power tools

[turbo buicks]

my mom needs ideas for christmas gifts for me. i told her maybe and air compressor and tools for it. whats a good brand/model to get? im thinking an air ratchet would be most useful. any of you guys got any advice? what about prices?

thanks

 

[Drac0nic]

I've got mostly cheap @$$ air tools, but if you're gonna blow the dough to Chicago Pneumatic or Ingersol-Rand. If you're gonna go get cheapies, don't get Cambell-Hausfield you're paying for a label and you may as well go through harbor freight and save some dough. Can't say much on compressors, mine's the old one from work that had the tank rusted out, it's a Dayton air head, and it needs a check valve badly. One thing I will say is that if you don't intend on moving it, try to get a big one. I'm gonna pick me up a 120 gallon tank for mine over the summer (one of the benifits of working at a propane plant) so that I can make sustained bursts with the die grinder. On to what has made my life easier air tool wise, I love the die grinder, it's got near endless versatility, you can get all manner of sanding/grinding/cutting attachments for one. For general purpose destruction and cutting stuff, this is by far a favorite as it allows a fairly high degree of control, just be sure not to practice on something good initially. an impact gun can't be wrong, even one of the little butterfly style ones will come in handy more then you think. I like my air drill, probably not enough for the expense though (a whole $12 used on ebay, Chicago Pneumatic) I had a quite deadly roofing nailer a while back which I traded off (thing had a hair trigger and did 3 round bursts )

 

[turbo buicks]

what about an air ratchet? ans are the discount auto parts tools any good?

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

hard to beat Ingersol-Rand air tools

 

[AZ Vic]

If you are going to use them every day, get IR or something good.

If you will only use it once in awhile, get something that is lifetime warranty that is close to where you live. I have mostly IR and 2 snapon impacts but I picked up a set of Husky air tools in a kit for 70 bucks at Home Depot - it has a 1/2" impact, grinder, air hammer, and 3/8" ratchet... all with a lifetime warranty.

Something breaks, I walk in and walk out.

Hope this helps,

Vic

 

[no-nos]

Originally posted by turbo buicks
what about an air ratchet? ans are the discount auto parts tools any good?

well i picked up a oil-less 32 gallon air compressor from home depot for $299 and brought along with it a kit that brought along an air ratchet, an impact gun with several sockets, a chippy hammer,a grinder,an air hose 50ft long with all the fittings and some other items and 2 spray guns with containers.It's a husky which is'nt the best but i tell ya it's worked more than enough for me, and it does'nt use to much power. hope this helps

 

[tc86gn]

Don't get anything smaller than 60 gallons. You will be dissapointed if you do.

You would have to wait for the compressor to catch up just to take the 4 wheels off of your GN.

Get die grinder, 1/2 impact, 3/8 ratchet, blow gun, variable speed drill. Make sure it is variable speed or you will burn up the bits.

That is a good start.

 

[John Larkin]

Don't fart around like I did. A small compressor will only run small airtools adequately. Die grinders, impact wrenches, sand blasters and air hammers need more volume than a small compressor can put out. It's not about maximum output, it's about output at a particular level. Even if she limits how much she'll spend, you can kick in some of your own money and buy one that will get the job done regardless. I would go for something like 2-stage with 14 - 17 CFM @ 90psi. A year from now you won't be kicking yourself.

 

[TurboJoe3.8]

www.tptools.com

They have some good quality air compressors and air tools and good prices- check them out!

 

[gnsrule]

For home use I recomend the Homey Depot Husky brand. Thier die grinders are nice pieces compared to my blown up/locked up Snap-On pieces. Hmmm, same for the air chissel, the Snap-on one keeps cracking a certain wafer plate whereas the Huskey keeps going. For an air ratchet, cheapies will work ok, but thats where the Snap-On ones outshine the rest. Ingersoll makes the best impacts. You can get the Ingersoll's under the Sears name for 30-40% cheaper. I've never had any good luck w/ Snap-On impacts. My 3/4 has a broken anvil, 1 of the 1/2's shot craps and the 3/8's guns have garbage hammer pins.
I've been runnin a little 5hp single stage 90 psi in the garage for like 10 years now. If I had the room, I'd like to upgrade to a nice 2 stage, 80-120 gal tank, 14 cfm@175. Fortunatly when i need the extra juice, I just fire up the 2 stage thats on the service truck. Get the biggest a/c you can afford.

Good Luck