switching over to air tools...agree or disagree.

admin

hey nowjust curious if any of guys have a position on this.i do side work a lot and am sick of dragging around extension cords. especially for my own personal work. cordless tools is not so much an option because im also not a fan of walking to get a new battery because mine died. they always die at the worst of times.id so much rather just take air tools, throw them in a tool bag.  the tools are more compact, and much more efficient from what i have had experience with.a lot of woodworking shops are switching to air tools (sanders, drills, and jig saws. some even have went with routers but i cant imagine a plunge router going through corion or other solid surface with out the compressor being huge)my bread and butter is carpentry. festool makes a lot of air powered stuff now (i think) and bosch is starting to make their air tools more commercial.any thoughts would be appreciated as i need to re-stock on some old power tools.the grand ol' opry aint so grand anymoremiller maxstar 150sworking on an oxy/acet set up
Reply:I have air grinders, die grinders, needle scalers, and a few others in shop.Miller Pro 30068 SA 20064 SAF 300305 G Lincoln gasserMiller 210
Reply:Assuming that you have a large enough compressor, quality air tools will prove to be more economical to own and operate over time. You must have a clean supply of dry air and oilers installed where required. Cheap imported tools won't deliver torque and speed after extended use. Most shops keep an assortment of both electric and pneumatic tools depending on individual requirements. I believe in using air whenever possible, but would never get rid of the electric tools altogether.
Reply:its just a commitment.things like screwing off sheet rock and stuff (rough carpentry) electric power tools are the main thing. but my boss supplies all that. i guess i really want air tools for my hobby. even for hobby work, they are just so much more of a joy to use.edit: again i understand compressor requirements for the abovethe grand ol' opry aint so grand anymoremiller maxstar 150sworking on an oxy/acet set up
Reply:Originally Posted by robphillips00I have air grinders, die grinders, needle scalers, and a few others in shop.
Reply:In a shop with an industrial quality compressed air distribution system, air tools can make sense.  If you are the boss, your employees are usually less inclined to purloin a pneumatic drill for their home use than an electric.  I often wonder if running a 15 Amp compressor in my garage is more or less efficent than an 8 Amp grinder.In a small shop, such as my garage, the electric tools are probably more efficent.  In an industrial plant or shipyard air tools seem to have an edge.Extension corda are easier to carry than a compressor.  They also take less room on the truck.Last edited by nadogail; 04-17-2011 at 07:49 PM.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Originally Posted by nadogailIn a shop with an industrial quality compressed air distribution system, air tools can make sense.  If you are the boss, your employees are usually less inclined to purloin a pneumatic drill for their home use than an electric.  I often wonder if running a 15 Amp compressor in my garage is more or less efficent than an 8 Amp grinder.In a small shop, such as my garage, the electric tools are probably more efficent.  In an industrial plant or shipyard air tools seem to have an edge.Extension corda are easier to carry than a compressor.  They also take less room on the truck.
Reply:Originally Posted by tackitI have a Metabo die grinder for smaller work and a Milwaukee for hevier work, both have made work more fast and enjoyable  http://www.cpometabo.com/metabo-6063...etabo-grinders
Reply:Originally Posted by outlawskinnyddo you find your able to tailor what you do with air grinders more than electrical grinders?im finding more and more i need a die grinder. not a dremel. a die grinder. and the die grinders they make that are electrical are either huge or cumbersome.
Reply:Originally Posted by robphillips00Absolutely. That's why I went to them in the first place. We have started doing more intricate work. I now have a 2" air grinders that are whole lot easier to access tight corners.I might also add that the kickback from binding is also much less. There is a little bit of a safety factor to be considered.
Reply:Originally Posted by outlawskinnydi do side work a lot and am sick of dragging around extension cords. especially for my own personal work. cordless tools is not so much an option because im also not a fan of walking to get a new battery because mine died. they always die at the worst of times..
Reply:i think you need a combination of both.  i have both because some jobs require a diffrent approach to tackle it.  and you shouldnt right off cordless tools, they have come along way in the last couple years. i have some that last all day. and so that you dont have to walk to get a batt. keep the charger pluged in where your working.  get a good selection of both air and electric. seems to me that air tools dont have the guts to cut through thick metal but the electric does.  air die grinders are nice, they work good but the air cut off wheels suck.  electric cut off wheels kick butt. air sanders seem to work better for me than electric, maybe because my electric sander isnt adjustable speed, but i prefer air for that job. air saws dont cut nothin. electric saw do alot better.  this is my opinion based on the tools that i have and can afford. there might be better tools out that i dont have or dont know about.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWHuh? You are too lazy to walk to get new batteries and you hate to drag extension cords that you can plug into any  convinient outlet... Instead you'd rather lug heavy, bulky air hose instead that can only be attached to a compressor, and probably a large one at that...
Reply:well aside from cost or convieniance, Ive never heard of any one getting hurt from dropping an air tool in the water they are working in or near, and battery tools dont do too well after being submerged. whenever I have to work in wet enviroments air tools are the way togo, a 100ft air line seperates the electric compressor and water..
