Air-tools?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
Get a small air powered cutoff wheel from Harbor Freight. Right now they are on sale for $9.99, believe me that's the best 10 bucks you will spend on a tool.... You will be amazed how often you use it.
I also have a die grinder, the 3/8's rachet and a 1/2 inch impact, but the impact is almost worthless since it won't loosen lugs that are properly torqued. All of the other tools are chepo, but you want the better impact for sure.
I bought a 3.5 cfm Sanborn oilless compressor (like the powermate) with the 6 gallon tank 25 years ago and it is still working just fine. I don't use it a whole lot, but it seems that every week or so I crank it up and air tires or some other odd job. Once I was using it do die grinding on some aluminum parts and used it like crazy for a couple of weeks. For $179 it is all you need if you aren't trying to use it every day. If you aren't going to making your living with it, I'd be hard pressed to spend more than $200 for a compressor.
I also have a die grinder, the 3/8's rachet and a 1/2 inch impact, but the impact is almost worthless since it won't loosen lugs that are properly torqued. All of the other tools are chepo, but you want the better impact for sure.
I bought a 3.5 cfm Sanborn oilless compressor (like the powermate) with the 6 gallon tank 25 years ago and it is still working just fine. I don't use it a whole lot, but it seems that every week or so I crank it up and air tires or some other odd job. Once I was using it do die grinding on some aluminum parts and used it like crazy for a couple of weeks. For $179 it is all you need if you aren't trying to use it every day. If you aren't going to making your living with it, I'd be hard pressed to spend more than $200 for a compressor.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 74
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From: Fort Worth Texas
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
I would suggest you get your air tools at SEAR'S. I bought cheap air tools initially (darn HARBOR FREIGHT) and they all inevitably failed. And their failure was always when I was in the middle of a project. Drop everything, clean up and drive to find a replacement tool is a pain.
SEAR'S tools have not failed me now in five years. If they do, they're open 7 days a week. My most used tools are 3/8" butterfly ratchet, cut off and 1/2" impact. I seldom use the other 3/8" ratchet tool. A 3/8" drill and a 3/8" angle drill are also nice to have. I have also purchased a few tools from HOME DEPOT with good results.
My first compressor was a 5hp/33 gallon/110v which was always running when I was using my air tools. I eventually bought a 6hp/60gallon/220v HUSKY from HOME DEPOT. It's got the air capacity/cfm so it's not always running. It's been used daily now since 2000 w/o a problem.
SEAR'S tools have not failed me now in five years. If they do, they're open 7 days a week. My most used tools are 3/8" butterfly ratchet, cut off and 1/2" impact. I seldom use the other 3/8" ratchet tool. A 3/8" drill and a 3/8" angle drill are also nice to have. I have also purchased a few tools from HOME DEPOT with good results.
My first compressor was a 5hp/33 gallon/110v which was always running when I was using my air tools. I eventually bought a 6hp/60gallon/220v HUSKY from HOME DEPOT. It's got the air capacity/cfm so it's not always running. It's been used daily now since 2000 w/o a problem.
Last edited by hotwheels57; May 24, 2010 at 04:12 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
If your running a shop and have a high air demand you most likely don't want oil-less but for most anything a DYI guy need to do oil-less if fine and cost effective.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Originally Posted by k0ts
have not had good luck with oil-less compressors... They are noisy and just don't last...
You're mileage may vary... They are probably fine for blowing up tires...
You're mileage may vary... They are probably fine for blowing up tires...
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
I've done stuff like used a D/A sander and sanded the garage walls to re-paint them so the little oil-less compressors are useless to me. I had the tank on my 60 gallon upright so hot I could hardly touch it.
Have aluminum wheels? Try putting an arbour or cut-off wheel adapter with a 6" polishing wheel into a die grinder because it works great to polish natural finish wheels. But, just see how long that little compressor lasts running an hour or 2 at a time.
Peter
Have aluminum wheels? Try putting an arbour or cut-off wheel adapter with a 6" polishing wheel into a die grinder because it works great to polish natural finish wheels. But, just see how long that little compressor lasts running an hour or 2 at a time.
Peter
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
Your point? China builds exactly what we tell them to. Compare that trash at H.F. with an Ingersol Rand or Craftsman. It's obvious that there's a difference in quality. Just because it's from China doesn't mean it's all the same stuff.
I have a 12 gallon reed valve, oilless Craftsman compressor. Over the past 5 years I have torn down and rebuilt 3 cars' suspensions (including a 33 year old C3), installed 2 full exhaust systems, pulled off countless lug nuts, inflated countless tires, and painted a car. Yes it's noisy. If you have the money, the room, and plan on using it on an almost daily basis, then absolutely get a piston compressor. For the other 99% of us, a reed valve compressor is 100% adequate.
