Will my Ingersoll Rand Cordless Wrench charge in Europe?

I have a new Ingersoll Rand cordless impact wrench and I am wondering if there is another charger or battery in order to recharge it in Europe? I need it to work with 50 hertz and 230 volts.

Your in luck. The new Ingersoll Rand cordless tools use a global universal charger. This means the battery charger will work with a variety of voltages. However if your charger has a cord that will fit American electrical sockets, you will need to get an adapter for it. The Ingersoll Rand battery charger also will work with almost any lithium ion and nickel cadmium rechargeable battery. This adds much more flexibility to your cordless tools.

How much CFM does a CP 1 inch Impact Wrench need?

I am interested in purchasing a Chicago Pneumatic 1 inch impact wrench. The model number is CPT5000. However, I am not sure how much CFM and PSI I need to run it. Can you advise me?

The Chicago Pneumatic CPT5000 1 inch impact wrench requires 90 psi and around 50 cfm to run it at load. Most 1 inch impact wrenches need anywhere from 45 to 75 cfm to run effectively. So its going to depend on the size of air compressor you own and how much demand is on the system. For example, you may be running several air tools for a few mechanics.

Plasma cutter or welding torch?

I have a small metal fabrication shop and in the past we have used a welding torch to cut sheets of metal. However, I have been told a plasma cutter is far more accurate than a welding torch. Whats the story?

A plasma cutter is definitely more accurate at cutting than a welding torch. It just depends on the level of accuracy you need. If you are just rough cutting metal to throw in a recycle bin, then a welding torch is fine. If you need much more precise cutting and do not want to damage the surrounding metal, a plasma cutter is the way to go. The reason is a plasma cutter employs a stream of inert gas with a very high voltage charge. When the charge arcs through the stream, the gas is ionized and produces plasma. Plasma is able the easily cut through metal and a very confined area. This means the effect on the surrounding metal is minimized. Unlike a welding torch which is not as precise.

Refrigerant Leak Detector with Heated Diode

I have been looking at refrigerant leak detectors and would like to know which is better, heated diode or corona discharge?

When choosing an electronic refrigerant leak detector, there are essentially two different technologies available on the market today. They are corona discharge and heated diode. A corona discharge detector works when the corona barrier is broken by the presence of refrigerant. It can also be broken by dust and moisture for example. In the past, Corona discharge refrigerant leak detectors worked great on R12 and R22 systems but with the advent of R134 they were more inaccurate than a heated diode refrigerant leak detector. They still work with R134 but most people have much better luck using a leak detector with a heated diode. Here is an example of a refrigerant leak detector with a heated diode.

Can I adjust the darkening feature on Auto Darkening Welding Helmets

Is there a way to force auto darkening welding helmets to darken with light other than the flash of an arc welder? For example, could I use an LED light or flashlight up close to make the lens darken? Or is there a test button that will darken the lens?

You will need an auto darkening welding helmet with a variable sensitivity option. This will allow the user to adjust the sensitivity on the lens for different light conditions. For example, if you turn the sensitivity all the way up, ambient light can cause the lens to darken. Remember a fixed shade auto darkening welding helmet will not have this feature, so be sure to look carefully at the options on the welding helmet you are considering purchasing. Jackson Safety produces an auto darkening welding helmet that comes with variable sensitivity option.

Thinking about a Solvent Recovery System

As my RV service business has begun to grow, I have added 2 mechanics to my service shop. Having the extra service work is great, but cleaning all those tools is becoming a problem. When I just working by myself, I would clean my tools in a simple parts washer and disposing of the solvent was easy. However, we now have 3 times the tools to clean and I am concerned about how to efficiently and legally dispose of the solvent. Is a solvent recovery system the way to go?

Dealing with large amounts of cleaning solvents can be a real headache! Especially with the ever increasing environmental laws out there. I would recommend the Sidewinder solvent recovery system for your auto shop. It sounds like you have out grown your current parts washers and need to make to the move to a more professional system. A Sidewinder solvent recovery system can be loaded with dirty tools, turned on and it will clean your tools. When the cleaning cycle is completed, the unit will automatically turn off. The unit also recycles the solvent to be used again. Overtime, the cost of the solvent recovery system will be offset by the reduction in disposal fees and solvent costs.

I need to upgrade my OTC Genisys

I have an OTC Genisys Pathfinder and its only current up t0 2002. What do I need to do in order to upgrade my unit with both domestic and Asian scan codes? I also need a new Smart cable and charger cord.

