Air vs battery

[Xkylescorex]

So are big *** air tanks still a thing. I keep seeing all kind of cool battery powered tools. Im wondering if the cost of air is worth it. I have a 2 stage 80 gallon compressor. What can I do with that, that I cant do with batteries? Im waiting on permits for my new garage so is it even worth it to wire 220v and plumb air lines?

 

[American Locomotive]

If you already have the compressor, install it. Painting, sand-blasting, small air-powered nailers, DAs, etc...

 

[Firebrick43]

So are big *** air tanks still a thing. I keep seeing all kind of cool battery powered tools. Im wondering if the cost of air is worth it. I have a 2 stage 80 gallon compressor. What can I do with that, that I cant do with batteries? Im waiting on permits for my new garage so is it even worth it to wire 220v and plumb air lines?

For impacts, I would say no. But die grinders, sand blasters, needle scalers, tires, yes, air is worth it

 

[TonyG109]

Battery powered tools are great but generally don't seem to have the power/speed of some air tools. (Impact wrenches come to mind.) No more dragging around an air line. I still seem to use air often, mostly for blowing off dust and dirt, cleaning vacuum cleaner filters, airing up tires and such. I use mostly battery tools, but one place where batteries will not replace air is sandblasting! I may not sandblast all the time, but when I do, air is king!

 

[Xkylescorex]

Battery powered tools are great but generally don't seem to have the power/speed of some air tools. (Impact wrenches come to mind.) No more dragging around an air line. I still seem to use air often, mostly for blowing off dust and dirt, cleaning vacuum cleaner filters, airing up tires and such. I use mostly battery tools, but one place where batteries will not replace air is sandblasting! I may not sandblast all the time, but when I do, air is king!

Thats why I bought my compressor but so far Ive never done any sand blasting. I feel like I will need to with all the old motorcycles I mess with.

 

[TonyG109]

Thats why I bought my compressor but so far Ive never done any sand blasting. I feel like I will need to with all the old motorcycles I mess with.

Sandblasting (and bead/walnut shell blasting) and, as Firebrick said, needle scalers are two great tools for cleaning up metal. I noticed there are electric scalers, but I haven't seen battery operated ones. There are definitely still some good reasons to hookup up the air compressor, especially since you already have it! If you don't, you know you'll be kicking yourself later on down the road.

 

[Glemon]

If the question really hinges around wiring the garage for 220--I would keep the compressor and wire it for 220. If you want to add an electric heater or plasma cutter or welder or lift later you will be glad you did it. If you need an electrician, shop around, when I did my garage I added a 60 amp sub panel. Three estimates, from $800 to $2200. The $800 guy seemed to know what he was doing, picked him and it all went fine.

As has already been stated, for some hand tools battery works fine (I prefer it) but some things you can't do very well or at all with battery power. I ditched my cheap old big compressor when I sold my old house, and don't really miss it, but I did get a pancake compressor for nail guns, tires and just blowing of dust and **** (one of those things you don't realize how good it is until you have had it then you don't).

 

[mogandave]

Even cheap SG air tools last a long time and require very little maintenance.

They typically run faster, don't get hot and have 100% duty cycle.

 

[Xkylescorex]

Even cheap SG air tools last a long time and require very little maintenance.

They typically run faster, don't get hot and have 100% duty cycle.

Ok thos sounds good. I can wire the outlets myself so 220v isnt a big deal

 

[Higgins]

So are big *** air tanks still a thing. I keep seeing all kind of cool battery powered tools. Im wondering if the cost of air is worth it. I have a 2 stage 80 gallon compressor. What can I do with that, that I cant do with batteries? Im waiting on permits for my new garage so is it even worth it to wire 220v and plumb air lines?

As a 75 yr old car guy, I run Run air tools : grinders, cutoff tools cutting heavy metal, paint spray guns!!!! And don’t forget the torque wrench for those 125, and 250 ft pound jobs.
For me the air tool’s don’t run out of steam in the middle of the job, nor am I replacing batteries every other yr.
ALSO in my opinion I feel the air tools last longer and don’t have to be replaced every 2-3 yrs.
Just my thoughts

 

[mogandave]

As a 75 yr old car guy, I run Run air tools : grinders, cutoff tools cutting heavy metal, paint spray guns!!!! And don’t forget the torque wrench for those 125, and 250 ft pound jobs.
For me the air tool’s don’t run out of steam in the middle of the job, nor am I replacing batteries every other yr.
ALSO in my opinion I feel the air tools last longer and don’t have to be replaced every 2-3 yrs.
Just my thoughts

Indeed. For most guys with home shops, even a cheap air tool will pretty much last a lifetime.

