2014/02/13

Ingersoll Rand Air Compressor Parts Provide Unmatched Value

Even the best air compressors need to undergo minor repairs and overhauls once in a few months. This is important in order to maintain the peak performance of your compressors and to keep process efficiencies at the desired levels. Procuring these parts from the right source is paramount and by partnering with a reputable distributor, you can be assured of being supplied the very best replacement parts. If you own an Ingersoll Rand, then you would need to make use of Ingersoll Rand air compressor parts. This respected name brand manufactures high quality parts that will outlast other comparable parts available on the market.
In fact, even if you don't own an Ingersoll Rand (IR), you can benefit from the use of original IR parts that can fit into other OEM brand compressors.
Finding a distributor that keeps a ready inventory of Ingersoll Rand air compressor parts and lubricants for your non-IR compressors is half the battle won.
These original parts can be seamlessly installed in compressors manufactured by name brands such as Atlas Copco, Quincy, Gardner Denver, Sullair, CompAir and many others. When selecting parts, be careful to specify the exact technology that drives your compressors. The various technologies include: rotary screw compressor, rotary vane compressor, reciprocating compressor, and centrifugal compressor.
Here are some other benefits of opting for Ingersoll Rand air compressor parts:
  • Proven performance: These parts are known to withstand harsh working environments without a drop in efficiency levels. The after-sales service of such parts is also better than industry standards.

  • No compromise on quality: All the parts under the IR brand name are known for their impeccable quality. From regular parts to performance parts, every component is manufactured in keeping with the highest industry codes. The parts manufactured for compatible use with other name brands are also subjected to a number of test to ensure that these parts operate in perfect harmony with other compressor makes. In short, you can buy parts that will seamlessly integrate with other name brands.

  • One-stop source: If you own multiple brands of air compressors, you don't need to visit suppliers of each of these brands. Contacting a supplier that carries air compressor parts will suffice. The parts come with a warranty, making your part procurement process even more hassle-free. And, it is also possible to avail extended warranties if you so wish.
So, no matter which name brand features on your compressor, you can opt for Ingersoll Rand air compressor parts as a single solution. Several leading distributors that have an online presence can be contacted for this purpose.

2014/02/12

Choosing A Guitar or Bass Tuner

If you've got a guitar then there's no ifs or buts, it's got to be in tune - and it needs to be tuned regularly. The choices are few. You either tune it by ear using a pitch pipe or some other pitch reference, or you buy an electronic guitar tuner. These can be pretty inexpensive devices so affordability isn't usually an issue. Deciding which one on the other hand, is. The truth is, most of the cheap ones do a good job. All you really need to know are some of the limitations and differences between them. Let's start with the most common, the typical tuner.
The Typical Guitar Tuner
These are the most common tuners of all. Portable / compact is a term often used to describe them but they don't have a specific name type. What I refer to as a typical guitar tuner is the little stand alone ones with a needle or digital display, including a built in mic and a line in jack. Something like the Korg GA-30 would be a good example. The main thing about these tuners is the option of using the built in mic or plugging the guitar straight into it.
They are simple to use but many of them do have a common problem. When using the built in mic they aren't always as accurate or reliable as plugging the guitar in directly. This is actually the most common complaint with guitar tuners. They work fine on the high strings but on the Low E and sometimes the low A string, they can have trouble detecting the pitch properly. If you look at the reviews you will find this same complaint with many makes and model of guitar tuner. Unfortunately it's a matter of you get what you pay for, although even some expensive ones can have this problem. So what do you do?
The experienced guitarist has been aware of this glitch for many years and in all honesty it isn't much of a problem. A lot of tuners with this problem work just fine when you plug the guitar in directly to the tuner. This issue happens mostly with the built in mic and one way around it is to try experimenting with the placement, bring the tuner closer to the sound hole or trying it further along the neck sometimes works. The easiest and most reliable way around it is to simply tune the guitar using a fretted note or a harmonic. So in other words, tune the open E string at the fifth fret and tune the string to an A instead. If that doesn't work then try tuning to an E at the twelfth fret or use the harmonic. Problem solved!
Clip On Tuners
Clip on tuners are a bit more than just cool looking gadgets. You see these little things clipped on to the headstock of an acoustic guitar. There's actually a reason you might want one of these over the compact tuner. They work by picking up vibration in the guitar neck. Why would that matter? Because it means you can tune an acoustic guitar in a noisy environment. If you've ever been in a band then you already know it's impossible to shut up the drummer and bass player! This is what makes the clip on so useful. Plus let's face it, they look cool!
Stage Tuners
The stage tuner is pretty much what it says, it's for using on stage. The main difference with these is they are built tougher and should have a bright fairly large display so that you can still use it on a dimly lit stage. Also because most guitar / bass players play standing, with the tuner sitting on the floor you need to be able to see the display easily without bending down. The stage tuner has one other very important difference. They can be muted. The foot pedal isn't just an on off switch. When pedal is pressed and the tuner turned on, it mutes the output so that you can tune your guitar without driving the audience or other band members mad. Most of them have the option to work in mute or bypass mode, often with a choice of two output jacks. Just choose your favourite mode, silence or annoy all!
Bass Tuners
Most guitar tuners will claim to tune both bass and guitar. The truth is, you can tune pretty much any instrument with any tuner. The drawback only lies in it's ability to detect lower pitches, obviously making this a bigger problem for bass players than guitarists. Just like mentioned above, this can always be gotten around by tuning the harmonic, fifth or twelfth fret. This might be a bit more annoying for a bass guitar because slight discrepancies in intonation are more noticeable on a bass. If you are fairly experienced then this isn't likely to be much of a problem but it does make more sense to buy a more expensive tuner with a good reputation for tuning a bass.
Chromatic Tuners
Lastly a word on chromatic tuners. Not all guitar tuners are chromatic. It might not matter to you if you are a beginner but in all honesty, all tuners should be chromatic. If you are desperate for simplicity and want the tuner to tell you the note names relating to the string you are tuning then the non chromatic might not be a terrible choice. For anything else, you should avoid them. There are two things that cannot be done on a standard non chromatic guitar tuner. You cannot check intonation and you can't easily use it to tune the guitar to a non standard tuning. This mostly applies to cheap guitar tuners. The more expensive chromatic tuners give you the option to use in guitar mode or chromatic. Failing that, buy a chromatic tuner and just learn what the notes are on the guitar!

