Tag: vacuum hose

Exploring the Versatility of EXAIR’s Vac-u-Gun

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

In industrial settings, maintaining a clean, efficient, and safe workspace is a constant challenge. Whether it’s removing debris, transferring materials, or blowing off surfaces, the tools used need to be reliable, cost-effective, and adaptable. Enter EXAIR’s Vac-u-Gun—a compressed air-powered, multi-functional device designed to tackle a variety of industrial housekeeping tasks. In this blog, we’ll dive into the technical details of the Vac-u-Gun, how it operates, and the applications where it shines.

Constructed from durable die-cast aluminum, the Vac-u-Gun has no moving parts, ensuring minimal maintenance and a long operational life. Switching between vacuum and blow-off modes is simple—just unscrew the threaded cap, reverse the orientation of the internal generator, and reassemble. This versatility, combined with its ergonomic trigger operation, makes it an indispensable tool for industrial environments.

How Does It Work?

The Vac-u-Gun’s functionality hinges on its reversible generator:

  • Vacuum Mode: When configured for vacuuming, compressed air (typically 80-100 PSIG) flows into an annular plenum chamber and exits through directed nozzles, creating a low-pressure zone that draws in surrounding air and debris. The material is then directed into a reusable bag or hose for collection.
  • Blow-Off Mode: In blow-off mode, the generator is flipped, and the compressed air is expelled through a large 1-1/4″ (32 mm) diameter outlet, providing a powerful stream for cleaning or drying surfaces.
  • Transfer Mode: By attaching a smooth-bore vacuum hose, the Vac-u-Gun can move lightweight materials over short distances, making it ideal for material handling tasks.

Applications Best Suited for the Vac-u-Gun

The Vac-u-Gun’s adaptability makes it a go-to solution for a wide range of industrial tasks. Here are some of its standout applications:

  1. Small-Scale Debris Cleanup – The Vac-u-Gun excels at vacuuming up sawdust, shavings, chips, or spills in workshops and manufacturing facilities. For example, a woodworking shop can use the Collection System to quickly clean up sawdust from workbenches, capturing it in the reusable bag without spreading it around the floor.
  2. Surface Cleaning and Blow-Off – In blow-off mode, the Vac-u-Gun is perfect for drying or clearing dust and dirty surfaces like electrical panels or machinery parts. Its large-diameter output ensures rapid coverage, making it a time-saver in fast-paced production lines.
  3. Material Transfer – When paired with a vacuum hose (as in the Transfer System), the Vac-u-Gun can move lightweight materials like polystyrene pellets or plastic granules over short distances. A bean bag chair manufacturer, for instance, could use it to transfer filling material from a bag to the product, eliminating the mess and tedium of manual scooping.
  4. Specialized Cleaning with the Deep Hole Vac-u-Gun Variant – For applications requiring the removal of chips from drilled holes or grooves—like in automotive part machining—the Deep Hole Vac-u-Gun variant offers a targeted solution. A small blow tube dislodges debris while the suction tube vacuums it away, all while containing flying particles for operator safety.

EXAIR’s Vac-u-Gun is more than just a tool—it’s a problem-solver. Whether you’re cleaning up a mess, transferring materials, or clearing surfaces, its technical design delivers efficiency and reliability in a compact package. For industries looking to boost productivity while keeping costs and maintenance low, the Vac-u-Gun is a worthy investment.

If you’re curious about how the Vac-u-Gun can fit into your operations, reach out to an EXAIR Application Engineer. With same-day shipping on stock items (orders by 2:00 PM ET), you could have it in hand by tomorrow—ready to tackle your toughest housekeeping challenges.

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer

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Vac-u-Gun: Overview!

Published on by John BallLeave a comment

The Vac-U-Gun is capable of both vacuuming materials, as well as operating as a blow gun.  It has a unique design that has a reversible generator to allow modes to change simply and easily.  In this blog, I will go over the Vac-u-Gun and the packages that we offer. 

EXAIR’s Vac-U-Gun is a low-cost solution to a wide variety of smaller industrial housekeeping problems. The Vac-U-Gun is made from a durable die-cast construction and has no moving parts to replace or wear out. In addition to being easy to use, the Vac-U-Gun is also more efficient than the commonly found blowguns. By injecting a small amount of compressed air, a vacuum is then produced by a Venturi on one end and a high output flow on the other.  Switching from vacuum mode to blow-off mode can be achieved in just a matter of seconds. To change the direction of flow, simply remove the threaded cap at the end and change the orientation of the generator inside.

The Vac-U-Gun is available by itself, or as a system in one of three different kits. The model 6192 Collection System has the Vac-u-Gun, a reusable bag, a crevice tool, a brush tool, a skimmer tool, and two extension wands.  The model 6292 Transfer System has the items in model 6192 plus a 10-Foot (3 meter) vacuum hose.  Model 6392 All Purpose System has all the items in both systems. 

The extension wands are 19” (48 cm) long and can be used to help to reach the floor or into tough areas.  The tools and extensions are made from plastic to help clean electrical panels safely.  The vacuum hose can reach refuse containers to collect recyclable debris.  As a blow-off tool, the Vac-u-Gun uses very little compressed air and has an amplified output of 12 times that of the compressed air usage.  So, a large volume of air can help clean quickly. 

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.  EXAIR offers a 30-day unconditional guarantee on our cataloged items to try.  You can see for yourself how effective the Vac-u-Gun systems are.  If you have any questions, an Application Engineer will be able to assist you. 

