Blow Gun not that powerful?

[Flybye]

I have a Dewalt compressor 15 gallon 5.4 scfm 200psi. Even with the regulator at 110psi, my blow gun isnt that powerful. It is nothing compared to the cheek blowing force of other blow guns in shops, but I dont recall what tank/hose they have. I use 3/8" hose.

Its a simple blow gun from Northern Tool:
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200324799_200324799

I dont expect a long continuous 10 minute blow of air out of it. Just a quick 2-5s burst a few times.

My 5.4 scfm I thought was what my air pump can push out, but if my tank is filled to 200psi and my regulator at 110psi, shouldnt that be enough for the blow gun to be really strong? Or is it perhaps my 3/8 hose not supplying the flow it needs?

 

[cvairwerks]

Unless you buy a non-OSHA compliant gun, they are all that way.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

I think compressor is not enough. Specs say about 12 scfm.

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[BuffettFan]

Yup, what CV said.
I bought some "Coilhose" branded ones a while back that actually aren't too bad.
I don't remember where I got them from, but would bet it was either MSC or McMaster.
They say 30psi max on them, but work well at 125.
I imagine the 30psi callout is one way around the safety nannies.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

Forgot to mention I remember what my grandfather said he saw when he worked at a service station in the 1920s. One guy jokingly blasted another guy with an air gun which killed him. Either the air went into his bloodstream or there was a metal shard in the blow gun, which is probably why the OSHA compliance.

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[Flybye]

Thanks guys. I never knew they were limited to help protect people from themselves lol. And I just read why which is what Seven mentioned. Ah well. Maybe I'll buy a different gun or modify mine. Not a priority. Just wanted to air dry something I washed a bit faster.

 

[engineer2]

Buy a HF blow gun. The Chinese don't follow no stinking OSHA rules.

 

[gungatim]

some blow guns you can unscrew the restrictor and remove it altogether.

 

[fasteddie]

Forgot to mention I remember what my grandfather said he saw when he worked at a service station in the 1920s. One guy jokingly blasted another guy with an air gun which killed him. Either the air went into his bloodstream or there was a metal shard in the blow gun, which is probably why the OSHA compliance.

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First job I ever had we would sometimes get covered in dust and debris from the styrofoam we were producing. it was common practice to blow your hair out with the blow gun. We were always careful to cover our ears with a finger and never had a problem but you could do some serious damage if you blew it into your ear, or your eye too I would imagine.

 

[larry_g]

I seem to remember that the OSHA spec is what pressure the gun will apply when deadheaded against an object, like your skin. So the one mentioned above at 30 psi is just that, what pressure it will apply to skin, not the pressure it can handle at the input. Also understand that noise level is also a requirement. Some of the guns out there are really quiet but move a lot of air. Some are noisy as hell and don't move much air.

Read more here, https://www.silvent.com/us/products/?group=1709-safety-air-guns

lg
no neat sig line

 

[cvairwerks]

If you want something unrestricted, it will have to be like this: https://store.snapon.com/Non-Vented-Blow-Guns-Blow-Gun-Blue-Point-reg--P634439.aspx
or
https://www.miltonindustries.com/adjustable-m-style-pocket-blo-gun.html
or adding this to your regular gun might be of help:
https://www.miltonindustries.com/blow-guns/metal-venturi-blo-gun-nozzle.html

 

[WWheeler]

Forgot to mention I remember what my grandfather said he saw when he worked at a service station in the 1920s. One guy jokingly blasted another guy with an air gun which killed him. Either the air went into his bloodstream or there was a metal shard in the blow gun, which is probably why the OSHA compliance.

Yeah I won't use an air gun that doesn't have a safety tip on it, with holes for air to exit from the sides if the tip gets blocked for any reason. I guess I may never have used one because I haven't felt any of the air guns I've used with a to be weak, even using a small compressor in short bursts.

Compressed air injuries are no joke. When I was a kid a good friend's dad had a prosthetic leg below the knee because he rolled over onto his air gun crawling around under the truck he was working on. No safety tip on it, if they even had such an option back then. One small burst blew a small bubble of air through the skin into his calf was all it took to where they couldn't save the leg.

Every time they give our safety lecture it sticks with me.



-
Also, there was this story in the news a few months back where a man in Japan was killed when his coworker pranked him with a shot of an air gun up his backside.

http://www.atimes.com/article/man-arrested-for-killing-friend-by-blasting-compressed-air-up-******/

 

[The Cobbler]

yteah its restricted. I have manipulated more than 1 blow gun to get better results.

 

[nh_yota]

I bought one of these a few years ago and it works great:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SRL0C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Apparently it has been replaced with a newer style that is OSHA compliant. Try to find the old style.

 

[redmondjp]

As stated above, you want one of the older, "pre-ban" blow guns. Like any tool, you have to understand the power of it and use it safely, wearing the appropriate PPE.

I have several blow guns (all older) and my kids know that they are NOT toys to be played with.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

I use this almost every day. It's an older Milton rubber tip one, I'm sure it's not OSHA compliant.
I try being careful, but after looking at those pictures...wow...from now on I'm wearing gloves.
That's what happened grandad said, while one guy way bent over, and he had on coveralls, another guy thought it would be funny to shoot air at his behind. Air force was apparently enough to go through clothes, and he must have hit an artery.
Be careful guys!

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[Tinner]

On the restricted guns you can usually take the tip off and drill the restrictor out, if not remove it entirely. I'd drill a bit at a time, you may not want full pressure.