We would recommend the OTC Genisys 2006 Domestic, Asian and OBDII Smart Cable Super Bundle. This kit comes with software for both Asian and Domestic as well as a new Smart cable. This kit also includes Pathfinder troubleshooting information from 1992 to 2005. This provides critical information at the technician’s fingertips. You will also need to upgrade your OTC Genisys to System 2.0. OTC Genisys 2006 System 2.0 Starter Kit is required to install USA 2006 Domestic with Pathfinder, USA 2006 Asian with Pathfinder, USA 2005 European with Pathfinder, Heavy-Duty Standard and InfoTech 2006.

Power Probe 3 features

I have a Power Probe 1 and I have been looking at the Power Probe 3. What are some of the features the 3 has that my original Power Probe 1 does not?

The Power Probe 3 comes equipped with a flashlight to help give you visibility in hard to see areas or darkness. One of the biggest features is the built in digital multimeter and short circuit indicator. Now you won't need a digital multimeter used in conjunction with your Power Probe. You can check out more detailed information on the product page or read the latest article we posted on the Power Probe 3.

Antifreeze Recycling Equipment and Old Coolant

Can old antifreeze really be recycled and used again in your car's coolant system? A friend of mine claims it is good as new after antifreeze recycling equipment. I would never reuse motor oil in my engine and seems like the same theory would apply to antifreeze. What is the story?

Antifreeze recycling equipment is used in state of the art auto shops to recover coolant from automobile and recycle it to a "like new" condition. I understand your reservation about using recycled antifreeze and the fear of it possibly damaging your radiator or engine. However, this is not the case. The reason has to do with the properties of ethylene glycol which is the main ingredient in antifreeze. The ethylene glycol will not wear out. Its the additives and dirt and grime build up that require you to flush your radiator and replace the antifreeze. Modern antifreeze recycling equipment separate the ethylene glycol from the additives and filter out the dirt and grime. Then new additives are mixed into the still good ethylene glycol and reintroduced into your car's coolant. The new antifreeze will last 2 years or 30,000 miles.

Orbital Air Sander or Belt Sander?

I am a "shade tree" mechanic and I have been working on my old 1986 Bronco II for awhile now. I have the old girl running in tip top shape but I want to repaint it so it looks like it did in '86. I need to remove the old paint and all I have is a belt sander. Will this work or do I need a different type of sander?

A belt sander is really not the right type of sander for the application you are describing. A belt sander can damage the metal and will not do a smooth enough job to get the results you are looking for. I would recommend using an orbital air sander for this particular job. The reason is an orbital air sander will move in a random and a circular motion. This will result in a much smoother sanding job over a larger area. An orbital air sander can also be fitting with different grades of sand paper for different phases of the painting process and you use it as buffer after the paint has dried.

Can an Infrared Thermometer measure through glass?

I work for a local police department and we need an instrument that can measure the inside temperature of a parked car without actually getting into the car. We need this for our animal control officer, so he can determine if the inside temperature of the car is dangerous for an animal locked inside the car. It would be great to able to get a quick reading before we break out a window.

Infrared thermometers are great diagnostic tools but they do have their limitations. An infrared thermometer measures surface temperature on the object your are pointing the infrared beam onto. The infrared thermometer cannot penetrate glass and give an interior temperature reading of a car. Even if you aim the beam on the roof it will only be giving you a reading of the surface temperature of the metal surface. The only way to get an accurate reading is to insert a thermometer directly into the car.

Robinair A/C Machine that is SAE J2788 Compliant

I have heard from co workers and other auto shops that there is new more stringent standard coming on refrigerant recovery. I am considering purchasing a new Robinair A/C machine and I want to make sure I get a unit that will be compliant. Can you tell me more about what the new standard is and what type of refrigerant recovery system I should get?

You are exactly right about the new refrigerant recovery efficiency coming down the road. The EPA is requiring recovery efficiency to increase from 75% to a mandatory 95%. The new standard is the SAE J2788 spec. This new spec first showed up in 2006 and will become mandatory by the end of 2007. However, older units already in service at automotive air conditioning shops will be "grandfathered". By the middle of 2008, sales of the order units ( like the Robinair 34700) will be illegal. So we would recommend purchasing the new Robinair 34788 A/C machine for your auto shop. It is already on the market and has the same features as the 34700 with some added functions as well.