cabfiveforty
Member
Don't ditch the air tools, just ditch the compressor. I've been running most of my stuff off of co2 for a year now and love it. That being said, I don't use it everyday, but it's been more than enough for my tools...
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Has anyone completely ditched air powered tools?
- Thread starter Sticky Grips
- Start date
OutsideMachinist
Well-known member
Depends what youll use them for, how often, and to what extent. Using electrical drills ***** if you are drilling anything particularly hard or for very long. Same for impacts.
MDK22
Well-known member
I won't for a couple simple reasons. Batteries are expensive, Batteries only last 3-5yrs, Batteries degrade over time and hold less and less charge, Battery to device hookups change every 8-10yrs or more often. Batteries are heavy, bulky, and get in the way. Air tools if properly cared for last 8-10 yrs or more. An air compressor if properly taken care of and you purchased a good one will last 20-25yrs+ You are going to need some way to fill up car tires anyway. Compressed air can be used to clean things out that otherwise you wouldn't be able too. Air tools never run out of charge when using them even constantly. There is no worry of current going one way or another and messing up the tool. Only sparks you have to worry about are caused by the sockets/pads. You can use compressed air to operate things like presses and bench grinders. They are normally cheaper when you add up all the tools you would need across the board. I also believe they are cheaper electricity use wise.
Batteries to me are good if you are planning on doing field work otherwise they are a constant cost that is far more then air tools.
Batteries to me are good if you are planning on doing field work otherwise they are a constant cost that is far more then air tools.
michiganman18
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2013
- Messages
- 174
Air tools are low maintenance and "free" once they pay for themselves. However, batteries are very costly and ive sent back numerous power tools yet only one of those has been an air tool.
kiatech
Well-known member
I don't think anyone makes a 1 inch cordless gun
02camaro86
Well-known member
since i got my Milwaukee 3/8s and 1/2 impacts ive only used air for grinders and cut offs.. so much more convenient to just use electric
Spudland_Dave
Well-known member
Yes n no...
Some tools are just better in air... I've not found a single impact of any brand or size which can replace an air unit. I have a 3/8" Drive M18 Impact I use quite often, but IMHO I would never consider getting a 1/2" Drive Electric/Battery, Expensive and 1/2 the power of a comparable $$ air gun.
DA Sanders are another item...no electric sander I've used works as good as an air.
On the flip side, I think air drills are a joke. Electric/Battery is the only way to fly on drills, grinders. A Milwaukee Electric Die-Grinder is an awesome beast...but its big & heavy, My IR Air Die Grinders are small and handy...toss up either way. I've got both.
Some tools are just better in air... I've not found a single impact of any brand or size which can replace an air unit. I have a 3/8" Drive M18 Impact I use quite often, but IMHO I would never consider getting a 1/2" Drive Electric/Battery, Expensive and 1/2 the power of a comparable $$ air gun.
DA Sanders are another item...no electric sander I've used works as good as an air.
On the flip side, I think air drills are a joke. Electric/Battery is the only way to fly on drills, grinders. A Milwaukee Electric Die-Grinder is an awesome beast...but its big & heavy, My IR Air Die Grinders are small and handy...toss up either way. I've got both.
vintage nut
Well-known member
Air drills are great for sheetmetal due to the speed, and the big slow ones are nicer for cylinder honing due to being way lighter
you can never have too many tools
you can never have too many tools
sberry
Banned
I am going to get a lighter drill or 2 for screw work. Aunt Sue has a cheap BD Lith 20 that seemed to drive a 3 inch screw. We have 28 and the trade off for weight is power. Yes you don't need it to run a screw but we do all the rest of the drilling with them including anything in the shop.
We are not constant at any trade, highly intermittent if that makes sense but very broad range from screw to large holesaw. One drill model is simple.
As for air. Drilling no, rest of the shop work yes. Mostly simply because we are set up for it and I like air for installation work. I havnt used real new battery or electric impacts but air is variable and the battery really hits, very hard to dial it in.
We use a CP with a 4 speed and you can dial up the power and feather the speed. I checked 20 lug nuts, 18 within 5% 2 out by 10%, one hi and one low.
Same for wire wheels. I don't want wide open although new electric tools may vary but the operator can really get a feel with these, doesn't feel like you have a rotary spinning motor and you can vary the speed and torque amplified by skilled operators make for real fast work. Wire can really fly and being able to go slow and control makes for real safety and saves consumables.
We aint laying on this for hours, that's the point of the tool.
We are not constant at any trade, highly intermittent if that makes sense but very broad range from screw to large holesaw. One drill model is simple.
As for air. Drilling no, rest of the shop work yes. Mostly simply because we are set up for it and I like air for installation work. I havnt used real new battery or electric impacts but air is variable and the battery really hits, very hard to dial it in.
