Essential air tools??

[AbitNutz]

I got a brand new Ingersoll-Rand 5HP 18.1 cfm compressor. Before this, all I had was a low end HF. The difference is astounding.

I plan to cut the front end off my Morris Mini and replace it with a one piece flip up front end kit. I'll be trimming and cutting sheet metal, drill some holes, fiberglass and I don't know what else. I'm just running through some possibilities here.

So what air tools will I need?:

Really good cut off wheel.
Reciprocating saw
Drill
Air hammer/chisel
D/A sander
Nibblers?

Thanks for your input. Maybe later a blast cabinet.

 

[bcradio]

Get electric tools with the exception of the basics like impact and air ratchet. Easier to run a power cable than an air hose.

Exception to this would be if you work in a high production commercial shop perhaps.

 

[Stephenw]

I'd get an angle die grinder and a 2" Roloc disc holder. The 2" Roloc sanding discs are great for precision sheet metal work.

 

[rlitman]

Get electric tools with the exception of the basics like impact and air ratchet. Easier to run a power cable than an air hose.

Exception to this would be if you work in a high production commercial shop perhaps.

DA sander is much better suited to using air. There's no way I'd be wet sanding with an electric tool, and a Dynabrade has far more power than a similarly sized electric tool, with way better control (variable speed, and your hand is lower to the work).

Same thing goes for die grinders. They're just better pneumatic.

 

[AbitNutz]

That's why I want to use air tools. They're about half the size than electric tools. They also seem to be more consistent and chatter less.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Die grinder
Right angle die grinder (aka 90 degree grinder)
Air saw
1/2 impact
3/8 air ratchet
IR air chisel

Have a Blue Point 1/4 air ratchet I use occasionally
ROS is nice but an air hog
Mini belt sander is nice but not essential
3/8" impact is nice if an auto tech

I;d also start to scope out air sprayers as they do come in handy for glue, paint and other odd spray jobs that land in your lap.

BTW, if you have a Mac driver, buddy up to him as twice a year Mac offers the dual die grinder deal for $75 (for the two) which are Mac re-branded IR grinders. I usually get a set a year.

 

[Monte]

1/2" Impact Wrench
1/2" air ratchet
die grinder
angle die grinder for 2" Roloc pads

 

[.mike.]

die grinder
impact
DA sander
Air ratchet makes life easier

If you get ambitious, Plasma cutter

 

[rlitman]

If you get ambitious, Plasma cutter

Wow, I'm on my third one of these now. How on earth did I forget all about that use?

Um, let's see, I've also got a paint shaker, two belt files, a needle scaler, numerous air hammers, a venturi vacuum pump, angle grinders (one designed for wet stone cutting), a bunch of nail guns (and a palm nailer), and a pneumatic router.

18 CFM is plenty to run any of these things. A DA would be the top air consumer of the list (at 16-17 CFM). Everything else mentioned is less.
That leaves you with a lot of capability and options with such a compressor (ok, no jackhammer, but plenty of other things).

It all depends on how far you want to go pneumatic.
For me, with a similar compressor and air lines all around my garage, I've gone heavily pneumatic. The abrasive dust from grinding, and the heat of summer are terrible to electric tools, but air tools couldn't care less about those things.

 

[bcradio]

DA sander is much better suited to using air. There's no way I'd be wet sanding with an electric tool, and a Dynabrade has far more power than a similarly sized electric tool, with way better control (variable speed, and your hand is lower to the work).

Same thing goes for die grinders. They're just better pneumatic.

people use wet saws/sanders/grinders/polishers that are electric all the time with zero problems. Walk into any granite fab shop and you'll see it.

I do admit air tools are lighter though, but I would choose electric myself for most of them because there are many more power outlets around a typical house/shop than air hoses. If you are 100% positive that you will only use the tools in the garage where compressed air is available then get air tools, but if not.... you know the rest.