September 5, 2019 - Cortec® Corporation is excited to unveil its newly revamped EcoAir® line of surface prep and rust prevention products packaged in eco-friendly bag-on-valve spray cans. These cans are powered by air rather than traditional flammable propellants and contain some of Cortec’s most popular corrosion solutions. The EcoAir® line includes options for biobased rust removal, water-based void space protection, and water-based cleaning/degreasing with flash rust protection. Of special note is the newest addition to the collection—EcoAir® Tool & Die—a rust preventative specifically designed for easier application and cleanup in the tool and die industry.

The fresh new EcoAir® package design and labeling make it straightforward and easy for users to know how each product is applied and whether it is intended to “Clean,” “Protect,” and/or “Preserve” metals. The portable cans are convenient for maintenance personnel, production employees, or preservation specialists to use for a variety of cleanup, rust removal, and rust prevention activities around the shop, on the production floor, or in remote preservation conditions where electrical-powered application equipment may not be an option.

The newly redesigned EcoAir® line includes the following:

• EcoAir® BioCorr® Biobased Rust Preventative

• EcoAir® 325 Tool & Die Rust Preventative

• EcoAir® 337 Void Space Rust Preventative

• EcoAir® 377 Multi-Metal Rust Preventative

• EcoAir® 414 Cleaner/Degreaser

• EcoAir® 422 Rust Remover

• EcoAir® 423 Rust Remover (gel for vertical surfaces)

These products offer a variety of user-friendly benefits on top of being portable and easy to apply. For instance, EcoAir® Tool & Die Rust Preventative, completely new to the EcoAir® line this year, is an outstanding option for the tool and die industry. EcoAir® Tool & Die is easy to spray on for protection of expensive molds. Unlike other rust preventatives that workers must clean off with solvents, EcoAir® Tool & Die does not need to be removed before the mold is used.

EcoAir® BioCorr® and EcoAir® 377 are two other rust preventatives that offer excellent advantages over traditional oil-based and greasy rust preventatives. These two EcoAir® products provide biobased and/or water-based rust prevention by leaving an unnoticeable dry protective film on metal surfaces. The two rust preventatives are easy to remove if necessary and promote a cleaner work area overall.

For void spaces where it is often challenging to protect hard to reach metal surfaces, EcoAir® 337 Void Space Rust Preventative can be fogged inside before shutting the enclosure. Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors will diffuse throughout the space and form a protective molecular layer on the metal surfaces. This is an easy way to protect intricate equipment internals or add a quick protective spray to a crate full of metal parts.

With Cortec’s EcoAir® 422 and 423 Rust Removers, workers have two biobased options for cleaning rust off metal surfaces. Both allow rust removal in 15-30 minutes without the harshness of other chemicals on the market. After rust removal, or simply during routine maintenance, EcoAir® 414 Cleaner/Degreaser is easy to spray on for a quick surface rinse that includes flash rust protection.

The EcoAir® line provides many great alternatives to traditional MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations)

products and rust preventatives with its user-friendly and environmental advantages. Contact Cortec® to find out more about these products today.

July 25, 2019 - Strong Hand Tools®, Santa Fe Springs, California, manufacturer of innovative Strong Hand Tools® Welding Clamps, Magnets, and Pliers, and BuildPro® Modular Welding Tables proudly announces the Ready Rest™ line of Torch, Grinder, Wrist, and Arm Rests!

The MIG & TIG Torch Rests attach securely to your welding table, welding machine, or other steel surface with a strong magnetic base. The articulated Rests are height and angle adjustable for setting at the ideal position for easy access while you work, increasing efficiency, and preventing torch damage.  The unique cable hanger provides cable control for safety and ease of handling. The adjustable cable hanger holds cable “slack” reducing wrist fatigue and enabling freedom of movement.   

The ReadyRest™ “200 Series” MIG Torch Rests include the accessory plate with a “parking spot” for MIG Pliers and an angled gel pot for convenient dispensing.

The full ReadyRest™ line includes: MIG, TIG, Electrode Holder [Universal], Grinder,  Arm & Wrist Rests.

July 25, 2019 - Strong Hand Tools®, Santa Fe Springs, California, manufacturer of innovative Strong Hand Tools® Welding Clamps, Magnets, and Pliers, and BuildPro® Modular Welding Tables proudly announces the Ready Rest™ line of Torch, Grinder, Wrist, and Arm Rests! 

The NEW ReadyRest™ 2-section, articulated, fully adjustable Arm Rest supports your extended arm while welding, for greater weld control and reduced fatigue. The Arm Rest is height adjustable [the support arm slides up or down the mounting column], and swivels smoothly and easily for work in precise locations.

