Comments on: It’s Just Cool: The Hoverpad http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:53:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Jim K. http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/#comment-118105 Jim K. Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:44:37 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/#comment-118105 I've used the bigger version of this for exhibit installs where I work. Like T says, wheels are way cheaper and you don't have to worry about the floor surface, but I tell you, there's nothing like the feeling of moving a several ton object floating on a cushion of air. Seriously! I’ve used the bigger version of this for exhibit installs where I work. Like T says, wheels are way cheaper and you don’t have to worry about the floor surface, but I tell you, there’s nothing like the feeling of moving a several ton object floating on a cushion of air. Seriously!

]]> By: T http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/#comment-117899 T Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:45:59 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/#comment-117899 We use the giant industrial sized versions of these where I work. The 36" square pads take 20K pounds apiece and the 48" do 30K. Floor surface is an issue. We have a steel floor that we use a floor scrubber on daily to make sure we don't have problems. The airflow is another big thing. Our system with 6 48" pads uses 410 CFM, and no, we don't have a compressor that big. We run it off an accumulator tank. I hadn't ever thought of using something like it in the shop at home, but that because wheels work just fine and are way cheaper for the kind of loads you'll see at home. We use the giant industrial sized versions of these where I work. The 36″ square pads take 20K pounds apiece and the 48″ do 30K. Floor surface is an issue. We have a steel floor that we use a floor scrubber on daily to make sure we don’t have problems. The airflow is another big thing. Our system with 6 48″ pads uses 410 CFM, and no, we don’t have a compressor that big. We run it off an accumulator tank.

I hadn’t ever thought of using something like it in the shop at home, but that because wheels work just fine and are way cheaper for the kind of loads you’ll see at home.

]]> By: Mel http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/#comment-117710 Mel Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:30:10 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/#comment-117710 How do you get the hoverpad UNDER the tablesaw to begin with??? How do you get the hoverpad UNDER the tablesaw to begin with???

]]> By: Rick Reimundez http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/#comment-117549 Rick Reimundez Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:57:13 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/#comment-117549 Mark, that's sweet.. Please post some pictures on the flickr pool of the project. What else can you tell us about the hovercraft? Have you finished any yet and do they work? or are you still in the build stages? Mark, that’s sweet..
Please post some pictures on the flickr pool of the project. What else can you tell us about the hovercraft? Have you finished any yet and do they work? or are you still in the build stages?

]]> By: Mark http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/#comment-117531 Mark Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:10:04 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/#comment-117531 We have been making hovercraft with 8th grade girls for an introduction to engineering camp. We use one of the larger Sears shopvacs. The plans that we follow are here: http://www.amasci.com/amateur/hovercft.html Granted these are capable of only about 300 lbs, but with a little more precision, better materials, and a strong source of air, there is no reason why we could not build something that would move 1200 lbs. We have been able to move over "side-walk concrete". Asphalt does not work very well. It is always fun to see one of these drift over a floor drain. Anyway, these should not cost an arm and a leg ... We have been making hovercraft with 8th grade girls for an introduction to engineering camp. We use one of the larger Sears shopvacs. The plans that we follow are here: http://www.amasci.com/amateur/hovercft.html

Granted these are capable of only about 300 lbs, but with a little more precision, better materials, and a strong source of air, there is no reason why we could not build something that would move 1200 lbs. We have been able to move over “side-walk concrete”. Asphalt does not work very well. It is always fun to see one of these drift over a floor drain. Anyway, these should not cost an arm and a leg …

]]> By: TimG http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/#comment-117516 TimG Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:16:42 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/13/it%e2%80%99s-just-cool-the-hoverpad/#comment-117516 Wow, that is friggin awesome! I bet they cost a lot.. but if not, wow.. I wonder just how smooth the floor needs to be! Tim Wow, that is friggin awesome!

I bet they cost a lot.. but if not, wow..

I wonder just how smooth the floor needs to be!

Tim

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