Do You Still Use Your Shop Air Compressor?

[FMB4]

I use my air comp at least a couple times a month. This in nothing like in the '80s thru the late '90s tho.

 

[KenC]

I finally began work on my old pickup a few weeks ago. Lots of rust repair. So cutting out damage, welding in replacements, grinding welds, spraying primer etc . So, yes compressor has been used a lot, I actually tried to use my collection of of 4 and 4.5" grinders for a lot of that. Quickly found that they are a poor replacement for my straight and angle air die grinders for precision and tight spot work.

I do use my 20v impact driver with 1/4 and 3/8 square adapters for most body bolts though.

 

[Badgerstate]

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???

I still use mine for airing up tires, blowing saw dust, blowing clean the floor in my garage and running a brad nailer. Cordless tools are certainly replacing air tools but you still cant rule out air compressors completely.
Cordless nailers are still signifigantly more expensive than their pneumatic counterparts and cordless inflators still cant hold a candle to a small, portable air compressor.

 

[PhantomEB]

Downsized mine but it comes in handy once a week or so.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Seems like all the compressors i looked at local are out of stock, on line they are available,

 

[Sumboodie]

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...

I've been to Homer once. Nice place.

 

[gtae07]

Big compressor in the shop only fires up for riveting these days--and I don't have much of that left.

My smaller oilless gets used occasionally for filling tires and running an impact for tire rotation.

 

[sweetk30]

use mine all the time in the shop in the winter season . start the fire in the wood stove . then feed some air to it with a long reach blow gun on low pressure and RAPID START the wood burn quick like a blast furnace .

 

[The Frisco Kid]

I have been able to downsize my home shop compressor to a pretty small lubricated compressor instead of a huge unit. This unit is enclosed and makes much less noise than the comparable compressors that I was looking at purchasing. I still prefer air for a few things and it comes in handy, but as they improve many of my tools are moving over to electric.

Things I use air for:
nailers (may move to electric for small brad and pin)
staplers (may move to electric, but air is just so light and convenient)
air gun
grinding

Things I use electric for:
large impact
small impact
right angle / ratchet
drill/driver
some grinding
grease gun

 

[Renegade1LI]

Well my 32 year old craftsman has come to the end of it's life, I really thought I could get away without replacing it & have with a lot of things. Unfortunately there is no other way to sand blast or use a blast cabinet, thought about having some sand blasting done but I like the idea of a new compressor in the shop much better. there's almost no getting around it you need air.

 

[Mikeske]

I like the battery operated tools but today I ran into a issue that needed the compressor and the proper air tool. Neighbor comes over to have me remove a 2" trailer ball so he could install a larger one on his hitch. The poor guy attempted to just use a 3/4" breaker bar and the nut on the trailer ball and the nut just laughed at him. I looked at it the nut and hit it with some PB Blaster got in my tool box and got the adapter from 1" to 3/4" for the 3/4" socket then got my 1" impact gun out its secret location. A couple oggie doggies with the 1" impact and the nut came off. Just got to have the right tool to do the job is what I said to my neighbor

 

[demarpaint]

The past few months I've been using it a lot. I bought a few nail guns for renovation projects in the basement and garage in preparation of selling my house, and my 60 gallon compressor is getting a workout. I did some framing work and trim work in the basement and ran the air hose from the garage into the basement. Using it in the garage was nice and easy. I will be doing quite a bit of work with it once we relocate, which will include rustproofing a vehicle or two. I realize there are a lot of good battery operated tools, but I would never be w/o an air compressor.

 

[Brand X]

Almost everyday.. I tend to have very high quality air tools, and like to use them.. I upgraded my 5 hp disk valve Curtis that I bought new, and picked up a 7.5 HP Champion disk valve compressor . (R-30D 15 hp pump)The Curtis went to my friends shop, and it's perfect after 22 years of use..I bought the Champion on Craigslist, and it's super quiet running at 575 RPM. The stuff they sell in the HD,and the like is totally ****, and very low value overall.

 

[Jagmandave]

I still use mine every day. Could I get by with a smaller 120V compressor? I can and I did for about 30 years, but this newer 5hp 60 gal kicks ***!

