Be Advised – The New NESHAP rules could affect your business!!

June 9, 2010 in Auto Body, Auto Body Shop, Automotive Body Shop, Collision Repair, Paint Booth, Paint Booths, Paint Mixing Room, Paintbooth, Spray Booth, Spray Booths, Standard Tools, Tools USA | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New NESHAP 6-H RULE – Paint Stripping and Various Spraying Operations
The National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) is the air quality division of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  NESHAP defined new air quality requirements for surface coating and paint stripping operations in 2008. It becomes enforceable at the end of 2010.  This new rule defines a form that has to be submitted for new or modified spray and stripping operations for vehicles and mobile equipment.  The forms and requirements are available on-line through your local EPA office at www.epa.gov.

The notes included in this message are a general reference only.  Standard Tools and Equipment Co. can explain how our equipment complies with this standard.  However, your local authorities have the final say about compliance to this rule.  There are no exemptions for completing the form, but there are a very few exceptions for compliance to the requirements within the form (military installation, munitions, spraying no more than two personal vehicles per year, and a low volume system for quality or R&D).  New shops or any shop being modified is required to submit this form to the EPA for approval.

The form to be submitted includes information about the facility, types of materials used, training records for painters, and efficiency ratings for the exhaust filters. Stating the efficiency ratings of exhaust filters implies that the painters are using a spray booth.  Standard Tools can provide a spray booth for your facility which exceeds the requirements for proper spraying, filtering, and exhausting of hazardous overspray and fumes.

The EPA can be a difficult challenge for any company; many business owners simply want to run and hide at the mention of the EPA.  The requirements are often technical and can sometimes seem extremely constrictive.  On the other hand, our rivers no longer catch on fire they way they did forty years ago; our air is much cleaner, and we have better information about the chemicals that we use in our shops everyday.  Due to the nature of chemicals used in the spray painting and stripping process this task is required.  Adhering to this policy will increase the safety within your shop and lower its environmental impact.  Please contact Standard Tools & Equipment with any questions about our equipment.  Your local EPA office will have more specific information about the forms and requirements specific to your shop.

Going “GREEN” - Our History and Getting Started in Your Shop

June 2, 2010 in Auto Body, Auto Body Shop, Automotive Body Shop, Collision Repair, Paint Booth, Paint Booths, Paint Mixing Room, Paintbooth, Powder Coat, Spray Booth, Spray Booths, Standard Tools, Tools USA | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Have you every built a deck, a table or a fence only to find out that you wasted 30, 40, or even 50% of the material  purchased due to poor planning and design?

Standard Tools and Equipment Co. has been making collision repair equipment, spray booths and dust collectors since 1979. We have refined our processes and equipment to result in a waste level of only 7%.  Scrap steel is sent back to the mill to be processed into new steel; scrap wood is ground up by a recycler for use in chipboard products; and hazardous wastes are processed by federal
government-approved waste handlers.

The reality of maintaining a manufacturing plant in the 21st century is that a manufacturing plant has to be a good neighbor.  Standard Tools installed a
powder coating system in 2007 to migrate painting parts away from the solvent-based coating process that has many more restrictions and costs.  All materials are reviewed for a suitable waste process and VOC amounts prior to purchasing.  Employees are routinely trained on waste disposal and scrap ratios are measured to ensure that processes are as waste-free as possible.  Our staff welcomes new technologies and methods that can reduce wastes.

Waste is defined as material that is left over, unused or rejected.  How much waste do you have in your current shop?
Simple Steps to Make Your Shop “GREENER”:

  • Review the types of materials purchased and focus on hazardous items. For example, there are many green painting products on the market (low VOC, powder, and waterborne paint).
  • Review the quantities of materials purchased. Even though materials may cost less if bought in bulk, they often degrade before use when over-purchased.
  • Watch your disposal points: Trash cans, dumpsters and hazardous waste containers
  • Communicate with employees. Their attitude towards waste directly affects your bottom line.
  • Benchmark all processes to identify which processes have the greatest potential for savings.
  • Make a plan. Start simple with the mixture process of paints, the allocation of raw materials, or the amount of masking and cleaning materials used for a specific paint job.

Our federal government did us an unknown favor by making our currency green.  It should help to remind us that going green reduces the waste in our shop AND it saves us money.  Going green will initially require your time and effort but it will boost your shop morale and most likely result in significant savings.  Every shop is capable of this win-win process.  Get started today!

Another Load of Frame Machines Leaves the Plant!

June 2, 2010 in Auto Body, Auto Body Shop, Automotive Body Shop, Collision Repair, Frame Machine, Frame Machines, Frame Rack, Frame Straightener, Frame Straightening, Pulling Posts, Standard Tools, Tools USA | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Frame Machines

Frame Machines leaving Standard Tools & Equipment

Autobody Equipment Financing

May 28, 2010 in Auto Body, Auto Body Shop, Automotive Body Shop, Automotive Repair Equipment, Car Lifts, Collision Repair, Frame Machine, Frame Machines, Frame Rack, Frame Straightener, Frame Straightening, Paint Booth, Paint Booths, Paint Mixing Room, Paintbooth, Powder Coat, Pulling Posts, Spray Booth, Spray Booths, Standard Tools, Tools USA, Waterborne | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tools USA now offers financing on a paint booth, frame machine or multi item purchases!  To take advantage of our new program, please call 800-451-2425.

