School me on air drills!

[SKAutomotive]

Need a new one. Recommendations and opinions welcome.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Don't buy cheap, whatever you do....I don't really even use my air drills that much...I do use the heck out of my HF corded drills (which are holding up great, but stay away from their air drills.)

 

[Fixnair]

You really need two. A 1/4" @ 2000rpm for smaller holes and a 1/2" @ 1000 or les for larger holes. Be careful the 1/2" can take you for a ride around the block if ur not careful.

There are several good brands out there. I/R being among the best. The chicom stuff is cheap but it won't last you and will not produce much torque.

 

[crewchief888]

i have 3
1/4" astro non reversable, really small, (even for a 1/4" dr)
3/8" snap on
1/2" snap on

all of them at least 25 years old.

 

[ranger302]

I have 2 HF and 1 IR air drills and all are good for what I do. The great thing about air drills is the running tourq and stall tourq are almost the same. So you should not break your wrist if it were to bind.

 

[up_in_the_air]

Like the Dotco or Sioux drills, look on ebay

 

[TheGrooveking]

CFM, CFM, CFM, air drills can consume large quantities of air, an 1/2" air drill needs a 1/2" air line IMO, without it they stall. I love air drills, they are more compact thus easier to handle for longer periods of time. Most of mine are IR or CP from the early/mid 80's but I've recently bought a few Snap On's and recommend them too.

TheGrooveking

 

[jjjrmx5]

Big budget shop use, Snap-On.

Floor mfgr. use or heavy duty, then Sioux, Snap-On or IR.

Chicago Pneumatic in a pinch for small shop use.

Just a tool where really inexpensive and ill made or pretty pricey but meant to take on big/pro jobs are teh choices. Not a lot in between, sadly.

They are not usually used a lot so lightly used-too-rules normally apply thus a good choice. Sioux and older IR are in my boxes. Almost never used any more.

 

[oldtractors]

They run too fast for big bits. I only use mine when by cordless batteries are low or I am drilling a lot of small holes. Otherwise, I use a cordless drill.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Why?
Kinda a serious question...with the advancements in batteries and cordless tools as a whole, I cant see why anyone would want an air drill over a nice cordless?

 

[wornoutoldman]

For automotive you really at least two. One standard and one angled.

 

[kevin47]

Air drills are nice...They can really get the job done...But, like they said...Invest in a good brand...Matco, I've had luck with...They come with better chucks...I wouldn't get one from HF...

 

[kevin47]

Why?
Kinda a serious question...with the advancements in batteries and cordless tools as a whole, I cant see why anyone would want an air drill over a nice cordless?

Power...This instant...That's why...lol

 

[chris142]

I really like my hf ones. The older ones came with a real jacobs chuck! The new ones have a copy but they work ok too.

 

[SKAutomotive]

Thanks everyone, I should have specified, looking to replace my old and worn out Mac 3/8" angled air drill. I was looking at the Blue Point one but can only find limited feedback on it. As of right now only SO and Cornwell guys show up regularly at my shop, so that is what I am limited to truck brand wise. I was reading on the IR and CP ones, but there seems to be a lot of concern over the power output of these, even on an industrial air compressor.

The main uses for this drill will be:

- Drilling holes in ABS plastic for installs of splash guard and cargo net accessories.
- Drilling out broken fasteners in tight spots, like on brake caliper brackets, etc.