2014/02/11

Boss Guitar Tuner Pedal

I've always been a bit of an effects head when it came to my guitar set-up but there's one pedal that I couldn't do without: my BOSS TU-2 chromatic tuner.
So you'll understand how excited I was when the my new BOSS TU-3 arrive in the mail today. I'd like to run down the specs for any other tech- and gear-nerds out there:
* The 21-segment LED meter with brightness control -- there is also a High-Brightness mode that enhances meter visibility for outdoor settings, cutting through the harshest of outdoor glares and allowing the user to see the LED display even under direct light.
* The 'Accu-Pitch Sign' function provides a visual verification for the user when the tuning is complete.
* The Chromatic and Guitar/Bass mode allows the user to tune up by the string number, now with the added support for 7-string guitars and 6-string basses.
* Flat tuning is supported with something very handy indeed called the 'Guitar Flat' mode. Essentially, this little number allows the user to utilize flat tunings or 'drop tunings' for up to six semitones below standard pitch. Whoa!
* As per usual, along with the bypass mode, the BOSS TU-3 Tuner will automatically mute whenever the tuner is stomped on. No one wants to hear you tune up through the stage PA!
* And finally, this pedal supplies power for up to 7 other BOSS compact effect pedals. Sweet action for all us noise makers out there.
There's a reason why the Boss TU-2 is the world's most popular stage tuner: simple, durable, tank-tough technology. Now, with the heir to the TU-2's throne on the market, the BOSS TU-3, there is no doubt in my mind that this successor will rightfully take its place as the new industry standard for on-stage bass and guitar tuners.