They typically last for years even in daily production.

 

[jsaw]

I used to be all air tools, but recently bought into cordless. The latest cordless have just about as much power as My air tools. Occasionally I still need the air tools if the cordless ones do not have enough power. Hat said, I need and use both. If you already own the compressor, by all means use it.

 

[nbpt100]

Having both is the best of both worlds. My battery impact and ratchet are great. But air is good for the hammer, filing tires, blowing things off, Clearing out tubing and other select tools mentioned by others.

 

[nadogail]

I was on a Service Call to a Counter Top manufacturing plant and in the process of fixing their problems I told the Plant Manager that I noticed that all the power tools on the production line were Harbor Freight Pneumatics. He said that the same people that don’t oil a quality tool will burn up a cheap tool.

He said he used air tools, because the employees don’t steal them. Everybody has electric power but very few own air compressors.

 

[u2slow]

Bringing 240v to a shop is a no-brainer. Absolutely.

I highly recommend air for the reasons others have cited. You don't have to commit to a massive compressor, and you can simply have a hose you pull out each time. I still do.

I have a few high-convenience battery tools, but mostly corded or air because they're cheap, powerful, and last a long time.

 

[mogandave]

I was on a Service Call to a Counter Top manufacturing plant and in the process of fixing their problems I told the Plant Manager that I noticed that all the power tools on the production line were Harbor Freight Pneumatics. He said that the same people that don’t oil a quality tool will burn up a cheap tool.

He said he used air tools, because the employees don’t steal them. Everybody has electric power but very few own air compressors.

Yeah, and keeping up with batteries is a nightmare.

I did some consulting for a guy that had all battery stuff, it was ridiculous.

Battery tools are great for the thing they are good for.

 

[jrsavoie]

I would install a 200 amp SquareD QO panel with lots of holes. Not that much more money. Definitely cheaper now.

I have 4-220 plug receptacles in my shops.

You never know what the future holds

 

[dchawk81]

So are big *** air tanks still a thing. I keep seeing all kind of cool battery powered tools. Im wondering if the cost of air is worth it. I have a 2 stage 80 gallon compressor. What can I do with that, that I cant do with batteries? Im waiting on permits for my new garage so is it even worth it to wire 220v and plumb air lines?

Total waste. I'll take that useless junk off your hands and all you have to do is pay for my fuel.

 

[jmiller_2308]

Definitely keep both air and cordless and also make sure to run additional 220 beyond what you need for the compressor. I work on old motorcycles and cars and use a generous mix of cordless and air tools.

Cordless are so convenient they are a logical thing to have in the shop but as has been said, duty cycle, longevity, battery maintenance, etc. are factors that work against them.

Air tools have their pluses and minuses but ultimately it is just plain nice to have air available and your 2 stage 80 gallon compressor should make uses and capacities endless.

When I built my shop I didn't plan enough for possible future additions. I only ran 220 for my compressor which is now unfortunate as I need to use the same circuit for my welder. I'm really thinking about a plasma cutter but now I'll need not only 220 but also air to drive it. Luckily I did plumb the **** out of my shop for air

Another place that I didn't expect to use air was when I converted my motorcycle lift to air over hydraulic. If I hadn't had the air handy I'd still be pumping that lift by foot and that was just plain too much work.

So since you already have the compressor definitely wire and plumb it into the new shop and while wiring in the 220 for it be sure to put in a few additional 220 outlets for the future.

 

[Firebrick43]

I was on a Service Call to a Counter Top manufacturing plant and in the process of fixing their problems I told the Plant Manager that I noticed that all the power tools on the production line were Harbor Freight Pneumatics. He said that the same people that don’t oil a quality tool will burn up a cheap tool.

He said he used air tools, because the employees don’t steal them. Everybody has electric power but very few own air compressors.

Wow. Too cheap to put oilers on the outlets and if your really using them good impacts save air, time, and are better ergonomically.

Some people will trip over a dollar to save a dime.

And good battery tools like Milwaukee one key tell you when they have been stolen and leave the geofencing.

Of course you do have to fire the first guy but once he is gone every one else knows.

Once they went to one keys were I worked theft drastically decreased on all tools because several of us told people how the one key worked and they could hide the spots on any tool.

