What air tools to get?

[getbent4x4]

Now I'm finally hooking up my $180 60 gallon compressor find; I need to start searching for some good deals on air tools. What do you guys suggest brand wise. I know a good impact would come in handy. Are the air ratchets obsolete now days with cordless tools? What can I go cheap on and what do I need make sure is a good brand? I already have impact hand tools just need the major air tools.

 

[BMack37]

Check out pawn shops, in my area there are tons of options available and they're cheap.

 

[sberry]

What is the intent? I use due to the fact I have them a long time and already own them. I use 1/2 air ratchet more than the smaller ones. I like the ability to feather or vary the speed. Here some picks.
The 4 inch right angle is a champ, I like it for wire and cut off. Super tuff, got 3 of them, never a loose screw, ran some very hard and long.

 

[bob15]

What you plan on doing will tell you what you need.

Looking at pawn shops, tag sales and flea markets would be a good start. Even e-bay isn't a bad place to look.

 

[getbent4x4]

Mechanical repair minor and major on anything from a accord or corolla to a F550. HD Utility trailers. Minor paint and welding prep in the future.

Good pics Sberry. Looks like brand doesn't matter. Good to know.

 

[2oolhound]

Die grinders, tire inflator and a blow gun are my most common needs. Then there are air assist presses, lifts and benders where a compressor can really make a difference.

 

[willbird]

Air drills seem to have massive torque for their size. I ran all my recharge batteries dead once and started running 3" long wood screws with my 3/8 air drill, it kicks **** for that use . Most of them do not reverse though.

Bill

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I think I read somewhere " Die grinders, tire inflators and blow gun are the most common needs." Who ever that was he was spot on.
I've had good luck with Astro Pneumatic , Ingersol Rand, and Chicago Pneumatic. Check how much SCFM you have, better quality air tools use less air, better fits.

 

[Bighead38]

Since going electric only a few uses for me. Air for blowing or inflation, die grinder, air hammer {just broke though }, and very rarely still use a small air drill depending what I’m drilling. I haven’t used the air impact since I went electric.

 

[MFolks]

Aerospace work was all air tools,drills,rivet squeezers,rivet shavers,and rivet guns,no danger of sparking in an explosive atmosphere,lot's of power in a small size.

 

[Mr_B]

Look at modern air tools.
reactionless nano air ratchets are game changers, high power nano impact wrench .
astro do some good value tools, aircat has some gems too .
air hammer is a big gem, couldn't work without one .

 

[sberry]

Good pics Sberry. Looks like brand doesn't matter. Good to know.

These are generic and semi branded in some cases. You can get them under several names and sometimes at flea mkts in white box. Ingersol is probably the nearest in economy, not sure about Astro lineup but suspect its similar hand picked so to speak. 10 and 20$ grinders and such not so good but with some looking starting at about 30 lots of good tools that are used worldwide. Some better tools can be had thru discount vendors, CP air gun maybe but there are now others.
The sander I replaced once, good considering a CP was 400$ 30 yrs ago. Probably 3 now but have 150 in them for a career and couple hundred in the right angles I posted. They the best for 4 inch wire wheel. Had a guy run one for 2 months once, cant tell it from the other for the wear. They been used 1000's of cycles.

 

[sberry]

If I was gonna be under the chassis constant would tailor the impacts and buy a new one or 2, modern type. I don't even have 3/8. Have adapted to using 1/2 for impacts. Got all the fittings sockets for the work I do, quite simple actually.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Mechanical repair minor and major on anything from a accord or corolla to a F550. HD Utility trailers. Minor paint and welding prep in the future.

When you get into that size of a truck and HD Utility trailers, you shoulkd start considering 3/4" drive.

A good air hammer/chisel is one thing that the battery electric crowd been able to replace. Snap-On, IR and even CP (Chicago Pneumatic) all make good ones. The king is probably the Astro 4980. Beware it requires oversized bits.

 

[pokerdude836]

As an auto mechanic, I require a high quality impact wrench and a hard hitting air hammer. Those are the 2 must have's. Everything else I use can be mid grade but efficient, like die grinders, needle scaler for removing rust under brake pads that causes them to stick and air chucks and blow nozzles and air ratchets. The mid grade stuff I usually buy from harbor freight, the good stuff I order online.

