Air Tools

[dodge man]

I also have air tools a prefer them. I also have a few battery ones but no impact battery powered yet.

 

[sd455dan]

There are some areas where air tools seem to have an advantage- like auto body work.

First admittedly you do have a hose to drag around, but No battery weight or bulk.

Plus when a person really gets serious about things like sanding the body down to metal, an air tool can be run flat out, non stop as long as you have enough air compressor to drive it.

Then there is actual painting- again air is a requirement. I think Auto body work will continue to favor air tools.

I like cordless tools to, just ordered some new LI batteries for my Craftsman 19.2 volt tools. Great for when working outside the garage/shop

 

[4570Man]

Why is an air sander better than corded electric sander? The electric doesn’t run out of air, freeze the body or kick up dust as bad.

 

[buck12]

One other advantage to battery powered tools is I don’t have to listen to a compressor. I know you can buy quite compressors but every compressor I have is loud. When I build my shop in 2008 I wired it to put the compressor in the attached shed but still have not gotten around to running pipe into the shop for air. Like I said in an earlier post the job has to require a pneumatic tool for me to use one.

 

[PILOON]

Fact is you really need all three!

Battery for portability and convenience.
Air for durability and some trades (automotive & aviation)
Corded for 'in between' like when a bit more torque is needed than battery, and power is handy.

Air tools tend to be much lighter and compact but have an inconvenient hose to drag (like corded)

Up on a ladder or on a boat battery wins. (also aviation repairs out in the field)

Like everything else in this world, nothing is perfect!

 

[bunyip]

I have found the milwaukee 18v have a lot of torque, boring a 1/2" hole through a fencepost the bit found a metal spike, bit stop and I almost started spinning, a far cry from some earlier 18v tools I had.

 

[sea2summit]

I love air tools around the garage but I sure love being able to throw an battery powered impact wrench in the milk crate and run out the the issues in the field instead of a breaker bar and wrench.

 

[ponytug]

I have found the milwaukee 18v have a lot of torque, boring a 1/2" hole through a fencepost the bit found a metal spike, bit stop and I almost started spinning, a far cry from some earlier 18v tools I had.

I just did nearly same thing with my 18V drill trying to bore a large diameter fence post, and the bit hit something hidden and jammed. I had a Greenlee bit extension on and the jammed drill got wrenched out of my hands. The extension rod is only 3/16" in diameter but didn't bend. When I went to back the drill bit out the shank sheared off. I am very impressed with bit extension.

No idea what I hit. Now I have a fence post with a buried bit...

Yes, tons of torque in my battery tools.

All the best,

Peter

 

[buck12]

Fact is you really need all three!

Battery for portability and convenience.
Air for durability and some trades (automotive & aviation)
Corded for 'in between' like when a bit more torque is needed than battery, and power is handy.

Air tools tend to be much lighter and compact but have an inconvenient hose to drag (like corded)

Up on a ladder or on a boat battery wins. (also aviation repairs out in the field)

Like everything else in this world, nothing is perfect!

Well stated.

 

[Bird]

When my brother's were Matco Tool Distributors one of their customers said he wanted American (USA) made air tools and my brother told him he could get them, but when he showed that customer the prices on Sioux air tools, the customer decided he could do with the Snap-On, MAC, Matco and other foreign made tools.LOL Some thought that Snap-On was American made, but they're not.

I only had one customer, a big trucking company's trailer rebuild shop that had Sioux air tools and I became convinced that Sioux tools just could not be beat. But it's been a few years, so I don't know now.

Home - Sioux Tools

 

[TractorGuy]

I recently gave away all my air tools except my impact wrenches, die grinders, and air chisel. I have been getting by with an under size compressor for 35 years and don't see the need to run the wiring and lines for a larger one. I would like to have a larger compressor to run my 1" impact but I have a plan to tap into the large end hole on my tank to run it. I only need it for a short blast so high volume isn't it's purpose.

Got rid of the air drill, sander, and ratchet. My corded and cordless tools replace those all too well.

 

[cdaigle430]

I have transitioned from air and corded to Milwaukee 18 and 12v Fuel range, just waiting on the big staple gun for fencing to turn up like the dewalt.
The small stapler is good for securing bird netting and clear poly on garden bed surrounds and the pop riveter has more grunt than I imagined.
Seriously considering the 18v sliding compound mitre saw, just not sure about which one..... yet.
The sabre saw is the one that gets the least use and was part of a kit.

Do you know they will make an M18 frame nailer?

 

[bunyip]

I have no need for one, just a 9g fencing stapler would be handy for fixing the fences rather than a hammer.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I do like the air tools. They can sit in the drawer for ten years and work when you need them. In ten years, you might have changed the line of battery equipment you use. Are you going to buy all new tools or now try and keep several styles alive and functional?

 

[4570Man]

I do like the air tools. They can sit in the drawer for ten years and work when you need them. In ten years, you might have changed the line of battery equipment you use. Are you going to buy all new tools or now try and keep several styles alive and functional?

But what advantage is that over a corded electric? Corded electric has more power and more freedom of use locations.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I didn't even consider that. I kind of think of different corded tools. Grinders mostly. Chop saw, maybe a sander. I guess if you use your tools a lot or to make a living, a hose can be a bother. I see the switch more and more. I can't imagine spending the big bucks on a seldom used high performance battery impact gun. I like my Nitro CAT air gun. Beats some brand new POS Gray 1/2" impact that I had for decades that would NEVER break the wheel nuts loose. Had to do that manually!

 

[not2old]

I have three grinders plugged into power and on my bench. I bought a Makita cordless and rarely use it as it's a toy compared to my Dewalt 13A grinders. After that experience, I'm not willing to buy a brushless model to see if it is any better. For this same reason I've kept my air tools. They work, and I'm reluctant to allow myself to be fleeced again.

 

[/pine]

One air tool I will never part with (I have a few)...that there is no corded or cordless alternative for and that's an air saw...you see them most in shipwright/ fabricator tool boxes...most use a standard reciprocating blade (i.e., sawzall etc.) ...they will fit where no other tool with it's capacity will go and are meant to be used with just one hand...

 

[Big Barn]

Grinders are used the most.








Followed by the bigger impact wrenches.

Air drills almost never these days.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I like a couple of different size air belt sanders, like 1/2" and 3/4" belt width. Great for deburring.

I like my Ingersol Rand 1/2" Air Drill, bought at a yard sale thirty or more years ago. It handles getting stalled better than a battery operated unit. And an Atlas Copco 1/4" Drill great for the smallest bits and doing fine work or drill tiny pilot holes.