I've got to hear more about this. Is it an awesome story or a sad one?I’m sure they are to someone. We have this 80 year old mechanic at my shop who only uses air tools and also some other guys too. Lol personally I’ve converted to almost all battery except like die grinders and things.
It's got to be a sad one. I quite working at 56 (had the money and the investments) and it was the best decision of my life. Get the **** out while you can still do things not after you've got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.I've got to hear more about this. Is it an awesome story or a sad one?
Yes IR.The sticker on the handle for tech questions says irtools.com
Ingersoll Rand maybe?
I think he just likes working honestly. He has worked for my company since 1985. It takes him a bit to get things done but he does really well. I think he is still paying for his kids and grandkids move to the Philippines and he likes to have the money for that which I’m sure he could not get on retirement. He always says he enjoys working. He comes everyday with a positive attitude and still gets around really good. The only days I’ve seen him miss are for vacation and blue grass concerts. So I think he just enjoys working and he would probably be bored not doing so since he doesn’t have any family around here anymore. I’m sure we will have a big celebration if he ever leaves. I love having him in the shop he is funny but also a good guy to go to for learning. I think if I was 80 I certainly would not be working full time at a shop I’d be working part time at an easy job like a store or something.I've got to hear more about this. Is it an awesome story or a sad one?
Another way to look at it is why spend the money on battery tools when you know you won't be in the game much longer? Keep working and drawing a pay but don't spend on things you're getting by without. That money could be going to pay off a mortgage so he can live off his retirement in some comfort.I’m sure they are to someone. We have this 80 year old mechanic at my shop who only uses air tools and also some other guys too. Lol personally I’ve converted to almost all battery except like die grinders and things.
I'll vote for awesome on that story.I think he just likes working honestly. He has worked for my company since 1985. It takes him a bit to get things done but he does really well. I think he is still paying for his kids and grandkids move to the Philippines and he likes to have the money for that which I’m sure he could not get on retirement. He always says he enjoys working. He comes everyday with a positive attitude and still gets around really good. The only days I’ve seen him miss are for vacation and blue grass concerts. So I think he just enjoys working and he would probably be bored not doing so since he doesn’t have any family around here anymore. I’m sure we will have a big celebration if he ever leaves. I love having him in the shop he is funny but also a good guy to go to for learning. I think if I was 80 I certainly would not be working full time at a shop I’d be working part time at an easy job like a store or something.
FWIW, Li-ion batteries will hold a full charge that long or a lot longer. I know my Dewalts sure do. I have enough batteries some of them don't get used for that long or longer. I generally stick with my 5ah or 6ahs but when I have to put one of those on a charger and I have to go to one of the others, I have a few 4ah or 3ahs that sometimes go 6 months to a year without being used and when needed they always light up full bars. I've never noticed any of the batteries to lose an indicator bar of stored charge over time not being used.i like air because if i need it six month down the road, i dont have to worry about battery charge
Have a friend that's almost 80 and works on heavy equipment and welding.I think he just likes working honestly. He has worked for my company since 1985. It takes him a bit to get things done but he does really well. I think he is still paying for his kids and grandkids move to the Philippines and he likes to have the money for that which I’m sure he could not get on retirement. He always says he enjoys working. He comes everyday with a positive attitude and still gets around really good. The only days I’ve seen him miss are for vacation and blue grass concerts. So I think he just enjoys working and he would probably be bored not doing so since he doesn’t have any family around here anymore. I’m sure we will have a big celebration if he ever leaves. I love having him in the shop he is funny but also a good guy to go to for learning. I think if I was 80 I certainly would not be working full time at a shop I’d be working part time at an easy job like a store or something.

He's still got kids in school to pay for..............................I've got to hear more about this. Is it an awesome story or a sad one?
My 10 year old 18v Dewalts don't hold a charge for a day, but my 25 year old IR impact still works well.FWIW, Li-ion batteries will hold a full charge that long or a lot longer. I know my Dewalts sure do. I have enough batteries some of them don't get used for that long or longer. I generally stick with my 5ah or 6ahs but when I have to put one of those on a charger and I have to go to one of the others, I have a few 4ah or 3ahs that sometimes go 6 months to a year without being used and when needed they always light up full bars. I've never noticed any of the batteries to lose an indicator bar of stored charge over time not being used.
That said, I swap between air and cordless, often on the same jobs, when I'm working in the garage and have the air right there. I have enough air and cordless impacts and ratchets that I've gotten where I like to put a socket on a tool and it stays there for the duration of whatever I'm working on. For a different size socket or socket/extension combo I use a different impact or ratchet, and so on ... so I have to do much less or no switching up and it saves a lot of time. A lot of the stuff I do I've done enough times before I know exactly what sockets and extensions and wrenches and such I'll need and I'll set everything up like that before I even get started.
Still I do a lot of my work in the driveway, sometimes not my driveway, so it's all cordless or hand tools then.
Dewalt 18V were NiCad, and NiCad batteries of any brand never did hold a charge for very long. That's just how those batteries were. They are obsolete now for good reason.My 10 year old 18v Dewalts don't hold a charge for a day, but my 25 year old IR impact still works well.
Maybe someone on YouTube will make a bicycle that runs on an air chuck? Of course, he'll need a LONG air hose!Still has some value to someone who works on bikes.
It is great how compact air tools are but the hose can also get in the way and you need a lot of air for significant use. Most home users will not have a big compressor.Die grinder is easily one of the most valuable and versatile tools in my whole box. The thought of going without air is just very goofy to me.
It is great how compact air tools are but the hose can also get in the way and you need a lot of air for significant use. Most home users should have a big compressor.
In this board that does fit the trend! Costs a lot though if you do not need it a lot. But certainly useful if you have it.Fixed it for you.![]()