Air Tools

[Boomerang1]

I have had my 1/4'' & 3/8'' Snap-On air ratchets since 1980 with one rebuild. Also have a 3/8'' butterfly, 3/8'' impact, two 1/2'' impacts & a 3/4'' impact.
When I was a bodyman I used the 1/4'' & 3/8'' ratchets most of the time for removing sheetmetal parts.

 

[midlf]

Steve, I used my butterfly quite a bit, too, and of course I've repaired a few of them. In my opinion, there's just two major differences that determine whether to select the ratchet or the butterfly. One is the shape of the tools and how room you have to work with. The butterfly requires more open space straight out from the nut or bolt. The other is the power. The butterfly will produce 3 or 4 times the amount of torque that the ratchet will produce. In some cases, that's good; you want more power. In other cases, that's bad; I've been known to twist things in two. But I'll agree that the butterfly is a handy little tool to have, and it sure is fast.

Bird you are exactly correct. First consideration is "will the ratchet fit". Second is "is the impact force going to be excessive". The butterfly has a flow control that will regulate force but I seldom use it. If I have concerns about excessive force I will skip the butterfly impact. When removing hardware force is not usually a concern. Only once did I have a bolt gall up and snap on removal with the impact. I suspect my result with a hand tool would have been the same. (sometimes you do get lucky however. The bolt was in a non-critical application, and broke off clean with enough threads to get a nut on it.)

 

[Bird]

The butterfly has a flow control that will regulate force but I seldom use it.

I think just about every impact wrench I know of has a flow control of one type of another, and I've never known anyone to use it. If you want less torque, you just don't hold the trigger as long. And on some impacts, that flow control/power control/torque control or whatever you want to call it, only works for forward power; i.e., tightening right hand threads, while others reduce both forward and reverse power.

Of course, there is a place for using that adjustment and that is on assembly lines where you want every bolt exactly the same degree of tightness, torque, or tension. You can get test equipment, such as Skidmore-Wilhelm, and there are valves for use on assembly lines that let you have a specific air flow for a specific length of time, usually 5 seconds?, after which the air is automatically cut off.

I think a battery hold down bracket on my car, and a head bolt on my daughter's motorscooter, are about the only things I remember right now that I twisted in two with the butterfly.

 

[RobertN]

So, say, to take skid plate, transfercase, transmission, clutch off- you would first try to use air ratchet or impact wrench and only if there is not enough space look for hand wrench?

I am asking stupid questions, I know, but as I said - I never used them.

I remember at least one time - pressing struts with spring compressor - I really wished to have some power help; killed my forearms on it big time.

From my expierience. I grew up around Jeeps('42 Ford and '70 CJ5), as well as having friends with them. Also have air tools I have torn Jeeps apart to small components and built them back up. That is in addition to race cars, cars, trucks etc.

For all around use, I use the following, in order:
1 - Air nozzle - there is no end to things that need a blast to clean them off, blow out passages etc
2 - 1/2" impact - Best thing I bought. Have regular and deep impact sockets. Use it all the time.
3 - 3/8" butterfly - Use it all the time too. It does all kinds of work, with more toque than an air ratchet; I have an air ratchet but never use it.

I have a die grinder and air chisel, and DA sander. They get used when needed, but are not as general purpose as a 1/2" Impact gun.

I also have a brad nailer and finish nailer(Porter Cable). I used the finish nailer most of the two.

I wound up with 4 hoses. Two are 25' and get used all the time. Most of the time they are easier to use, don't get as tangled etc. They are also drug around the garage and driveway, so they are not particularily clean; ok for the garage though. The other two 50' hoses, are clean and set aside. I use them when needed in the house for finish nailing, or when we refinished some cabinets inside.

They say to use air hose instead of extension cords; that is the reason for lots of hose...

I like pretty much everything I have, but in the future will get a different compresser when the time comes. I got a 5hp 60gallon upright, with oil-less compresser. It is loud! It has worked for all I need, but is not like having my old 2hp twin cylinder cast iron compresser.

Whe working on stuff, I almost always tear down with air tools. Most assembly is with hand tools though. When I do use air for assembly, I am careful with pressure and torque settings; early on I did bust off a few bolts...

 

[SPYDERLK]

That reminds me - get a 50' hosereel that you can hang. Keeps the hose just the right length.
Larry

 

[Bird]

That reminds me - get a 50' hosereel that you can hang. Keeps the hose just the right length.
Larry

I'd agree with you if they weren't so expensive. So I've never had one.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I'd agree with you if they weren't so expensive. So I've never had one.

Northern tool had a cheapie that I got two of several years back - - $130 I think. They came with nice looking red hoses, but the hoses had micro leaks in their inner liners. Northern gave me some better hoses. Problem may be worked out by supplier by now.
Larry

 

[Bird]

$130 I think

Ouch, that's what I meant. My current compressor is this one from Northern Tool and I have two of these yellow hoses, except mine are 3/8" x 65 long. This is my first experience with PVC hoses, but so far in a year and a quarter, no problems.

 

[RobertN]

From my expierience.
I got a 5hp 60gallon upright, with oil-less compresser. It is loud! It has worked for all I need, but is not like having my old 2hp twin cylinder cast iron compresser.

I forgot to mention the most important part...

My old compresser rusted out. It was a 20gal 2hp twin cylinder that worked well. But, the petcock for draining the tank was under a brace, where it was impossible to access, and black widows like holes like that That's why I have the bigger compresser; the old one was a pain in the patootsie to drain and as such eventually rusted out and leaked.

When I got this compresser, I modified it before I ever used it. It was the same; the petcock was impossible to get to. I got some elbows and short lengths of pipe to match the compresser threads. This was used to extend the drain out the side to where I could actually reach it. I originally put a blower nozzle on it, so I just tapped it with my toe to drain.

Now, the compresser is easy to drain; it gets done at every use.

It amazes me how much moisture builds up in there in a single use.

 

[czechsonofagun]

That reminds me - get a 50' hosereel that you can hang. Keeps the hose just the right length.
Larry

got that - only for the space the reel has to be mounted flat, but it works reasonably well.