2014/02/10

Keyboard and Guitar Amplifier - A Beginner's Guide

Learning to play a musical instrument can be an extremely rewarding experience and can bring you years of satisfaction. Even though many people start learning to play an instrument when they are young, there is absolutely no age restriction. There are numerous professional musicians who hadn't even picked one up till they were much older. There is a wide variety of options when it comes to musical instruments, and each has its own unique characteristic and sounds.
The guitar and the keyboard are two of the most popular musical instruments in the world. After you have learned the basics, you will move on to more advanced things; one of them being the proper use of an amplifier.
Amplifiers are used to strengthen the sound produced by a particular instrument. This is particularly useful for professional musicians who work as composers or are part of a band since it helps bring out a specific tune. There is a wide variety of keyboard and guitar amplifiers available in the market and each of them has their own specific functions. For example, some amplifiers are suited for heavy metal music while others may be more suited to softer tunes.
As a beginner, you must be very confused when it comes to picking the right one for you. Here are some tips to help you pick out one that will be ideal for you, till you are skilled enough to move on to better models.
It is always a good idea to go for the most basic amp that you can get. That way, you won't be confused by the myriad of knobs and keys, and will be able to concentrate on exactly what you want. If you are buying the instrument and the amp together, this will help you save money, which you can then use to get a better guitar or keyboard. Apart from basic controls such as volume, bass and treble, look for other options such as gain control and reverb. As you figure out what sort of sound you are looking for, you can get a better model later on. You can also add additional effects using various pieces of software.
Look for keyboard and guitar amplifiers which have at least two inputs. Two inputs allow you to add another instrument instead of using just one. Most small amps have this feature. For a bit more money, you can get a model which has separate channels for both the inputs. This will allow you to independently control the volume and other effects. With two inputs, you can easily have jam sessions with a friend. Select a keyboard and guitar amplifier that is small enough for you to carry to different places without much effort.
While buying your first keyboard and guitar amplifier, it is best to avoid thinking about resale value. There are a number of factors you need to consider while buying a professional-grade amp and you can only get there by practicing on smaller models. Also remember to do proper research in order to ensure that the model you are buying is of good quality.

2014/02/09

What to Look for When Shopping for a Portable Air Compressor

The first thing you must do is write down every one of the tools that are going to be operated together. Next, you will need to work out the compressed air consumption frequency and the volume of compressed air the tools will pull from the compressor storage tank. If this all sounds very confusing please don't stress it is all revealed within this article.
Locating the perfect air compressor which will deal with the sort of jobs that you will be undertaking is often quite a tricky process. Having said that, with some standard information with respect to the way air compressors work, the terminology employed in the compressor market along with the difference between the sorts of compressors, it starts to get a whole lot easier to choose the top compressor for ones particular requirements.

Technological terms:
Being Familiar With all of the compressor technical terminology is critical when making your compressor purchase decision. Despite the fact that the quantity of compressor types is often overwhelming, selecting the right unit can be made easy by asking a few essential questions.

Performance Ratings:
Matching an air tool or tools Standard cubic feet per minute and PSI demands to an air compressors output capacity is vital. Standard cubic feet per minute or SCFM is the rate of how much air the compressor can produce in just a minute. All tools which are powered by using a compressor come with a SCFM value; this value will point out the air supply that is compulsory for optimum operation of the tool. Therefore, check the standard cubic feet per minute at 90 psi when matching your air compressor SCFM ratings.

Normal standard cubic feet per minute consumption
Air Filter Cleaner: 3
Air Hammer, light: 4
Air Hammer, heavy: 22
Air Hoist, 1000 lb: 5
Air Motor - 0.5 hp: 6 - 10
Air Motor - 1 hp: 12 - 15
The standard cubic feet per minute consumption of air tools can vary from tool to tool, several tools only have to use 1 or 2 SCFM whilst others will need 10 - 14 standard cubic feet per minute.
If you think there is the possibility that you'll operate multiple tools at the same time, then it is evident that you're going to really want way more power. In such a case, determine the lowest SCFM rate for your compressor by adding together the cumulative SCFM specifications for the equipment you will be operating simultaneously. To give a bit of a buffer to the calculations you will need to add an additional fifty percent on to the final number.
Air tool 1 = 2.0 SCFM + Air tool 2 = 1.0 SCFM add these together and the total is 3.0 SCFM, add the 50% buffer and we have a total of 4.5 SCFM (standard Cubic Feet Per Minute), and as a result you would be trying to locate a compressor with an SCFM rating of over 4.5 SCFM.
The smallest SCFM compressor rating can be determined by adding together the SCFM ratings of any compressed air tools which will be used at the same time. In the case when a single air tool is to be operated alone then you must go with the SCFM of the highest rated air tool.

Power:
Electric operated compressors commonly are powered by a typical 110-120V power supply. Although, air compressors that have a motor unit of more than 2 HP may have to have a 220-240V power supply. If you plan to work with your air compressor in a workshop, garage or any other confined place, you need an electric powered compressor.
Petrol operated air compressors do not rely upon electrical energy so therefore they are truly mobile. Though, there are numerous negatives with the gas powered compressors. The most important disadvantage is the fact that the petrol driven air compressors produce harmful gases and as such shouldn't be run inside or even in any kind of confined work area. One another downside of these compressors is they need much more repairs and maintenance than their electric run counterparts.

