Best Pneumatic Drill?

[stage20]

my mac is cast made in usa with global parts

 

[Farmall450]

my mac is cast made in usa with global parts

Any idea who makes it?

 

[Ruger_556]

Any idea who makes it?

MAC maybe Just a thought... They are quite nice.

 

[Farmall450]

MAC maybe Just a thought... They are quite nice.

It seems Mac is either stanley stuff or they rebadge it.
I'll keep looking on feebay.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Any info on the COO of Astro, Nova, or Sioux air tools? What about their quality these days?

Are there any air tools still made in USA?

Ours are from Taiwan.

 

[Monte]

Bosch - Made in Germany

 

[Monte]

or how about this ?

 

[crewchief888]

Which do you reach for the most?
I figured I'd just get 1/2"


Thanks.

3/8"

it's lighter, and quieter.

 

[Farmall450]

or how about this ?

I didn't know DeWalt made 'em!
I have plenty of their other tools, but I figured a IR or a CP would be the nicest. Or a Sioux. Was hoping for more model numbers of what people use.

3/8"

it's lighter, and quieter.

Alright, thanks!

 

[stage20]

dewalt stuff showing up in lowes. the reasoning for ditching IR i guess.
their air ratchet looks nice not sure if i want dewalt or the hf earthquake. the drill is very small. the 1/2 inch impact in the store looks pretty attractiive for 169. tawain coo

 

[dr_clyde]

I have been extremely happy with every Astro air tool I own, and I use them hard. My welding supply salesman sells the **** out of Astro air drills. He says they are very reliable. I plan to purchase one soon.

I like air drills for large silver and deming drills and hole saws, because when it snags, the drill stalls and your wrist lives, unlike a hole shooter which takes you for a ride.

 

[Farmall450]

I have been extremely happy with every Astro air tool I own, and I use them hard. My welding supply salesman sells the **** out of Astro air drills. He says they are very reliable. I plan to purchase one soon.

I like air drills for large silver and deming drills and hole saws, because when it snags, the drill stalls and your wrist lives, unlike a hole shooter which takes you for a ride.

Really?
Might have to consider astro.

I agree, especially in close spaces so your wrist doesn't have to contact hard sharp metal.

 

[Jerm]

I primarily use my air drills for aluminum at work. I use pan american, sioux , and avro. Several other guys have Dotco, Cp and astro. They all range in price, you get what you pay for, the more expensive ones are quieter which is really nice if you use it a lot. The manufactures offer different speeds for the different materials, just buy the speed for the material you will drill the most so you save your drill bits. I do have 1/4 inch, 3/8s and 1/2 inch sized chucks.

 

[Farmall450]

I primarily use my air drills for aluminum at work. I use pan american, sioux , and avro. Several other guys have Dotco, Cp and astro. They all range in price, you get what you pay for, the more expensive ones are quieter which is really nice if you use it a lot. The manufactures offer different speeds for the different materials, just buy the speed for the material you will drill the most so you save your drill bits. I do have 1/4 inch, 3/8s and 1/2 inch sized chucks.

So astro holds up to pro use?

 

[Jerm]

There are a few that have them. A lot of the time guys will get them to start with cause some of the drills can get pricey. I don't see why it wouldn't well for a home garage.

 

[Farmall450]

There are a few that have them. A lot of the time guys will get them to start with cause some of the drills can get pricey. I don't see why it wouldn't well for a home garage.

I pm'ed the astro rep about buying the 3/8 one, thanks for the advice!

 

[Tyrol67]

Anyone using an air drill for spot weld drilling on 60s cars. I'm thinking getting one to use with endmill style bits, and expect to have bunch to drill in my future. May also use for welding projects up to 1/4" mild steel. Looking Recommendations for RPM, brand. I want the torque, quieter is better and efficient air consumption. Thanks!

 

[ttpete]

Anyone using an air drill for spot weld drilling on 60s cars. I'm thinking getting one to use with endmill style bits, and expect to have bunch to drill in my future. May also use for welding projects up to 1/4" mild steel. Looking Recommendations for RPM, brand. I want the torque, quieter is better and efficient air consumption. Thanks!