 

[setfocus]

I've got the snap-on ph3050b air hammer, I think it's towards the top for a .401" shank but pricey. The new Mac's seems nice too, saw a coworker mangle the end of an axle shaft pretty good with one (it had rust welded to the hub). CP 717, Astro 4980 are beasts with the .498" shank, Aircat makes one too. I've been thinking about getting the CP 717. I've read Atlas Copco makes the best air hammers but they cost thousands

I'm partial to Ingersoll Rand for impacts. I don't have a 3/4" drive impact but I don't work on anything bigger than a 1 ton/350/3500 truck/van and no trailers. I've got the 1/2" drive titanium 2235 for stubborn nuts/bolts but I mostly use my beat up, old model 2135qtimax because it's lighter, and a hair smaller, but it's weaker.

The HF earthquake xt looks exactly like the sunex guns the shop bought, for a period, for the tire guys. I thought the sunex guns sucked, felt weaker than the IR 231ha they were getting before, no throttle control, and the 231's seemed to last longer

I have a cheapo pair, and higher end .5 hp pair of die grinders. Reversible cutoff tool is a must for me. Sparks in the face *****.

Everything else is more of a time saver than a necessity and you could probably go cordless on. I've got a snap-on far7200 3/8" air ratchet that has more power than any cordless I've seen, a bluepoint 1/4" air ratchet that only gets used for tight areas where the impact driver doesn't fit. Got a 3/8" CP 7731 stubby impact for tight areas but I use my cordless 3/8" snap-on ct4410 more

 

[Cockamamie]

Looking at pawn shops is a good way to start.

 

[Professional Tool User]

It really depends on your budget and what tools you want. Brand wise, sometimes there are some models that are known to have above average performance, but generic rebrands can be decent. The only two air tools where I went with Snap on are my MG725 gun and PH3050 air hammer. Most of my other stuff is generic. Some things are obsolete like air ratchets. The same goes for air drills unless this is on an assembly line level where overheating is a concern.

 

[engineer2]

In order of use for me:
Tire inflator with a digital gauge. Use it every other week on 3 cars. Damn rim leaks.
Blow gun with a long wand on it. Lots of cleaning and dusting uses.
Normal blow gun.
Vacula brake bleeder if the wife isn't around to pump brakes.
Air hammer/chisel. Bought a wide blade and it kicked *** ripping up my tile floor.
1/2 impact. Don't use it as much since buying a cordless 1/4 hex impact but will for >120 ft-lbs.
Hobby air brush. Cheap one from Harbor Freight works fine.
Die grinders, straight and right angle, but since I got a Foredom, I don't use them as much.
I also use my die grinder with cutoff wheels.
Air ratchet. Haven't used it in a year since buying a cordless 1/4 hex impact, but will in tight spaces.
Never found a need for an air drill. Used to see mechanics stall them all the time.

 

[coljar]

Most of mine are Snap-on and Blue Point that I bought new in the 80's. The ones I use the most are: Long shank 1/2" Impact wrench, 3"cut off wheel, die grinder, air hammer, 6"orbiting sander and drill. Keep in mind, everybody's situation varies. What Sberry uses and needs might be different than what the Hound's needs are.

 

[BMack37]

One thing that's nice about air is you can go to a few pawn shops and get yourself a decent impact, 1/4" and 3/8" ratchet, air hammer all for less than a good electric ratchet kit. You can practically outfit yourself completely for less than a couple electric tools...electric is definitely the best option for ease of use but they're expensive and larger than pneumatic. Die grinder is definitely useful too.

Obviously you want a GOOD blow gun and tire inflater with gauge (No need to go super expensive here) but those are likely better as new.

If you ever want to go all electric you will still need a blow gun, tire inflater and air hammer.

 

[danielbuck]

what type of tools are you needing?

Personally, I like Aircat air tools. They are generally pretty quiet and comfortable, and most of them have exhaust ports that you can rotate around to divert the exhaust to a different direction. That can be handy when working in an odd position under a vehicle or what not. Aircat isn't cheap though. That's their only negative IMO.

If you don't mind loud air tools and don't want to spend much $, get the cheapest brand you want. Air powered tools are usually pretty long lasting, and rebuild-able if you care to do so. Even cheap ones will last a very long time.

