Are air tools obsolete?

[Whitworth]

Am I wasting my time and money planning multiple air hose drops throughout the shop, with the accompanying 5 HP air compressor?

Everything (and everyone) seems to switching to Lithium ion; for impact wrenches, power shears and chisels, grinders, die grinders, nail guns, even air pumps!

I can only think of (really) air guns still be of use in the shop. But may only need 1 or 2 of those in the shop.

Opinions?

 

[M6erfan]

depends on what you work on. Also... Painting? Blasting?

LiOn tools can replace many air tools, that doesn't mean a shop compressor is unnecessary. You are the best person to answer your question IMO.

 

[sberry]

Air isn't obsolete but in a modest shop a couple drops are all that is needed. There is not the connected equipment similar to electric. You really don't need or shouldn't have hydrants but fixed whips or hose reel with a connector on the business end.

 

[lbhsbz]

While battery stuff is cool and portable, the pneumatics are typically more compact. Die grinders will never be replaced by battery I don't think. I have a few compact grinders that I hold like a pencil and can run for hours on end going intricate work...that isn't gonna happen with a 20V or 18V battery hanging off the end.

I also haven't seen a battery powered sandblaster yet, or battery chisel, or battery blow gun.

I contemplated getting rid of my 5hp/80 gallon compressor for something smaller, but it's sort of necessary for running the sandblaster and grinders, so I'll keep it for a bit.

 

[Mr_B]

So much stuff uses air, my tye machines, my air over hydrualic press, my oil drainers use air pump out the oil, my smoke machine, my leak down tester, use blow nozzle at the piller drill and lathe, when welding thin metal, on the plasma cutter, The we come to hand tools like air hammer, nano 625ft/lb+ impacts, reactionless nano ratchets, cut off wheels and grinders all of which not fully replaceable with anything else to same ease/capability .
Really not much time or money fit a few airline points .

 

[CobraRed]

These are to scale, just the 1st three that came to mind. And the Milwaukee is w/out battery

I can do more

 

[larry_g]

Not in my shop.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Whitworth]

These are to scale, just the 1st three that came to mind. And the Milwaukee is w/out battery

I can do more

Batteries yes, but no air hoses.

 

[ChrisLS8]

These are to scale, just the 1st three that came to mind. And the Milwaukee is w/out battery

I can do more

Why would you compare a grinder to a die grinder? There are cordless die grinders

Why not do a M12 stubby next to the Onyx?

 

[CobraRed]

Why would you compare a grinder to a die grinder? There are cordless die grinders

Why not do a M12 stubby next to the Onyx?

You're welcome to do your own.

I did cut off tool vs cut off tool (the air tool is an air cut off tool). Die grinder v die grinder would also be a good one.

The impacts are 450ft/lbs vs 450ft/lbs. The M12 stubby is not equivalent albeit still bigger.

 

[mdog892001]

I will add my my 2¢ here. I’m a DIY guy and sometimes fix stuff for the neighbors and the family. My air compressor is still wired in but hardly gets used. Mostly just to inflate tires and use the blow gun.
I have a 120v 1/2” impact that will bust lose almost anything. A 3/8 20v dewalt impact that is pretty hefty. And a 20v dewalt 1/4” impact, along with other battery tools.
Long story short you never know when you might want to use that compressor


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Yarpo]

You're welcome to do your own.

I did cut off tool vs cut off tool (the air tool is an air cut off tool). Die grinder v die grinder would also be a good one.

The impacts are 450ft/lbs vs 450ft/lbs. The M12 stubby is not equivalent albeit still bigger.

Milwaukee's impact is 550, so if that's what you're basing your size comparisons on, you miss judged.

So... The Onyx is not equivalent albeit still smaller.

 

[65k10]

Why would you compare a grinder to a die grinder? There are cordless die grinders

Why not do a M12 stubby next to the Onyx?