I've drilled a lot of spot welds with air drills. The best cutters are Rotabroach or Blair tools. They have a spring loaded pilot pin that will pilot on a center punch mark and cut around the outside of the spot weld. These need to be run at a slower speed, and a 3/8 capacity air drill works best. Do yourself a favor and look for one that has a real quality Jacobs keyed chuck. Anything else will eventually let you down, and a Jacobs can be rebuilt after long service. Top line tools would be Dotco, Sioux, IR, and CP. IR and CP have both inexpensive and heavy duty versions, so be careful with them.

 

[skruft]

I have used air drills for a long time. I find that they are the best tool if I am working around vehicles a lot, drilling metal and have air always on, as I once did, because they are very, very powerful and compact. That is my own only purpose for them. I suspect they would also be great in a wet place if you had air there. Otherwise I don't see much use, with cordless as good as they are.

I have (I think) two IR, a Jet and a Snap-on. They all work fine. They are all reversible but in practice I have found I rarely need the reverse.

 

[Tyrol67]

I've drilled a lot of spot welds with air drills. The best cutters are Rotabroach or Blair tools. They have a spring loaded pilot pin that will pilot on a center punch mark and cut around the outside of the spot weld. These need to be run at a slower speed, and a 3/8 capacity air drill works best. Do yourself a favor and look for one that has a real quality Jacobs keyed chuck. Anything else will eventually let you down, and a Jacobs can be rebuilt after long service. Top line tools would be Dotco, Sioux, IR, and CP. IR and CP have both inexpensive and heavy duty versions, so be careful with them.

Thanks! I've found a used Dotco and keyed chuck. Should be in my hands by the weekend for a trial.

 

[tbaggz]

Snap-on owns Sioux.
this will help with speed determination.
http://www.siouxtools.com/portfolio_drills_speed.php
http://www.siouxtools.com/portfolio_drills.php
slow is better for 1/2 ,fast is better for 3/8.

 

[Farmall450]

Thanks! Still thinking a Astro is the best bang for my buck, but I'm looking around at used too.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I have what I believe to be an 80's vintage 1/2" IR that just wont die, it is slow moving and will twist your f'n arm right the f off when you arent paying enough attention. From my experience using my co workers modern IR 1/2", not much has changed.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

I pm'ed the astro rep about buying the 3/8 one, thanks for the advice!

 

[Farmall450]

Feebay is by far the best deal for all those looking at their 3/8 one, less than $50 shipped.

 

[davethorik]

Anyone using an air drill for spot weld drilling on 60s cars. I'm thinking getting one to use with endmill style bits, and expect to have bunch to drill in my future. May also use for welding projects up to 1/4" mild steel. Looking Recommendations for RPM, brand. I want the torque, quieter is better and efficient air consumption. Thanks!

I would use the specialty bits, using endmills in a hand drill is a good way to break/damage endmills and injure yourself. It can be done but never with good results, ask me how I know.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Feebay is by far the best deal for all those looking at their 3/8 one, less than $50 shipped.

Glad you got a good deal!
Actually a steal, our sugg. list on that one is around $90.

 

[Hurricane_Whisperer]

Why air powered? I have never understood them. That being said, I own an older snap on one. I do not remember ever using it. Maybe I should try it out.

Air drills are awesome.

1. They are very compact for the power and speed they deliver.

2. You can get them at various maximum speeds which are much higher than electric. They actually spin drill bits fast enough for drilling wood and aluminum.

3. They have plenty of power but the starting torque is gentle; you are a lot less likely to have one twist your arm off.

4. They get cooler when you run them hard.

5. The low starting torque means you can sink a bit where you need it and you don't have to fight the torque reaction.

 

[Hurricane_Whisperer]

My air drill is probably rusted tight. By a good cordless and you will never use air again.

Cordless are clumsy, slow pieces of **** that make sense only when you are in the field and no air supply is available.

Any other time, air drills get things done.

 

[Hurricane_Whisperer]

Man, so much air drill hate around here!

I have 12v, 18v & corded drills, but would still go for my air drill most of the time working in the truck shop (drilling frames for boxes, replacing fenders, drilling out rivets, etc). If it's a tight spot, you already have an air hose, and you know you're going to be there for a while, they are 10x better than holding a 18v battery over your head until your arm starts to fall asleep.

That said, I had an older IR 3/8 that worked great, but upgraded to a used reversible 3/8 Matco (not sure if IR or CP era) that has been a big improvement. Matco Model number is MT1789. There are a couple on ebay right now averaging under $60 used. For 1/2", I used a coworkers' MT1727 with the handle, and it was just a bigger version of mine. Both are made in Japan, parts are readily available online.

