air drill recommendations

[alpaca]

Looking for a air drill to be used mainly sheet metal/spot welds and the occasional broken bolt. I figure around 800rpm would be a good general purpose speed and matches up perfect for a 3/8" spotweld bit. I'd like to keep it under 200.

Found a CP that looks pretty nice, 800rpm and has a jacobs chuck. Also looking at an aircat that is under a hundred and 400rpm and an IR around the same pricepoint as the CP that is 500rpm.

Thoughts on these? I know the CP/IR is a better drill than the aircat but if the aircat isn't a total POS I'd kinda like to go that way and save some money. Also open to other suggestions as far as good drills and what speed to go for.

It'll be used multiple times a week but not for hours a day or anything.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004V70TZO/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004X4Z3GA/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007LKZVG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[IsaacJ]

my vote is for the aircat, they make some good quality tools for surprisingly little $$

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I prefer slower speeds when working with metal, especially large holes in thick metal.
Too many RPM and heat will destroy the cutting edge, ruining the bit and possibly never finishing the hole(s). Too few RPM and you could have saved a few seconds drilling each hole.

 

[Monkey Milk]

I have the blue point spot weld cutter drill and it spins a 800/1200 if I remember? I think it's way to fast but does the job on both, bits and spot welds.lol I wish it was slower, but it is what it is. Hope that info helps you.

If I had to buy another 3/8 air drill I think I would buy the Chicago pneumatic. I have a mac one thats about 10yr old and still holding up fine. I believe CP made it.

 

[rlitman]

If you're looking for a slower speed, look at 1/2" air drills, instead of 3/8" drills. The 1/2" drills spin slower, and the 1/4" drill spin really fast.

I'd really like a SnapOn PDR5A, but I've got a Harbor Freight 1/2" reversible pneumatic drill. It's not half bad (the drill is actually surprisingly good, and I'd still say that at twice the price, though the side handle is total ****, and the chuck is pretty cheezy), but I hardly use it when my cordless is handy.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-inch-reversible-air-drill-98896.html

I also have some 3/8" air drills (one lives permanently with a countersink in the chuck), and they're not really that strong.

 

[ttpete]

Looking for a air drill to be used mainly sheet metal/spot welds and the occasional broken bolt. I figure around 800rpm would be a good general purpose speed and matches up perfect for a 3/8" spotweld bit. I'd like to keep it under 200.

Found a CP that looks pretty nice, 800rpm and has a jacobs chuck. Also looking at an aircat that is under a hundred and 400rpm and an IR around the same pricepoint as the CP that is 500rpm.

Thoughts on these? I know the CP/IR is a better drill than the aircat but if the aircat isn't a total POS I'd kinda like to go that way and save some money. Also open to other suggestions as far as good drills and what speed to go for.

It'll be used multiple times a week but not for hours a day or anything.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004V70TZO/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004X4Z3GA/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007LKZVG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If you're using Hougen Rotabroach or Blair cutters, keeping the revs down prolongs cutter life. Look for a geared 3/8 drill and use a regulator or an inline valve to adjust the speed. I use a Snap-on PDR3A.

 

[engineer031]

I have had my CP almost 20 years never had a problem with it thats what I would get

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I've had my Jet drill for over 20 years and happy with it. Whatever brand you get, make sure it's reversible.

 

[AV tinker er]

Search eBay for a good used Rockwell.

 

[plinker]

The Aircat 1/2 drill is decent, not as much torque as a PDR5A though. Clean used/like new PDR5A's go pretty reasonable on ebay from time to time.