I have a dewalt 20vmax die grinder and I thinks it's even longer than most cordless ginders. It's handy to have, but pretty long.

I'm pretty big on battery tools since on the farm since I'm often far from air or even electricity. However, I'd really like to have access to air at times. My Dewalt XR 3/4 impact has been kind of underwhelming and makes me wish I had a powerful air 3/4 impact. Maybe if I can ever get a decent shop I could get a nice compressor and have some air tools.

 

[Mr_B]

Milwaukee's impact is 550, so if that's what you're basing your size comparisons on, you miss judged.

So... The Onyx is not equivalent albeit still smaller.

Well base it to a ns1600f, that 625 and nano composite .

 

[theoldwizard1]

Electrics will likely never replace pneumatic hammers/chisels. Same thing with sand blasters and painting equipment. Don't forget, plasma cutters need air also.

 

[ChrisLS8]

You're welcome to do your own.

I did cut off tool vs cut off tool (the air tool is an air cut off tool). Die grinder v die grinder would also be a good one.

The impacts are 450ft/lbs vs 450ft/lbs. The M12 stubby is not equivalent albeit still bigger.

It's not much bigger, I have both. The stubby does everything I've asked of it except the 32mm axle nuts

 

[Packard V8]

It's horses for courses. If it's hobby stuff, a few minutes at a time, battery powered is OK. Industrial applications, not so much. Convenience, working in tight places, batteries win over AC cords or air hoses. Doing big grunt work over long time, air and AC still have their place.

No, air tools are not obsolete. I just was given a Snap-on air impact; it had been used only for changing tires twice a year. The owner said, "I'm upgrading to battery because it's so much more convenient." Go for it guy. He just spent $350 and gave away another $350 so he can feel he is keeping up with the cool guys. I'll be using the air impact he gave away and smiling all the way to the bank. Since he had to have an air hose at each wheel to set tire pressure, why not use an air impact to install the wheel? That new battery impact adds zero convenience to a tire change.

No, neither are corded AC power tools obsolete. I've got a couple of thirty-year-old 9" Black & Decker Wildcat grinders which will still be grinding welds long after a dozen battery toys have died. A friend came over to help on a fabrication project and within a few minutes was complaining about how the B&D were too big, too heavy, too powerful, too hard to control. He brought out his Milwaukee M18 4.5" and I had finished an entire side of a frame while he was smoking his little guy trying to do the first two feet.

jack vines

 

[Mr_B]

^
its good but if you need smaller size and more hitting power it air .
Battery and air both great and exceed in different areas, ideally want being using what best for work environment and job at hand ...

 

[plinker]

I got a M18 2767 impact ( 1/2 hi torque) for Christmas, Compared to the Matco 2769 it has about equal torque. The Milwaukee is heavier (using a 5.0ah battery) and noticeably "bigger" overall. The Matco is lighter, and more compact overall.

Battery tools are more fragile the air tools, IMO. Neither like being dropped, the air tools take it better.

Air tools are not going away for many, they typically last longer and are more compact. Newer battery tools do give air a run for their money. I incorporate both tool types very effectively. Just like anything else there are positives and negatives to both tool types.

 

[CobraRed]

Milwaukee's impact is 550, so if that's what you're basing your size comparisons on, you miss judged.

So... The Onyx is not equivalent albeit still smaller.

I was trying to compare Max torque vs max torque, nut busting is not an industry wide comparable figure.

At least thats what I found after a brief search on their figures

 

[larry_g]

Battery tools seem to be prefered by mechanics who are mainly focused on turning tools. Go beyond the mechanics shop into fabrication, body work, and industrial fields then pneumatic/AC tools still hold their own. A lot of shops provide air to the mechanics, how many provide batteries?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

I say the same thing every time someone asks this question. Air is still essential for most work. Yes cordless is my go to for a ratchet or a 1/4 or 3/8 impact since I dont have to fight a hose in tight places and theyre quieter, but for anything serious I grab the air. At a minimum youre going to inflate tires with a compressor so why not take advantage of what else air has to offer? Air hammers, die grinders, blowgun, needle scaler. Sandblasting, painting, a tire machine, air jacks. Theres alot to do with air and its usually cheaper tool by tool than electric, the big expense is the compressor.

