IR Guns with fed Nitrogen?

[2JZGTESC300]

This may be in the wrong section of the threads..

I've just watched a video of NASCAR racing and they were talking about using their IR Guns with Nitrogen.

Is there any benefit or downfall to this rather than just regulator Air?

 

[CloseEnough]

There is no moister getting in the tools and no fire hazard. Those are the only things I can think of that would be beneficial.

 

[shampoop]

Prolly cause it weighs 28.0134 rather than the 31.9988 that oxygen weighs. Also probably because they already use it for the tires, why not for the guns? Simplify things.

 

[jrlp]

I've run lots of air tools off Nitrogen and co2. QUITE a bit, actually. Currently I'm using a PowerTank xp400 regulator on both nitrogen and co2. The oxygen in the air CAN cause corrosion over long-term use, obviously. Nitrogen is dry, clean, and readily available. They probably have lots of nitrogen in their shops from their plasma tables for cutting SS or Ti parts, as well as their tires. Maybe they carry small n2 tanks on their belts to run their impacts, so they don't trip over hoses etc.. plus if they do have a n2 tank on their belts, hard to argue with 40+cfm @ 100-400psi to run an impact as hard and fast as it can go.

 

[JDS968]

Formula 1 runs Paoli impact guns (I think 1" drive and something like 2000 torques) for the center lug wheels, and up until recently they were running them on helium...apparently because the lighter the gas, the faster they spin at any given torque. I guess in F1, putting on the wheels 0.001 seconds faster could be the difference between winning or losing the race. Well, at least it could if anybody could pass in F1...

 

[Charles (in GA)]

NEVER use nitrogen to run air tools in confined spaces, people have died doing that.

Charles

 

[Danglerb]

Never trust what racing teams use, they would fill their pockets with pork and beans for the right amount of sponsor money.

My guess is N2 for using some small belt tank and no long hoses.

 

[JDS968]

Never trust what racing teams use, they would fill their pockets with pork and beans for the right amount of sponsor money.

NASCAR is sponsored by brand-name nitrogen?

 

[spongerich]

I use 80% nitrogen in all my air tools.

 

[mattygee]

Probably has to do with portablility issues and not having to worry about hooking up a compressor everywhere you go. In airline work, line mechanics use nitro all the time for running air tools. There is also the trick of when changing a tire, using an adaptor hose from the tire to the jack to lift the airplane.

 

[rodm1]

Prolly cause it weighs 28.0134 rather than the 31.9988 that oxygen weighs. Also probably because they already use it for the tires, why not for the guns? Simplify things.

Oil and pressurized Oxygen cause fire never use Oxygen battles for anything other then there intended uses.

Those IR guns are modified for that use and cost about $3000

 

[38D]

There a couple of reasons race team do this

1) Power - Using the nitrogen tank allows them to run the guns over 200psi, so that the lugs always come off fast. When tenths of a second matter, you run the guns hot to make the lugs go on and off fast!

2) Portability - using a nitrogen tank doesn't require a compressor. A large enough compressor would likely require 220, and that is not available in any pit lane.

The reason you have to use air tools is that race organizations like NASCAR, ALMS, etc do not allow electric tools over the pit wall.

Nitrogen in tires is for one and only one reason: dryness. Compressed Nitrogen has no moisture in it, so it makes setting tire pressures reliable. Just a little bit of water vapor in the tires will make is nearly impossible to predict tire pressure growth in a race. If you have a really good source of dry air, it's really no different. But nitrogen is cheap and reliable and you don't have to worry if your air dryer is still working.

 

[koditten]

I use 80% nitrogen in all my air tools.

Ha, Ha. Me too.

Fill my tires with it, blow the dust out the shop with it. The uses are endless.

Had a nitronizer before nitronizers were cool.

KO

 

[TommyK]

Off roaders have been carrying nitrogen tanks for years to make emergency repairs.

About 12 or 13 years ago a buddy of mine let me borrow his tank and I used it to trim an entire 3600 square foot colonial. Worked great. He gave me a full 40lb tank and I did the entire job on it and did not empty it. Of course I was just running a couple of finish nailers but still I think that is impressive.

