If you’ve ever opened up a desk drawer, cabinet door, or dresser and had it stay open, you know how frustrating it can be. Your clothes get all wrinkled, and you’ll never find what you need in time for your morning commute. Fortunately, there’s an easy solution, gas struts. But before buying a gas strut for your home or office, it’s essential to know what features to look for. Here are some of the most important considerations to remember while shopping around.
The Force
The force is an essential factor when buying a gas strut. The force of a gas strut is the amount of work it does, which depends on the pressure inside the cylinder and its length.
The force will be proportional to the following:
- The pressure in the cylinder (P) times its volume (V) times acceleration due to gravity (g). This can be expressed as F = P*V*g.
- Its length is because more extended cylinders have more mass being accelerated and thus produce more F than shorter cylinders do at any given pressure P. You can see this relationship illustrated by how most air springs are designed. They’re usually long enough so that their total length remains constant even if they compress underweight or extend under force. Increase their length, and you increase their working stroke; reduce their length, and reduce their working stroke without changing anything else about them. This makes sense since each unit increases its leverage over an unchanging point on each end where it mounts against something else.
Body Length
The next thing you’ll want to consider is the body length of the strut. The longer the body, the more force it can exert. However, a longer body will also mean that your gas strut will be heavier and less responsive to small movements.
If you’re looking for more control over your gas struts but want to maintain responsiveness and maneuverability, consider using a shorter strut with an extension rod attached, a setup known as telescopic tubing.
Stroke Length
The stroke length is the distance that the strut can travel. It’s important not to choose a unit with a different stroke length than your furniture’s needs, as it will be difficult to control if it is too long or too short. If you have beds or other large pieces of furniture that need to be lifted higher than usual, choose a gas spring that offers longer strokes to give you more support and lift height when needed.
Screw Fixing Centers
Check the diameter of the fixing centers. The screw fixing center is where your motor will be attached to your gas strut. It’s essential to ensure that this area is large enough to support your load but not so large that it compromises stability or causes problems with installation. A larger screw fixing center will provide more stability, while a smaller one can cause some tension or slippage and result in less reliable operation of your strut.
Ball Socket Fittings
Ball socket fittings connect the strut to the object it is lifting. They are fitted to the end of the strut and attached to a surface using a bolt or nut. Ball socket fittings come in various sizes and thread types and are available in imperial or metric sizes. So, choose the ball socket fittings based on your requirements and then make a final decision.
Eyelet Fittings
A good gas strut will have eyelet fittings. The eyelet fitting allows the strut to be fitted to the object in several ways. For example, an eyelet fitting can be attached to the object using a bolt, nut, and washer.
Conclusion
A gas strut is a compressed cylinder filled with a non-toxic gas that assists in the movement of an object. The best way to choose a gas spring is to consider each product, weigh your options and read customer reviews. When it comes down to it, the most important thing is that you are happy with your purchase.
