Experts like Tommy Pike, founder of Tommy Pike Customs and star of Custom Carolina, know when you’re growing a business, the work never slows down. From collision bodywork to rig customizations and everything in between, you need to move fast and effectively to get customers back on the road and keep them happy. Check out how Tommy Pike outfitted his shop with compressed air products to get the job done faster and more efficiently:
As Tommy knows, one of the best ways to increase the efficiency of your shop is to upgrade to pneumatic tools such as spray guns, sanders, ratchets, and air hammers powered by compressed air. Here’s a guide on how to get the most out of your shop using compressed air.
Right-Size Your Compressed Air Needs
A home garage shop requires a different-sized air compressor than a collision center, but it can be tough to know where to begin. To better understand exactly what your shop needs, use an online tool to draw out your unique building size and compressed air needs; the output is a comprehensive list of everything you need to bring it to life.
Avoid Antiquated Compressed Air Piping
One of the most important considerations when introducing compressed air into your shop is the piping infrastructure that carries the air from the compressor to the tool at the end of the line. Historically, there were only two main types of pipe to get air from A to B: black iron pipe and copper pipe.
Both have pros and cons: Black iron pipe was the cheapest material, but prone to corrosion and difficult to modify after installation. Copper pipe is corrosion-resistant, but is expensive and requires extra manpower. Both methods require cumbersome installation resulting in shop downtime.
A clear winner, aluminum piping is less expensive, corrosion-resistant, and takes a fraction of the time to install, even for first-time installers. Additionally, aluminum pipe comes in rigid and semi-flexible varieties great for navigating fully outfitted shops.
Air-Powered Tools Where and When You Need Them
Compressed air tools are only efficient if they’re where you need them to be. Walking across the shop to pick up a compressed air line and drag it back to your workstation is inefficient and risks line puncture due to sharp objects on the shop floor. To get the most out of your compressed air setup, position high quality air hose reels, quick-connect safety couplings, and other access points for your air tools strategically throughout your shop.
One Provider for All Your Compressed Air Needs
RapidAir provides single-source solutions used by real-world experts like Tommy Pike. Backed by the support of a world class customer service and technical support team, you can effortlessly get quotes, meet specifications, design and install your compressed air systems exactly how you want them. Increase your shop's efficiency, simplify your compressed air sourcing and streamline operations by getting your RapidAir quote today.