I believe you can compress a greater volume of nitrogen than air in a given size tank so a tank of nitrogen last longer than an equivalent tank of compressed air.

 

[billp603]

This may be in the wrong section of the threads..

I've just watched a video of NASCAR racing and they were talking about using their IR Guns with Nitrogen.

Is there any benefit or downfall to this rather than just regulator Air?

The prime downfall would be cost. You would have to buy it by the bottle.
An an air compressor will cost a lot less to install and run than a nitrogen compressor.

 

[2JZGTESC300]

Oh wow. Lots of nice information. I wasn't planning on purchasing any Nitrogen related compressors. Watching the video just made me curious about the Nitrogen usages. That's all.

 

[DOUGD]

CAUTION If using nitrogen or any other gas in small tight space it can be deadly as it can quickly reduce the oxygen level to fatal levels. I work in the aviation industry (lots of air tools and plenty of regulated nitrogen available) . Training news letters state that several mechanics have died throughout the industry over the years from operating power tools with nitrogen in confined spaces (usually airliner fuel tanks) .It is safe in open well ventilated areas.

 

[Tim-Bob]

Heck, I BREATHE 80% nitrogen! No ill effects so far. Abundant supply, colorless, usually odorless.

I see no reason to use nitrogen to power air tools. Just as much of a gimmick as nitrogen filled tires.

 

[jeep450]

For use where a compressor is not easly used. Easy to transport and set up.

 

[Milton Shaw]

My understanding is that they use nitrogen at 400 psi and only change tires once with a gun and then get another as time is money in a big way to them. 20 seconds extra to swap out a bad gun during a tire change can cost the car owner big bucks.

 

[Jawn]

I use 80% nitrogen in all my air tools.

Me too! Works great!

Actually, I think it's closer to 78-79%.

 

[GSteg]

My understanding is that they use nitrogen at 400 psi and only change tires once with a gun and then get another as time is money in a big way to them. 20 seconds extra to swap out a bad gun during a tire change can cost the car owner big bucks.

Once?

http://www.circletrack.com/tipstricks/ctrp_0601_nascar_pit_stop/index.html

 

[joecon]

I think it is use for safty. If there is a fire and an air line is broken it will blow
the fire all over ,think acohol burning with an invisable flame.If it is a line filled with
nitrogen it will deprive the fire of O2 and the fire will go out.
Circletrack is a great mag. it has ecelent tech articals.

 

[KEH]

Watch a pit stop in a race on TV. They use hoses to their guns. I think a portable tank would be too bulky and slow to carry around in a tire change.

KEH

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I believe you can compress a greater volume of nitrogen than air in a given size tank so a tank of nitrogen last longer than an equivalent tank of compressed air.

Not enough of a difference to notice, seeing as air is 79% nitrogen anyway.

Like others have said it comes down to the lack of moisture keeping consistent tire pressures. When I raced go karts I filled my kart tires with hyperdried scuba diving air, which I have easy access to vs nitrogen. Gave me the same benefits.

 

[t100]

1st, nobody has a big compressor on the pit lane.

Indy Car pit crews run their Paoli wheel guns at 300+ psi. these guns eat a huge volume of air but in very short bursts. Nitrogen is fed through a manifold by a bundle of 4 300cf bottles, each was charged to 2600psi at full. Nascar runs 2 guns per stop, Indycar runs 4(at the same time)

#1. power. there's no sudden pressure drop at the business end of the line when all the guns fire at the same time.

#2. there are compressors you can set up to do that but it takes a lot of space for the compressor itself, (very big)tank and chiller. plus the power line. it's safety hazard and can cause interference with other bizzillion electronics in the pit.

#3. reliable, predictable. these tanks are made of very few parts, proven reliable for many many years. you know the tank pressure and very easy to swap out when it's low. compressors, always **** out when you need them the most.

#4. Cheaper. you rent the tanks at the track.