Do You Still Use Your Shop Air Compressor?

[Renegade1LI]

I can't remember the last time I needed a big compressor, cordless tools have pretty much replaced all the air tools. Aside from blowing out the sprinklers it just sits, most tire work I do with a cordless, I have a sand blast cabinet that I haven't set up yet so I think that will be the last job for the shop comp. I have been hesitant about piping out some air lines, what's the point, for what I do in a home shop I just don't need it. But yet I still think about upgrading it, does that make sense? Maybe that's why we all gravitate to sites like this???

 

[Radio Flyer]

Yes, I went through a short time when my old compressor broke and hadn't replaced it. I saw everyone gravitating to cordless and I brought my 1/2" cordless impact home to use in place of the compressor.

Every time I wanted to use it the battery was dead. And for sure it didn't like being stored in a cold garage. Couldn't use my angle grinder , or blow gun.

Wasn't long before I bought a new compressor. At this point, I can't see not having/using it.

 

[esvee]

Yup, every day. Used for cleaning and drying, less often for impact and air chisel.

If you don't want to plumb lines just get a ceiling or wall mounted reel.

 

[overkill19]

I had always replacing my little dewalt with a big 2 stage 7hp high cfm compressor but when it came time... 5 years later, I was kinda in same place. I want to be able to blow irrigation out, run a blast cabinet and the odd air tool.
I was searching on Kijiji and stumbled onto a Omega Pro and I was very pleased with the specs for its size. And at 1/3 to 1/2 the price of compressor I was looking at. I picked it up. I got a smoking deal thou, it was 4 months old came with a retractable hose reel and only used to blow up tires. Mind you it cost me way more to buy the tool box, raise it up, build the top and mount the compressor to it. But now I have great storage for my small mill drill etc!




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[overkill19]

Mines the one on the bottom of the spec sheet. Very happy with it.

https://wixlabs-pdf-dev.appspot.com...cale=en&allowDownload=true&allowPrinting=true


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[abh46]

I use mine almost daily. Usually to use a blow gun to blow the dust off my pants and shirt and the mud out of the treads on my shoes. Would hate to not have an air compressor.

 

[didit]

I had several smaller compressors and then moved up to a 5HP 80gal cast iron unit in 1984 and it is still going strong and I use it regularly. It has performed flawlessly. It would be replaced immediately if something irreparable happened to it.
I have a few cordless and most corded tools but only work in my garage now, so as the cordless die out they won't get replaced.

 

[Lucid Moments]

I finally got into my personal shop about a year ago or a little more now and find myself using it more rather than less. But this is the first time I have had a decent compressor and air distribution system available to me. If I am going to be in the shop for a while I prefer the air tools for the power to weight. Electric tools are convenient, but heavy.

 

[madison069]

Doing body work and I’m using both of mine a lot.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I finally got into my personal shop about a year ago or a little more now and find myself using it more rather than less. But this is the first time I have had a decent compressor and air distribution system available to me. If I am going to be in the shop for a while I prefer the air tools for the power to weight. Electric tools are convenient, but heavy.

I think you hit the nail, having a convenient distribution system would be the way to go. Another project to the list, at least it's inside work.

 

[toyotadriver]

I have a few cordless tools but I would never be without an air compressor. I have a 60 gallon in the shop and a 20 gallon in the house as well as another portable compressor. Compressed air is so handy.

 

[Lucid Moments]

I think you hit the nail, having a convenient distribution system would be the way to go. Another project to the list, at least it's inside work.

Yep, it makes a world of difference. I have four air drops in the shop, but I can reach almost anywhere in the shop with the two main ones I use. It leaks a little bit but just enough that I shut it off at the compressor when I leave. Or I try to remember too. But one valve and one switch and it is back on and ready to go.

 

[ssdave]

......

 

[CudaChick1968]

Every day! I wouldn't know what to do without it. I'd have to sprinkle my powder like fairy dust.

 

[johninct]

I don't know about how things are now, but when my friend had a body shop, every guy had an air hose and ran all of their tools, power post ,etc. off of that. I think that most guys don't have a proper size compressor and air lines so don't get to know what an air tool does with a proper air supply.

 

[A66Challenger]

Kind of hard to run my blast cabinet off of a battery.

 

[DeeDubz]

Not very often. Maybe once a month. But its nice to have it when you need it. Most my electric battery tools have reduced my compressor work load.

 

[demarpaint]

I have a pretty extensive collection of air tools, and a few cordless tools as well. I use the air tools a lot more.

 

[vanapplebomb]

I upgraded to a two stage 80 gallon unit recently, and I love it. I plumbed my shop with four air drops, so no matter where I am, I always have shop air close by. I regulate it down to 120-130 PSI depending on the tool, and that usually gets me ~90 PSI working pressure.

