Questions about the Tornador Black and Air Foamer

Wills.WindowsAndWheels

Wills.WindowsAndWheels

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Hey guys, i was wondering if anyone has used the Tornador or Tornador air foamer (or something equivalent) and if so how do you like it?

Also i was wondering how much CFM do you need? Can this be used with a little pancake compressor for us mobile detailers or is this more of a shop tool?
 
Im not sure of the smallest compressor you can run it on but a buddy just got one and he uses 4 hp 20 gallon 6.9 cfm @ 80psi.
 
Wills.WindowsAndWheels said:
Also i was wondering how much CFM do you need? Can this be used with a little pancake compressor for us mobile detailers or is this more of a shop tool?
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Judging by my 6 gallon(2.5 CFM @ 90 PSI), I'd say no. You should use a compressor with 5 CFM @ 90 PSI, and a larger tank. My compressor comes on quickly. :dblthumb2:
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
Judging by my 6 gallon(2.5 CFM @ 90 PSI), I'd say no. You should use a compressor with 5 CFM @ 90 PSI, and a larger tank. My compressor comes on quickly. :dblthumb2:
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That is what the standard one calls for. The newer Black Tornador needs 9.5 CFM at 90p psi. I won one last year at Detailfest and I have not been able to use it yet. Bigger compressor coming next summer.
 
I have wanted the Tornador Black for quite some time but I am having a hard time justifying it based on the cost of the air compressor that is needed for it. The cheapest one I have been able to find so far is $600 and it will do 10cfm @ 90 psi. However most of these are either gas compressors or the one I found requires a 230V AC single phase electrical circuit. It can not be run from a generator, inverter or transformer connected to 120V AC. So it looks and sounds like a great product but it seems to require so much to make it work.
 
will, i find it needs 90 psi and mine is the earlier model. this is one hell of a nice tool to have and the black one looks even better. that said i dont pull it out and set it up enough. with just a diluted cleaner it works remarkably. door jams and the mold around hatchbacks etc, not that you ever see that in arizona. ha
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
Judging by my 6 gallon(2.5 CFM @ 90 PSI), I'd say no. You should use a compressor with 5 CFM @ 90 PSI, and a larger tank. My compressor comes on quickly. :dblthumb2:
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Mark,
I wonder if the problem is the cfm or tank size? Since your compressor only has 1/2 the required cfm, is that causing your compressor to come on more often?

I have been debating getting one of these. My Eaton compressor is rated at 6.5 cfm @ 90 psi, but it is only a 4 gallon tank. Not sure if it has enough muscle/capacity to run the tornador for any length of time.

-Neil
 
rockford33 said:
I have been debating getting one of these. My Eaton compressor is rated at 6.5 cfm @ 90 psi, but it is only a 4 gallon tank. Not sure if it has enough muscle/capacity to run the tornador for any length of time.

-Neil
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Hi Neil,

That's a very good question. I have no idea. Hopefully, someone who knows will chime in.

That's a ton of CFM for a 4 gallon tank!
 
Yeah, it is pretty much all motor! I think the motor is as big as the tank itself. Not very portable though, but is on a wheeled dolly. And it was less than $200 shipped :D

-Neil

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
 
Wow...9.5 CFM...this thing eats up more than a HVLP sprayer. I agree that its hard to justify the cost unless you are buying it as a hobby tool to use at home or you have an actual shop with a huge compressor set up (stand alone type). I really can't see getting ANOTHER monster compressor to toss in the back of the trailer to haul around with me just to use the silly lil tornador...we've been making interiors super clean without one so far...im sure we can continue to do so.
 
One of the issues is a large compressor like this even if you find one that is portable and its electric you need a 220 source. And because of what it draws at startup I doubt it will run off a generator. So you would then have to get a gas compressor. What I find funny is in the description of the product it says you only need 9.5 cfm...only 9.5? I have wathced several videos of this tool used for cleaning and its impressive, but its such a huge requirement.
 
Wills.WindowsAndWheels said:
Wow...9.5 CFM...this thing eats up more than a HVLP sprayer. I agree that its hard to justify the cost unless you are buying it as a hobby tool to use at home or you have an actual shop with a huge compressor set up (stand alone type). I really can't see getting ANOTHER monster compressor to toss in the back of the trailer to haul around with me just to use the silly lil tornador...we've been making interiors super clean without one so far...im sure we can continue to do so.
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Agreed.

That's a ridiculous amount of CFM for the Tornador!
 
rockford33 said:
Yeah, it is pretty much all motor! I think the motor is as big as the tank itself. Not very portable though, but is on a wheeled dolly. And it was less than $200 shipped :D

-Neil

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
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I just looked up an Eaton 2HP 20 gallon portable electric. 6.5 CFM @ 90PSI. Only $390 shipped! I may pull the trigger!
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
I just looked up an Eaton 2HP 20 gallon portable electric. 6.5 CFM @ 90PSI. Only $390 shipped! I may pull the trigger!
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Mark,
I say just step up to the 18 CFM, 17 gallon tank one. It is only a few more hundred dollars, and then you could have a tornador in each hand! Talk about speed cleaning! Im the MAN

Seriously, my Eaton is a beast and I have had no problems with it at all in the 4 years I have had it. I use it for my air ratchet, airbrushing, impact wrench, nail guns, etc. A similar model at Home Depot (albeit larger 20 or 26 gallon tank) with almost similar specs (a little less cfm IIRC) was $400 at the time, twice as much as I paid. A larger tank would be nice, but mine has served me well. Might look into upgrading myself though for $390.....

Also note that they don't use the shipping calculator on their site, so the price will be $390 + shipping. I think shipping on mine was only about $30 or so, don't recall, but wasn't outrageous.

-Neil
 
The Tornador requires LOTS of air. If you're going to buy a compressor, do yourself a favor and don't skimp. Tank size is not important but CFM is. Small compressors a OK for small jobs. The Tornador is not a small job and requires a REAL compressor.
 
Stephan said:
One of the issues is a large compressor like this even if you find one that is portable and its electric you need a 220 source. And because of what it draws at startup I doubt it will run off a generator. So you would then have to get a gas compressor. What I find funny is in the description of the product it says you only need 9.5 cfm...only 9.5? I have wathced several videos of this tool used for cleaning and its impressive, but its such a huge requirement.
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Yeah thats like i'm looking around at vehicles now...i run across so many trucks...like 05' or newer with ONLY 175,000 MILES! Yeah...ONLY...are you freakin kidding me?

Stephan said:
This is the one I was looking at. Does anyone know if this is a good brand?

Campbell Hausfeld VT6271 - 26-Gallon (Belt-Drive) 230-Volt Cast-Iron Air Compressor
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I'm guessing this would only be good at home or shop since its 230 volt right?
 
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