What I love about air tools is that almost all of them you can "feather" the power, you can run them slow or fast, or anywhere in-between. Most of my AC or DC powered tools are either on or off, no feathering. Often times on my air powered die grinders or angle grinders I'll run them probably 25% of their full speed, which is nice when you need to do finer work and don't want to remove too much material.

 

[Jeffh40]

For me personally, (who is in the process of planning the air system in my new house), it will look like this:

Nail guns. Framing nailer, finish nailer and brad nailer.
Tire inflator
blow gun or two. I've got one that is basically an open ended 3/8 air line with a ball valve. That can move a ton of air when needed. Got a smaller more normal one as well.

1/2" impact. Battery impact does the smaller work.

Other duties that were traditionally air tools have been generally replaced by battery power tools.


Tractor supply has Porter Cable air tools on sale for pretty cheap prices. I can't imagine they are contractor grade but for a home owner, they will be fine.

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

Like someone said earlier, die grinder, air gun, and tire inflation. Everything else, with the exception of my framing nailer, has been replaced by batteries.

 

[Kev442]

Wouldn't get anything finished if it wasn't for my 3/8" and 1/2" impact and my 3" cutoff.
Die grinders are nice when you need them.

 

[ZRX61]

1/2 dozen $7.99 die grinders from Horrible Fright with different doodads on the end (cutting, grinding, sanding, scotchbrite etc)


Just checked: they're $11.99 or $12.99 these days.

 

[engineer2]

Forgot about woodworking..
Bostitch brad nailer for shoe.
Bostitch angle finishing nailer for baseboard, chair rail, etc.
Campbell Hausfeld 1/4" stapler for furniture repair, underlayment, and carpet.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

With air tools, better the quality, tighter the tolerances so less air usage.

 

[f121]

I've not had air at home for about 8 years, didn't miss it as cordless stuff is so good, battery impacts do everything I need, battery m12 ratchet is excellent.

I hooked up a compressor at home to run the plasma last week, I had forgotten how nice it is having a blow gun and vac brake bleeder is so handy. Airline will be going on the wall, as soon as I find a strong enough wall

 

[AGuinn]

My usage is mostly auto repair with some wood thrown in. I'm not a pro-level user by any means, so YMMV.

My most used are the 3" straight and angle die grinders, followed by the air chuck and blow gun. Further down the list are the brad nailer, 6" random orbit sander, and an air chisel. Have an air ratchet, but think I've used it twice in 20+ years, occasionally use a 1/2" impact for tire work.

My die grinders are Harbor Freight units and have been used, abused, and have held up way better than I expected. As others have said, they are so cheap just buy several units and keep different bits/arbors in them you can grab as needed. I find I use an angle head grinder 90% of the time.

Air chisel, my cheap one (Campbell Hausfield?) works pretty well for busting up bathroom tile, but ***** for knocking out rusty suspension parts. Wish I got a better one, but don't use it often.

Impact, again mine's cheap (think it came in a starter kit with the chisel). Gently taps on bolts instead of actually hitting them. Don't use it very often (hardly ever), but plan on spending more on a better air or cordless unit.

Brad nailer - got the el-cheapo HF one for ~$20 to put down some baseboard trim. Don't know why I didn't get one years ago. Awesome for tacking up cabinets before running in screws, knocking together some wood fixtures/jigs. I'm sure there are better units, but have been very pleased with this one.

The sander is used on refinishing furniture with finer grit paper. Think it was a house brand I picked up through work. Not as comfortable as a palm sander, but also ~1/3rd the cost.

Didn't care for the air chisel - found it was too much hassle to get it where I needed it, was too noisy, and too bulky overall. Seemed like the hose was always in the way. I much prefer the tactile feel of a good hand ratchet.

 

[MattT]

Air chisel, my cheap one (Campbell Hausfield?) works pretty well for busting up bathroom tile, but ***** for knocking out rusty suspension parts. Wish I got a better one, but don't use it often.

The smaller ones are better for lighter chiselling work. Easier to control and cut cleaner on sheet metal. So it's best to have both an air chisel and a long barrel air hammer if your budget can stand it.

 

[sberry]

Yes, a chisel can be cheap too. They not as great but a new one can get some work done. A bunch of this can pay for itself in a single event. I had 2 or 3 good ones, CP back in the day and finally bought something at a flea has outlasted them all.