of metal cutting machines, I would hook my RDV up to the drums and pump machines full of premixed coolant, then at the end of the show, I would suck all the sumps dry and be waiting for load out while other booths would still be fooling around with an electric vacuum or waiting on another service that had a large tow-behind system.

(Left to right) Chip Vac, Heavy Duty Dry Vac, Heavy Duty HEPA Vac

When it comes to dry vacuums, the Chip Vac, Heavy Duty Dry Vac, and Heavy Duty HEPA Vac are all ideal due to their no moving parts and simplistic design to get the job done. Whether it is a machine shop cleaning up chads and chips, a grinding shop cleaning up fines, or even a general facility cleaning dirt, debris, and scraps from the floor, these vacuums hook straight to shop air and are ready to work. The filters can all be cleaned and reused or replaced if you chose. They again, fit standard drum sizes and can even include the drum with the purchase.

For critical dust containment, the HEPA EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac System is your durable, reliable, compressed air operated solution!

Lastly, our EasySwitch Wet/Dry Vac is the only vacuum I know of on the market that can be converted from wet to dry in less than 10 seconds and still have no internal moving parts. The unit is honestly a game changer compared to the electric equivalent and doesn’t have a motor or impeller to wear out.

Then, to top any purchase of those units off, the current promotion enables end users in the US or Canada to receive a Vac-U-Gun for free. This is a tool that many utilize to blow down a workstation, then turn around and vacuum everything up off the floor.

If you would like to discuss any of these systems more in-depth, since I stayed at a high-level explanation, please feel free to contact an Application Engineer.

Brian Farno
Application Engineer
BrianFarno@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_BF