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Frequently Asked Questions & Frequently Made Statements The Hydraulic AdvantageHydraulic tools get too hot. Not our tools. The fact is, improperly designed hydraulic systems create heat. Tools don't create much heat. Simply put, good hydraulic tool circuits enable good hydraulic tool performance. Still skeptical? Take the HIPPO challenge: We'll hook up YOUR tools to OUR powerpacks, and let you see - and feel - for yourself! What if I spring a leak in my hydraulic hose? First, the likelihood of a hose bursting is very, very small. Something else would break (pump, PTO) before a hose would burst. Second, even if you did have a leak, (from a loose fitting or worn-out seal), all you'd have is a leak. No different than if your diesel tank leaks, or if the hydraulics on your snowplow/hoist/skid-steer/loader/etc leaks. And if you're worried about the environmental impact, you can buy non-toxic, non-petroluem based, environmentally friendly hydraulic oil that doesn't even get reported on "leaks" smaller than 50-gallons! Additionally, you're right to be worried about oil. Which is exactly why you shouldn't use any pneumatic tool in a confined space application. Hydraulic tools don't produce any exhaust-air creating noise, dust or breathing problems. Like Silicosis, otherwise known as pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis - The longest word in the English language! If you're oiling your tools properly - and we know you are - then what do you think is being sprayed into the air, each time the tool vents its exhaust? If you guessed, "Really tiny, airborne droplets of oil that like to float around until somebody breathes them into their lungs", then you guessed right! (Call 1-800-844-0624 to redeem your prize) Hydraulic tools don't hit as hard Nothing could be further from the truth. But before we "wow" you with the facts of the matter, consider this: When was the last time you saw a dump truck with a pneumatic hoist? What about the lift cylinders on your wheel-loader? Are they hydraulic, or pneumatic? How about the lift cylinders on your skid steer? Your backhoe? Starting to get the picture? There's a reason you don't see pneumatic power being used in these applications: Power! No other medium transmits input power into output power as efficiently as hydraulics. And the reason for that is, oil doesn't compress like air does. If you apply pressure to air, it will compress. If you apply pressure to oil, it wants to go somewhere! The best air tools on the market, the day you take them out of box, might be 30% efficient. That is, the tool is able to utilize 30% of its input power to actually perform work. If you send 10HP to an air tool, you have about 3HP available to do work. Compare that to hydraulic tools: The average hydraulic tool (after many hours of use) is 85% efficient. If you put 10HP into the tool, you have about 8.5 available for work. The rule of thumb is, 3:1 Hydraulic tools are 3 times more efficient than air tools. (We like pneumatic tools too...remember, our units have hydraulic AND air, so we give you the ability to use whatever tool you want.) But in regards to the power of hydraulic tools, the verdict is in: They simply are more powerful. It's just physics. Will hydraulic tools operate in freezing temperatures, when our air tools freeze up? Yes. Air contains moisture, therefore, air tools contain moisture, and when the temperature drops below 32-degrees F, moisture (water) turns into ice, freezing up tools. Not so with hydraulic tools. The pour point (the lowest temperature at which an oil will flow) for oil doesn't factor in until it gets really cold, (about 30-40 below) or about 60-70 degrees below the point where water freezes. How long will hydraulic tools last? Years. Assuming there isn't deliberate & intentional abuse & neglect, they'll last years. Our shop is just a few miles away from the City of Kansas City, MO (KCMO) KCMO is the largest municipal user of hydraulic tools in the country! More than New York. More than Chicago. More than Los Angeles. More than anybody! KCMO knows hydraulic tools, and they know how long they last. We've heard of ~ we've seen ~ hydraulic tools that are 15+ years old! "Why", you ask? Good question. There are a couple of reasons, but the primary one is this: Hydraulic tools are sealed from the environment. They are designed to keep the oil in, and everything else out. A nice little bonus is that since the oil is always inside the tool, the inside of the tool is always being oiled! You can't forget to oil your tools with hydraulic tools! Hydraulics vs. Pneumatics  (Download
the Comparison) |
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Phone: 816-474-2034 Fax: 816-474-7447 Toll Free: 800-844-0624