Articles
Short, plain guides to buying industrial parts. Each one ends with who sells it.
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Choosing a water pump: flow and head, not horsepower
The two numbers that pick a pump, how to estimate them, and the suction limit.
2 min read -
Which circuit breaker do you need?
Miniature, moulded case or motor breaker; the B, C and D curves; and kA.
2 min read -
Pressure gauges: which range to buy
One simple rule, and the four things to tell the seller.
1 min read -
Thermocouple type K or PT100?
Which temperature sensor fits your job, and one rule to decide.
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How to choose a temperature controller
Sensor input, output type, control mode and panel size, in plain words.
2 min read -
Solenoid valves: 3/2, 5/2 or 5/3?
What the numbers mean, single or double coil, and the coil voltage.
2 min read -
Power tools: corded or cordless, and which drill
What volts and amp-hours mean, the four kinds of drill, and why the warranty matters.
2 min read -
Hydraulic hoses: what to tell the seller
Inside size, pressure rating, the fittings at each end, and one safety rule.
2 min read -
Wire and cable: which size for your load?
A rough size guide, copper or aluminium, and how to spot an undersized cable.
2 min read -
Air cylinders: how to pick the bore and the stroke
A quick way to work out the force, and the extras worth asking for.
2 min read -
Ball, gate or butterfly valve?
Three common valves, what each is for, and the one thing none of them should do.
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Heating elements: cartridge, band or tubular?
Which element for which job, the sizes to measure, and why voltage matters so much.
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Air filter, regulator, lubricator: do you need all three?
What each part of an FRL unit does, and the one you can often leave out.
2 min read -
Drill bits and cutting discs: the right one for each material
Which bit for steel, stainless and concrete, and three safety rules for grinder discs.
2 min read -
How to choose a contactor for a motor
The motor's kW, the coil voltage, the extra contacts and the overload relay.
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Push-in fittings and air tube: getting the sizes right
Tube size, thread type and tube material, so the parts fit the first time.
2 min read -
Hand tools that last: what to check before you buy
Steel, standards, 6-point sockets and insulated tools, in plain words.
2 min read -
Calipers: vernier, dial or digital?
What each type is good at, and when you need a micrometer instead.
2 min read