To be approved for the financing, qualified customers must meet the following criteria:  1. located in EST zone, 2. acceptable credit, 3. agree to ACH monthly drafts,  4. minimum of 40% down payment, and 5. must finance $3000 which would require an order of $5000.

Financing rates will be between 10-14% with 24, 36, and 48 month lease options with a $1 buy-out.

Customer Feedback

March 4, 2010 in Auto Body, Auto Body Shop, Automotive Body Shop, Collision Repair, Frame Machine, Frame Machines, Paint Booth, Paint Booths, Paintbooth, Powder Coat, Spray Booth, Spray Booths, Standard Tools, Tools USA | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In response to new materials, processes and requirements, Standard Tools & Equipment is constantly working on new products including: spray booths, frame machines, dust collectors, and all types of accessories.  We are a lean, direct supplier with the ability to respond quickly to new demands and we always welcome any type of input from our product users.

At Standard Tools & Equipment our business is based on fulfilling the needs of our customers.  Our customers work hands-on in the world of collision repair, painting, powder coating, and other industries.  They are some of the most creative and knowledgeable people in their fields.  Everyday they experience new materials, processes, and challenges.

If you are in need of a special product or have any suggestions, please contact our sales or engineering staff.  Standard Tools & Equipment greatly appreciates your input and we look forward to exceeding your expectations.

Standard Tools & Equipment
800.451.2425

Waterborne Painting Process

February 16, 2010 in Auto Body, Auto Body Shop, Automotive Body Shop, Collision Repair, Paint Booth, Paint Booths, Paintbooth, Spray Booth, Spray Booths, Standard Tools, Tools USA, Waterborne | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Many finishers are selecting waterborne paints due to increasingly stringent
EPA regulations which limit VOC emissions.  These finishes are complex coatings that paint companies have been developing for years.  Major paint companies have technical staff that can provide the specific details about their products.

Standard Tools & Equipment has worked with many paint manufacturers and researched numerous industry publications to develop the following strategy:

- Contact your paint supplier for current and specific spraying and curing information.
- Make sure that your spray booth provides adequate, clean air and filtration.
- For spraying a complete vehicle:

  1. Start spraying the vehicle on the end nearest the exhaust plenum (for cross-flow booths)
  2. Spray the entire vehicle
  3. Allow three minutes of fan operation in order to exhaust residual overspray in the air
  4. Place AquaDri unit(s) inside the booth in a position that will allow them to disturb the air on the area last coated on the vehicle.  The areas initially coated will have already started the flash-off process and will be curing while the painting process is completed.
  5. Remove the AquaDri units from the booth and repeat the coating/AquaDri process as required

- For spot-spraying, use an AquaDri unit to provide air disturbance to the area just coated.  The curing process of waterborne paint creates a layer of
high humidity/low airflow right above the coated surface.  The AquaDri unit disrupts this shell of air, which provides fresh air to the surface and greatly expedites the flash-off and curing process.

Waterborne paint should be allowed to harden prior to final assembly or reworking (grinding or sanding).  The hardening of waterborne paint requires 24-hours or very expensive ultrasonic equipment that is rarely useful to most painters.  The solution provided above will meet the requirements for most shops and most waterborne paint materials.

AD-500 AquaDriAD-500
AquaDri

• Six – 2” directional spouts
• Size 12” x 12” x 84”, 88” tall on stand
• 1300 linear feet per minute of air flow at each spout
• 110V, .27A, UL and cUL recognized Dayton fan
• Intake air filtered with 2” thick, easy-to-replace filter
• Stand allows vertical or horizontal use at 3 heights
• Stand included
• Ultra-quiet operation
• Powder coated
• Made in the USA

For more information on the AquaDri unit
Contact Kelly Goudy at
Standard Tools & Equipment
kellyg@standardtool.com
336.697.7717  |  800.451.2425

Dust Collection Safety

January 27, 2010 in Auto Body Shop, Automotive Body Shop, Collision Repair, Powder Coat, Spray Booth, Spray Booths, Standard Tools, Tools USA | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

A recent posting by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) stated that the 2006 Combustible Dust Hazard Safety publication reported 281 major dust explosions with a total of 119 deaths and 718 injuries from 1980 to 2003.  These incidents were due to the combustion of accumulated dust, unsafe dust mixtures, and other similar causes.  Following this report there have been at least two explosions involving casualties.  One explosion occurred at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, and another at a plastic molding plant in Kinston, North Carolina.  To help prevent such industrial disasters, the NFPA is currently revising their combustible dust safety standards including NFPA-654 and NFPA-664.  The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that combustibility information on all dusts encountered in a workplace be accessible to employees.

