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  #1  
Old 09-21-2004, 09:40 PM
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Advice on air compressors/tools

I am going to be buying an air compressor and tools, and need some advice in this area. How big of a compressor should I get, any particular brands to avoid? What I plan on using it for is an impact "gun" for lugnuts and stubborn bolts. What do compressors run on, gas? Everything for me up to this point has been hand tools, so I am new to pneumatic tools. Are air ratchets worth there price and again, any advice on brands?

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  #2  
Old 09-21-2004, 10:45 PM
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Ingersol Rand make the best in air tools although expensive but you'll have them for life. For occasional use Sears Craftsmen electric compressor will do fine 5Hp.minium.
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Old 09-21-2004, 11:22 PM
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A 5 horse compressor is more than the average weekend mechanic needs, but I do agree that the biggest compressor you can afford will be the best in the long run. I have a 21 year old Campbell Hausfield that I completely neglect. I had to change the cutoff pressure switch recently, but other than that, no problems. It's only a 1 1/2 horse motor, but I have rebuilt many engines, removed many tires, and butchered many a paint job with it. An impact, air ratchet, and chisel are essential. Make sure you buy a set of impact sockets. NEVER use regular hand tool sockets. They can shatter and cause you serious injury. Always wear eye protection. Also keep your air tools well oiled with a quality air tool oil.
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  #4  
Old 09-22-2004, 01:45 AM
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For an average weekend machanic, 5 + HP electric motor with 30+ gallon tank will do. The critical part is the CFM of the unit, most air tool works 4 - 7 CFM. As for as tools are concern, it depends on the budget nice to have snap on, MAC tool or Ingersol Rand but they wil cost you an arm and a leg. In a medium budget Campbell Hausfeld, craftsman, and Huskey (home depot) are great. An 1/2 inpact gun, 3/8 ratchet, air chiesel and impact sockets are the most commonly used air tools.
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Old 09-22-2004, 09:49 AM
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My wife got me a big honkin' Husky 125 psi 6HP unit for our wedding anniversary a few years ago! What a gal!

The compressors have single (or double) piston pumps that are belt driven by an electric motor. The smaller units are 120V, but the big stand-up models require 220V! Fortunately I had the garage wired for it in anticipation of getting one someday!

The pumps require oil and the big tanks should be drained regularly, as moisture builds up inside and could rust. I've seen some shops with a drain system, and I plan on doing that one day.

So far I own a (cheap) air ratchet and a gravity feed spray gun, but at best, the compressor is really a glorified soccer ball and pool toy inflator! :p

I would recommend that if you plan to purchase air tools, get the best you can afford. My cheapie ratchet has no "grunt" whatsoever, so I'm torqueing and loosening with my own strength and then just letting the tool spin the nuts off (just so I can hear it making the noise and impressing my neighbors).

Also, if you get an impact wrench, you need to invest in a set of impact sockets (gunmetal black ones)...can't use the regular (chromed steel) ones or you'll crack them in no time!
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  #6  
Old 09-22-2004, 10:22 AM
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Actually the good thing about the air ratchets is that you loosen and tighten by hand. You can then "feel" how tight you are getting a fastener. The air is to "run" the fastener.

If you want to just bust something loose and run it, you need a 3/8" butterfly or a 1/2" pistol grip.

A good combination to have would be a 1/2" pistol grip, a 3/8" butterfly, a 3/8" air ratchet and for tight spots you can get a VERY small air ratchet that is meant for 1/4" drive but has a 3/8" ratchet mechanism from Sears. I'm sure that others make one, but I have only seen it at Sears. This little darlin' is great for getting in really tight spots for running fasteners. The same one in 1/4" drive might be handy from time to time.

Get pigtail hoses with a swivel connection for each air tool and keep a can of marvel mystery oil handy. Put a couple of drops in each tool before you use it each day.

A 5HP, 30 gallon will be plenty for your purposes, but it will require 220V.

Enjoy,
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Old 09-22-2004, 10:40 AM
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I've got to add a cut-off wheel as a must have tool and a die grinder is nice. Both can be cheap. For impacts and ratchets I've found Mac and Snap-On to be worth the money for the extra torque. Make sure the compressor is an oiled unit, not oil free, and ideally multi-cylinder. You can run an impact with a contractors portable compressor, the type you would use for an air nailer. Most intermittent use tools like air ratchet, chisel, even spray guns can run on 3 hp. Continuous use tools like sanders, polishers, and die grinders need 5hp minimum.

