small air compressor for blowing off metal chips? How often will it cycle?

[danielbuck]

I'm eventually going to get a large compressor and tank, when I get a plasma cutter later down the road.

Right now my only need for air is for blowing off objects to clean them, and especially for blowing off metal chips and dust from the drill press and the metal lathe and the grinders. I'm going through cans of compressed air pretty quick (the compressed air cans they sell at computer stores). At least 1 can per weekend, and that's using it sparingly.

I don't have space yet for a large compressor and tank So I'm looking for a somewhat temporary (maybe for 1 year) solution, and I've been thinking about getting one of the small "pancake" compressors to shove under the lathe bench for the sole purpose of blowing off metal chips and cleaners.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K34UZBW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

For using the air nozzle to blow off parts and machines ONLY, how often will this thing cycle on? Will I get 5 minutes of solid use before it clicks on? 10? 20? If the link doesn't work, it's 6 gallon, 165psi, 2.6 SCFM at 90psi.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Pick up one of these

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...ir+tools&sprefix=california+air+tools,aps,166

much quieter same price.

Probably won't get that much time out of either. 5 Minutes of continuous blowing off chips is a lot of air.

 

[danielbuck]

Thanks for the suggestion! 75db down to 60db is probably a big difference, eh?

I don't think I'd ever actually use the compressor for 5 minutes straight, usually when I'm blowing chips off it's just quickly for 5-10 seconds or so. But through the course of a Saturday in the garage, it might be 5+ minutes total. If that were the case, it might cycle a few times? I just don't want the thing to be cycling on and off every time I use it.

But if it's quiet enough to still hold a conversation reasonably, I wouldn't care how often it turned on. I don't know how loud 60db is, I'll have to research that.

 

[OccupantRJ]

At least get yourself a low pressure, high volume nozzle to help keep metal from bouncing behind your safety glasses.

 

[SantaAna12]

Home Depot 10 gallon compressor tank? (35$)

 

[pepi]

I would suggest a vacuum would be a better deal for what you say you want to do. You are just making a bigger mess blowing chips around.

For the floor try one of these, probably one of the very few tools that they sell worth a ****

http://www.harborfreight.com/30-inch-magnetic-sweeper-with-wheels-93245.html

 

[danielbuck]

At least get yourself a low pressure, high volume nozzle to help keep metal from bouncing behind your safety glasses.

I hadn't thought about the nozzle itself. Are there any adjustable nozzles? I probably don't need THAT much pressure most of the time.

I would suggest a vacuum would be a better deal for what you say you want to do. You are just making a bigger mess blowing chips around.

For the floor try one of these, probably one of the very few tools that they sell worth a ****

http://www.harborfreight.com/30-inch-magnetic-sweeper-with-wheels-93245.html

I've got a good sized shop vac, and a magnet for the floor. Magnet only works on mild steel though. Not aluminum, stainless, or anything else. I love the magnet for mild steel though!

The vacuum, yes it works for broad areas like the work surface of the bench or the floor, but even with a small attachment it doesn't do so well on metal chips that are in little crevices, there's a LOT of little crevices on a lathe, and especially on the lathe when there's oil everywhere the vaccum doesn't seem to pick up the chips, and air works better than a brush or vaccum to remove the chips.

From what I've experienced, blowing the chips off really works best (sometimes in-conjunction with the vacuum too!), especially on the lathe where the chips are usually covered with cutting oil. I just blow them into the back stop of the lathe, then scoop up the big handfuls, then vaccum.

But while I'm actively working, a quick 1/2 second blast of air works wonders to clear out a drilled or tapped hole that doesn't go all the way through, and so on. Air really works better.

 

[ttpete]

Blowing chips off with air will get you tossed out of a commercial shop. Bad idea, and dangerous.. For machine tables, get or make a T-slot cleaner to get chips out where the vacuum can get to them. Use chip brushes for the same purpose, and consider making crevice tools for the vac hose.

 

[Boilerhouse]

My guess is that it will take about 20 or 30 seconds of use to cycle it and it will cycle pretty much every time you use it. No big deal though. Even if you do get a big one some day, a small portable guy is handy sometimes.

 

[helterskelter]

Blowing chips off with air will get you tossed out of a commercial shop. Bad idea, and dangerous.. For machine tables, get or make a T-slot cleaner to get chips out where the vacuum can get to them. Use chip brushes for the same purpose, and consider making crevice tools for the vac hose.

Air has been used in every commercial shop I've ever been in. Never heard of anyone ever being injured.

 

[Hondarancher4435]

A pancake compressor would probably kick on in less than a minute with a blow gun

 

[BLJ]

I have a kobalt 1.5 horsepower, 17 gallon, 3.8cfm at 90psi compressor. I was using it today to blow sawdust off of some lumber. I got about 30 to 45 seconds before the compressor kicked on. I would guess that the pancake would run considerably more.

