Ever used Air Tools without using Oil before?

[timtim2008]

Ever used Air Tools without using Oil before?


Was it an accident? Just did'nt have any oil nearby?



Anyone ever run tools to see how long they will last?

 

[Ritter4.0]

All the time, and it doesn't seem to hurt them too much. I have been oiling them lately though.

 

[Kirbot]

I'll usually try to oil them with every use, but if I only have a few bolts to take off, I'll often skip it... Hasn't ever been a problem yet.


I know I know, I'm a tool abuser... I've heard it before...

 

[juracperformance]

its funny you made this thread because i have often wondered the same thing. i usually oil them once every couple of uses. they have ran great for years.

 

[newchris]

their not mine but the air tools i use never get oiled. ever. they get used all the time no problems yet. most commonly used is the hf earthquake one inch impact, that huge thing is a champ haha

 

[RivennHewn]

I have some Senco guns that I've used for 20+ years. I've never oiled them.
When doing high end woodwork, you can't risk getting oil sprayed on the wood.

 

[d33pt]

i think some of the senco guns are oil-less

 

[blacK20]

I use my impacts all day long. Sometimes I oil them everyday. Sometimes every few weeks. They are still going strong after many years of abuse.

 

[billsill45]

I usually oil mine after each use, just as a precaution against corrosion. Even with an in-line air dryer, tools can pick up some condensation, especially in a humid climate. I had an air ratchet jam up after a few months of non-use ... corrosion.

 

[nate379]

I put a couple drops every blue moon. I bought a little bottle, 4oz maybe, about 10 years ago, and it's still almost full.

 

[shampoop]

Before every use. Unless it's brief and I know I just oiled it recently. Cheap and easy insurance. I've got a little bottle sitting right next to my tools. Takes all but 5-10 seconds.

 

[Garage5.9]

any one oil their blow guns ?

 

[aussiek2000]

I oil my tools once or twice a week.

 

[Appleyard]

I try to oil mine once every two weeks at least. Grease once a month. Our shop air has a lot of water in it most of the time, so I just do it as a precaution if I happen to think about it.

 

[diesel research]

Guy had a CP impact for about a month before it locked and seized. Water running out of the quick disconnect. Never oiled.

In germany I did not have air tool oil and ran an earthquake 1/2" on dexron ATF.

I have ran IR 231s w/o being oiled for a year or more, but they were gutless due to this abuse.

I mentioned what I would like to try next time I have a tear down. In racing engines they sometimes apply a "dry film lube" permanent coating to critical parts in case of a lube system failure. I am highly tempted to apply some to the bore. Some have different properties. Some attract and hold oil, others repel oil, some insulate heat, others disperse heat.

The cylinder bores can get scratched/gouged up real quick with water in the system. Rusted bearings, heat checking, or scored bores can void warranties of the more reputable manufacturers who actually check their stuff.

 

[MrMark]

No, never, unless its going to be brief and it was just oiled. It takes 4 seconds to put in some oil.

 

[noggin]

I guess I'd better read up on this oiling.
Never done it before.
Cheers,
Noggin

 

[countryroad82]

Not very often. The only tools I oil regularly are my impacts. My DA sanders, die grinders, and the like rarely get any oil because they come into direct contact with the vehicle I am working on and I am afraid of contamination when I do bodywork, prime, and paint. When I do oil them it is only a few drops. I don't have a water problem in my air lines though so I think that has helped my junk live as long as it has.

 

[Zrexxer]

I guess I'd better read up on this oiling.
Never done it before.

Here, allow me to offer you some reading material on the subject so you can get started:

 

[Slow Gray Mule]

I currently oil my air tools after every use. At least I try to remeber to do it. In my area we have 90% humidity, 9 months out of the year. You're definetly getting moisture in the compressed air.

But, My dad has a CH compressor that came with a kit of lesser quality accessories. They didn't get used often, and were never oiled. Hurricane Katrina came long and put a couple feet of water (salty water at that) in the garage. All of the air tools were on the bottom of his tool cabinet. I tried using the ompact a few months after that happened and it was locked up. We sprayed some WD-40 in it and tried again. After blowing scale and other bits of junk out the exhaust it did the job.

So, if you forget to oil it after every use, I doubt you'll have much to worry about. But it is good practice.

 

[pcpro15]

When we use my buddys air tools we usually always oil before we use them. I find it interesting that some of you guys use the oil afterwords (never thought of it that way). If you oil afterwords, your always ready when you reach for it.

 

[diesel research]

oiling after is nice just in case it ends up stored in the box for a while before use.