Over the last couple years I have transitioned almost entirely from electric (cordless and corded) over to air in my shop. The few electric tools I have left are now collecting dust in a corner. I have found air tools to be smaller, lighter, cheaper, more powerful, easier on the arms/wrists, and far more reliable than their electric counterparts.

 

[nelstomlinson]

I have some cordless tools, but I plan to get more pneumatic tools to use in the shop. Cordless is good out where the hose won't reach. Pneumatic is generally better where the hose will reach.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I work out of my 3 car garage and I couldn't imagine not having it. Today we used it to run a pneumatic ratchet, impact, and air hammer. Also used it for blasting off dirt and water.

 

[M635_Guy]

No. I had grand plans for a nice 60-gal in my homer garage, but space and a hatred of cords and hoses have me happily in red-colored battery-land. I'm thrilled with all of my tools, but for what I'm doing the impacts and brad nailer are, other than size, better than air tools. If I had a blast cabinet, a need for an air hammer or maybe long-duration, high-speed grinding, I'd have a big compressor. But I don't.

Batteries are so damn convenient for most tools, and the current level of execution leaves little to pull toward any large-compressor for me. I have a small Cal. Air Tools 4.6 that's great, small and very quiet. As a guy paying for the sins of a loud youth in damaged hearing and tinnitus, that's a welcome change.

The freedom from cords and hoses is fantastic for so many tools. I don't really care about cords with my miter saw, but on a circular saw its a revelation. Impacts are great without hoses. My battery ratchet is a terrific time-saver. The M12 Surge impact driver is my favorite power tool - a game-changer. I almost look for excuses to use it.

As a guy who goes to a lot of car shows (other than this year), the ability to put powerful tools in my trunk is fantastic.

Other than occasional use for the other air nailers I haven't replaced with battery-powered tools, the compressor is rarely used for tools. It's used as a tool - clean-up, filling tires and other small blow-off/clearing tasks.

So - no. I haven't yet found myself wishing for a big compressor. If I manage to retire well in ten years or so and figure out a bigger garage (or a dedicated workshop), maybe...

 

[koenbro]

I just got a 60 gal Quincy to run my new plasma table. Couldn’t run long cuts with my prior Cal Air Tools 10 gal.


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[The Tool Tyrant]

Everyday...can't beat air tools for size / weight vs. power.

Cordless tools have their place for sure, but if I'm in range of a compressor, it's air for me.

 

[Davefr]

I have a 60 gallon/5 HP IR unit and if I had to replace it, I'd go with a smaller portable 30 gallon/2 HP unit that's quieter.

Using air tools is miserable compared to Li Ion.

About the only thing left for a big compressor in a non commercial home shop is an impact hammer. Dedicated impact wrenches, sanders, sprayers, ratchets, nailers are better then being tethered to a stiff heavy hose and enduring 120 db of compressor noise. YMMV.

(ex: 5HP @ 100% duty cycle to run a 5" sander - that's rediculous!!)

 

[Iron Beaver]

I use a 5HP, 2-stage 80 gallon compressor. It runs my plasma cutter, an air drill, and a 5hp angle grinder. I'm trying to move more towards air tools as time goes on for durability and performance

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

Upgraded to a 60 gallon a year and a half ago when my 30 gallon wore out for the 2nd time. I don’t use it a ton but when i do use it has more air and half the noise. Think i use the air nozzle and die grinders the most. I have a little 2 gallon for trim nailing in the house or i need portable air. I can run that off a small inverter if i need to

 

[PhantomEB]

Mines been paid for, 20 years now. Overkill for anything I need to do but it’s always gonna be a staple in my shop. Cordless is being used more than air but I always buying both.

 

[MrSurly]

This is another of those questions that is pointless, in a way. It is more of a poll: How much do you use air, now that cordless tools have become better?--- The answer is (of course) based on your personal use and needs. Someone running a hobby body shop is going to have a good laugh at your M18FuelBrushlessOrbitalsander that weighs five pounds while the guy building picture frames and birdhouses is happy without hoses.
I have an 80gal comp, inter-stage cooler, and huge overkill piping system with drops all over and I don't use it often. I have a growing collection of red batt tools that I love for their utility (my current room remodel is a cordless-perfect project) but when I *DO* get time to work in the shop on my auto and other projects, I use air quite a bit. Blast cabinet/impacts/sanders/MC lift table... Milwaukee can't touch those jobs with air nearby. I don't regret what I put into the air system at all, even if I haven't had time to play with it lately.
EDIT: There are two air tools that I will gladly not use if an electric is available: air drill and air ratchet.