Reply:I use some of my cordless tools a lot (by 12V impact driver is my new favorite), but I'm still switching lots of stuff to air.It's hard to compare cordless to corded, even today as the power output has increased so much.  They're still weaker, and cannot do sustained work.  For me though, the big issue is temperature.  In an unheated shop, batteries are useless in the winter, and die quickly in the summer.  Portability is all nice, but it's not worth the tradeoff if the tool doesn't work.Air has a number of advantages:It never runs hot, it will work in the dirtiest of environments that would kill an electric tool, it has no electrical hazard when being used wet, less risk of starting a fire in an explosive environment, and more power in your hand with less weight (although the overall power consumption is much greater).Some things just lend themselves to air power.  RO and DA sanders are a great example, and they are just so far superior to electric it is hard to compare.  Impact guns are another one, because although cordless technology is catching up (IF you don't have my environmental issues), plug in impact guns are FAR heavier than their air companions, with less power.  No one would ever say my Bosch Brute jackhammer compares to a 90lb air hammer.  It's just nice because you don't need a compressor to run it, and that's where electric has a great place.  I reach for an air drill in my shop, because air is easily within reach anywhere, but outside the shop, I plug in my DeWalt when the cordless isn't enough.One plus for the newer Lithium Ion cordless.  They charge so fast, that the first battery is often recharged again by the time you drained the second.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWHuh? I can't see air replacing many tools however, usually those that require a bunch of torque. Ever seen an air powered mag drill? How about a worm drive? I've seen a few air saws, but most use high speed rather than torque to cut.
Reply:I rather like my air tools and wish I had more. When I was in the service almost everything we had was air powered. I didn't think too  much of it until I really started to use electric drills, corded and cordless. the weight difference alone compared to an air drill makes most air powered tools worth it.I did airframe repair so to say we did a lot of drilling is an understatement. Even the little air drills had the guts to drill through stainless and titanium with the correct bits. Not to mention you have almost infinite speed control through varying the air pressure if desired.Dragging the hose around can be a pain, but if you aren't going mobile it isn't too bad. Something I plan on doing is setting up an air system around the garage so I can use a shorter hose and plug into different spots as needed.
Reply:I "thought" I was ahead of the game, rigging out a trailer mount rig with total pneumatic.  This is after making a un-mentionable deal on a shop full of TopCat air tools ( the old you get what you pay for? with them its true - out work and out last any IR or dyna) and a helluva compressor.  Yep, ended up adding a little genny and a few ext cords.  Its impossible for me to be comfortable being all or nothing - I have tried.  I do go for the pneu first, especially now that I've put an electric start motor on my compressor with a pressure switch - for me at least its significantly more efficient than running a gen constantly.When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know," the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives.
Reply:For a die grinder NOTHING beats a turbine model. No oil needed in the air at all, and zero vibration. 30,000 RPM with a woosh and a whine. I have a selection of small to large, straight and angled. A friend used one of the mis sized tools on aluminun with a carbide 1/4 shank burr. He later called it a "hand held Bridgeport" for the way it just easily did what he wanted it to do.http://www.airturbinetools.com/serie...ls_series.html
Reply:Originally Posted by Sputter FizzleFor a die grinder NOTHING beats a turbine model. No oil needed in the air at all, and zero vibration. 30,000 RPM with a woosh and a whine. I have a selection of small to large, straight and angled. A friend used one of the mis sized tools on aluminun with a carbide 1/4 shank burr. He later called it a "hand held Bridgeport" for the way it just easily did what he wanted it to do.http://www.airturbinetools.com/serie...ls_series.html
Reply:Couldn't agree more.  I have a Speedaire that puts out 34 CFM, 80 Gal tank.   I have lots of air tools, and I have lots of corded and non-corded electric ones.  There is a place for both..... Originally Posted by winlight148i think you need a combination of both.  i have both because some jobs require a diffrent approach to tackle it.  and you shouldnt right off cordless tools, they have come along way in the last couple years. i have some that last all day. and so that you dont have to walk to get a batt. keep the charger pluged in where your working.  get a good selection of both air and electric. seems to me that air tools dont have the guts to cut through thick metal but the electric does.  air die grinders are nice, they work good but the air cut off wheels suck.  electric cut off wheels kick butt. air sanders seem to work better for me than electric, maybe because my electric sander isnt adjustable speed, but i prefer air for that job. air saws dont cut nothin. electric saw do alot better.  this is my opinion based on the tools that i have and can afford. there might be better tools out that i dont have or dont know about.
Reply:I "thought" I was ahead of the game, rigging out a trailer mount rig with total pneumatic.
Reply:Originally Posted by outlawskinnydhey nowi do side work a lot and am sick of dragging around extension cords. especially for my own personal work. cordless tools is not so much an option because im also not a fan of walking to get a new battery because mine died. they always die at the worst of times.id so much rather just take air tools, throw them in a tool bag.  the tools are more compact, and much more efficient from what i have had experience with.a lot of woodworking shops are switching to air tools (sanders, drills, and jig saws. some even have went with routers but i cant imagine a plunge router going through corion or other solid surface with out the compressor being huge).