Air tools are safer and more versatile than electric tools. They require less electricity, and their rotary vane air motors generate no sparks. This creates a safe work environment and decreases the likelihood of OSHA violations.
Always read and follow the owner’s manual for your specific tool to ensure proper use. Regular visual inspections can also help prevent damage to your tools and hoses.
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Versatility
Unlike sanding or deburring machines, a pencil grinder is suitable for working on hard-to-reach surfaces. This makes it ideal for removing surface paint from rusted vehicles or repairing weld seams in industrial applications.
The tool is also great for sanding and polishing hard materials like ceramic tiles, book boards, or mirrors. It also smooths rough edges on metals, especially stainless steel. The machine also allows for precision work on sanding and polishing soft materials such as wood.
Pencil grinder bits are available in various sizes and shapes to suit different tasks. The most popular type is the single aluminum cut, which features a unique spiral flute in the head that uniformly intersects with the right-hand side of the bit. It is also known as the cylinder head cut. It can drill spherical holes in various materials, including aluminum, soft steel, zinc, and zirconia. It also works well on other materials, such as plastics and wood. The bits are coated to reduce heat, friction, and wear. They also help protect the operator by reducing airborne contaminants such as isocyanides.
Safety
You must be careful whether you are deburring parts in a fab shop, preparing the bottom of a ship for paint, or removing corrosion from steel pipe with an air angle grinder. These powerful tools emit hot sparks that burn paint, char surfaces, and damage equipment. Keep your work area clean, and firmly grip the tool to prevent slips and falls. Never use a tool when you are tired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Be sure to check the air compressor hoses for moisture each day. Moisture in the lines can damage your pneumatic tools and impede their performance. Keep the air shut-off valve readily available in case of an accident so you can shut off the compressor immediately. Grinders and abrasives perform optimally when RPM limits are respected. Trying to force the tool to exceed its limits can damage the machine and lead to unsafe operation. Stalling out a power tool also places unnecessary wear on the abrasive and detracts from material removal rates.
Flexibility
A pneumatic pencil grinder offers great flexibility in sanding and grinding projects. It can get into tight spaces that are not reachable by a handheld sander. This makes it ideal for projects such as removing paint in preparation for welding. This allows the welder to do his or her job without creating a big mess.
Pneumatic die grinders can also be used for various types of jobs. They can blend radius curves, deburring parts, and mold finishing. They are also ideal for removing an electroplating layer for welding purposes.
They are powered by compressed air from an air compressor. This is supplied through a hose that is attached to the tool. The air is then used to power a turbine or vane motor, which rotates the shaft inside the tool. This shaft holds a collet that will hold burs or mounted points. The tool can be adjusted with a slide throttle or twist throttle, which gives the operator more control over the work that needs to be done.
Portability
Whether deburring in a fab shop, polishing an engine, or preparing a ship hull for paint, every step that can be taken to reduce the time spent grinding is valuable. Air tools allow you to do just that. They have a much higher power-to-weight ratio than handheld tools, and they can do the same tasks as a larger grinder, only more quickly.
These portable tools use compressed air to drive a vane or turbine motor and rotate carbide burrs and mounted points for deburring, surface preparation, sculpting, and detailing. With a slide throttle and twist throttle actuation, these tools offer operator comfort and control.
The lightweight design of these tools allows them to be easily maneuvered and used in tight spaces. This makes them ideal for blending radius curves, deburring parts, porting engines, and mold finishing. Many models are certified to work in classified areas, allowing you to avoid costly shutdowns, hot work permits, habitats, and fire watches. The rugged cases are also resistant to rust, increasing durability and longevity.
Efficiency
Whether you are deburring in a fab shop or removing rust and paint from a steel pipe in preparation for coating, an air tool can get the job done faster. And because they are pneumatic, you do not have to worry about hot sparks flying when you contact the metal.
This is important, as using power tools incorrectly can lead to serious injuries. For example, some operators try to stall out the motor by placing large amounts of pressure on the abrasive. This is dangerous for the operator and damages the abrasive, and decreases its performance.
Other common mistakes include over-feeding and under-feeding. These actions place unnecessary stress on the motor and can cause it to overheat. The best way to avoid these hazards is to work gradually and respect the rated RPM limits of the tool and abrasive. This will ensure you get the most out of your air tool and protect your safety.