It is the employer’s responsibility to determine and apply the best methods to ensure safety in the workplace.  These methods should include informing employees of the different types of dust materials present and how they are controlled.  Standard Tools & Equipment provides products to aid in the management of powder coating, sanding/prepping, and woodworking.  Our spray booths can be used for collecting sanding/prepping wastes and powder coat overspray.  We also manufacture cyclone dust collectors that can be used to control dust, chips, and shavings created in woodworking operations.  The cyclone dust collectors are best suited for small-to-medium shops, or for a limited number of machines in a larger shop.  Using small collectors in a large shop reduces noise and energy consumption, as well as allowing more flexibility in shop layout.

For more information regarding combustible dust and workplace requirements contact OSHA.
Please contact Standard Tools & Equipment Co. at 1-800-451-2425 for pricing or product information.

Going Green in 2010

January 15, 2010 in Auto Body, Auto Body Shop, Automotive Body Shop, Paint Booth, Paint Booths, Paint Mixing Room, Paintbooth, Powder Coat, Spray Booth, Spray Booths, Tools USA, Waterborne | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Today there is an increased awareness of protecting our environment from hazardous emissions and waste.  Everyone is ‘Going Green’ to reduce these environmental pollutants.  All types of companies are expected to address this matter, including firms operating spray booths.  Spray booth operations can reduce waste in one of two manners: a dramatic overhaul of the entire process or incremental improvements.

Dramatic overhauls are expensive because they typically require intensive planning and resources. By focusing on the materials and equipment companies also bypass an opportunity to improve their employees and business processes. Production is almost always impacted during a change of this type and often afterwards.  Even with an overhaul companies should not assume that all wastes will be eliminated.

Incremental improvements can be made in a manner that does not upset the production of a shop.  These improvements can be started immediately and scheduled with available resources, government incentives, and production requirements taken into account.  This is the process recommended by the Tools USA specialists.

Example of an Incremental Plan:

  • Benchmark current operations: material types and volumes used, liquid and solid hazardous waste recorded, gaseous emissions calculated, hazardous operations noted, and level of operator knowledge
  • Identify materials used to eliminate the most hazardous; many paint and solvent manufacturers now offer low-VOC options
  • Evaluate solid and liquid waste by identifying waste source, retraining employees, mixing precise materials for jobs,  and eliminating storage of excess material
  • Understand gaseous wastes and new filter options
  • Evaluate storage and spray guns

These steps require only a small investment and create a good foundation for future conversion to powder coating or waterborne paints and equipment.  A shop that understands and addresses existing issues with incremental improvements will recover investments for major changes more quickly than a shop that makes only a dramatic change.

Please contact Kelly Goudy or the technical staff at Tools USA if you have questions about ‘Going Green’ with your spray booth operation.

Pass-Thru Side-Down Draft Spray Booth

January 12, 2010 in Auto Body, Auto Body Shop, Automotive Body Shop, Paint Booth, Paint Booths, Paintbooth, Spray Booth, Spray Booths, Tools USA | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

At Tools USA we routinely get requests for spray booths to be used on a conveyer line.  Usually we will offer two opposed open-face booths or one of our designs with cutouts in the side walls.  We have even made a spray booth to run lengthwise in order for the operator to stop/start the line when getting parts in and out of the DTD booth.  Tools USA now offers a new booth style that mimics a larger-scale pass-thru booth using our SDD-1000 and pressurized intake.

Pass-Thru Side-Down Draft Spray Booth (PTSDD-1000)

(shown with conveyer and parts simulated)

  • Designed to be used with conveyer paint line
  • Standard size suited to industrial parts: cabinets, furniture, housings, control boxes, carts, signs
  • Wide enough for two spray operators for combined coverage
  • Pressurized openings to prevent dirt/dust from entering spray area
  • Uses air from exterior of shop (also works with heated air make-up unit)
  • 4.8 air exchanges per minute (4.0 minimum required by OSHA and NFPA)
  • Two personnel doors
  • Eight Class 2/Div II lights
  • Unobstructed ceiling allows exterior support of conveyer line if necessary
  • Popular custom features: size of openings, size of booth, # of lights, Class 1/Div II lights, powder coated booth
  • Can be set up as powdercoat booth with HEPA filters to recycle in-shop air

For further information contact Kelly Goudy at Tools USA
Phone: 1-800-451-2425
Email: KellyG@standardtool.com

Tools USA In-House Financing!

December 15, 2009 in Auto Body, Auto Body Shop, Automotive Body Shop, Automotive Repair Equipment, Collision Repair, Frame Machine, Frame Machines, Frame Rack, Frame Straightener, Frame Straightening, Paint Booth, Paint Booths, Paint Mixing Room, Paintbooth, Powder Coat, Pulling Posts, Spray Booth, Spray Booths, Standard Tools, Tools USA | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tools USA has a new in-house leasing program for spray booths, frame machines, or multiple item purchases.  To qualify, a prospect must meet the following criteria:

  1. Acceptable personal credit.
  2. Minimum 40% down payment.
  3. Located in eastern or central time zones.
  4. Agree to ACH monthly payment drafts.

Customers will be able to choose 24, 36, or 48 month lease options.  Tools USA rates will run between 10 and 14%.  All leases will be $1 buy-out financing leases.

The minimum financed after down payment is $3,000 (original price of item or items will be $5000).

An application can be requested by calling 1-800-451-2425.

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