Air wet polishers

[Leeworthy]

Hey all. First time posting here. I am a fabricator for a local granite shop in Ontario Canada. We currently use Makita polishers in the shop for our wet/dry polishing. 4 pads dry last 4 wet. We are looking to switch over to a few air wet polishers. Research shows me the Barranca 2321 WR sea to be a good fit for quality and longevity.

My question is mainly with CFM. We currently have an Iron Horse 80gal 7hp compressor in the shop. It's max CFM at 90psi is 16. The Barranca requires 16CFM to
Operate. Only one guy at a time maybe the odd time 2 will be using the polishers. Will this compressor suffice or should I be looking at a different polisher for our needs. I see the Diarex is 8cfm.

Any assistance would be great.

Thanks

Dave.

[Stonecuttter]

I have used TONS of different pneumatic polishers, but like the Alpha best. thers have the numbers you are seeking. I am merely seeking the polisher in order to craft beauty.

[Mark Meriaux]

CFM directly correlates to Hp. A good rule of thumb if 5hp per polisher. Most polishers average 15cfm. Your compressor will struggle with one polisher. The 8cfm polishers typically are the ones with side exhaust where the air is constantly blowing on your hand (it gets very cold). The Barranca and Alpha polishers (15cfm) both have rear exhaust. They are quieter and the air isn't blowing constantly on your hands. I've used the side exhaust (8cfm) polishers, but prefer to use Alpha or Barranca.

In addition to considering the 8cfm polisher, I strongly suggest looking at additional or larger compressors (even for a single polisher).

[Todd Luster]

CFM directly correlates to Hp. A good rule of thumb if 5hp per polisher. Most polishers average 15cfm. Your compressor will struggle with one polisher. The 8cfm polishers typically are the ones with side exhaust where the air is constantly blowing on your hand (it gets very cold). The Barranca and Alpha polishers (15cfm) both have rear exhaust. They are quieter and the air isn't blowing constantly on your hands. I've used the side exhaust (8cfm) polishers, but prefer to use Alpha or Barranca.

In addition to considering the 8cfm polisher, I strongly suggest looking at additional or larger compressors (even for a single polisher).

Look for a bigger air compressor.
You will consume lots of money with electric polishers and dry pads with nothing to show other than a pile of broken tools.

[graffster]

Bigger air more like a screw compressor, we used to run those elc. water grinders maybe last 2-3 months and are heavy compared to air polisher.

[Leeworthy]

So long term the air polishers and a new compressor are going to pay off then? I'll talk to some reps on Monday and see what they have to offer.

Thanks for the info

[Todd Luster]

I wasted enough in electric polishers to buy 2air set ups by the time I ended up finally getting it.

[BReynolds]

If your current compressor is in good shape I would just look into adding another small compressor (10hp) it would be cheaper and if one ever breaks down you still have one running to keep production on track. This set up should be plenty fine to run 1 or 2 polishers.

[GuyboR]

I will be having a 15hp Ingersal Rand variable speed screw compressor for sale within the next 30 days. We upgraded to a 25hp and are having the 15hp serviced so we can sell it. Keep an eye out for it if you are interested.....enough of the sales plug.


Long term....I agree with the others. Get a larger air compressor and get away from dry. Wet fabricating is much better in my opinion.

[Curtis R. Marburger]

I would by used air compressor starting out . A screw compressor only has 2 main components , The Screw and electric motor .The beauty of simplicity is either they turn on and work or they don't turn on. When they don't turn on its usually a heater in the electrical circuit .
The next major need in air system is a air dryer if you want any length of time out of your air tools

[Curtis R. Marburger]

and by they way 75,000 yes seventy five thousand hours is just getting broke in for a screw compressor some replace them in critical applications around them hours or our up grading to more CFM . most shops keep accurate records with their screw compressors . regular maintenance is very important. Compressed air is one of the most expensive forms of energy there is

[Antonio Almonte]

Yup to what all the guys had said.

Also, look into looping your airlines so your tools get constant air. The loop also acts like a reservoir.

[Leeworthy]

Okay great. On this topic. You say wet polishing and no dry pads is better? So instead if doing my first 4 (50,100,200,400) dry just do them in wet and continue on with my 800,1200,300 and then buff? Any recommendations on pads? We use a variety right now. Some better than others but finding we are only getting 3-5 kitchens per set

[luke getz]

lee, we have been using a 5hp compressor for the last 3 years, and it runs one polisher fine, but if we do 2 then it cannot keep up, so one guy uses makita electric polishers, and they last about 5 weeks on average ( we try to blow them out and keep them clean, but they still dont last long) so we are spending about $3000 a year on electric polishers. that can make a pretty good dent in getting an air setup that will handle more polishers. even without a dryer on our current setup, the air polishers last about 6 months to a year. when we get a screw compressor, I will have a dryer, so they should last even longer. I plan on keeping the recip compressor as a backup/additional capacity with our new setup.

[VThartzog]

If you are set up to polish wet, then polish everything wet. Better for you and your employees lungs. We all have different pads we use, but we like Viper Elites from Braxton Bragg with Alpha Buff pads.

[Curtis R. Marburger]

We had an Industrial 5 hp Compressor a Saylor Beal with an extra storage tank when set to continual run with heavy duty fan blowing on it to keep it cool we could run 2 air polishers

[VThartzog]

If you decide to upgrade to bigger machinery(cnc saw, cnc router) they will have air requirements as well. Most here would say over estimate your air requirements if that is the long term plan...

[Haness1]

Try the Weha polisher. Just received one and the guys love it, switching out as the other brands fail. Better handle system and has a grease fitting in the head to allow for regular greasing for longer life....best of all price is significantly less than the other brands.

[BrentP]

We switched to the Barranca last year and it's been our favorite so far.

[clhilde]

Try the Weha polisher. Just received one and the guys love it, switching out as the other brands fail. Better handle system and has a grease fitting in the head to allow for regular greasing for longer life....best of all price is significantly less than the other brands.

I just got one as well. Guys like it so far.
Had Nikons last. They lasted a couple years

[graniteman]

We switched to the Barranca last year and it's been our favorite so far.

X2 They cost a lot up front but we were spending a lot of time switch out the cheap ones. I think we have only had one go bad in the last 1.5 years.

[Andy Ross]

I use Barrancas as well. Best part is our local electric motor repair guy can fix them for me. No more 3 week waits.