 

[Citation]

A reason I like air tools for some jobs is I trust they will work many years later. I've had my impact wrench for perhaps 15 years. All of my cordless drills from that time (and perhaps some from after that time) have had batteries die. My air compressor still works so does the impact wrench. I don't use my impact that much. It illustrates one of the advantages of air vs batteries. Fifteen or twenty years later you can still expect the tool to work. Of course the same argument applies to things like my cordless vs corded drills.

Personally I see it as a balance. Really heavy use and corded can be nice since you won't have any issues with swapping batteries or diminished power as a battery runs down. Also, heavy use in one location and sometimes the cord is less of a hassle. Regular intermittent use, ie every other weekend or just a few instances a week and not in a set location and cordless becomes really handy. When we move back to once a bluemoon uses then corded again becomes nice since you don't have to worry about the battery dying of old age before you use it next.

 

[Whitworth]

I appreciate all the responses. Though there seems a bit of cherry picking going on with citing specialized tools (tire machines, air over hydraulic press, etc) or using air in industrial environments.

Let me ask, if you didn't already have it, and were a hobbiest, would you choose a li ion impact wrench or a air impact wrench with compressor and all the related plumbing for your garage shop?

If I was still doing trim carpentry, there's no way I'd want to lug around an air compressor and bulky hose over li ion nail gun. No matter how much more reliable, amazing, or they could be rebuilt or whatever air tools were.

Air tools have their shortcomings as well. They're noisy, the compressor is noisy, the hoses are trip hazards, they need oil, special fittings and adapters, with continuous use the compressor can't keep up, etc.

 

[M6erfan]

...Let me ask, if you didn't already have it, and were a hobbiest, would you choose a li ion impact wrench or a air impact wrench with compressor and all the related plumbing for your garage shop?...

For the home hobbyist, Li ion impacts are more than capable.

 

[Kev442]

I hope not. I just bought myself a CAT 2 gallon and an Onyx 3/8ths for Christmas!

Of course, I'm the oddball on the GJ. Last Saturday I ran corded electric and air tools to do what I needed to do. Never touched a cordless tool all weekend.

 

[pepi]

Not thinking that's going to happen anytime soon. Air hose hazard... try picking up your feet.

Battery powered tools are a big mess, with the cords, chargers, and extra batteries all over the place. And I've not mentioned the $$$ spent for..... NEW batteries, what a joy

Compressor sits outside, no maintenance to speak of. Oil change once a year, bet folks spend more time, running back and forth, replacing and charging dead batteries, Than I spend servicing my compressor, tooling power supply.

Tool storage, air hose on a reel, tools hung in a rack on the wall or stored in a tool box .. work bench clear. All the plumbing .. one pipe thru the wall, to the reel, damn must of taken 2 hours to install, I'm worn out just thinking about it

Rock on

 

[danielbuck]

air tools are worthless, send them to me and I'll dispose of them.

 

[American Locomotive]

We really need a sticky thread. This same question was literally asked like 2 days ago.

Edit: It was literally asked yesterday: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=411870

 

[marineman]

Speaking only of impacts if I was a hobbyist and didn't have either one I would buy a battery impact.

Everything else that's already been outlined in this thread is why I have air instead of a battery impact.

 

[56Safari]

Let me ask, if you didn't already have it, and were a hobbiest, would you choose a li ion impact wrench or a air impact wrench with compressor and all the related plumbing for your garage shop?

Totally depends on what you're doing.

