Are air tools a necessity?

I have a dewalt air compressor that I use mainly to blow out parts or for filling up tires. Whenever possible, I opt for electric tools over air. The only air tool I really use much is an air powered die grinder or sometimes an impact wrench for breaking loose difficult bolts.

Ray

 

I use air tools almost everyday and the compressor everyday. I'm a tool whore and so is bruce. We are about 45mins away by the beach. We can help thin any tools you no longer want.

 

I have some air tool taking up space in my tool box. All have been replaced by electric. Much more convenient. No need to wait for a compressor to pump up pressure. Quieter. More efficient. Plug and play!

 

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The best part about air tools is that additional tools are less expensive. That is, you can get grinders and wrenches and cutoff wheels and all sorts of tools with either electric or air power. But after buying the compressor, each air tool is far less expensive than the electric equivalent.

But please do shell out a few bucks for a Silver subscription. It's really worth it.

Matt

 

I don't need air tools often but when I need it, nothing else will do. It saves the day.

 

I agree. I only use them for breaking stuff loose.

 

Axle nuts on a 360CS, 355, 348, 911
Pulley bolt on a 355
Chiseling away the drum brake on a Yukon
Spray painting the 355 wheels
Oh, 18Ga brad finish nailer
Occasional tires needing air or blowing stuff off

Not often, but when I do need it, the airtools via a 60 gallon tank are life savers. I used to have a 30Gal Sears Dry pump tank. Loud and not enough. Now a 60Gal tank, sitting outside in an enclosed shed with 1/2 copper pipers running into the garage is my setup. When the pump comes on, I don't hear it much.

 

The best "air" tool I've found is this:
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Air tools are 1950s, I have a De Walt cordless impact 1200ft lbs will remove heavy truck lugs nuts, have a Milwaukee cordless ratchet and impact screwdriver. Just as much power as air tools, no waiting for compressor and you can throw them in a duffle bag for emergencies

Wonder how I lived without them spoiled now.

 

LOL! I still use my Oxy-acetylene torch too despite having MIG, TIG, and Plasma cutter. I guess my 7 cylinders of various gasses would not make the "necessary" list for most here either?

 

Funny I inherited a small compressor a couple of years ago and although I don't have any tools for it I cannot imagine living without it now. I use it to blow things clean, fill up tires and pool toys, etc. There is a place for it in a 360 oil change where you blow out a hard oil return line for completeness so even the manual says "with compressor". Not sure about your car though.

 

Tried the electric route but the batteries are the weak point. They die and then the replacement is more than the tool. If going electric then use the corded type. A good tool should outlive the owner.

 

Agreed with the battery jobs. Battery always needs charging 1/2 way through the job. My electrics have cords. Heck, I even bought a plug-in electric chain saw. Sure it's a pain dragging 150' of cord around, but it's quiet, never runs out of gas, and doesn't stall when you put it down.

 

The newer ion type last a long time, have a spare that you can charge and rotate if you are using the tool all day.

 

Don't get me wrong. The smaller cordless have their place. But even the newer batteries and having a backup is a temporary setup. They will die and cost more than the tool to replace. For the big work I like corded or air. Plus, the older tools I have are metal and won't melt in the presence of chemicals and will resist cracking when dropped.

 

I have a set of the Milwaukee Ions. Awesome tools, use them all day. But they will never fully replace air. Impacts, air hammers, die grinder, air drills. Use them all and don't like the electric alternatives.

 

I prefer a fat checkbook. I discovered long ago, I don't have the TTT (Time, Tools, Talent) to work on cars. (Motorcycles I can handle.) Frankly, I'm envious of FBB. He has done things to his 550 and Vette, I would never dream of attempting. But, my billing rate is $250 an hour. Even after taxes, I net $150. So I pay my guy $125. The job gets done right, and we are both better off. Different stokes, I guess.

 

I consider a compressor AND a retracting hose reel a "must have". The compressor was always useful, but before I had the retracting hose reel, I would use it only occasionally because it was a pain to deal with the hose. The compressor area always looked messy and the hose took up a lot of space -- all solved with a retracting hose reel that mounts on the wall.

At the most basic level, air tools are great for inflating tires, air brushes, and blowing out water, debris, etc. I also love using the air grinder. Most electric grinders get so hot that you need to stop working occasionally so that the grinder doesn't cook itself to death. The air grinder actually gets colder during use and the infinite and immediate speed feathering that air power allows makes the grinder feel like a precision instrument.

Another handy air tool is the pneumatic grease gun. Most Enzo-era Ferraris have 30 or more grease fittings that should be serviced annually. The difference between doing these by hand and through a pneumatic grease gun is worth the price of admission alone.

 

I did the same math in my head .

But it gets hazy at times...

I could never "afford" to pay a Ferrari dealer to do a $15,000 major on my testarossa (wife would kill me), but I can work for "free" and put in hundreds of hours to do it myself...

Ditto working on the track car. No way my wife would "allow" all the work I did to it... But killing every weekend I have working on it, is perfectly ok ...

Working on it yourself is a great excuse to do stuff you wouldn't otherwise spend your money on...

Based on math and logic, though, you are fully correct! I think as we age,we are more open to paying others


PS. Mechanics bill based on book hours... You could pay for 8 hours labor on a 3 hour job. For the math to hold, you need to bill the same as an accountant...

 

the other thing i have found is that i will do more than a mechanic being paid to do the same job.... Ferrari shop quoted $8K to replace all the suspension bushings that were perished after 25 years. I did it myself for less than grand. I also repainted and cleaned up every part I took off and cleaned the wheel wells, replaced bolts etc, etc.

They would never do that. So in essence, I did $10K worth of work when i did it myself.

 

I too am a diy owner and find the same thing. I plan on doing my susp bushings this winter and will also clean, inspect, detail or paint as applicable. I find it fun and satisfying to put some "sweat equity" into your Ferrari

 

And a boost in self esteem. Congrats. !0K in your pocket is a nice bonus !

 

I'm just jealous of you guys who know how to work on cars. I love to collect tools as well - and pretend to know what I'm doing(basic stuff - oil change, replacing bulbs, fuses )

I found the air compressor and the hose reel really have made tinkering out the garage a lot easier/fun. Low on air - no problem - the tank is already full - so you don't even need to fire up the loud pancake compressor.

Even the neighbor's kid was impressed when he stopped by and asked if I had a bicycle pump - and I pulled out the hose. Such simple pleasure in life.

ps. Next on my wish list is a QuickJack. Being in Socal - our garages are very tight - so I need something non-permanent that I can stow easily.