Decibel Levels of a typical compressor:
Sound output is an important factor when purchasing an air compressor. Air compressors come with a sound levels listing within the makers specifications and if you are generally operating the device inside the house or in a small workshop you might want to decide upon a quiet machine instead of risking damage to your hearing by using a deafening air compressor. So you should find out the noise level before buying.

2014/02/07

Fulltone Effects Pedals - An Introduction

These days, it seems like so-called "boutique" effects pedal manufacturers are a dime a dozen.  Not too long ago, however, handmade effects pedals were few and far between, until Mike Fuller founded Fulltone Custom Effects.  A former studio musician and one-time award winning blues guitarist, Mike Fuller almost single-handedly started the high-end pedal business and still offers a variety of pedals at a price that undercuts the competition. Despite the company's success, Fulltone still makes every pedal by hand they all bear the signature of their founder.
The company's flagship product is still the Fulldrive, which even in its current manifestation (the Fulldrive 2 Mosfet) still owes its basic feel to the hot-rodded TS808 sounds that Fulltone popularized years ago. Since that time, however, Fulltone has added a variety of distortion and overdrive colors to their pedal-palette. Both the OCD and GT-500 take the company's product line in exciting new directions.
Rather than offering fanciful "pedals of the week," Fulltone offers pedals that focus on classic rock and blues tones, such as the Deja-Vibe, the Supa-Trem, and the Ultimate Octave. The Fulltone Clyde Wah graces the pedalboards of studio musicians and performing professionals from California to New York. Recently, Fulltone has also begun manufacturing a modern alternative to the time-honored Echoplex tape echo with numerous contemporary upgrades (quiet motors, handwired, stereo outs, nickel plated stainless steel parts).
All Fulltone pedals share the same high commitment to quality and customer service.  All pedals contain true bypass switching courtesy of Fulltone's own 3PDT quality bypass switching. Overengineered to stand the rigors of the studio and the road, Fulltone effects pedals are the very definition of American craftsmanship.
From David Grissom to Eric Johnson, guitar professionals again and again choose Fulltone for their sound-sculpting needs.

2014/02/06

Features Of A Quality Portable Air Compressor

Portable air compressors are being used everywhere to drive pneumatic tools and to inflate certain objects like vehicle tires, air bags and so on. These compressors find use in industries as well as in domestic sectors as well.
When it comes to using an air compressor, the first thing that needs to be considered is the requirement. If you just wish to inflate air bags, portable swimming pools or your vehicle tires at home, then choosing a low powered air compressor is advised; but, for heavy uses and running a lot of pneumatic tools you will require a heavier and more powerful portable air compressor in order for it to be effective. There are many features of a quality portable air compressor which need to be considered before purchasing one for your use.
Motor Type
The air compressor runs on a motor which can take power from one of the many available sources. Some of the common motors include gas-powered motors, diesel-powered motors and electric-powered motors. Based on your location of work and availability of fuels, you can go for the motor type that suits you best. For indoor uses where power supply is easily available it is advised to purchase an electric-powered motor; but, if you need to carry your compressor to the open areas where finding an electric source is not easy, then you can go for a diesel or gas-powered motor. The choice of fuel also depends on the cost of the fuel in your area. Try to always purchase the cheapest and most convenient fuel for your portable air compressor.
Power
Power is the most important feature of the portable air compressor. You need to select a model that can handle the amount of work you want to do with it or you will find it running short of air before the job is complete. The efficiency of a compressor is directly proportional to its power, and for heavier tasks, it is always recommended to use powerful compressors. You need to accurately determine the work load and in accordance with that workload, choose your machine. For household uses and small pneumatic machines, you can purchase a low powered device which will do what is necessary and also save on fuel. On the other hand, if you require the compressor for some commercial or industrial use, then you will need to buy a powerful model which can handle the heavy workload. Using the wrong device can lead to accidents and machine failures which will result in losses for you.
Thus, before you go for a portable compressor it is highly recommended that you properly assess your needs and then decide on the motor type and power that is required by you. Taking expert advice before actually buying a portable air compressor would be a good idea. Choosing the wrong type of compressor will eventually lead to losses. To save yourself from unnecessary hassle and to avoid a waste of money, these features of a portable sir compressor should always be decided upon before going out in the market to make a purchase.