The comfortable, generously sized arm cup turns in a 360° arc for complete freedom in positioning, and instant re-positioning.  The sturdy, magnetic, anti-tipping base plate can be placed on any steel surface and leveled by adjusting the two leveling bolts.

July 25, 2019 - Strong Hand Tools®, Santa Fe Springs, California, manufacturer of innovative Strong Hand Tools® Welding Clamps, Magnets, and Pliers, and BuildPro® Modular Welding Tables proudly announces the New Plasma Cutting Tray attachment for the Rhino Cart® Mobile Fixturing Station. The Plasma Cutting Tray supports 100 lbs. on a 18” x 28” cutting surface with 14 reversible / replaceable steel slats. Generous 1.8” width between cutting slats provides ample space for hold-down clamping. Slats are secured in place to maintain rigidity while you work. Cut, clamp, fixture and weld on one convenient mobile workstation at the ideal, uniform working height.

The Plasma Cutting Tray easily folds down flat against the Rhino Cart® when not in use. [The Rhino Cart® Mobile Fixturing Station is a turnkey system for clamping and fixturing in welding and fabrication. The Rhino Cart® Package includes the mobile Welding Table + 66 pc. Fixturing Kit.]

July 25, 2019 - Strong Hand Tools®, Santa Fe Springs, California, manufacturer of innovative Strong Hand Tools® Welding Clamps, Magnets, and Pliers, and BuildPro® Modular Welding Tables proudly announces the New Deluxe MIG Pliers. This new multi-function version is equipped with features to make them more useful to welders throughout the work day. 

The 90° Side Pull V-Notch in the Plier jaws provide a handy way to pull wire or grasp small items such as nuts. The two Pliers jaws are equipped with both fine and course files for nozzle cleaning and spatter removal. In addition to the traditional round face hammer, these new Pliers also feature a flat face hammer for better contact in light hammering. The Plier’s Retention Chain attaches to the ReadyRest™ MIG Gun Rests to create a clean organized work area, and prevent Pliers from getting lost. The easy-to-spot bright yellow comfort grip handles fit well in the hand, making them easy to hold and use. 

July 17, 2019 - An ergonomic new stereo microscope from Titan Tool Supply Inc., Buffalo, New York provides versatile inspection viewing for research, assembly, burring, electronic board soldering, miniature machine work, and other quality control inspections. Model RX-3 features an eight-way adjustable pillar stand that allows for horizontal, vertical, and angular positioning that combines both planes with full 360-degree rotation on all adjustments with no limitations.

The new RX-3 stereo microscope has a binocular tube with Diopter adjustment of +2 and variable, interpupillary adjustment. An extra-wide field 10X eyepiece is standard with the unit. A 20X eyepiece and 10X and 20X crosshair eyepieces are optionally available. A 1X built-in objective is also standard. 0.5X, 1.5X, and 2X external objectives and a ring light adapter can be purchased separately. Images are right side up, and lenses are hard-coated with color correction, according to Titan Tool Supply.

July 16, 2019 - Taipan Abrasives introduces the first double-sided flap disc to the North America market adding to its already expansive abrasives product line. These discs allow the user to complete grinding projects from start to finish with a simple flip of the disc.

Taipan took the most popular flap discs their customers use to complete their metalworking projects and created a two-sided flap disc that offers more convenience at an amazing value

Taipan is proud to have designed and patented this product globally and are now able to offer their distributors an end users a 100% unique product

These double-sided flap discs are simple to use and are the perfect accessory to any workshop. Customers benefit from the time and money they are saving by having the ability to easily switch from one side to the other to complete their projects. The double-sided flap discs are secured to a plastic spin-on 5/8 in.-11 center which allows the job to move with ease, spin to tighten and lock the flap disc in place. To switch to the other side, the user simply unscrews the flap disc and flips it over to attain the desired finish. These double-sided flap discs are for use on 4-1/2 in. angle grinders.

July 10, 2019 - Thermal Dynamics, an ESAB brand, has launched its new Cutmaster Black Series of enhanced performance plasma cutting consumables, which extend operating life by 60 percent compared to standard life electrodes. They are featured on the SL60QD™ 1Torch®, which comes with the Cutmaster® 60i handheld air plasma cutting system. Coupled with internal enhancements on the Cutmaster 60i, the new electrode design increases the unit’s rated cut and piercing capacity to 3/4 in., a 16.6 percent improvement. The Cutmaster® 60i can sever metal up to 1-1/2 in.