Reversible is the way to go, from bits getting stuck to reverse threaded bits, it is just a big help when you need it. I added an air regulator to the intake so I could slow it down and not burn up my step bits.

I would never hesitate to buy one used, just open up with an adjustable wrench, pull out the rotor, wipe down and check the vanes & barrel. Wipe off and throw some grease on the planetary gears, and if the bearings are smooth just toss it back together.

Obviously a person who knows how to get things done.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the mechanics trying to attach nameplates on 3/8" thick steel by drilling with cordless.

 

[Hurricane_Whisperer]

Any info on the COO of Astro, Nova, or Sioux air tools? What about their quality these days?

Are there any air tools still made in USA?

There are lots of air tools made in USA. Dynabrade, Sioux (division of Snap-On, plus lots of specialty names.

They are heavily used in the aircraft industry.

browntool.com and ustool.com have great prices. Both are aircraft manufacturing oriented tool suppliers.

 

[sparky7]

Most aircraft guys use chicago pneumatic drills or sioux if your a snob

I have a mac tools branded florida pnuematic that has taken a beating, and a mac tools 1/2 drill that is very old and very very powerfulw

 

[ttpete]

Most aircraft guys use chicago pneumatic drills or sioux if your a snob

I have a mac tools branded florida pnuematic that has taken a beating, and a mac tools 1/2 drill that is very old and very very powerfulw

It's whatever works for an individual. I have a lovely little 1/4" CP that was probably from WWII. It has a geared Jacobs chuck that's shrouded to avoid marking any metal in a tight place.

 

[Jerm]

Most aircraft guys use chicago pneumatic drills or sioux if your a snob

I have a mac tools branded florida pnuematic that has taken a beating, and a mac tools 1/2 drill that is very old and very very powerfulw

I am an aircraft structures sheetmetal tech and there are a lot of guys that have sioux drills and it has nothing to do with being a snob, it has to do with longevity of the product, there are a lot more expensive drills to be had but for the money sioux gives a good product, it spins true, is not a very loud drill and is not very heavy for the power that it has. I am not trying to start anything I am just stating that air tools to aircraft techs are like hand tools to a automotive mechanic, you buy what you know is going to work. The yardstore.com is also another site to look at for air tools.

 

[oldtools]

I think I have about 30 air drills. I bought them all used for about $10 to $15 each. They are all industrial brands like Cleco, Dotco, ARO, Soutter, Atlas Copco, Rockwell International, Jiffy, Buckeye, and IR (industrial version). I like Cleco and ARO best.

 

[Farmall450]

I think I have about 30 air drills. I bought them all used for about $10 to $15 each. They are all industrial brands like Cleco, Dotco, ARO, Soutter, Atlas Copco, Rockwell International, Jiffy, Buckeye, and IR (industrial version). I like Cleco and ARO best.

Wow. Wanna share?

 

[Forest Road]

A free one

 

[oldtools]

Here are my pneumatic drill collection. There are three more not shown. I gave them to my brother and BIL. The most expensive one in the lot is the HF angle drill on top right corner of the first image. Before I bought the angle drill to the left of the HF drill, I need an angle drill pronto to drill out a broken bolt in the engine bay. I didn't have a 20% coupon and it was not on sale, so I paid full price for the HF drill (~ $40). Right now, I don't want to sell them.

 

[cheechi]

Ha. Those 'die grinder' style straight drills at the top right, near the angle drills. That's what I think of most of the time when someone says air drill.

I don't use mine often, but I get it for all the 'other' category things; Sanding drums, roloc pads, spot weld cleaner, buffer wheel, wire wheel, and the rest. Any non drill bit item you can stick in a drill, I use my air drill for if I can help it. I know there is a lot of overlap with a die grinder but I didn't have one for a while, but I've always had an air drill so I learned how to use it.

Sometimes I need the side handle on the electric but even with that it's heavier, harder to fight against, and more awkward than the air drill.

 

[Farmall450]

Here are my pneumatic drill collection. There are three more not shown. I gave them to my brother and BIL. The most expensive one in the lot is the HF angle drill on top right corner of the first image. Before I bought the angle drill to the left of the HF drill, I need an angle drill pronto to drill out a broken bolt in the engine bay. I didn't have a 20% coupon and it was not on sale, so I paid full price for the HF drill (~ $40). Right now, I don't want to sell them.

So dang many, wow!