Recent studies by several research firms is confirming what many Americans in the Midwest have already come to know: that the continued development of domestic natural gas is leading to an economic revival. It is creating a ripple effect, creating more jobs, saving households money on energy bills and creating more business in the manufacturing sector. We have seen an increase in our business. Continue reading Natural gas is leading to an economic revival
Category: Standard Tools and Equipment
Introducing the Sure-Cure Air Makeup Unit from Standard Tools and Equipment Co.
We have always been the innovative type; it’s kind of a given if you’re in the manufacturing business. In today’s market, businesses must adapt and change to endure. Through Standard Tools and Equipment Co, Tools USA (since 1979) and Eagle Equipment (since 1953), have continued to grow and expand, remaining a leader in the industry.
Have you ever found a product and it was so genius and so simple, you thought to yourself, “Why didn’t I think of this?”
We find that our most successful endeavors come from looking around the industry that we know best and noticing that we can create something better than anyone else out there. For us, that’s exactly how Standard Tools and Equipment began making paint booths in 1997. We noticed a need, we heard customer after customer asking and we had all the right elements to make a better booth ourselves. Since then, we have become an industry leader in paint booth systems. We use our knowledge and experience to develop unsurpassed products for our customers.
We are proud to introduce you to our latest successful adventure, the Sure-Cure® Air Makeup Unit.
We started developing plans for our own air makeup unit in 2011. This plan came from a couple apparent needs:
- There was a great need in the market for a safe and reliable unit that had all the bells and whistles included in the marketed price.
- Customers were fed up with the lengthy wait times that were currently associated with Air Makeup Units. They didn’t understand how we could design, customize, build and ship a paint booth in less than 10 days but they had to wait months, for their air makeup unit. We didn’t understand it either.
- We researched and decided that we could make them ourselves. We would do it better, safer and quicker. After all, we are a leading paint booth manufacturer and we know what it takes to heat a booth properly. It only made sense to build them ourselves. Continue reading Introducing the Sure-Cure Air Makeup Unit from Standard Tools and Equipment Co.
TAKE A LOAD OFF! Unloading Your Equipment.
Sometimes that’s easier said then done. In this case, it doesn’t have to be difficult; it just requires a little pre-planning on your part. To help you, our customers, avoid issues when your equipment is delivered, here are some things you need to know and prepare for.
Some folks don’t realize that when they order a piece of equipment, that they are responsible for getting their equipment off of the truck when it’s delivered. (Yes, you will need to have a plan for how to get it off that truck). Freight carriers will not off-load the equipment for you.
To help, we can order you a lift gate that will bring your equipment to the ground for easier transport. Usually, this is the most helpful on shipments containing tire equipment. We need to know at the time of order that you would like to have a lift gate added to your freight details, as freight trucks do not always come with them and we want to make sure your equipment gets put on the truck with a lift gate! Note: Even with a lift gate, you are still responsible for getting it off the lift gate and into your shop.
Most equipment requires a forklift, wrecker or roll back to off-load equipment because of the weight and dimensions of the shipment. Our lifts weigh 1500 lbs + and are 10’ or more in length. Our paint booths are packaged in crates. Many of these will not fit on a lift gate due to the dimensions on the crate (many of the crates are 6’ H x 10’ L and 4’ W).
Watch a video on how you can unload your lift if you have a roll back.
Watch a video on how you can unload your paint booth if you have a roll back.
We give you these details when you place your order as well as when we call you with your shipping confirmation. We are eager to help you, just give our customer service department a call at 888-312-7488.
You Want to Ship a Paint Booth Where? International Paint Booth Shipping.
Did you know that there is a Standard Tools and Equipment paint booth on a number of continents around the world? That’s right! We ship internationally all of our paint booth systems. To US military bases and businesses to the North, South and overseas through freight forwarding services. Our ability to customize booths, manufacture quality booths in a quick turnaround gets us a lot of attention, from all over. Fortunately for our customers, we make it easy to order from us, no matter where they live.
