Tag: reversible drum vac

New ATEX EasySwitch® Wet-Dry Vac: Safer Industrial Cleanup in Explosive Environments

Published on by Neal RakerLeave a comment

A pneumatic, ATEX-rated wet/dry vacuum built for Zones 1 and 21—switching between dry debris and liquid recovery in seconds.

EXAIR ATEX EasySwicth Vac for explosive environments.

Industrial cleanup is challenging enough—add potentially explosive atmospheres and the stakes go up fast. In ATEX-classified areas, using the wrong equipment can introduce ignition risks from sparks, heat, or static buildup. That is why EXAIR developed the ATEX EasySwitch® Wet-Dry Vac: a compressed-air-powered system designed to deliver reliable wet and dry cleanup in hazardous environments, including ATEX Zones 1 and 21.

What is the ATEX EasySwitch® Wet-Dry Vac?

The ATEX EasySwitch is a pneumatic (compressed-air-driven) industrial vacuum engineered for hazardous locations. It provides powerful suction for both dry materials (dust, powders, chips, absorbents) and liquids (including coolant), and it is designed to let operators switch between dry vacuuming and liquid recovery quickly using a simple latch mechanism.

Why Pneumatic Matters in Explosive Environments

In environments where explosive gases or combustible dust may be present, controlling ignition sources is critical. Because the ATEX EasySwitch operates solely on compressed air, it avoids many risks commonly associated with electric vacuums.

  • No electrical components to create sparks, heat, or motor-related failure points.
  • Static-dissipative design with proper grounding to help reduce electrostatic buildup.
  • No moving parts in the pneumatic vacuum generator, supporting a low-maintenance design for demanding use.
  • Built for ATEX Zones 1 and 21, supporting cleanup needs in hazardous, compliance-driven operations.

One vacuum for wet and dry cleanup

Cleanup needs change quickly on the plant floor. With the EasySwitch system, operators can move from dry debris collection to liquid recovery in seconds—helping reduce downtime when switching tasks. Typical materials include dust, powders, coolant, chips, and absorbents.

Where it fits: hazardous-area industrial cleanup

If operations include combustible dust or flammable atmospheres, a dedicated hazardous area vacuum can be a key part of safe housekeeping. The ATEX EasySwitch is designed to support compliant cleanup in critical environments where maintaining clean workspaces is essential.

Part of EXAIR’s industrial vacuum lineup

The ATEX EasySwitch joins EXAIR’s broader range of industrial vacuum systems built for efficiency and performance, including Reversible Drum Vacs for liquid transfer, Chip Trappers for separating solids from liquids, and Heavy Duty Dry and HEPA Vacs for fine dust collection.

Pricing and next steps

ATEX EasySwitch systems start at $3,900 USD. To learn more about specifications, configuration options, and fit for your application, contact EXAIR at (800) 903-9247 or email techelp@exair.com. More details: https://exair.co/atesv

Neal Raker, Application Engineering Manager
nealraker@exair.com

Care and Feeding Of Your Reversible Drum Vac

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

EXAIR’s Reversible Drum Vac couldn’t be easier to operate. Thread it in to the 3/4 NPT vent connection on your drum lid, install the Standpipe & Hose on the 2 NPT bung, hook up a compressed air line to it, and you’re in business. As long as your compressed air is clean & moisture free, your Reversible Drum Vac will run like new for a long, long time.

Should you start to see a decrease in performance, though, the first thing you’ll want to do is verify the compressed air supply, especially if something’s changed:

  • Did you get a new hose? The Reversible Drum Vac uses 19 SCFM @80psig for rated performance. That’ll require a 3/8″ ID hose, assuming a length of no more than about 20ft.
  • Are there any restrictions in the line? The usual suspects are clogged filters, partially closed valves, or push-to-connect quick-connect fittings.
  • Are there any vacuum leaks in the hose, its cuffs, the drum, or either threaded connection? If the lid’s removable, is that gasket intact?
Pro tip: a pressure gauge, right at the inlet, will give you instant indication of an air supply issue with your RDV (or any compressed air-operated product.)

If you’ve eliminated all of those potential problems, it’s time to take a look at the Reversible Drum Vac itself. The Reversible Drum Vac has tight internal passages that contamination from even the cleanest compressed air systems can build up in, over time. Good news is, we made it super easy to disassemble & clean, and better news: this almost always restores it to as-new performance. We even have a video that walks you through it:

You may be surprised not at how much, but how little contamination you find inside the Reversible Drum Vac. We offer factory refurbishment service for them as well…the procedure in the video is step-by-step what that service consists of, except we also replace the Shim, O-Rings, & Float, and when we reassemble it, we verify performance on the same fixture that every single new Reversible Drum Vac that we build gets tested on. Recently, a customer sent a Reversible Drum Vac in for refurbishment services after we’d spent some time talking on the phone, exchanging emails, and even a brief Engineering Consultation web meeting, troubleshooting their loss of vacuum. I was particularly curious about this one, so when it came in, I tested it (on our calibrated test fixture) for performance, and found it was only generating about 22% of rated vacuum, and only 17% of rated flow. I figured it was clogged (with a capital CLOGGED) so I match marked the body & plug (just like we show in the video) and took it apart:

I was frankly surprised at how little contamination (which appeared to be rust from the customer’s compressed air piping system) caused such a dramatic loss of vacuum.