 

[WWheeler]

I'm a weekender with a LOT of cordless options and still use my compressors a lot more than just on my weekends. I have a 60gal piped in in the garage and a pancake w/ a reel on wheels that I roll around everywhere I need air.

 

[Pileit]

Me and crew use air compressors 6 days a week. I bought my first auto shop in 1985. It had a quincy qr 325 that the original owner purchased in 1961. Just had to buy a newer tank but the compressor itself has run almost daily since 1961. He had the electric 5hp motor rebuilt several times and i had it rebuilt twice and last year bought a new weg 184 t frame 5hp motor. Amazing that thing keeps running with a tremendous amount of air. They don't seem to make many like that anymore. p.s. one oif our biggest usesw is for rustproofing. We do alot of it. We have small spray units like the pro wool wax ones all the way up to graco fireball 300s and Lemmer fogging guns. We keep in stock woolwax, nh oil undercoating,fluid film and blaster surface shield.

 

[Sumboodie]

My new place has a decent looking Speedaire 3 cylinder compressor they left. Also left a 1970s "portable" one.

 

[Mike65]

Since I just finished our garage I got a killer deal on a Craftsman vertical air compressor. I have a lot of air tools which would go to waste if I did not get another compressor. Once I get back to working on my Mustang I will be using the compressor more often.

 

[banditbigdog]

Use it 2-3 times a week easily.
Always something needing to be blow off / cleaned up.
Also have a small Mikita compressor in the basement shop.

 

[930dreamer]

5 hp champion and skid mounted V8 compressor for two blast cabinets.

 

[nadogail]

I have two compressors, both have been useful at jobs, rarely i have used both on the same job. I can carry both of them and my generator in my van.

 

[dnschmidt]

I like to paint cars and do so with high end spray guns. Sort of makes a big compressor a necessity. An air gun compressor isn't going to cut it with my SATA or Iwata guns. Spray guns and air hammers are two tools cordless will never replace.

 

[Sumboodie]

My new place has a decent looking Speedaire 3 cylinder compressor they left. Also left a 1970s "portable" one.

I also ended up with a ~150 gallon 3 phase compressor at auction for I think $25 or $50. My thought was I could either use the tank for an add on tank or use it for something else, like waste oil. Haven't quite decided just yet.
The compressor that came with the place has I think an 80 or 100 gallon tank, and I brought my 60 gallon and 30 gallon compressors with me too!

 

[Deadsquiggles]

I don’t use mine as much as I used to since I’ve mostly converted over to cordless. However, it still gets used regularly to blow dust off my clothes, blow out pipes or hoses, or to run my body saw or air hammer. There’s been times it’s sat for a while, mainly when I’m at work too much to do more then cut grass at home, but there’s no way I would’ve been able to build my shed or 150’ of fence without it. Even if I didn’t use it anymore, I’d still hold on to it just in case. 60gal Mac 220v compressor, might be the best $100 I ever spent

 

[Renegade1LI]

Well I was almost convinced that I could get away without a compressor, than my CM died. After thinking about it I realized as good as battery tools are you just can't get away from air, sure a small compressor is ok for most stuff. The problem for me is I want to set up a blast cabinet & a blast booth so I have no choice, need air. Still have plenty of air tools plus all the battery stuff so I guess it's nice to have a choice, looks like air & battery will still have their places, but will always have a compressor.

 

[BreeStephany]

Haven't had my own shop space large enough for all my tools in quite some time, most of my tools are being "borrowed" / stored in my parent's shop. I don't use shop air for most tools, except for my air die grinders, but when it comes to cleaning hand tools and power tools, I use it quite often! Its always nice to use on tool restos and general tool cleaning to get the hard to reach areas cleaned out. A little solvent / cleaner and a good supply of shop air are great for this!

 

[subroc]

I don't have a "shop compressor" as in some 60 or 80 gallon model. However, I do have a Dewalt portable in my garage shop. I even have an old Porter Cable pancake in the basement. There is always a blow gun ready for use on the end of both. I use them for clean up, tires, a pin nailer and framing nailer that I doubt i will ever replace and the rare day I dig out an air tool.

 

[engineer2]

38 hours in 7 years. That works out to about 27 minutes of it running per month. Mostly cleaning, tire inflation, a little sand blasting and some die grinder work. Using battery powered tools for most everything else.