“At 37 lbs., the Cutmaster 60i already offered the best power-to-weight ratio on the market. With the Cutmaster Black Series consumables, this 60-amp unit is even more of a cutting beast,” says Kris Scherm, Global Manual Plasma Business & Product Director, ESAB. “With Cutmaster Black Series consumables, users will enjoy lower overall operating costs through extended electrode life and obtain more quality cuts per electrode.”

The SL60QD™ 1Torch® with Cutmaster Black Series consumables is also available as an option for the Cutmaster 58 handheld air plasma cutting system. This unit can pierce and cut 5/8 in. metal, has a maximum sever capacity of 1 in. and features the classic Cutmaster design.

Mechanized Torch Option

For users who want the flexibility to connect a Cutmaster 60i to a cutting table for semiautomated air plasma cutting, Thermal Dynamics now offers the MechPak mechanized package. MechPak comes with everything users need to get started, including an SL100 mechanized 1Torch with 25 ft. or 50 ft. cable, remote pendant, lead with ATC® Torch Connection and consumables.

“The MechPak features a power connector for a start/stop trigger integrated with the ATC Torch Connection,” says Scherm. “Typically applications would include pairing the Cutmaster 60i and MechPak with an ESAB Miggytrac™ or Railtrac™ tractor for semiautomatic cutting, beveling or plasma gouging.”

The Cutmaster 60i and 58 are covered by ESAB’s 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, which provides purchase protection any time with the first 100 days of purchase. The units include an industry leading 4-year warranty on the power supply and a 1-year warranty on the 1Torch.

July 10, 2019 - Lawson Products Inc., Chicago, announced the new Blue-Kote™ Soft Material Application Flap Disc, which grinds aluminum and all non-ferrous metals at high speed with minimal clogging or loading, while keeping the work surface temperature low for quality finishing.

The Type 27 abrasive disc is also used with composite materials such as carbon fiber and plastics. The 4.5-inch diameter disc is available in 40 and 60 grit.

Produced exclusively for Lawson Products, the new Blue-Kote Soft Material Application Flap Disc is manufactured from tough aluminum oxide grain layered in a specially engineered net structure. The unique design provides high-performance cut rate and aggressive stock removal with surface blending action for excellent finish consistency. The soft, long-lasting disc that simultaneously grinds and finishes saves process time, eliminates the need for product changeover, and reduces total cost.    

Because aluminum has a much lower melting temperature than other metals, keeping aluminum cool while grinding and finishing is a big challenge for welders and fabricators. The Blue-Kote disc cloth’s net structure resists clogging on soft materials, and its sanded surface stays cooler and avoids burning the work surface.

Blue-Kote Soft Material Application Flap Disc at a glance:

• Specially engineered disc incorporates aluminum oxide grain for excellent grinding combined with smooth, scratch-free finishing and cleaning
• Non-loading
• Grinds cooler than standard discs
• Lasts up to 3X longer than conventional abrasives
• Fewer disc changes required means greater job efficiency and cost savings
• Can be used in pre- and post-weld operations
• Applications and industries include automotive and body shops, agriculture, aviation, construction, energy, food & beverage, metal fabrication, shipbuilding, technology, and mass transportation
• The latest addition to Lawson’s extensive catalog of cutting tools and abrasives solutions

The Lawson Products Blue-Kote Soft Material Application Flap Discs are available now. Lawson Products and Kent Automotive representatives can help users select the abrasive product best suited to their applications.

July 8, 2019 - PFERD, Milwaukee, has announced the introduction of the POLINOX® fiber-backing disc. The disc, which is designed for long service life and working on large surfaces with variable speed angle grinders, has non-woven abrasive flaps with fiberglass backing for face-down finishing work. The non-woven abrasive disc is well suited for manufacturing a wide range of products, such as hand pads, drums, discs, belts, mounted points and grinding wheels, Its abrasive properties are tailored to a variety of metal machining and grinding applications. It uses aluminum oxide A abrasive.

POLINOX fiber-backing discs feature the same construction as PFERD’s PNZ and PNL flap wheels and finishing drums. Interleaved discs (PNZ type) come in two different grits while radial discs (PNL type) come in three different grit sizes. The PNZ type will create a coarser surface finish and remove more material than the PNL type. Both discs are available in two diameters, 4-1/2-in. and 5 7/8-in. arbors. The material on the fiberglass backer is approximately ¾-in. thick and will create a non- linear surface finish. These discs are ideal for step-by-step fine grinding, and prep-to-paint applications where cosmetics are not an issue.