Cleco and Dotco vs the others

[Iron Beaver]

Hey everyone,

One of the many much-lauded virtues of air tools is that even cheap ones can be good. I'm wondering how far I can push that.

My current favourite air tools are a 1hp Cleco air drill and a 4 hp Atsco grinder. Both are absolute beasts at what they do. They far and away outperform other tools, air and electric, in their class.

So now, I'm looking for a smaller air drill without a governor. My governed Cleco will break 3/8 inch twist drill bits all day long and not even notice (ask how I know ) and doesn't even spin fast enough to use anything under 1/4" well, even if it were safe for the bit.

So many companies make those little air drills: Is a Dotco or Cleco air drill really that much better at drilling 1/8" to 1/4" holes? I personally doubt it. What does the GJ hive mind say?

 

[Wamsutta]

For an air drill I'd be looking at Sioux; although nothing wrong with Dotco.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Look on EBay for "aircraft tools" you will find groups and singles of used air tools along with other tools for just about nothing compared to new. Cleco is almost always available in some size drill.

 

[seber]

When I worked for ATT they were using Dotco pencil grinders for path cutting. Those things ran eight hours a day cutting fiberglass. When i asked the tool man if I could have a worn out example, I was told they do not wear out.

 

[dnschmidt]

Can't lose with either one of those but frankly air tools are becoming an artifact of history even though I've got multiple drawers full of them. For a home gamer anything ASTRO sells will be more than sufficient and they will last longer than you do. Cleco and Dotco are for industrial factories and cost like they're for industrial factories. Complete and total overkill for anything that doesn't require their use 16 hours a day.

 

[bsaint]

Dynabrade makes a killer airtool

 

[shawhite]

Can't lose with either one of those but frankly air tools are becoming an artifact of history even though I've got multiple drawers full of them. For a home gamer anything ASTRO sells will be more than sufficient and they will last longer than you do. Cleco and Dotco are for industrial factories and cost like they're for industrial factories. Complete and total overkill for anything that doesn't require their use 16 hours a day.

I don’t think air tools are heading to the museums just yet. There are still some tools that are only available as air tools. Also power to weight is unmatched by cordless tools.

As for the OP question I guess it comes down to what you are doing with the tools. Are these home use or shop use. At home I have good luck with aircat. At work I use all hydraulic tools.

 

[jabberwoki]

Dotco is ****** fantastic.

 

[cvairwerks]

When I worked in the production side of the company, we had Dotco's, Souix and Thor's that were bought in the early 1960's and still in use. Our tool repair guys could repair anything on them, other than cracked castings. Some of my Chicago Pneumatic stuff was WW2 era.

 

[toolchaser]

Dotcom/Dynabrade, old C.P., old I.R