air tools

[BigJoe]

been using a friend's fully kitted shop for years but want to plus up my personal collection at home to keep my having to move the projects to a minimum.

Looking to buy DA's, Angle grinders, cut off wheel, etc.

Always love snap on but lately i've been buying matco simply because well i'm in the military, don't make all that great of money but still want a quality tool.

any suggestions would be great if someone thinks i shouldn't just buy matco's versions.

[Sieg]

The first priority is an air compressor that will deliver sustained psi and cfm for the tools you use the most. Compromise on the compressor and you'll continually be disappointed. A 60-80 gallon 2-stage probably won't disappoint you.

Jet has a decent line of air tools that come in 2-4 duty ratings/price point.

[BigJoe]

Yeah a good 60 gallon is on my short list. Hoping to find a good one on craigslist

[Sieg]

Something like this would be a minimum IMO if you plan on using air tools a lot, especially cut-offs, drills, and sanders.

http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/...ssor/p591.html

This appears to be a decent "budget" choice:
http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/...ssor/p855.html

My Ingersoll Rand 3.5 hp 20 gallon can't keep up with a 2" disc sander.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by BigJoe

been using a friend's fully kitted shop for years but want to plus up my personal collection at home to keep my having to move the projects to a minimum.

Looking to buy DA's, Angle grinders, cut off wheel, etc.

Always love snap on but lately i've been buying matco simply because well i'm in the military, don't make all that great of money but still want a quality tool.

any suggestions would be great if someone thinks i shouldn't just buy matco's versions.

So that's an "it all depends" question. Personally I'm a Snap-On guy... except when it comes to air tools. I buy 3 or 4 HARBOR FREIGHT angle cut offs at a time -- they're like $14 a piece. I've yet to have one fail... I run good quality (buy them at AirGas by the 100s) discs.... 2" and 3".

I have a Snap On cut off ---- it's slow but has more torque.. and is larger diameter body -- and it's not as good of a tool as the cheap crap from HF.

Now --- on body saws --- I only buy Snap On and not that junky Blue Point crap either (Taiwan or China but with Snap On prices). They have a fantastic body saw that has torque and there's nothing worse than a body saw that stalls every 1/4". I had bought a Blue Point -- and had to add a Snap-On because the Blue Point version is junk. So the Snap-On bought first would have been "cheaper". UGH.

I have top quality DA's -- and Mud Hogs - and all manor of stuff like that.... There is no such thing as too many air tools. Some is Chicago Pneumatic (also a lot of China made product).

I have a Snap On 1/2" impact -- top quality piece with a top price too! But in stuff like that -- I like a "lifetime" tool. However -- for the race rig - I bought an electric (battery) version that works pretty dang slick and is 1/3rd the price.

I COMPLETELY agree with SIEG.... the air source is every bit if not more important than the actual brand of tools... it needs to be able to crank out 19ish CFM at operating air pressure --- say 100 PSI or greater.

Air compressors are always discussed and advertised at PSI --- when the VOLUME of air at the operating PSI is far more important. Tank size doesn't mean diddly if the compressor can't keep up with the tool being used. $800 will NOT get you a compressor you'll be happy using.

[BigJoe]

Great input yeah that second compressor he listed looks like a halfway decent one. My garage is small as hell but I know a big compressor will pay dividends.

Good to know on the harbor freight cut off tools, cheap and works is always good

What compressors you guys running?

[GregWeld]

Joe ----


So I went out to look at my air tools and see if I could not only help you - but anyone else reading this stuff....


I have quite a variety as it turns out! Brands and where made! USA - Taiwan - China - Japan.... the order of QUALITY? USA - JAPAN - TAIWAN - CHINA









NOTE THE THREE BODY SAWS ----- ONE IS JUNK ---- THAT WOULD BE THE BLUE POINT from Snap On. This is a tool that requires some torque... the BP has NONE.

The Snap On is three times the tool for 50% more on the price!






Here's the OTHER HUGE DIFFERENCE --- The BP tool requires a screwdriver to first undo the cover flap --- with a little teeny tiny POS screw that always falls on the floor where I then have to find it! FT! --- NOTE the SNAP ON tool has side access directly to the blade for changes. You change these blades A LOT!



















MORE TOOLS ARE BETTER!



Nothing worse than having to change arbors on a tool to do something quick.... thus --- multiple tools to do various jobs quickly....


Some are cheap ass junk and the most used version would be the SNAP ON.









There is a cheap ass HARBOR FREIGHT angle there --- note that it has no arbor in it... I own like 4 of these... they're $14 a piece! Use it - toss it if it quits working. NOTE there are 2" arbor for the disc and 3" ---- you need both. Easier to buy a cheap HF tool and have them set up with different arbors.











BUY THE CONSUMABLES IN BULK!!! This stuff is meant to be used up! Don't waste your time and effort trying to get another 5 minutes out of the disc! Toss it and grab a new one!
















THE HANDIEST TOOL NEXT TO THE CUT OFF WHEELS!!!



This handy dandy little air drill (reversible!) motor.... Quick change collet... fast - efficient - gets into tight places...








And make sure you can brand your bbq'd hot dog!

[Che70velle]

I've got a 10 year old 14 cfm Husky, that is wore out. It was fine for me at first in my small shop. I wanted it just for an impact gun, and a 3/8" air ratchet. Well, 10 years later, a bunch more air tools, and a summer spent sand blasting, I'm obviously in the market for a 2 stage 25 cfm. Greg said it best. An $800 compressor will ultimately let you down.

[Sieg]

I'll second the small Harbor Freight straight and angle cutoff/sander/grinders. At $10-$20 each I've yet to have one fail and they perform reasonably well. I'd rather have multiples of those set up with cutoff/sander/grinder wheels than have to change out tooling every time I need it because I spent $125 on one big brand name.

SnapOn tube steak brander........for the man who has everything!

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Sieg

Something like this would be a minimum IMO if you plan on using air tools a lot, especially cut-offs, drills, and sanders.

http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/...ssor/p591.html

This appears to be a decent "budget" choice:
http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/...ssor/p855.html

My Ingersoll Rand 3.5 hp 20 gallon can't keep up with a 2" disc sander.

Go to the SPECS section on these two compressors ---- HUGE DIFFERENCE!! As in OMG ----- the PUMA will make only 12 CFM at 90psi ---- while the slightly more expensive (okay - it's double... but still cheap IMHO)... will produce 15.9 @ 90psi


If you don't think that makes a difference ------ try doing some work with either one. The PUMA would be running out of air in a matter of minutes -- and then the compressor would kick on and it never would catch up.... while the Quincy would produce enough air to actually run the tool -- and kick on once in awhile. It (Quincy) would run far cooler producing less moisture in the air as well.


NOW HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS CFM USED RATING -------- most TOOL CFM ratings are based on 25% DUTY CYCLE --- meaning that you're only going to run the tool for 15 SECONDS out of every MINUTE....


OKAY --- That's a complete BS number right. 15 seconds of every minute.... so you can triple or quadruple that actual numbers that are used for CFM RATINGS. Don't think for one minute (or use your brain for 25% duty cycle) that you can run an air die grinder on 10 cfm at 90psi.... it takes WAY more air than that to actually do a job. Just sayin..... don't be fooled by these completely made up numbers.