Air or cordless & compressor

[Wuaname]

I have read a few threads in the archives on air vs cordless but still have some questions. The use will be for my garage and weekend tinkering on the car or motorcycle. In the last garage I had years ago. Used a 60 gallon compressor for my air tools and all was fine, but now I'm thinking I really don't need air tools for my level of weekend work.

Remove a wheel on the car or loose an axle on the motorcycle? I could use a cordless impact.

Ratchet for smaller nuts / bolts? Could also use air or cordless.

The two tools that I rarely use but need to buy are a nail gun and a circular saw, so I can wing it and buy a less expensive electric of both.

Benefits to the above? I feel it will be simpler than having an air hose around the garage (notttt a big deal), noise, and wonder if the air tools will be over kill. I don't want to have an air compressor or air tools just to have a cool garage or be mr mechanic.

But then I'm thinking I am still going to need a small air compressor, to put air in a tire or blow something off the table, assuming I don't have air tools, so it looks like I would still need an air compressor even with cordless tools. What's your thoughts? Cordless and a small air compressor or just air tools?

 

[Bib Overalls]

I have and use all three; cordless. corded, and air.

For example my cordless hand drill gets a lot of use. For heavy duty work I have a corded hammer drill and I also have an angle head air drill. Depending on the job, one tool will be best and that is what I use.

The cordless impacts have been getting better but they will never replace the air driven impacts that I have.

 

[9GUY9]

For general homeowner use nothing beats cordless tools. Air impacts still have more power, and can be used all day with out worrying about batteries. But for home projects you generally don't need that.

I'm a former auto tech with a tool box full of air powered tools, and a big kickass air compressor. In the last few years I could count the number of times I have used my air impacts on my fingers. Over the same period of time I have used my 18v Milwaukee stuff countless times.

 

[BillK]

Wua,

I am going in the exact opposite direction. I am looking at a corded drill. I don't use my cordless one enough and the battery is always dead or close to it when I need it the most.

The compressor is in my detached garage and by the time I turn it on and wait for it to fill up I could almost be done with what I am doing. I have a small benchtop one I use for adding air to tires. I have managed to work on all of my cars for the last 45 years or so without an impact so that is really not an issue. If the time comes that I cant get a wheel loose with the 4 way lug wrench, I probably should stop working on them anyway

Just another opinion,

 

[n8n]

another thing to think about is battery maintenance. I have a few cordless tools but the batteries are near shot because I only use them 1-2x a year and don't really have a good place to set up a "charging station." This isn't an issue with pneumatics or corded...

If you do go cordless someone posted recently a great idea, they set up a charging station with a power strip on a time switch, so the batteries didn't get cooked from constant charging, they'd only run 2-3 hours a day.

 

[sberry]

No real reason to buy a bunch f stuff you don't need. A lot of pro boxes are full of never used stuff.

 

[Toggle Switch]

For the last few years I migrated towards cordless tools because I only had a 33 gallon craftsman oilless noise maker compressor. They work great for occasional use but its hard to beat good air tools. I recently bought a 60 gallon air compressor and have been using the air tools again and am way happier with them.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have basic air tools (1/2" gun, 3/8" ratchet, cut off wheel), a good selection of corded tools (1/2" drill, 4½" angle grinder, reciprocating saw, circular saw, belt sander, random orbit sander, multitool) and access to (at my son's house) cordless tools (1/2" drill, hex impact tool, reciprocating saw, panel circular saw) so I have a choice depending on the job.

IMHO, DIYers need some of all 3.

First, everyone needs a compressor. It can be cheap, small oil-less pancake if you don't use it much and you can put up with the noise for short periods of time. A decent one will make enough pressure to run a 1/2" impact long enough to remove 5 lug nuts and blow off dirty equipment plus fill tires and air toys.

Second, some tools really should be corded, because the require longer run time and/or more power (angle grinder, sanders, 1/2" drill w/triple gear reduction).

The rest can and probably should be cordless but you need at least 1 spare battery. 2 spares would be even better. Few people would ever use a reciprocating saw long enough to run down a battery. Those little panel circular saws will cut a lot of "2by" if they have a carbide tooth blade. Skip the 1/2" drill and get a 3/8" cordless. You will use it a lot more.

 

[Hencini]

Each has its strengths and weaknesses.

As someone said above, shop air is pretty much a necessity for anyone who does more than oil changes on his cars, so once you've got the compressor, a couple basic air tools are nice.

I like my air impact and ratchet for big projects, but I can see where a cordless would be nice (smaller projects, track days, etc.).

A good, 18v cordless drill is invaluable around the house, but I keep a corded as a backup or for projects where I alternate quickly between a drill and a driver.

Circular saw is the opposite. If I had only one, I'd rather a good corded saw with guts. Same for a reciprocating saw. The cordless versions are convenient, but often don't have the run time or the guts for a lot of moderate size projects.

 

[Xicaque]

I am a recreational mechanic. I do most of my own maintenance on all my motor driven/powered toys. I have a way overkill compressor from Quincy. I do not care in the overkill part since my son will inherit it and I like to have extra power when just in case...I used to have a small 30 gal and from the second day of ownership, I hated it due to lack if air and the noise was a killer. If you are contemplating a compressor, go with a 60 or bigger like you had. You will be glad you went big from the start.

Air tools is my choice.

 

[sberry]

The cost is affordable these days I agree if you are gonna do it an air comp is a place to spend up a little for the long haul. Makes them last way longer too.