* We help with documents needed to get through customs.
* We handle all the paper work for your broker.
We sell a lot of booths into Canada. On all paint booth orders for Canada, we prepare the commercial invoice and NAFTA certificate the day the order goes into production.
We then email you the documents and request your broker’s information, if not already provided. Courier companies use customs’ brokers for packages processed through Canada customs at the Canadian border. Fees for that service will be passed along to you.
Using a broker will help your package get through customs quickly and easily. To find a broker, we recommend asking a neighbor or friend who may have ordered products from the U.S. for a recommendation. A lot of our customers use Livingston International Inc. You can contact them at 1-800-837-1063.
We prepare a sheet with your broker info and include it with the paperwork that goes to the truck driver at pick up. Your broker and the trucking company will handle things from there. The freight quoted is for delivery to your location, but you are responsible for getting the booth unloaded. You are responsible for any fees and taxes incurred.
Don’t let location be a hindrance to getting a great deal on one of our paint booths!
Paint Booths in the Twentieth Century
“You can have any color you want, as long as it’s black.” – Henry Ford
WARNING: Your paint booth may not be as safe as you think!
Have you ever wondered how they painted cars way back when? or if they painted cars? All cars seemed to be black, and I guess I never thought much about when people started painting their cars in body shops. So, I started my online quest to find something from the past in the car painting industry. I found this old photo at www.shorpy.com and I think it’s super cool.
I love the cool old newspaper on the car’s windshield, a very economical way to paint! I couldn’t help but notice all the safety issues, or lack there of! No one is wearing a mask, the light hanging from the ceiling has a loose wire, there isn’t any ventilation and that huge oil puddle on the floor! Oh my! Back then there wasn’t an OSHA checking in on them or regulations to keep workers safe. If you didn’t want to die from paint fumes, you didn’t paint…
Do any of these practices sound familiar? There are still guys out there using Homemade Paint Booths and using their garage. Thank goodness that we have better, smarter and safer ways to paint today! Ask us how you can paint in one of our paint booths in just 7-10 days!
CONVERT YOUR SPRAY BOOTH TO A POWDER COAT BOOTH
Here’s the dilemma. You have a paint spray booth but the cost of painting is too expensive. Higher cost per square foot of coverage, higher labor costs and higher waste management costs.
Do you want to switch to the more cost-effective and durable powder coating finish? Why wouldn’t you? It’s easier to apply, applies in one coat and has a wider range of finishes. Problem is, booths should not be used for both finishes and you can’t afford a whole new booth specifically designed for powder coating.
Although a new powder coat booth is the ideal, we understand sometimes you’ve got to use what you have. Here’s how you can easily convert your spray booth into a powder coat booth.
· Change your filter panels from dry arrestors to two-stage filters.
· Add an after-box to provide third-stage filtration and allow recirculation of exhausted air into the shop.
· Change out your painting equipment (HVLP or similar spray guns) with powder specialized spray equipment that charges the powder during the feeding process to enhance coating.
Lucky for you, Standard Tools has worked with numerous booth owners who have made this change, and we have done this process in our own shop! We can offer all the items you need to convert your current booth into a powder-coating booth…. filter grids, filters, after-filter box and spray equipment.
Not sure if you should use powder coat? It doesn’t work with every finish or every product being coated, but it may be a good answer for your coating process. Call us to discuss your conversion needs. Our Sales team will gladly provide pricing so that you can compare a new powder coat booth with converting the existing spray booth.
Keep Your Paint Booth Safe: The Checklist
To keep your paint booth as safe as possible, there are some simple things you should do to maintain your booth and the safety of those who work in it. To make it easier to remember, try adding all of these items to your calendar based on how often it should occur.
- Clean the booth! It’s no secret that to have a great paint job, you need to work in a clean booth!
– Sweep and/or mop the floors daily to keep dust off freshly painted surfaces.
