Going from Battery Powered to Pneumatic

[uncwstudent]

Hey guys, just wanted to get your thoughts as I'm stuck on making a decision about nailers.

I have a Bostitch 18ga battery powered nailer (its basically the Dewalt DCN680) and I've been pretty happy with it. I got the Bostitch because a local bargain outlet had a brand new one for a great price. Recently, I've become more interested in pneumatic tools due to their low costs and longevity. I've recently purchase a Ridgid 6 gallon pancake compressor with LSA and I'm waiting on the arrival of 16ga and 18ga Ridgid nailers. The whole package was about $230 plus tax.

I primarily want to build furniture and maybe do a few thing around the house in the future. For those of you who have used both battery powered and air tools, what would you think of transitioning from battery to air? Should I just stick to battery powered tools or is it more feasible to move to air?

 

[marak]

An additional benefit of air tools is their smaller size. I have electric, pneumatic, and battery tools. Probably a dozen or more drills, grinders, and sanders...a mix of power sources. I have to admit that I have become a convert, only in the past 2 years, and really like the battery tools. However, they all have their place. I especially prefer pneumatic for metal fabrication and mechanical work. I personally wouldn't want to choose one over the other, but battery tools are sure handy so if I HAD to only choose one it would possibly be battery. But with sanders, I want a cord or a hose.

Side note: I have 15 or more pneumatic die grinders, each with a different consumable. You'd have to pull my teeth to take these away from me! Would never want the electric or battery version.

Also, I have no interest in only using one platform. I prefer to get the best tool for the job, which may be Metabo for grinders, Fein for oscillating tool, Bosch for planer, etc. Those batteries get pricy after a while, and don't last forever.

 

[The Cobbler]

I bet you get a lot of replies saying battery is the way to go.
For me, I much rather use a pneumatic than battery . smaller, lighter, no batteries to die half way thru a project

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have a big set of MILWAUKEE 18V and 12V. I also have my pneumatic tools. I know where each one performs better. I am not going to give up my cordless, for corded or air, or vise/versa.

 

[Professional Tool User]

It really depends on what tool we are talking about and your personal preference. Both have their pros and cons. I usually think twice before going cordless because air tools are generally more compact, I don't have to worry about the battery platform going obsolete, and don't have batteries as wear items. The advantages of cordless tools such as the extra mobility are going to have to make it worth my while to switch to cordless. I use a combination of both. The only cordless tools I have are my drill, impact driver, stubby impact, and ratchet. Everything else is air.

 

[Rinspeed]

Side note: I have 15 or more pneumatic die grinders, each with a different consumable. You'd have to pull my teeth to take these away from me! Would never want the electric or battery version.

Easily the most valuable tool in my box, they can do so many things so I would have to agree with you.

 

[mopar4u]

Use the correct tool for the job. Keep both.

 

[uncwstudent]

Use the correct tool for the job. Keep both.

I would love to but due to financial constraints one has got to go.

 

[uncwstudent]

It really depends on what tool we are talking about and your personal preference. Both have their pros and cons. I usually think twice before going cordless because air tools are generally more compact, I don't have to worry about the battery platform going obsolete, and don't have batteries as wear items. The advantages of cordless tools such as the extra mobility are going to have to make it worth my while to switch to cordless. I use a combination of both. The only cordless tools I have are my drill, impact driver, stubby impact, and ratchet. Everything else is air.

I'm mainly going to use it for nailers/blow guns/etc. Might use a compact ratchet, but really with a 6 gallon, I can't imagine doing too much with it.

Everything else that I have is battery powered. Ridgid 18v/Milwaukee 18v/Milwaukee M12.

 

[fourjeepin]

I usually pickup my 18v nailer because I don’t have to build air, attach the hose, drag the hose around, etc. the smaller size and lower price of air powered nailers is better though. For a big project, I break out the air tools.

 

[Lwel9226]

Side note: I have 15 or more pneumatic die grinders, each with a different consumable. You'd have to pull my teeth to take these away from me! Would never want the electric or battery version.

I am in the same situation with several air tools that I will not give up for anything....
I have a few 18V tools that probably will not be replaced.... Phasing out as the batteries die....

LynnW

 

[dsimatt]

I'm mainly going to use it for nailers/blow guns/etc. Might use a compact ratchet, but really with a 6 gallon, I can't imagine doing too much with it.

Everything else that I have is battery powered. Ridgid 18v/Milwaukee 18v/Milwaukee M12.

Look at how you will be using the tools mostly going forward, localized work with very rare having to walk far favors pneumatic.

The cordless is nice as a go anywhere with it option but is a lot bigger and bulkier to use from my limited experience.

 

[signcrafter]

I have both air and m18 nailers. My air nailers have sat on the shelf for the last year or two. It's so nice to grab a battery nailer and go. No hoses or waiting for compressor to charge up. Especially for those little jobs where you only have a dozen nails to shoot.

Air guns are cheaper, lighter, more compact so they still have their place but I've found mine to sit most of the time once I went battery.

 

[Iridium rand]

In general if you’re doing all the work in one place air is king for the many reasons already stated here, but you definitely want cordless for things like drills that get used around the house and elsewhere to be on hand

 

[dnschmidt]

Depends upon where you are going to use them. When I'm at home sitting next to my 80 gallon two stage Quincy compressor I like air sanders, air die grinders, air cut off tools. When I'm past 50 feet of airline I LOVE cordless versions of each or corded electric versions of each as a plug is a hell of a lot more common than a massive air compressor. If you're just dicking around in your shop there is no need to go portable which basically is what corded and cordless tools enable you to do.

 

[d.mcfarland]

From reading replies on here, it seems the consensus is that battery is best if a) time is a factor to get the job done and b)availability of compressed air is in question. Current generation battery tools are very good compared to their predecessors. Batteries don't last forever and the manufacturer doesn't make any money if you don't buy new ones. Planned obsolescence in cordless tools is real.

 

[uncwstudent]

Thanks guys! I tried out the Ridgid pneumatics today and was surprisingly unhappy with them. I ended up returning them (along with the compressor) and got the Ridgid 18v Cordless Brad nailer and love it so far. Will probably sell the Bostitch and can't afford to keep the compressor kit too.

If I decide to go pneumatic, I'll get a larger compressor and better tools. I'd love to run die grinders and etc but can't afford the larger compressors right now.

 

[gahrajmahal]

If you are old like I am, you will find that your pneumatic tools are always ready, now or five years from now. There is no consumable, ie. battery to worry about. I will start a project now that it is warm. I will use an automotive air hammer with a 12” bit to remove the crumbling grout in our stone walls. It will run all day, can be abused without breaking and will outlast me.

 

[MongoTA]

Sounds like you're in a path.

I like them both (air and battery). If I'm in my shop, air is easy. If I'm on a roof doing shingles or up on scaffolding, battery is easier due to not having to wrangle a hose.

If I have quick task, battery. If it's a big job, air.

If you go down a battery path, look at their tool line as a whole. Or as a hole, like in 'black hole'. I ended up going Dewalt. So while I have a base number of batteries, the batteries are for the most part universal amongst the tools. Sure, I use the smaller amp-hour batteries on the drills and drivers and the larger ones on the track saws and outdoor leaf blower, for example. For from here on out when I but a new cordless tool I'm just buying the bare tool with no battery.

Good luck!

 

[engineer2]

The key to pneumatic:
A few drops of air tool oil before you use it.
Regulate the pressure to what the manufacturer recommends.
A shot of WD-40 to the business end of the tool now and then.