Best Air Tool brands

[buckwheat_la]

So I recently bumped a thread about Capri air tools, wondering if anyone had some experience with them, and I got no responses, so I started researching stuff on my own. This is what I learned. Capri Air tools seem to be air hogs compared to others (my compressor does about 6.5 cfm at 90 psi with a 30 gallon tank). So I started looking around, and the one brand that seems to be constantly mention is the Harbor Freight Earthquake. And they sure don't seem to use much air compared to others.....is this propaganda or are they really that efficient? Any other impacts to recommend? Also looking at the M7 stuff, as they seem to be half the size of regular impacts with the same performance......

 

[gdocktor3]

AIRCAT. You won't be disappointed. Professional grade at HF prices. Just google Aircat and see what comes up here on gj alone. If I knew then what I know now, all my airtools would be Aircat. Someday soon I'm going to buy the 1/2 compact impact by Aircat. It's much stronger than the m7 and cheap. For now I have the 3/4" -1600th and it's an animal. Here's a thread I made comparing all the compacts http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=323116

 

[md21722]

How are they air hogs?

Air tools are often rated at 25% duty cycle which means 15 seconds over 1 minute. So if the box says it uses 5 CFM that means it really uses 20 CFM. Basically anything less than 10 CFM you need to multiply by 4-5 to get the real usage.

This is most applicable to rotary tools.

Commonly available percussive tools like air hammers and saws typically use about 11-12 CFM.

Commonly available die grinders will use 12 - 18 CFM.

For your application, running, an impact just about anything will work fine. Because you don't run an impact for long periods of time. That's where the tank comes in.

Keep in mind that the more powerful the impact, the more air efficient it may be even if it uses more air. Because it needs to run less time to free up a bolt.

A 2 HP / 30 gallon tank compressor is fine for just about any impact use you will encounter at home. If you don't like to hear the compressor cycle once doing a tire rotation the solution is to buy a bigger compressor.

 

[buckwheat_la]

AIRCAT. You won't be disappointed. Professional grade at HF prices. Just google Aircat and see what comes up here on gj alone. If I knew then what I know now, all my airtools would be Aircat. Someday soon I'm going to buy the 1/2 compact impact by Aircat. It's much stronger than the m7 and cheap. For now I have the 3/4" -1600th and it's an animal. Here's a thread I made comparing all the compacts http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=323116

Yeah the Aircat stuff looks legit. Thanks for the heads up

 

[buckwheat_la]

How are they air hogs?

Air tools are often rated at 25% duty cycle which means 15 seconds over 1 minute. So if the box says it uses 5 CFM that means it really uses 20 CFM. Basically anything less than 10 CFM you need to multiply by 4-5 to get the real usage.

This is most applicable to rotary tools.

Commonly available percussive tools like air hammers and saws typically use about 11-12 CFM.

Commonly available die grinders will use 12 - 18 CFM.

For your application, running, an impact just about anything will work fine. Because you don't run an impact for long periods of time. That's where the tank comes in.

Keep in mind that the more powerful the impact, the more air efficient it may be even if it uses more air. Because it needs to run less time to free up a bolt.

A 2 HP / 30 gallon tank compressor is fine for just about any impact use you will encounter at home. If you don't like to hear the compressor cycle once doing a tire rotation the solution is to buy a bigger compressor.

So what you are saying is that when the mention cfm consumption at 90 psi they are using different duty cycle ratings..... So how does someone know how to do a proper comparison?

 

[Schurkey]

Yeah the Aircat stuff looks legit.

No, not really. Aircat has wonderful power/torque specs for their impact wrenches...until you get to the fine print where at least some models use up to 120 psi input pressure instead of the 90 psi that's been an industry standard since Fido was a pup.

How much power do other company's products put out with an additional 33% air pressure? Few single-stage compressors are likely to supply that much pressure for more than a second or two.

 

[buckwheat_la]

No, not really. Aircat has wonderful power/torque specs for their impact wrenches...until you get to the fine print where at least some models use up to 120 psi input pressure instead of the 90 psi that's been an industry standard since Fido was a pup.

