air saw died

[structures282]

I can't seem to keep a pneumatic hack saw. I first bought a cheapy from harbor freight used it for a couple of weeks and then it slowly just stopped working one day. Sat it to the side and picked up a IR 429 saw. Used it for a couple of weeks then it did the same thing. Slowly stopped cutting.

I have a water filter before the tool and it is down line of the compressor. There is plenty of iron pipe between the compressor and filter.

What is strange is that I noticed on the day each tool died I used a couple of drops of Kobalt air tool oil. Then almost immediately... maybe a couple of minutes of total cutting time the saw just slows down and eventually dies. I have a lot of air tools and I always use this oil on other tools with out problems.

Is there anything else? Are pneumatic saws more fragile than most air tools? Do you think the oil may be the cause? Please let me know what you think.

 

[DanCo]

My cheapy HF died a week after I bought it. Left the receipt in my jeans before I washed it. It still kinda works every now and then, now I just use it for cutting plastics.

 

[jjjrmx5]

You are not imagining things.

At any given point we have at least 15 Blue Point air saws on the floor and another 5 to 10 in the tool cage. You need to oil daily and if using constantly as well as limit moisture in your air lines.

We've determined that the Blue Point units hold up the best and replacement parts for them (which are many for how hard our fabricators use them) are just a call or Snap-On truck away. IR is a close second for longevity .

As for HF, for every good one that works, you get a bad one that needs returning. If I break one, I buy a new one and scavange the old one for parts and that's worked out well.

All in all they consume a lot of air , need constant oiling and have a spring and plunger system that is not only less than robust but is sensitive and fragile. For a $200 + tool, i expected more, but they seem to be a niche market item.

I use Coilhose Pneumatics brand air tool lubricant.
http://www.coilhose.com/uploads/products/Page 81.pdf

 

[structures282]

Thanks a lot for the advice and sanity check. It's been less than a month since I bought the IR, so I was able to return it for a free replacement.

 

[mrshaun]

the BP air saws do out last Ir. I will not carry the ir because they do not like the water at all. I tellt he guys they must oil them with every use, but they never listen...