 

[dchawk81]

Wow. Too cheap to put oilers on the outlets and if your really using them good impacts save air, time, and are better ergonomically.

Some people will trip over a dollar to save a dime.

OR they decided that more expensive tools provide no advantage in their operations.

 

[ATC]

I like both. I lean more towards battery these days, because I can use them outside the garage, or take them with me to a friends house or on a road trip for emergencies (impact for lug nuts, compressor for tires).

I can't get anything IN my garage to work on it, so everything I do is outside in the driveway. Much easier to use battery than wrassle 100' of air hose through the shop and down the driveway...(compressor is at back of shop...shop not plumbed for air yet)

 

[BillK]

So are big *** air tanks still a thing. I keep seeing all kind of cool battery powered tools. Im wondering if the cost of air is worth it. I have a 2 stage 80 gallon compressor. What can I do with that, that I cant do with batteries? Im waiting on permits for my new garage so is it even worth it to wire 220v and plumb air lines?

I don't think air or no air has anything to do with it. I cannot imagine building a garage and not having 240 in it even if you don't have an immediate use. About the only thing my compressor gets used for is airing up tires and blowing stuff off.

As far as the air tools vs battery I don't have a single air tool at home and have built a couple of race cars and done plenty of other work without them. I really have very little use for an impact wrench anyway. They are brutal on fasteners and I can do the same job with a breaker bar when needed, which is very rarely.

I have a 20 volt Dewalt drill but otherwise everything I have gets plugged into an outlet

 

[dchawk81]

I like both. I lean more towards battery these days, because I can use them outside the garage, or take them with me to a friends house or on a road trip for emergencies (impact for lug nuts, compressor for tires).

I can't get anything IN my garage to work on it, so everything I do is outside in the driveway. Much easier to use battery than wrassle 100' of air hose through the shop and down the driveway...(compressor is at back of shop...shop not plumbed for air yet)

Agreed.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Even cheap SG air tools last a long time and require very little maintenance.

They typically run faster, don't get hot and have 100% duty cycle.

Plus they can be rebuilt !

 

[dchawk81]

I don't think air or no air has anything to do with it. I cannot imagine building a garage and not having 240 in it even if you don't have an immediate use. About the only thing my compressor gets used for is airing up tires and blowing stuff off.

As far as the air tools vs battery I don't have a single air tool at home and have built a couple of race cars and done plenty of other work without them. I really have very little use for an impact wrench anyway. They are brutal on fasteners and I can do the same job with a breaker bar when needed, which is very rarely.

I have a 20 volt Dewalt drill but otherwise everything I have gets plugged into an outlet

Yeah fresh fasteners are a different kettle of fish, especially when you're the one installing them.

 

[mogandave]

Plus they can be rebuilt !

Forever...

We had ****-load of Sioux screw-guns that were twenty years old when we got them (the plant we got them from got pulse tools), and most of them were still going after twenty years when I retired.

 

[Plastikosmd]

Battery for 90% of my uses

Of that 10% air, 90% is airing up stuff, 8% sandblast, 2% other

 

[racecougar]

Wow. Too cheap to put oilers on the outlets and if your really using them good impacts save air, time, and are better ergonomically.

Some people will trip over a dollar to save a dime.

And good battery tools like Milwaukee one key tell you when they have been stolen and leave the geofencing.

Of course you do have to fire the first guy but once he is gone every one else knows.

Once they went to one keys were I worked theft drastically decreased on all tools because several of us told people how the one key worked and they could hide the spots on any tool.

Firing one person doesn't send a message if turnover is high (think endless stream of temps). No downtime associated with battery changes with air tools. Oilers may/may not be allowed depending on the product on the line.

 

[Firebrick43]

Firing one person doesn't send a message if turnover is high (think endless stream of temps). No downtime associated with battery changes with air tools. Oilers may/may not be allowed depending on the product on the line.

Maybe? There was some turn over there and it had an immediate effect on all tool theft.

When management goes out and has the employee open the trunk of their car because they know there is a Milwaukee tool there, it gets around.

Have you experienced WiFi based tool tracking that didn’t have a positive effect where implemented?

 

[vavet]

If I didn't already have a decent set of air tools from my time turning wrenches professionally, I would buy a cordless Ridgid impact. I'm already in the Ridgid battery platform and their LSA makes the battery replacements pretty painless. Yes, there are horror stories out there about them not honoring it, and I've contributed to those stories, mostly related to trying to use the local HD store as the conduit to service. I can also tell you from personal experience that it has gotten much better in the last few years. I've had several batteries replaced, had one impact driver replaced with an upgraded unit, and had a few more pieces repaired by a local shop.