I have air for the following

sand blaster
paint guns
die grinders
plasma cutter
variety of DA and specialty sanders
Impact + right angle wrenches
air hammers / chisels

I have have Li-on (and some corded electric) for

Drills + impact drills (small and large impacts)
saws
angle grinders
lights
chop saws
sanders
airless paint sprayer
and a lot more

Air works great when variable speed is necessary and finesse is key... but they're both great... if you're SOLELY a mechanic or carpenter you could probably get by okay with batteries and cords... but if you like to do a bunch of different stuff they each have their place.... its up to you do decide what you NEED and if it makes sense for you.

 

[Citation]

Air impact wrench, no question. Several reasons.

1. I'm going to have a compressor. What other tool am I going to use to inflate tires and power my air gun? Sure I could use a hand pump and brush but the air gun alone is a good reason to have a compressor. A compressor doesn't have to cost much.

2. Since I'm going to have a compressor an air impact wrench is the lowest cost way to get decent power and in general an air impact will last decades with only a few drops of oil.

Shortly after I got out of school I got my first tools for working on my own cars. It was a socket wrench set, a low buck jack and jack stands and shortly after that my 4 gallon compressor, a 3/8" hose and my $20 impact wrench (later upgraded)

Just using some Kobalt tools as examples:

Under $50 for a Kobalt impact that appears to be based on the old IR 231 design
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-0-5-in-400-ft-lbs-Air-Impact-Wrench/1000404901
It only claims 400 ftlb of torque but I suspect that number is less inflated than many and it's actually sufficient for most things people would do with a 1/2" impact. I think an axle nut was the most I've asked of my impact wrench. That was more than my "250 ftlb", $20 wrench could do but the IR 231 had no issues.

We also need a compressor. Well depending on your needs, you may not need a big compressor to drive an impact wrench. Most of the time I've used impacts as burst tools where I need a lot of air only to break the nut free. As such, I suspect even something like this $100 PC pancake compressor would be sufficient for most home impact applications
https://www.lowes.com/pd/PORTER-CABLE-6-Gallon-Portable-Electric-Pancake-Air-Compressor/4764588
These little PCs are light... and noisy. They don't fill that fast as the pump flow rate is low. The similar Rigid compressor I worked on for a friend took about 3 minutes to fill from empty. But with a 6 gallon, 150 psi tank they should have no trouble giving you 10, perhaps 20 seconds of full power into an impact wrench. For a few bucks more the HF 8 gallon hot dog compressors have significantly higher flow rates. They are a bit quieter... "a bit" and a good bit heavier. Still, either of these compressors are well under $150.

Finally, you will need 3/8" hose and a few connectors to get things running. I would assume $25 for those items. So that's about $170 for a basic setup that will run an impact. Some will say you need more and I'm sure some do. In terms of impacts, I've had a compressor similar to this Emglo for 20 years or so. It has never been an issue with my impact wrench.
https://hw.menardc.com/main/items/media/BLACK001/ProductLarge/E810-4V_1.jpg

So if impacts, airing tires and a blow gun are all you need, well a compressor is still possibly cheaper and does offer some features that battery tools can't match. BUT, if an impact is the ONLY reason you would consider a compressor then a battery or AC electric probably makes more sense.

 

[moparfreak]

Nothing to really add here that hasn't already been said. Both types of tools serve their purposes well in a fully equipped shop. I will say from my own experience I've had a complement of air tools for awhile, but some of them were rather seldom used until I was able to take the time to properly and conveniently plumb up my shop with air lines and drops in the right locations. Now I use them all the freakin time, it's wonderful. Also no air tool is gonna give you much w/o a good compressor behind it so there's a bigger initial investment for sure.

They each have their place. I'm happy to use both.

 

[Catch_22]

As a mechanic, the only reason I'm getting a compressor is for air hammer, plasma cutter and die grinders. I've got far with only battery. I wouldn't say air is obsolete but I don't think its a cornerstone anymore.