We use a CP with a 4 speed and you can dial up the power and feather the speed. I checked 20 lug nuts, 18 within 5% 2 out by 10%, one hi and one low.
Same for wire wheels. I don't want wide open although new electric tools may vary but the operator can really get a feel with these, doesn't feel like you have a rotary spinning motor and you can vary the speed and torque amplified by skilled operators make for real fast work. Wire can really fly and being able to go slow and control makes for real safety and saves consumables.
We aint laying on this for hours, that's the point of the tool.
sberry
Banned
I havnt went to 3/8 impact yet. We wouldn't gain much with another layer of tools, if I was constant automotive wouldn't hesitate a minute to get the latest greatest or at least come up to speed.
But I can fit a 1/2 almost anywhere impact makes sense.
We use air ratchet for all the smaller sizes and I do have one in 1/2 comes in on occasion. Can use all our old general sockets we have a 1000 of.
But I can fit a 1/2 almost anywhere impact makes sense.
We use air ratchet for all the smaller sizes and I do have one in 1/2 comes in on occasion. Can use all our old general sockets we have a 1000 of.
sberry
Banned
I don't know as air drills are a joke but once a guy gets used to the modern battery drill he aint going back if he does any real work. Yes the battery needs to be replaced but the cost of overall operation, takes 10X the power by air plus another tool and hose.
In a shop it was better than electric for serious hand drilling. Again back to variable speed and power and the modern battery drill has considered how much is safe to apply to a human. 1000's and 1000's of injuries with electric drill motors that now stall like air can be adjusted to.
In a shop it was better than electric for serious hand drilling. Again back to variable speed and power and the modern battery drill has considered how much is safe to apply to a human. 1000's and 1000's of injuries with electric drill motors that now stall like air can be adjusted to.
sberry
Banned
My neighbor borrowed my 1/2 electric for a huge holesaw and I used it once in the last decade, maybe 2x, 1 where its what I had and the other in my shop to bore holes in hardwood with inch plank and 75 or so of them at once.
The use of a torque wrench on wheels would remove one factor and there is a time and place for a cut off tool.
The use of a torque wrench on wheels would remove one factor and there is a time and place for a cut off tool.
robert_dean
Member
Well, my first post here.
So here goes.....I'm and avid hobbyist and a Journeyman Millwright and I also would agree with most in saying no to ditching air- ever!
That being said I do use my M18 stuff pretty regularly at the foundry where I work. I have burned up both the 3/8" and 1/2" impacts and drill, 3- 1/2" impacts, 2- 1/2" drills, and 2- 3/8" impacts in the last 2 years. I use them HARD and they don't stand up(MUCH harder than most people would and that they're designed for I suppose). To be fair, I love the 3/8" and the drill. They don't come close, AT ALL, to my Snap-On stuff at home. Period, done the Pepsi challenge, but I still like them.
My newest air tool is my 2135Ti - it's light, strong, awesome and is 14 years old now. I only use IR air tools, my oldest one is a die grinder I inherited from a retiring co-worker and is from the early 70's and still hogs through cast iron, stainless, etc. with zero issues. The average age of my air tools is 19 years(when I started my apprenticeship). The air tools ready to go everyday, all day long. Just use oil. They're also rebuild-able, and dollars to dollars, can't be outdone.
Air compressors that are of higher quality are also rebuild-able and as such I would spend some time searching Craigslist and so on for used units, estate sales, farm sales, etc.
Long winded, I'm sorry, but I can't see a way to not have both really.
So here goes.....I'm and avid hobbyist and a Journeyman Millwright and I also would agree with most in saying no to ditching air- ever!
That being said I do use my M18 stuff pretty regularly at the foundry where I work. I have burned up both the 3/8" and 1/2" impacts and drill, 3- 1/2" impacts, 2- 1/2" drills, and 2- 3/8" impacts in the last 2 years. I use them HARD and they don't stand up(MUCH harder than most people would and that they're designed for I suppose). To be fair, I love the 3/8" and the drill. They don't come close, AT ALL, to my Snap-On stuff at home. Period, done the Pepsi challenge, but I still like them.
My newest air tool is my 2135Ti - it's light, strong, awesome and is 14 years old now. I only use IR air tools, my oldest one is a die grinder I inherited from a retiring co-worker and is from the early 70's and still hogs through cast iron, stainless, etc. with zero issues. The average age of my air tools is 19 years(when I started my apprenticeship). The air tools ready to go everyday, all day long. Just use oil. They're also rebuild-able, and dollars to dollars, can't be outdone.
Air compressors that are of higher quality are also rebuild-able and as such I would spend some time searching Craigslist and so on for used units, estate sales, farm sales, etc.
Long winded, I'm sorry, but I can't see a way to not have both really.
Last edited:
Cato
Well-known member
The only thing I use my compressor for is blowing out the garage now.
sberry
Banned
I also believe they are cheaper electricity use wise.
They take 10 times the power.