If it's a _really_ big race, there's often someone at the track who can
refill/replace the bottle, so running out is no big deal.
I also think the 3 hour run time requirement is high -- at a leisurely
10 seconds to run a fastener in and out (5 seconds each way) you could
dismantle 1080 fasteners (180 minutes * 6 fasteners per minute) in that
much time. Including head studs and main caps (assuming you run those
in with an impact wrench <g>) there aren't 1080 threaded fasteners on
most racecars. IOW, a normal size nitrogen bottle really will last a
long time.
And if you do go the nitrogen route, make sure you have some kind of
regulator/valve protector in case you ever knock the bottle over by
pulling the air hose too far, or else lash the bottle to something
sturdy.
-----Original Message-----
> For instance, let's say I go to nationals and manage to break
> something reasonably major at the Pro... Will a nitrogen bottle run
> air impacts & ratchets & blow guns for say 3 hours of usage (obviously
> the 3 hours would be spread out over a few days...)?
Hmmm, typical impact uses maybe 4 cfm @ 7 atmospheres (90 psi gage), so
3 hours would be 3*60*4*7 = 5040 scf. A little web surfing turns up
that a common "type 49" nitrogen cylinder contains 304 scf. Even
ignoring the "tare" gas left in the cylinder when it's pressure drops to
90psi, you're sure going to need a lot of them ...
Randall
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