How much power do other company's products put out with an additional 33% air pressure? Few single-stage compressors are likely to supply that much pressure for more than a second or two.

Yeah but in the side by side comparison that was in the other thread that was linked to YouTube, both the Aircat and the CP performed better than the M7....at 90 psi

 

[md21722]

So what you are saying is that when the mention cfm consumption at 90 psi they are using different duty cycle ratings..... So how does someone know how to do a proper comparison?

They probably aren't using "different" duty cycle ratings. For example, I have never seen anyone quote a 30% or 40% duty cycle rating on an air tool. The standard, more or less is to quote a 25% duty cycle.

However, some manufacturers will provide maximum/full load CFM or free speed CFM in lieu of the duty cycle, or in addition to it.

If if you see one manufacturer quoting 3.5 CFM for a die grinder and another quoting 18 CFM... one is quoting duty cycle and the other is giving you the free speed or full load value.

Basically if its less than 10 CFM for a rotary tool they are quoting the 25% duty cycle.

The key point here is don't try to make the most of your 30 gallon compressor by buying the tool that says its the most efficient, because it's probably going to be a futile exercise. The other point is that if you start looking at sanders, die grinders, and drills, you are going to need a bigger compressor than your 1.5-2 HP because you will run out of air and have to wait to it to fill up. None of these types of air tools by any manufacturer will be able to run continuously with your air compressor. Any will run for a few seconds.

 

[gdocktor3]

No, not really. Aircat has wonderful power/torque specs for their impact wrenches...until you get to the fine print where at least some models use up to 120 psi input pressure instead of the 90 psi that's been an industry standard since Fido was a pup.

How much power do other company's products put out with an additional 33% air pressure? Few single-stage compressors are likely to supply that much pressure for more than a second or two.

There are a lot of side by side comparison videos of the Aircat vs IR and others, made by real people, not Aircat reps, that are using the same 90 psi on both, and the Aircat is still more powerful. I'm talking real world nut busting and torque tests on machines. Though some argue that the different design of the Aircat's hammer mechanism gives false readings on the machine,

Not to mention, most shops compressors are running at 100psi or more anyways.

 

[Air21]

I'm happy with my Aircraft angle die grinder, plenty of power and none of the noise. I wish the trigger was more sensitive but I also don't use it every day so it could just be my lack of finesse.

 

[R-Savage]

I'm a Ingersoll Rand Guy. I have an Air Ratchet and a Drill that are about 30 years old. Still Going Strong. Yeah a little pricey. Very Good. However I did buy a Husky Die Grinder. Nice Smooth Quiet. Also to add it received a lot of great reviews. Pretty Affordable at Home Depot

 

[sberry]

I agree with most of the math md posted and the usage numbers are good but they don't get there by traditional duty cycle. The low number is an industrial average based on 100 units, you need to provide for enough air to run 25 or 30% of them at one time.
In the end he has the math worked out despite how it got there. Air in this use is not efficient anyway, 5 times or more loss than electric. Its worth the price to get the work done.

 

[buckwheat_la]

Thanks for the replies guys. I agree on things like die grinders and drills or sanders that my compressor is just not up to task. I have cordless tools for that. For impacts though, I have yet to see a cordless impact that was less bulky and have the ability to feather the trigger compared to air. So that is why I am looking for the best air tools for my limited supply.

 

[Know Wosad]

Why not try one of these and if you dont like it just take it back.DeWalt is pretty savvy like that. 30 day money back, No questions. Not a damn thing to lose. Go for it.
http://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/air-tools/12-drive-impact-wrench--heavy-duty/dwmt70773l

 

[crab]

Ingersoll Rand, been using them for years and they just keep working. I don't even look at anything else. They are very reasonably priced for a quality tool. Just put a couple drops of oil in them before each use and you wont have any problems.

 

[ovrrdrive]

I've been using the hell out of one of the HF Earthquake 1/2" impacts for about a year and I have no complaints.