I have a 12 gallon reed valve, oilless Craftsman compressor. Over the past 5 years I have torn down and rebuilt 3 cars' suspensions (including a 33 year old C3), installed 2 full exhaust systems, pulled off countless lug nuts, inflated countless tires, and painted a car. Yes it's noisy. If you have the money, the room, and plan on using it on an almost daily basis, then absolutely get a piston compressor. For the other 99% of us, a reed valve compressor is 100% adequate.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 654
Likes: 1
From: chandler az
I really like my Ingersol Rand stuff, tools and compressor. I'd get one of the little air hand held sawzalls. I redid a roll bar in another car and that little saw was small enough to reach in the corner and cut off a 1 3/4 inch roll bar tube.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,077
Likes: 4
From: Scarborough ONTARIO
I use IR 2135TIQMAX, 1/2" drive and its 700 ft lbs busting torque, its quiet and amazing gun i ever used so far. also i have 3/8" drive IR gun but dont use much, 3/8" IR reactionless ratchet cant beat these IR tools. For the compressor central pneumatic sells buy HF get the 21 gallon 3 HP 4.9 cfm @90 psi more than enough.
oh my 1/2" IR quiet impact gun weighs only 3.9 lbs. Get 1/2" IR Ti gun and rest you can buy cheap one's and dont forget the 1/2" drive Swivel impact socket set man they are awesome.
oh my 1/2" IR quiet impact gun weighs only 3.9 lbs. Get 1/2" IR Ti gun and rest you can buy cheap one's and dont forget the 1/2" drive Swivel impact socket set man they are awesome.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 761
Likes: 1
From: sunnyvale ca
Your point? China builds exactly what we tell them to. Compare that trash at H.F. with an Ingersoll Rand or Craftsman. It's obvious that there's a difference in quality. Just because it's from China doesn't mean it's all the same stuff.
I have a 12 gallon reed valve, oilless Craftsman compressor. Over the past 5 years I have torn down and rebuilt 3 cars' suspensions (including a 33 year old C3), installed 2 full exhaust systems, pulled off countless lug nuts, inflated countless tires, and painted a car. Yes it's noisy. If you have the money, the room, and plan on using it on an almost daily basis, then absolutely get a piston compressor. For the other 99% of us, a reed valve compressor is 100% adequate.
I have a 12 gallon reed valve, oilless Craftsman compressor. Over the past 5 years I have torn down and rebuilt 3 cars' suspensions (including a 33 year old C3), installed 2 full exhaust systems, pulled off countless lug nuts, inflated countless tires, and painted a car. Yes it's noisy. If you have the money, the room, and plan on using it on an almost daily basis, then absolutely get a piston compressor. For the other 99% of us, a reed valve compressor is 100% adequate.
I have 3 compressors
A tiny reed valve one for filling tires and travels in the race trailer ( for trailer and pit bike tires, the cars get nitrogen ) and 2 belt driven for the real work
My belt drives have been running for 20+ and 10+ years are still running/working great and have been wired in 24/7
I change the oil once a year ( Mobil 1 )
You can get a decent starter set of air tools at Lowe's or HD for under 200 bucks
Keep em oiled and they usually last just fine for a home mechanic .
When you decide if you are going to get serious , then upgrade as needed.
For example , I have 2 1/2" guns ,my CP ( the old REAL Chicago pneumatic , not the new CP crap ) is 30+ years old and the Blu-Point is 20+ and they still work perfectly.
I bought the best tools I could get at the time and most are 20-25 years old or more w/o any problems.
Cheapo tools will not last that long but they may be all you need depending on workload.
I bought a 15 dollar 3/8's air ratchet from Harbor Freight ( HB is 10 minutes from the track ) when I forgot mine at home , it's lasted 10 years so far .
It is not a "polished" as my good IR but it works just fine actually, again , I keep it oiled.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 11
From: Lacombe Louisiana
I use Snapon and IR tools at work,at home my harbor freight tools have lasted up to 10 years,but if I need to do any heavy stuff I take it to the shop.For the average home tech they do just fine within reason.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
I have a Sears 33 gallon vertical compressor that I have had for a few years. It tucks in a corner of the garage nicely and I have used it for everything from swapping the rims/tires on my Vette for racing events to powering a nailer for various wood working things around the house.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
I found a used one for $300. It puts out enough air flow for many 1/2-inch impact wrenches but some wrenches are real air hogs. Choose accordingly.