Unfortunately, I have found much of the oil would run out in the tool box OR as soon as you picked it up to hook it up next time. That's why people will freewheel it one last time before putting it away, so the oil get into the motor instead of just sitting around the control valve in a puddle.

Oiling during use is one I don't see too often, and I rarely ever see one greasing.

 

[Patrick Boyle]

Do you guys use any particular type of air tool oil or can you just use a 3-in-1 oil or something? Also, do you have to disassemble the gun to grease it?

As you can tell I'm new to the air tool world. I've been getting along just fine without them, but I figure I could save some time and elbow grease with them. On top of that I'm getting an Aircat 1000 which supposedly really likes regular maintenance.

 

[Zrexxer]

Do you guys use any particular type of air tool oil or can you just use a 3-in-1 oil or something?

Nooooooooooo 3-in-1 for air tools. In fact, no 3-in-1 in anything.

Use air tool oil. It's not hard to find. I use ITW Cling, but there are dozens of choices out there.

 

[Patrick Boyle]

What's wrong with 3-in-1 oil?

 

[diesel research]

marvel does make their own air tool oil

pb blaster makes some kind of cleaner called "atc". almost everybody has an oil labeled air tool.

 

[Slow Gray Mule]

I use craftman ait tool oil in my air tools. I also see folks at the shop my friend owns using Marvel Mystey Oil.

 

[wafrederick]

I do have a bostitch angled finish nailer that is oil less,will ruin the seals if oil is put in.I always oil my air tools if oil is required.

 

[Gregg33]

If I'm using a tool for at least a few minutes (total use) I oil it, if I use my impact to take off a couple wheels, I usually oil it every 2 or 3x I use it.

 

[toolfreak]

I use to oil them daily but I dont ever oil them anymore. I can't tell any difference in the performance and they hold up just fine. My IR231c lasted 5 years of of abuse until the hammer broke.

 

[crewchief888]

i dont think ive oiled an air tool in 10 years or so.
the air tools in my service truck see extremes in temps, from 100+ to -50, moisture and freezing temps are taking their toll on them.

only time mine see any oil is when i pull the trigger and nothing happens, then they get shot full of penetrating oil.

i'm horrible, i used to oil and grease every couple days, but anymore i really dont care

 

[Ford12508]

I bought one of those inline oilers, a small one, and have it hooked to the bottom of the impact wrench. I have used the impact only a few times, but a couple of drops worth of oil is gone. definitely worth the $10 I paid IMO.

 

[nate379]

I had an air ratchet that did that. Threw some oil in it, after a while it worked loose and still works fine now, almost 10 years later.

only time mine see any oil is when i pull the trigger and nothing happens, then they get shot full of penetrating oil.

 

[shampoop]

Before every use. Unless it's brief and I know I just oiled it recently. Cheap and easy insurance. I've got a little bottle sitting right next to my tools. Takes all but 5-10 seconds.

wow, anyway what really I meant was before the first use of the day.

 

[bgott]

I oil them before the first use of the day. I have my air tool oil in a regular old squirt can on my tool cart. It's easier to squirt the oil into the fitting with the oiler than it is to use the spout on the can the oil comes in.

 

[Motofixxer]

I used an inline oiler and filter regulator for a while. I started getting oil seeping out the rubber hose and getting the hose all nasty as it got dragged around. Maybe the oil was set to high or not working right I don't know. But I quit using the inline and just squirt in the tool. I had a drill that kinda locked up till I ran some oil through it and kept reversing it. Finally got it running good again. So from that point on, everything gets oiled regularly. I also heard you don't want to use a hose for painting that had oil in it at any time. So now the lines stay dry just in case.

 

[punkenduro]

its like changing car oil at 3000 miles. while you may not need to do more than make sure its topped off, personally, i dont want to see what happens when you push that limit too far. its cheap insurance, i do it the first time i use the tool that day.

 

[Greatbear]

I keep the oil bottle near the drawers where I keep the tools. Most of the time the tools get a couple drops before I use them, but I have been guilty of grabbing the one I need in a hurry and using it without oiling. Since I oil the stuff with reasonable regularity, I can safely skip a time or two when only using the particular tool for a short time.

 

[nate379]

Who changes oil at 3000 miles? It's not 1960 anymore

its like changing car oil at 3000 miles. while you may not need to do more than make sure its topped off, personally, i dont want to see what happens when you push that limit too far. its cheap insurance, i do it the first time i use the tool that day.

 

[countryroad82]

Who changes oil at 3000 miles? It's not 1960 anymore

Me, can't bring myself to let it go farther, I know its probably in my head, can't help it