We then completed the Refurbishment Service and tested it again. Performance was verified to be within specification for a new High Lift Reversible Drum Vac.

I offer to share the Cleaning & Refurbishing video with just about anyone who calls to discuss performance (or lack thereof) of their Reversible Drum Vac. Some still want to send theirs in for Refurbishment Service, and that’s fine. If you have a Reversible Drum Vac that’s not working properly, I’m here to help you get the most out of our products — any of them — give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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Video Blog: Chip Trapper Rebuild Kits

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

EXAIR introduces Rebuild Kits for our 30, 55, and 110 Gallon Chip Trapper Systems.

These Rebuild Kits are for standard and High Lift Chip Trapper Systems.

Here are links to two other video blogs that are referenced in this video:

The Importance of Proper Supply Plumbing For Compressed Air Products

How To Rebuild Your Reversible Drum Vac

At EXAIR, we’re here to make sure you get the most out of our products, and your compressed air system. If you have questions, give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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Compressed Air Pipe

The Power of Deliquescent Driers in Compressed Air Systems

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

In industrial manufacturing, compressed air is the unsung hero powering tools, machinery, and processes across manufacturing, painting, blasting, and beyond. But here’s the catch: moisture. That sneaky water vapor lurking in your compressed air lines can wreak havoc, causing corrosion, freezing, and contaminating sensitive equipment. Deliquescent driers are low-maintenance systems designed to tackle humidity head-on. In this blog, we’ll dive into what makes these driers tick, their pros and cons.

What Are Deliquescent Driers, Anyway?

Picture this: a simple tank packed with hygroscopic (water-loving) salt tablets that dissolve into a brine as they absorb moisture from compressed air. That’s the 1000-foot view of a deliquescent drier. Unlike refrigerated or desiccant dryers that rely on complex refrigeration cycles or regeneration, deliquescent driers use chemistry to do the heavy lifting. The process is elegantly straightforward:

  • Incoming air enters the bottom of the vessel, preheated from compression and loaded with water vapor.
  • It flows upward through a bed of deliquescent desiccant—typically formulated from salts like calcium chloride, lithium chloride, or potassium chloride.
  • The salts “deliquesce” (hence the name), attracting and dissolving water vapor into a liquid brine that collects at the base.
  • Dry air exits the top, with a pressure dew point suppressed by about 15-20°F below the inlet temperature, depending on conditions.

No electricity, no moving parts—just pure, passive drying. These driers have been a staple since the 1940s, especially in rugged settings like petrochemical plants, outdoor blasting ops, or mobile equipment where reliability is the largest concern.

Why Choose Deliquescent Driers? The Pros (and a Few Cons)

Deliquescent driers aren’t for every scenario, but when they fit, they’re a game-changer. Let’s break it down:

The Advantages:

  • Zero Energy Consumption: No power required means lower operating costs and no electrical hazards in wet or explosive environments. Ideal for remote sites or intermittent use.
  • Rugged and Portable: Mount them indoors or outdoors—they thrive in extreme temps, even subzero conditions, with the right setup. Perfect for mobile contractors in painting or abrasive blasting.
  • Low Maintenance: Just drain the brine every 8-hour shift and top up the desiccant a few times a year. A sight glass lets you monitor levels at a glance.
  • Cost-Effective Upfront: Cheaper to buy and install than high-tech alternatives, with no filters or separators to fuss over.

The Drawbacks:

  • Limited Dew Point Control: They suppress dew point by a fixed amount (e.g., 20°F), so hot inlet air means warmer outlet air—fine for many apps but not ultra-dry needs.
  • Corrosion Potential: The brine is salty and corrosive, so vessels need robust coatings, and downstream lines require after filters to catch salt carryover.
  • Pre-filtration Required: Oil from compressors can foul the desiccant, so a coalescing pre-filter is a must.

In short, if you’re blasting in humid conditions, painting in the field, or running air tools in cold weather, deliquescent driers deliver freeze-proof, reliable performance without the fuss.

At EXAIR Corporation, we’re keen on compressed air efficiency. The attention to detail we pay to our products – from design, to manufacturing & assembly, to availability, and right on through to technical support – bears out our commitment to helping you get the most out of your compressed air system. If you’ve got questions, Give me a call.

Jordan Shouse, CCASS

Application Engineer

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Image courtesy of Brian S. Elliott, Wikimedia Commons Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License