John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb

E-Vac Generators, Cups and Accessories

Published on by EricKuhnash@EXAIR.comLeave a comment

When it comes to our E-Vac vacuum generators and creating a successful design for you application EXAIR has the fundamentals. EXAIR’s compressed air powered E-Vacs are designed primarily for pick and place operations but also have other uses such as evacuating liquids and gasses from containers and holding workpieces in place. E-Vacs come in different sizes including an Adjustable E-Vac in order to dial in your vacuum and vacuum flow. EXAIR E-Vac generators are engineered for high efficiency and minimizing air consumption.

In-Line E-Vac Generators are compact and easily mount at the point of use. They can held in place by screwing them directly to your rigid compressed air line or by using one of our mounting clips. There are 7 models used with porous materials, such as carboard, with vacuum levels up to 21″ Hg and vacuum flows up to 18.5 SCFM. There are also 7 models to choose from for non-porous materials, such as glass, with vacuum levels up to 27″Hg and vacuum flow up to 15.8 SCFM.

Adjustable E-Vacs (below) allow easy adjustment, simply loosen the locknut and turn the exhaust to increase or decrease the vacuum flow. There are 4 sizes with vacuum up to 25″Hg and vacuum flow up to 81 SCFM. They are Engineered for high efficiency and minimize compressed air usage by adjusting the vacuum level to the application.

EXAIR has four cup styles to match and accommodate just about any size shape and material. Let’s look at the cups available and their characteristics:

Round Cups come in small and large sizes and work well with smooth flat surfaces . The round cups hold up well with time and grip well to vertical surfaces. Round cups without cleats are more flexible and work well in applications that do not require lifting heavy loads. Round cups with cleats

Oval Cups provide the most vacuum due to having a larger surface area. Shape matters: this is especially true for oval cups which have a higher suction power compared to round cups. The are designed to handle heavy objects such as flat rigid sheet materials.

Bellow Cups have an accordion shape and designed for textured, uneven surfaces. The folds are called convolutions and provide a collapsible area allowing the cup to compress when it touches an uneven surface.

Once you have selected the style and quantity of vacuum cups you can review the EXAIR Accessories that will compliment your project. EXAIR offers a variety of mufflers, tubing, check valves, fittings that will make it easier to build your vacuum system.

If you have questions selecting what is right for your needs please contact me or any of our other Application Engineers to help answer your concerns. Visiting our website http://www.EXAIR.com and viewing our blogs, videos and product lines is easy and helpful but if you have questions please contact me Eric Kuhnash or any of our Application Engineers to help answer your concerns.

Eric Kuhnash
Application Engineer
E-mail: EricKuhnash@exair.com
Twitter: Twitter: @EXAIR_EK

Are EXAIR’s Hoses and Tubes Right For You?

Published on by codybiehleLeave a comment

Are you tired of ducking and dodging hard pipe everywhere? Do you need something more mobile for your compressed air? Then EXAIR Hoses and Tubes might be a solution for you. EXAIR offers a variety of hoses and tubes in different styles designed to work with our products without affecting performance. These products simplify the use, setup, and integration of our various products into your process. Normally if you were to buy hoses you would need to determine the proper diameters, pressure ratings, and/or end fittings to best fit the item in use. This is all unnecessary when purchasing EXAIR’s Hoses and tubes for EXAIR products since everything is sized and properly rated to be used with our products. So, ask our Application Engineers if EXAIR Hoses and Tubes are right for you.

 Products may include the following.

Line Vac air operated conveyor hose
Conveying Hoses:

These hoses are used with our Air Operated Conveyors or Line Vacs which are used to convey material from point A to point B. The hose can be mounted on either side of the Line Vac using the properly sized hose clamp that comes with it. The Conveyance hose is made out of a durable PVC semi-flexible material in sizes from ¾” I.D. to 3” I.D. to match our Line Vac sizes. They also come in lengths up to 50’ in increments of 10’.

Coiled hose
Coiled Hoses:

When it comes to getting compressed air to our safety air guns, we offer a series of abrasion-resistant nylon Coiled Hoses. The coiled hose comes in a 12’ long length and comes in 3 sizes; these sizes are 1/8” NPT, ¼” NPT, and 3/8” NPT to attach right to EXAIR’s Safety Air Guns. The hoses also include swivel fittings to make for easier uncoiling. The coiled design makes it easy to reach around the work area and retract back to the substation. With the right size hose Coiled Hoses can supply the required amount of compressed air with minimal amount of pressure drop.

Compressed air hose
Compressed Air Hoses:

Compressed Air Hose can be used to reach equipment from overhead or near equipment. These hoses are made with synthetic rubber and comes in 3/8” I.D. and ½” I.D… Lengths up to 50’ long can be provided and the hoses are rated for up to 250 psig air pressure. These hoses can provide lasting protection from ozone, weathering and temperatures up to 158oF. They also come with two male ends in ¼” NPT or ½” NPT.

Stay Set Hoses
Stay Set Hoses:

Bendable and flexible, the stay set hose allows for manual positioning of your compressed air product. Equipped with “memory” function, the hose will not creep or droop until it is physically moved. The Stay Set Hose comes in lengths from 6” to 36” in length, and they offered in a combination of 1/8” and ¼” MNPT connections. These hoses are rated for 250 psig and are made of a reinforced rubber.

E-Vac Tubing

Vacuum Tubing:

When it comes down to our E-Vac product line, EXAIR offers vacuum tubing to be used along with the unit. This tubing is made from polyurethane and comes in 1/8” O.D. and 3/8” O.D. up to 50’ in length in increments of 10’.

If you have any questions about compressed air systems or want more information on any of EXAIR’s products, give us a call, we have a team of Application Engineers ready to answer your questions and recommend a solution for your applications.

Cody Biehle
Application Engineer
EXAIR Corporation
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