– Clean the exhaust plenum by sweeping or vacuuming excessive material buildup.
– Sweep or vacuum the outside of the booth every year to remove dirt, dust and spider webs that can be sucked into the booth.
- Clean Filters = Clean Air! Change exhaust filters when the manometer reads 0.5” above the initial differential reading. Note: Exhaust filters should be changed if the material about to be sprayed may react with the materials that have already been sprayed and still remain in the filter. Order your new filter kit now.
– Change intake filters when they appear dirty or every 100 hours of booth usage.
- Inspect elements of your booth. (You want to turn the power to your booth OFF first).
– Every six months, you should check the fan belts for cracks and tension. Much like automotive belts, they can harden or glaze, and begin to slip.
– Light fixtures should not have damaged glass or issues with the wire connections.
– Ensure positive seals on doors, door latches, door hinges, floor sweeps and door gaskets every three months.
– Check caulking between seams every three months and fill any gaps or cracks.
– Inspect ductwork every three months for gaps or excessive buildup.
- Maintain a tidy booth! It is critical that the area inside your booth, and the area surrounding your paint booth is as clean as possible. It needs to be free from excessive materials, especially flammable rags and paper products. It’s a good idea to have at least a 3′ perimeter around the booth in all directions that is clean and maintained.
- Schedule semi-annual inspections on your fire suppression system by contacting your local fire suppression supplier.
- Ongoing training for booth users about safety, cleanliness and incident management that includes fires, explosions, spills and fumes.
- Maintain and replace spray equipment (guns, hoses, filters, dryers) and replace routinely.
- Spray booths should contain no more than one shift of spray material and no materials that will react if mixed.
- Mix rooms should contain less than 120 gallons of material. Materials should be in covered containers.
- Display signage near booth entrances that communicates no smoking, sparks or flames within 20-ft of the booth.
- Contact the experienced team at Standard Tools and Equipment for more helpful tips and information about equipment involved in the finishing process. 1-888-312-7488.
Using a Paint Booth: Guide to a Perfect Paint Job
Have you ever painted something to have it turn out with a less-than-perfect finish? It can be frustrating to have to re-do something until it’s perfect. Here are our reasons why a paint booth will give you a perfect paint job, every time.
Keep little pieces of dirt off your paint! If a job is sprayed in workshop conditions, dust can contaminate the paint. A paint booth can protect your project from dirt, dust, dry patches, and runs in the paint. Paint booths have exhaust systems and filters, which remove atomized spray from the air. This creates a clean and dust free environment. Continue reading Using a Paint Booth: Guide to a Perfect Paint Job
Up, Up and Away
Pop group The 5th Dimension had a hit song in late 1960’s called Up, Up and Away. It was an upbeat, feel-good song that was about riding in a hot-air balloon. It was played over and over on AM radio stations around the country and won a Grammy in 1968.
Today, the idea of “up, up and away” defines the costs of materials. We have all been shocked by recent increases in fuel prices, but steel prices have risen more dramatically in the same timeframe. In 18 months, gas prices rose from $2.50 to $3.50 per gallon… a 40% increase. In the same timeframe, steel prices increased by 65%. This increase can be attributed to the rising fuel costs, increasing global demand and negative influences in supplies. One such negative factor was the torrential rains and flooding in Australia that filled coke mines. This coke is deemed the best in the world for smelting the high-tech steel ores used today. Continue reading Up, Up and Away
ETL Certified
Written by: Andy Turner
Sales Manager, Eagle Equipment
Standard Tools and Equipment, the parent company of Tools USA and Eagle Equipment, proudly bares the ETL Mark on many of our standard paint booths. The ETL Mark is the fastest growing product safety certification mark in North America. A product bearing the ETL Listed Mark is determined to have met the minimum requirements of prescribed product safety standards from Intertek, a third-party testing firm that has been around since the 1880’s and is the leader in spray booth certification. Continue reading ETL Certified