Cobra4B
Well-known member
Just curious... what are some common uses for an air hammer/chissel in an auto shop?
-Brian
-Brian
What do you use an air hammer for?
- Thread starter Cobra4B
- Start date
GeorgiaHybrid
Well-known member
Removing exhaust systems, taking out the rivets in a riveted ball joint, used with a "U" fork to pop loose tie rod ends, ball joints, etc., punching out bolts or rivets that have had the head cut or burned off, cutting panels with a panel cutter (faster than anything else if the chisel is sharp) and a lot more.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Installing dents 
Packard V8
Well-known member
Besides funding the audiologist's retirement plan?
All that mentioned above plus driving valve guides and pin bushings in and out.
thnx, jack vines
All that mentioned above plus driving valve guides and pin bushings in and out.
thnx, jack vines
bmxr4life87
Well-known member
All the above plus removing fan clutches with an
18" long 3/4 wide chiesel and also in places where you just can't get a good swing with a hammer and when you have to destroy a bushing to get it out normally an air hammer will speed things right along
18" long 3/4 wide chiesel and also in places where you just can't get a good swing with a hammer and when you have to destroy a bushing to get it out normally an air hammer will speed things right along
GDA
Well-known member
So far I've used mine for -
Removing old suspension bushings on the bench
Removing ball joints and disassembly of front suspension parts (only when not reusing the part)
Busting up a couple small sections of concrete walkway in the backyard
Removing old suspension bushings on the bench
Removing ball joints and disassembly of front suspension parts (only when not reusing the part)
Busting up a couple small sections of concrete walkway in the backyard
Mickey O
Well-known member
Some of the stuff above, cutting sheet metal and chipping concrete. I'm just getting ready to sell my to old ones and replace them with a NOS one I have.
z28snksknr
Well-known member
Use it for? I just bought mine to make my air tool collection larger.
06wt
Well-known member
persuading anything
and as a planishing hammer to make things out of sheet metal
and as a planishing hammer to make things out of sheet metal
jeepnut24
Well-known member
I will be using mine to remove most of the rusty quarter panel on my project car.
I wish I had the room for a plannishing hammer that used one, but not enough floor space.
I wish I had the room for a plannishing hammer that used one, but not enough floor space.
Jaguar Fan
Well-known member
Hmm...
I always thought they were for installing smilies.
What do you use an air hammer for? To hammer air, of course.
daveblank
Well-known member
Hmm...
I always thought they were for installing smilies.
I always used them to wake up the tech that took a nap in the car. They echo loud off a 2 post lift.
Then again, everyone did laugh so they were smiling.
engineer2
Well-known member
Driving an 8ft grounding rod into the ground. Sure beats hammering it in.
Rnz520
Well-known member
add to that removing an International oil pan thats held on with International gray RTV (Concrete), my coworked had to ruin a pan to get it off, it was pretty awful.
up_in_the_air
Well-known member
removing stuck screws and bolts
up_in_the_air
Well-known member
Major Ramifications
Well-known member
Also great for removing flywheels on small engines, no puller needed, quick and easy. It will QUICKLY remove door hinge pins on cars and houses, no matter how stuck.
flashpuppy
Banned
Take a chisel bit. Make a good indention on the edge of the bolt. You can then bite that at an angle and use the hammering action to turn the bolt.
fatfillup
Well-known member
I have a hammer bit (looks just like the face of a ball pien hammer) that we use all the time to shock rusted bolts or parts loose. In the case of bolts if you can rap the area where the bolt is screwed into, you can almost always get it loose without breaking the bolt off. Same applies to rusted parts or pulleys on shafts. Bought mine at Napa and it was under $20.
Also use the chisel to shear off bolts where the head is just rusted to nothing.
Noise is definitely an issue so wear hearing protection if you are using it alot.
Also use the chisel to shear off bolts where the head is just rusted to nothing.
Noise is definitely an issue so wear hearing protection if you are using it alot.
that is most likely the case.
crewchief888
Well-known member
i have an old CP that i use to clean slag off welds and shake loose rust and dried mud from under my wheeling truck.
i have a snapon that i use to pop tie rods and ball joints, and drive out large roll pins
i stopped trying to rip sheet metal with an air hammer, i've broken more panel cutting bits than i can count over the years
i have a snapon that i use to pop tie rods and ball joints, and drive out large roll pins
i stopped trying to rip sheet metal with an air hammer, i've broken more panel cutting bits than i can count over the years
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
De-heading a 55 gal barrel.
Getting things apart that are stuck.
Ball joint pickle fork.
Cutting ball joint rivets (after drilling a small hole thru them)
I used it on my 2.3L Ranger to get out a stuck O2 sensor. Had to remove the starter to get the gun and a chisel bit in place, but caught one of the corners of the hex and went to town on it, and it came out. Nothing else would budge it.
Charles
Getting things apart that are stuck.
Ball joint pickle fork.
Cutting ball joint rivets (after drilling a small hole thru them)
I used it on my 2.3L Ranger to get out a stuck O2 sensor. Had to remove the starter to get the gun and a chisel bit in place, but caught one of the corners of the hex and went to town on it, and it came out. Nothing else would budge it.
Charles
trackwelder
Well-known member
Not the safest but I use my for rusted locking rings on fuel tanks.
I wondering if they make brass or bronze chisels?
I wondering if they make brass or bronze chisels?
Joe69
Well-known member
I do the same thing. Over the years, my air hammer(with a hammer head bit) has become one of my favorite tools.
Joe
jwx
Well-known member
I think a better question in this case would be: "what don't you use an air hammer for".
I've seen them, but they were expensive though.
I've seen them, but they were expensive though.
Paul_NJ
Well-known member
It was the only way that worked getting the *&$@#% rusted-in wheel bearings out of my 4WD Yukon
GDA
Well-known member
You can get pickel fork attachements that work. I have a four piece set from Mac that I got used but here's an example of what you'll use -
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=power&Group_ID=852&store=snapon-store
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
As already noted, this is for destroying the joint and boot, when you are replacing them, gets them apart fast however. If you need to save the joint and boot you need a screwjack type of press that will get them apart without damage.
Charles
Yep... you hit the nail on the head. If I have to replace the hubs I go get that screw type seperator and it works like a charm. If the hub wears out fast enought a whack with a hammer on a well placed 2x4 works too
Just trying to learn how to better take advantage of my air tools.
GDA
Well-known member
And if you are new to them like I was a couple years ago..... you will love every minute of it!
brockstar
Well-known member
Its my tool of last resort - somefing's gonna get f'd up when it gets used..
I've used them to remove torsion bars and even rusted on gas charged hood supports..
Loud, brutal, obnoxious, but effective.
I've used them to remove torsion bars and even rusted on gas charged hood supports..
Loud, brutal, obnoxious, but effective.
Paul_NJ
Well-known member
Make sure you know what you've got first. I used an air gun with flat chisel for peeling up old linoleum style floor covering from a concrete floor at my old farmhouse. If the flooring goes back to the 50's (before vinyl), as mine did, some of it is impregnated asbestos fiber, and you have to take precaution to prevent the asbestos from becoming airborn. There are recognized procedures you can find online, but basically they involve mopping first with a soapy water solution to keep things wet.