 

[jonshonda]

I just finally added a 100' 3/8 hose reel to my garage, after having a 50' hose always wound up on the wall. I only have a cheap little pancake compressor, but I use it all the time for finish nailers, cleaning things, and filling tires.

 

[Renegade1LI]

This is another of those questions that is pointless, in a way. It is more of a poll: How much do you use air, now that cordless tools have become better?--- The answer is (of course) based on your personal use and needs. Someone running a hobby body shop is going to have a good laugh at your M18FuelBrushlessOrbitalsander that weighs five pounds while the guy building picture frames and birdhouses is happy without hoses.
I have an 80gal comp, inter-stage cooler, and huge overkill piping system with drops all over and I don't use it often. I have a growing collection of red batt tools that I love for their utility (my current room remodel is a cordless-perfect project) but when I *DO* get time to work in the shop on my auto and other projects, I use air quite a bit. Blast cabinet/impacts/sanders/MC lift table... Milwaukee can't touch those jobs with air nearby. I don't regret what I put into the air system at all, even if I haven't had time to play with it lately.
EDIT: There are two air tools that I will gladly not use if an electric is available: air drill and air ratchet.

I don’t think pointless, i was merely trying to get a read on what others are doing, what works for you, good ideas or suggestions, am I overlooking something. That’s what i like about this site, people with ideas i haven’t thought of, or a new tool or technique that will improve quality or productivity. I love seeing what others have done and sharing what i can, maybe it will give someone an idea. From this post i see that i will be expanding not eliminating an air system, so for me this has been very useful. Thanks!

 

[Steve_P]

Cordless tools are great, but sometimes you need to bead/oxide blast something, blow dust off something... I have a giant compressor and a small cordless tool collection

 

[jshillin]

I've had my 80 gallon compressors since I bought it new 10 or 11 years ago. Most of my tools are cordless now, but I still need the compressor for when I'm painting, use my D/A sander or air up tires.

Hell, if the vehicle isn't in the garage I'll just air them up with my little M12 inflator.

I probably use my compressor about once a month unless I'm working on a paining project.

 

[speed bump]

For most of my impact or grinding uses I like electric tools. Nobody has anything electric that replaces an air hammer, heavy duty die grinder, or DA with comparable size/performance. Also I have seen a lot of bolts that an cordless impact won't touch but a good 1/2" impact takes them off so when I need absolute power air is still king.

 

[CentenIJ]

I had always replacing my little dewalt with a big 2 stage 7hp high cfm compressor but when it came time... 5 years later, I was kinda in same place. I want to be able to blow irrigation out, run a blast cabinet and the odd air tool.
I was searching on Kijiji and stumbled onto a Omega Pro and I was very pleased with the specs for its size. And at 1/3 to 1/2 the price of compressor I was looking at. I picked it up. I got a smoking deal thou, it was 4 months old came with a retractable hose reel and only used to blow up tires. Mind you it cost me way more to buy the tool box, raise it up, build the top and mount the compressor to it. But now I have great storage for my small mill drill etc!




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Curious how this is working out for you?
These things vibrate quite a bit and cycle on/off, I would be worried about the casters coming loose and/or the drawer slides. Plus tools possibly rattling? Might just be me tho.

 

[dmftoy1]

My Quincy gets pretty regular usage, two motorcycle lifts, bead blaster, occasionally I need the monster impact gun, die grinders, surface finishing discs to remove old gasket remnants, etc

Seating beads on tires, etc.


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[ezzzzzzz]

Every tool has its place. Like most others I have a variety of hand, air, electric and battery tools. Each serves its purpose depending on the job and location. I could not imagine life without all options. My compressor is a 120 gallon vertical with a Speedaire 2 stage turned by a 5hp motor. I don't use it often but for grinders, cutoff wheels, blowing or spraying nothing else fits the bill. The battery tools are impressive and I use them quite often. I have 4 batteries and 2 chargers so I'm always in business. Then you have electric tools like a hammer drill that really have no competition. Once you've got all options it is really frustrating to lose any one of them.

 

[Stedlin]

Not only do I still use my air compressor but I need it to build more air compressors.

 

[bczygan]

No for the big one. Haven't got it hooked up yet. But I will be. Will need it for the blast cabinet and the plasma cutter. Still lots of air tools in the shop. Been using a pancake for blowing up tires and everything else.

Air is always needed.

Bill

 

[phred]

Use mine daily. In fact I have 2. One for welding and fab shop with a 60 gal tank, 40 gal secondary storage and dryer and a small 20 gal in to wood shop to run nailers and staplers.


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