 

[nadogail]

Used one of my Brad Nailers to assemble a foundation for my recently completed air cleaner, yesterday.

 

[housewolf]

I do but not much. I don’t have a 1/2” cordless impact but don’t need one often. The locks on my lift are air powered so I do need air. Mostly just use it for the lift and to blow off dust & stuff

 

[ecotec]

My wife used a pneumatic staple gun today.

 

[Jagmandave]

I use mine daily.......

 

[gerlbaum]

All the time with my machine tools so probably 4x a month. That frequency is about the same as my battery tools.

 

[71goldss]

I have tons of battery tools and love them, but I seriously don’t understand how anyone who works in a shop/garage environment can get by without a compressor as well? Too many uses to list. My compressor gets used as frequently as any other tool in my garage. I wouldn’t and couldn’t be without it!

 

[Renegade1LI]

I really wanted to do away with the compressor but just can't. Arguably battery tools are great and getting better, I just don't know any other way to and blast. It's just so convenient to have air or battery tools available, nice to have the option.

 

[cannuck]

I have 7 from 1/2 HP, 2 and 3 HP recips to 5.5HP scroll, 30HP electric screw, 14HP gas powered recip and 170 CFM diesel. All but the electric screw are over 50 years old and work just fine. As you might imagine, I use a fair bit of air for a bunch of things. While I have a range of red battery stuff that has become indisposable I still have to use many pneumatic tools for several tasks. And, of course, when you need to do large scale blasting or run a 1" or greater impact, you don't have any battery options.

 

[ecotec]

I really wanted to do away with the compressor but just can't. Arguably battery tools are great and getting better, I just don't know any other way to and blast. It's just so convenient to have air or battery tools available, nice to have the option.

This.

Plus we just do not have every tool in cordless and some don’t even exist in cordless… for example we do not have upholstery staple guns in cordless and they haven’t come out with a cordless version of an air hammer or a blow gun.

Mostly, though… we use cordless. My wife just happens to be reupholstering a vintage couch this week.

I have not needed a pneumatic impact wrench or ratchet in years. The modern cordless will do everything that the pneumatic will do… especially if you have crank bolt sockets.

Pneumatic die grinders come out on anything more than a small job. I have both styles of m12 die grinder… and they are great for small jobs… but they are not as good as pneumatic.

I have not even heard of any cordless brands trying to invent a cordless version of an air hammer… and even if they did… the idea of replacing all my air hammer bits and chisels would be daunting… less so if they invented a cordless air hammer that accepted standard air hammer bits and chisels. This would be a cordless tool that would sell really well.

 

[genog]

Compressors still have their place.
Since a blast cabinet that runs off of a battery hasn't been invented yet, and since I am not worried about tripping over an air hose or getting one wrapped around my neck, I will continue to run my compressor.

Besides, I need the ole Emglo to pump up tires and basketballs

I've auditioned high torque cordless impacts so that I can rotate tires in the driveway rather than having to fire up the compressor
but I just can't justify the expense...
...not yet anyway

I'll just continue to soldier on with my trusty Ingersol Rand (compressed air) impact

 

[Skellyii]

Just moved to a new place, don't have the garage set up yet.

Currently using a small 10 Gallon noname that someone gave me for small tasks, haven't moved the 30 gallon over from the old house yet, and haven't decided where to put it, plumbing for it, etc.

I have a good battery impact for tires and such, and I could pickup some more battery stuff for less than new plumbing. This thread made me think about..do I really still need a full blown air compressor and infrastructure?

But...then I remembered..."The dreaded Honda crank bolt".

If you've ever worked on Honda V6 engines, you know what I'm talking about.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Just moved to a new place, don't have the garage set up yet.

Currently using a small 10 Gallon noname that someone gave me for small tasks, haven't moved the 30 gallon over from the old house yet, and haven't decided where to put it, plumbing for it, etc.

I have a good battery impact for tires and such, and I could pickup some more battery stuff for less than new plumbing. This thread made me think about..do I really still need a full blown air compressor and infrastructure?

But...then I remembered..."The dreaded Honda crank bolt".

If you've ever worked on Honda V6 engines, you know what I'm talking about.

I have to say my milwaukee impact has not met a bolt it can't break. The 2767 just had insane torque for a battery impact.