 

[mbshop]

Used to have an osha gun in case osha came by. Otherwise all my blow guns are full flow.
Just work smart. Always use a shield if blowing anything hard like metal chips.

 

[flushcut]

I have some osha compliant guns that really blast some ****. One, can't remember who made it, is about three feet long and has some kick when you pull the trigger. I use it to clean out radiators, blast mud and dirt out on the tracks on the skidsteer and is the most powerful blow gun I have ever used short of an air spade. My 60 gallon compressor can't keep up with it. Another is made by Legacy, Tornado or sumthin, it came with multiple tips and works great. All bought in the last three years. The big gun I bought from Gemplers the other from Farm And Fleet.

 

[Flybye]

If you want something unrestricted, it will have to be like this: https://store.snapon.com/Non-Vented-Blow-Guns-Blow-Gun-Blue-Point-reg--P634439.aspx
or
https://www.miltonindustries.com/adjustable-m-style-pocket-blo-gun.html
or adding this to your regular gun might be of help:
https://www.miltonindustries.com/blow-guns/metal-venturi-blo-gun-nozzle.html

Thanks! That pen looking one is a great price, and its made in the US.

So guys, why are nonOSHA versions still sold? Or is it that OSHA requires the regulated versions to be at shops, and they dont have control of who manufacturers/sells the nonOSHA versions?

It doesnt look like I can modify my blow gun. The restricter seems to be in the valve itself. Nothing I can drill out in either end.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

I got this Coilhose Typhoon blow gun on recommendation: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07597V87S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Not only is it OSHA-approved, but it more powerful, in terms of volume, than all my other guns.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Exair corporation does air. They have nozzles that meet the OSHA noise requirement but by design move a lot more air than any other nozzle I have seen. They use venture effect to increase the air flow. They make air knives that send a flat stream of air out. Look them up and request a catalog if you are interested in quiet nozzles with a lot of air power that are safe to use.

 

[crazylunker]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KSPDVS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

one of my go to's

 

[Flybye]

Thanks all for the suggestions.

 

[engineer2]

Wheeler, thank you for posting on the nasty injection injury. Everyone knows air up the ********** is fatal, but I had no idea air under the skin could get that bad.

 

[jask]

..uh no. just Google "******".... that guy had all kinds of air up his ********...
a ruptured bowel caused by high pressure air will probably be fatal- but(t) unless you are the kind of guy who checks to see if a gun is loaded by looking in the barrel and pulling the trigger, or makes a habit of scratching your head with a nail gun... you can probably master the safe use of an air gun.
I use them to blow dust debris and material off myself 10 or 20 times a day... this is not rocket surgery, do not point it directly at your eyes ears or other tender bits, hold it away from your body then start and move in from there... all tools have potential to injure and some people should stay the hell out of the shop.... but if all you want is a good blow gun that moves air, look at the Milton type guns as posted above. I worry more about people accidentally triggering tools and air guns while fighting to insert in on a high insertion force or worn out air coupler...or popping loose a midline connector on a couple of pressurized hoses and having a hose whip around.... I have seen that way too many times and have started using milton pushbutton style couplers.

 

[woody6904]

Google Astro Pneumatic 1742. Bought one to try, really like so far. Supposed to be a high flow OSHA gun.

 

[DenisG]

High pressure injection (HPI) injuries typically happen when dealing with pressures in the thousand psi range:
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1241999-overview

Anyone can get injured when energy is released in unexpected ways.

 

[mrtoolfool]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KSPDVS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

one of my go to's

I second the Vacula blow guns. I love them, but I like the ones with the rubber tip.

 

[Evan(CA)]

I use this almost every day. It's an older Milton rubber tip one, I'm sure it's not OSHA compliant.
I try being careful, but after looking at those pictures...wow...from now on I'm wearing gloves.
That's what happened grandad said, while one guy way bent over, and he had on coveralls, another guy thought it would be funny to shoot air at his behind. Air force was apparently enough to go through clothes, and he must have hit an artery.
Be careful guys!

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

I have that same gun! The schrader valve tire filler too, both are awesome. They just don't make things like they used too and it's a shame.

 

[mikegt4]

I have the rubber tip Milton, great for blowing the pucks out of disc brake calipers.
The only bad thing about it is the handle can pinch your finger so you have to be careful about how you hold it.

 

[flushcut]

I have some osha compliant guns that really blast some ****. One, can't remember who made it, is about three feet long and has some kick when you pull the trigger. I use it to clean out radiators, blast mud and dirt out on the tracks on the skidsteer and is the most powerful blow gun I have ever used short of an air spade. My 60 gallon compressor can't keep up with it. Another is made by Legacy, Tornado or sumthin, it came with multiple tips and works great. All bought in the last three years. The big gun I bought from Gemplers the other from Farm And Fleet.

Guardaire makes the large gun I was talking about.

 

[ImportTuner]

Just got this made in China air gun from Amazon .. it blows like the old pre-OSHA guns. I can't believe how much pressure it puts out

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DCJ6S5D/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Flybye]

So I got the Vacula yesterday. WOW what a difference! They even have on the back of the packaging a list of the OSHA approved guns and the ones that are not. Im not a shop, so the list is great. All I mostly use it for at home is remove sanding/saw dust from baseboards and other minor upgrades Im doing around the house. The increased air is going to be great for clearing out the saws before bringing back into my garage.