The convenience of cordless would be awesome, but I'm not willing to drop $200 for a cordless impact to rotate tires on our DDs a few times a year. Even if I did, my scissor lift still requires air to release the locks. If I was still doing it professionally, I'd probably own a cordless impact instead of dragging a hose around.

Going cordless does not negate the need for 220V in the garage. If nothing else, EVs are coming, no matter how you feel about it. My mini split unit is also 220V. I used to think that was frivolous, but I'd give up a lot of other things in my garage before I gave that up.

Bottom line: absolutely run the 220V service to the garage. Live with air hoses a while and see how much you use the air. If you do, then you can get it plumbed to make it easier. That opens up a whole different discussion - what to use (hint: it's not PVC), but black iron, copper, PEX, or one of the purpose made systems like RapidAir.

 

[u2slow]

Another note on the 240v....

I didn't do any permanent wiring until after the shop was built to lockup and dismissed my contractor. No extra permit or delays. I have no regrets on that aspect.

 

[pbon]

I have a pretty nice home shop that I set up about 5 years ago. Plumbed in 100’ of copper all recessed and about 5 drops. Almost never use it. Ended up buying more battery tools. We have a couple of houses and several business properties so I don’t do all my work in 1 place and battery is more convenient. I do have a blast cabinet that I need to set up so eventually the big compressor will occasionally be used properly. A hose reel would have been fine instead of most of that copper plumbing.

 

[Whitworth]

Air gun and occasionally inflating tires is all I use my air compressor for. I don't regret running copper pipe, but my original plans to have a dozen drops throughout the shop is down to two, one at the lathe and mill and one over my workbench.
Everything else is cordless tool.

 

[strutaeng]

It depends on what you are doing. For medium/light mechanic work you can probably get by with only cordless.

For specialty stuff, body work and fabrication, pneumatic is necessary. Things like die grinder, needle scaler, spray gun, DA sander, plasma cutter, media blasting, etc., all require air. 9-10 CFM is probably a good number to start for some of those tools, so 240V is a smart move. Even cleaning some parts and blowing off chips and drying it is nice, so having shop air is a must in my opinion.

Practically, having both is better, tailored to what you are working on. Since you it, might as well run your 80 gallon.

 

[vavet]

Air gun and occasionally inflating tires is all I use my air compressor for. I don't regret running copper pipe, but my original plans to have a dozen drops throughout the shop is down to two, one at the lathe and mill and one over my workbench.
Everything else is cordless tool.

I recently learned that you should not use compressed air to clean the swarf from a lathe and mill. You could be blowing around tiny bits and embedding them in the ways, causing additional/premature wear. Use a vacuum instead.
It's an opinion...and you know everybody's got one.

 

[nadogail]

My comments are based on my personal experience. I last did a service and repair call in a counter top shop 25 years ago, maybe 30.

You young guys are dealing with a different reality than the one I experienced when I was a working stiff.

My first cordless tools were toys compared to the current models.

 

[Garcky]

Air tools tend to be faster, lighter in weight, more compact, and more powerful. They're hella noisy, though, and dragging an air hose around is a PITA. Still, if shop air is available, give me a 1/2" impact gun, a 3/8" butterfly impact tool, and a 3/8" ratchet. Swivel connectors and very flexible hoses for those, and I'm in my happy place. But, I'm old, so what do I know?

 

[Whitworth]

I recently learned that you should not use compressed air to clean the swarf from a lathe and mill. You could be blowing around tiny bits and embedding them in the ways, causing additional/premature wear. Use a vacuum instead.
It's an opinion...and you know everybody's got one.

I agree. I don't clean my machines with compressed air. I blow off parts with compressed air, usually into a thrash barrel.

Blowing off machines is a lazy way of cleaning, from the "I-don't-give-a-shite" school of machining. Cause those chips will go everywhere and eventually will have to cleaned up somehow.
I use a brush to clean and sometimes a vacuum.

For the air gun, I use that for blowing out deep holes on lathe work, blow drying Dykem, cleaning off parts, and blowing **** from under the lathe cabinet so it can be swept up.

 

[engineer2]

I use my compressor a lot less. Mostly for cleaning dust, air grinders, sandblasting, and tire inflation.
My 1/2" battery-powered impact wrench had way more power than my older HF Earthquake, so I sold it.