let's discuss air tools

[xwarp]

i've done a couple searches and unless i am entering incorrect terms, nothing specific to air tools is coming up less the specific brand and specific type, i.e. ir impact wrench.

anyways,

in my quest to build up a tool collection, i've picked up a couple of air tools this weekend. one item is a "universal power tools" 3/8" compact impact wrench that was made in japan, and the other is a cp drill. at 5 bucks a piece, i took a chance.

later, while searching online, i found that harbor frieght had 3/8" impacts for as low as 15 bucks, which made me wonder about a few things.

1. cp, used to be american made?
2. there is no real practical way to test these at places like swap meets, so are they worth buying if that cheap?
3. what is life expectancy of air tools if the are moderately taken care of?

thanks!

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Just buy an IR and be done with it.

 

[DanCo]

Properly maintained air tool will give you years of service. The only way to test the tools would be carry a small air compressor.

 

[tonydanzah]

central pneumatic and chicago pneumatic are two different companies

 

[Black89LX]

with almost any tool purchase, you are almost always better off saving your money until you can afford the best. there are some exceptions

when talking impact wrenches, ingersoll rand timax series is great, even if you find an old titanium series, youre good. the only line i would buy from harbor freight is the earthquake air tools, just based on the reviews. everything else is junk. on the other hand aircat makes a strong gun. of course there are the tool truck fans but besides snap-on most trucks rebrand ingersoll's product.

 

[oldjacks]

Here are a few threads I started sometime back relevant to your question.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87555

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87731

 

[diesel research]

You can't realistically test them even if you did have a compressor on site unless the compressor had suitable power and you had a suitable load to apply to it.

For $5 you have to look at it like a scratch off ticket. You do not expect a guaranteed win for $5 scratch off, but are happy if you do. It's a gamble. Win some, lose some, all part of the "game". Such is life.

Air tools are NOT like fine wine, they do not get better with age. As such, I prefer new, because I know that is as good as that particular tool will ever perform. I wouldn't lose any sleep if I did spend $5 on an air tool and it was not performing "top notch" though.

Sometimes you even get lucky and can easily repair some tools. A coworker was about to throw away his 3rd HF air hammer, right in the middle of the job. I told him to hold up and I would repair it. Unscrewed it, removed a scrap of steel from the retainer and back to hammering he went.

On the other hand, when I attempted to repair another coworkers old matco air ratchet, I realized it was better off as scrap metal. The steel bore liner had a tiny pin to hold it stationary and had sheered off.