If anyone knows of a good electric (corded or batt) air hammer/die grinder please post it. Everything I have seen is underpowered or unwieldy by comparison.

 

[Honkey84]

Me personally I like air tools, and have had air impacts for over 20 years now. Battery operated stuff is fine and will do the job for most anything.

But I have sandblasting equipment, plasma cutter, etc. If I had to choose I would pick air tools because of the range of options you have with them.

They all have their place just depends on your needs.

 

[Stooge]

Sounds like OP's mind is already made up about what they prefer.
As a lucrative hobbyist, (mostly a hobbyist, but I do some side work), I would definitely still go the air route for what I do, some mechanic work but mostly metal/ body and fab work). Aside from the cost of the compressor, that you basically need anyways at some point, tires, air gun, etc, (not everyone needs a $2-$3k compressor for home use and can get buy with a sub $500 one) the tools are generally cheaper, smaller and lighter. Pretty rare for me to have an issue of the air hose getting in the way, and the few times it does happen, I would expect the extra size of a battery tool to be a more frequent hindrance. small cut off tools, body saws, paint guns, sanders, die grinders, air hammers, needle scalers, that you need to fit into small areas or need fairly light for either precision work or just for the sake of comfort if using them for extended periods, air definitely makes more sense for me.

 

[Mr_B]

I appreciate all the responses. Though there seems a bit of cherry picking going on with citing specialized tools (tire machines, air over hydraulic press, etc) or using air in industrial environments.

Let me ask, if you didn't already have it, and were a hobbiest, would you choose a li ion impact wrench or a air impact wrench with compressor and all the related plumbing for your garage shop?

If I was still doing trim carpentry, there's no way I'd want to lug around an air compressor and bulky hose over li ion nail gun. No matter how much more reliable, amazing, or they could be rebuilt or whatever air tools were.
tyre guys who piss and moan about an airline get me down,

Air tools have their shortcomings as well. They're noisy, the compressor is noisy, the hoses are trip hazards, they need oil, special fittings and adapters, with continuous use the compressor can't keep up, etc.

I wouldn't say cherry picking. you either need what air can bring or you don't.
No idea how anyone could do productive auto/mechanical work without decent air hammer, smoke machine, leak down tester, compact cutting tool and nano impact, my shop wouldn't run without air and my compressor setup is 2 systems so can still run in light duty if one was down . A homer gamer not going need tyre machine or air hydraulics but everything else from a blow nozzle to air hammer to leak down tester would be game changers in productivity for little work.
You can run a line straight from compressor, running couple fixed drop points or a hose reel no bigger deal than setting up a battery charging point/adding socket point etc, so to your question I would take air for the shop as brings so much moreto the table than just the battery tool .
Doing construction at home I going mainly be battery, nailer I use most going be battery.
Both are great and both have advantages and environments they best suited to, it down to user and the work environment and task requirements pick what best option .

 

[Tonyuk]

Air tools are essential in a professional shop, there's no getting around that.

 

[Robert Haas]

Simple analogy for me is this. If I am going to running the tool longer them my muscles can hold on to it, it will be with an air tool.

Break loose 20 fasteners probably be using my Cordless impacts and ratchets. Gonna drill 50 holes, my air drill comes out to play. Clean up a piece of steel that I am welding. My cordless 4 1/2" angle grinder is on the bench. Prepping or working sheet metal, doing body work, all my stuff is air.

Fighting air lines is the main reason I went over to cordless years ago. I have upgraded every cordless tool I own 4 or 5 generations worth as battery and motor technology keeps resetting the bar.

I just bought a $375.00 4 1/2" air grinder from Snap On. It is a full one HP and is tiny compared to my cordless angle grinder.

So for me air ain't dead, not even close. Air still rules all constant run rotational operations and probably always will.

 

[LX-Markham]

A garage wouldn't be a garage without the sound of an impact buzzing off some wheel lug nuts.

You'll have to pry my impact gun out of my cold, dead hands!