Jorg
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  #8  
Old 09-22-2004, 10:43 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LarryBible
A good combination to have would be a 1/2" pistol grip, a 3/8" butterfly, a 3/8" air ratchet and for tight spots you can get a VERY small air ratchet that is meant for 1/4" drive but has a 3/8" ratchet mechanism from Sears. I'm sure that others make one, but I have only seen it at Sears. This little darlin' is great for getting in really tight spots for running fasteners. The same one in 1/4" drive might be handy from time to time.

Get pigtail hoses with a swivel connection for each air tool and keep a can of marvel mystery oil handy. Put a couple of drops in each tool before you use it each day.

Enjoy,
Good points! I wondered too how I should start my air tool collection...good to know that my air ratchet does what it's supposed to do!

The long garden-hose style is a pain to deal with! Should have gotten the pigtail type. Although Larry, I'm thinking of connecting the compressor to a series of long pipe with a valve coupler at certain junctions along the way, so that I can just connect the tool to one of the couplers closest to where the work is, instead of having to drag a bunch of hose around...doable?
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  #9  
Old 09-22-2004, 08:49 PM
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Thanks for all the tips. What prompted this was I went to replace the front rotors on my '83, and for the life of me I couldn't the the hex bolts loose. I figured that an air tool or impact wrench would provide the "shocking" needed to break these free. Yes I did soak them in Liquid Wrench, no dice. I also figured that with air ratchets, I can easily remove bolts/nuts where there is little room to use a manual ratchet. Of course there is the blowing up air matresses and bike tires, car tires etc.
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  #10  
Old 09-22-2004, 11:27 PM
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a couple more thoughts

Rick,

Good advice here. A couple more thoughts ( some of which may be old garage tales but have worked well for me). Take them for what they are worth.

- I prefer the compressors that have an oil crankcase vs some of the new smaller ones that don't.

- Think about the type of tools you will use. Some tools such as air sanders (sometimes called DA's) or grinders use a lot of air, continuously. If you have a small compressor you will be stopping and waiting for the air to catch up. So look at the air requirements ( CFM needed at particular PSI).

-Get a pressure regulator / moisture trap outside of the compressor. This is really needed if you plan on painting.

- Use the same brand / size quick dis-connects. They don't always mix and match perfectly

- Find out the lubrication requirements of the air tools. Many need a drop of so of oil at the start of each use. I keep a pump oil can around filled with a light oil. I put a couple of drops in the air inlet at the start of each use.

Good luck! Air tools are so nice. As you use them they get cooler not hotter like electric tools.

Chuck
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  #11  
Old 09-23-2004, 09:00 AM
LarryBible
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G-Benz,

Plumbing a few drops around the shop with hard pipe is a good thing. If you do this though, run the pipe around the shop up high with the drops extending down from the high feed pipe, then put a U at the bottom with a drain in the bottom of the U. Put a petcock in the drain so that you can quickly bleed out the trapped moisture with no tools needed.

You could instead use a filter with a drain tap at each of these points, but the U with petcock will do what you need.

Good luck,
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  #12  
Old 09-23-2004, 10:41 AM
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Thanks Larry! I'm already drawing a mental picture of my dream garage overhaul (when the wife releases me from the other home improvement projects ).

Which (on another tangent), when is HGTV, TLC, etc., going to do a garage makeover program? And not the lame "organization" deal either...I want to see a "Pimp My Garage" kind of thing! I'll volunteer mine for starters!
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  #13  
Old 09-23-2004, 04:05 PM
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Rickjordan

One of the handiest air tools is the reciprocating saw. Makes rusted bolt removal a snap.

To prevent over torqueing when running the bolt/nut in, use a flexible shaft extension. It will twist before causing damage.

Until you pop for all this stuff, there is a impact driver for about $10.00 to $15.00 which you can hit with a hammer to pop loose those stubborn bolts/screwws/nuts.

Tim
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  #14  
Old 09-24-2004, 03:22 PM
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Air Tools

The real utility comes from having good quality air tools to take advantage of your new compressor. In looking for air tools, I quickly found there is quite a bit of cheap junk out there. The best advice I can offer you is to look at pawn shops like Cash America for used air tools--they are always loaded with bargains. A used MAC, Snap-On/Blue point, Chicago Pneumatic, or IR tool can often be had for less than the cost of a new "homeowner" brand tool that is really just junk, IMO. Don't be fooled by the appearance of used air tools--the better ones are virtually indestructible if you just keep them oiled and keep moisture out of your air system.

A few other suggestions: get a good quality "rubber" hose rather than the cheaper synthetic composition hose, and get a hose holder/rewinder (manual or automatic). Keeping the hose neatly stowed and always accessible makes it much easier to use for quick jobs. IMO, once you go pneumatic, you'll never want to go back!

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