 

[goodysgotacuda]

I would suggest a vacuum would be a better deal for what you say you want to do. You are just making a bigger mess blowing chips around.

Absolutely.

 

[Ign]

It will cycle almost every time.

I cut a ton of aluminum on my miter saw. I keep my M18 blower nearby to keep chips off the table. I usually use it on low (3 settings available) to prevent a snowstorm.

 

[dumper]

I have a 6 gallon pancake compressor-I turn it on, fill the tank, then turn it off. One tank of air can last a long time for just small parts cleaning. No need to have it refill every time it drops to 100psi, or whatever the cutoff is, for this purpose.

 

[Gogo300]

Blowing chips off with air will get you tossed out of a commercial shop. Bad idea, and dangerous.. For machine tables, get or make a T-slot cleaner to get chips out where the vacuum can get to them. Use chip brushes for the same purpose, and consider making crevice tools for the vac hose.

I used air to clear chips when I ran a mazak cnc lathe. Also used air to cool ceramic inserts when turning hardened material. Coolant would shock and break the insert. Also all the cnc mills, knee mills and chop saws would use air to blow away chips. We had osha come and audit our plant when we moved to a new location and never had an issue with using air to clear chips. We were only advised to keep the pressure below 90 psi.

 

[jonjon1]

I have a 6 gallon pancake compressor-I turn it on, fill the tank, then turn it off. One tank of air can last a long time for just small parts cleaning. No need to have it refill every time it drops to 100psi, or whatever the cutoff is, for this purpose.

THIS /\

Sounds like you can just start the compressor, let it build its air, then unplug it, 6ga at 150psi is probably equal to 100 cans of co2, lol...


Another option is getting a 7lb co2 tank (under $30), get it filled for under $10 (dicks sporting goods and any paintball shop will fill it, but a welding shop will do it cheaper)... then you will probably have a life times worth the first time you fill it lol, better yet get a 4500psi nitrogen tank and fill that for even less and have even BETTER air and more of it.... But you need a regulator, which can be had cheap...


Also I am a firm believer in buy once cry once, so if ou know you are going to get a compressor some day, there is no time like the present, make the room, and bite the bullet.. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Industri...ERCH=RV-_-rv_homepage_rr-_-NA-_-203623815-_-N one of them guys with a $75 mag starter and be done with it...

 

[Loscaldazar]

Thanks for the suggestion! 75db down to 60db is probably a big difference, eh?

I don't think I'd ever actually use the compressor for 5 minutes straight, usually when I'm blowing chips off it's just quickly for 5-10 seconds or so. But through the course of a Saturday in the garage, it might be 5+ minutes total. If that were the case, it might cycle a few times? I just don't want the thing to be cycling on and off every time I use it.

But if it's quiet enough to still hold a conversation reasonably, I wouldn't care how often it turned on. I don't know how loud 60db is, I'll have to research that.

You can look up videos on youtube of the California air tool compressors being used. 60dB is roughly what a normal conversation with people 3 feet apart is like. It might even be quieter than the machinery you are running.

 

[danielbuck]

You can look up videos on youtube of the California air tool compressors being used. 60dB is roughly what a normal conversation with people 3 feet apart is like. It might even be quieter than the machinery you are running.

I have been looking up DB readings for various machines, noise levels and what not. I think the Air pump I use to air up the tires on my Jeeps after a day of wheeling probably puts out more than 60dB of sound, and I hold conversations every time while we are waiting 30 minutes to air up to highway pressure.

This all makes me want to make some sort of DB meter that I can carry around with me to detect the loudest areas of noise...


... oh wait, they already sell that on Amazon. ****. Ok, I found my christmas present to myself this year. See yall in 2016.

You ain't seen a beat up jeep fly until you've seen me heading east on the 10

 

[Ign]

30 minutes? Install a York!

 

[danielbuck]

30 minutes? Install a York!

30 minutes doesn't bother me Gives me time to look over (under) the jeep to see if there's any damage that needs farther attention soon.

 

[ibedayank]

I can empty a 60 gallon tank at 175psi with a 90 psi blowgun in under 5 minutes..

 

[danielbuck]

You can look up videos on youtube of the California air tool compressors being used. 60dB is roughly what a normal conversation with people 3 feet apart is like. It might even be quieter than the machinery you are running.

I picked up one from CA Air Tools. Works GREAT for cleaning off parts, and it fits nicely under my lathe table. It does cycle on when I'm spending time using the air blower, but it really is so damn quiet that I don't care when it turns on. It's amazing how quiet it is, compared to all of the compressors I've heard.