Gas struts, or gas springs, have become an incredibly useful tool over the years. They allow for the controlled movement of a variety of different objects.
There are a few types of gas struts; however, the main two types of gas struts are fixed and adjustable gas struts.
By design, both fixed and adjustable gas struts are very similar and this can make it difficult to spot the vital differences between the two. At Albert Jagger, we want to do our part by supplying this simple and easy-to-follow guide to go over the main differences between adjustable and fixed gas struts.
While this article does not go over the function of gas struts in general, we do have other informational resources available on our website. You can check out our article on what gas struts are and what they are used for.
Adjustable Gas Struts:
Adjustable gas struts are capable of adjusting the pressure they can store. As you can imagine, this can be very useful in scenarios where you are unsure on how much pressure you want your gas strut to compress and release.
How do you Adjust a Gas Strut?
Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can adjust an adjustable gas strut:
WARNING: Adjustable gas struts can be dangerous if adjusted improperly. We would advise following these steps closely to avoid injury.
1. Screw the pressure release key onto the cylinder side until you hear gas escaping. Note that pressure release keys are sold separately.
2. Loosen the key to prevent gas from escaping.
3. To avoid under pressurising, only release gas in short, controlled bursts.
4. Repeat the technique until the gas strut reaches the required pressure.
If you are not too confident with adjusting a gas strut, you can opt for a fixed gas strut that most accurately matches the specifications for your job.
Benefits of Adjustable Gas Struts:
- Versatility: Given that the force of an adjustable gas strut can be changed, they are applicable to a wide variety of different jobs
- Flexibility: If the required force changes, adjustable gas struts are great at adapting to new specifications
- Cost effective: Where the specifications of a job are unknown, having an adjustable gas strut will prevent you from having to buy multiple fixed gas struts, saving you money in the long run.
Negatives of Adjustable Gas Struts:
- Complexity: Changing an adjustable gas strut can be difficult at first and quite dangerous if conducted improperly
- Upfront cost: Although adjustable gas struts can be more cost-effective in the long run, the versatility and flexibility of adjustable gas struts typically makes them more expensive up-front compared to fixed gas struts
- Potential to misadjust: If you release too much pressure for the required application, you will need to return the strut to Albert Jagger for re-gassing, causing a time delay to the project.
Fixed Gas Struts:
Fixed gas struts have a fixed pressure that they are set too. They are ideal for scenarios where you are aware of the specifications you need your gas strut to have for your specific job. If you are unsure on how to measure a gas strut, feel free to check out our article on how to measure gas struts here!
Benefits of Fixed Gas Struts
- Simple: Fixed gas struts are much easier to understand compared to adjustable gas struts
- Lower upfront costs: If you know the specifications for your gas strut application, then fixed gas struts are typically a much cheaper option to choose
- Quicker to install: Given the force is already set for fixed gas struts, you do not have to spend time adjusting the gas strut to your desired pressure
Negatives of Fixed Gas Struts
- Lack of flexibility: As they can’t be adjusted, you will need to buy another fixed gas strut if the specifications for your application change
- Long-term costs: If the specifications of your application change they may require you to buy another fixed gas strut, costing more money than if you chose an adjustable gas strut
- Lack of versatility: You might find that some companies do not offer the fixed gas strut size that you are after
How to Choose the Right Gas Strut?
Albert Jagger recognises the difficulty of choosing the right gas strut for your specific application. If you are still confused on what gas strut you need, feel free to check out our guide on selecting the right gas strut for you!
Both fixed and adjustable gas struts provide their unique value; so, we wanted to make both types of gas struts accessible to our customers. With over 50 years of experience in supplying gas struts, we at Albert Jagger know a thing or two about getting the value and quality you deserve. If you are interested, you can browse our entire gas strut selection here.
Finally, If you have any additional questions, send us an enquiry form, or reach out through email: [email protected] or via telephone: +44(0) 1922 471000.