Anyone out there use pneumatic tools (sanders, drills, etc.) for use on wood. Seems like I see all these motorhead type show that use air for gettin it done and it gets it done. I know the air supply would be greater, but more power? more speed? less hassle than dragging cords or fussing with batteries?
what do ya think?
Replies
A local contractor uses air tools in preference to electric. He uses the engine on his truck to run a compressor under the hood. A tank, looks like 20 gallon, rides in the bed fed by the compressor on the truck. He also had a smaller portable electric compressor, looked like a 20 gallon also, that he used when the truck couldn't get close or had to leave.
A hose reel of what looks like 1/2" hose rides on the tool bed and smaller reels and coils are handy. He had quite a selection of tools. Three or four drills. A bunch of nail guns of various sizes and descriptions. Sanders. A small jack hammer. And god knows what else.
It has some merit. As I understand it compressed air is less effected by distance from the source.
I can testify as to the power and compactness of the tools he uses. His 1/2" drill makes a regular electric spade handle unit seem weak. It is also small, compact and light. About the size of the 1/4" drill I keep handy for light work.
While I had my doubts as to the comparison of hose to extension cord I have to say that the hoses he used didn't seem to be any more trouble than a good heavy duty cord. He also had thinner urethane hoses to cover the last 25' or so and these made handling his tools easier.
Only major down side I could think of was that he had a lot of money invested in air tools and they are not cheap. Also a lot of these tools are not very quiet either.
I was impressed by his setup. Looked very efficient and effective. Kind of set his crew apart a bit. This is why I remembered it.
"very efficient"
I've an engine driven air compressor on my Datsun and on my GMC -- running a truck engine at the curb to power a compressor for air tools is NOT efficient (or cost effective); convienient yes. I usually only have small jobs where I need the air, and try to have the tank (4" sq tube roll bar and couple of old propane tanks under the bed) pressurized to 140 psi while driving before getting to the job, which is efficient.
I use air nailers, of course, both finish and framing. This is so common it's not worthy of comment except to mention that the practice has recently drifted down to DIYers due to less expensive compressors and tools becoming available in the last few years. The other air tools I keep in the site box are a couple of 1/2" impact drivers (for sinking lags and torquing down big through-bolts); a 3/8" drill (useful for drilling holes underwater, among other things); a sheet-metal nibbler (a lot less expensive than an electric nibbler like a Bosch, and much smaller and handier in corners); and one of my favourite tools, an air-powered caulking gun (takes standard 300ml cartridges and makes running a perfect bead a pleasure instead of a nail-biting ordeal).
I don't think I'd want to convert to all air for on-site work; the air-volume demand would require a much larger compressor than I can use comfortably now, and a lot of air tools get cranky if the air is damp or dirty, so full filters and moisture precipitators would be required as well. That said, if an interesting air-tool catches my eye, it's always considered seriously, though not necessarily as a replacement for it's electric counterpart.
Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
If I could live with a big compressor on the job site, I would definitely go air. But my sites are usually too small to endure such a noisy heavy monster.
But I have worked in shops where it is all air and the tools do perform well. I especially notice the difference with sanders and die grinders where several hours with an electric tool will leave your hand buzzing and hot where the air tool does not. I would love to have the action of an air screwdriver on a construction site. But I stick with my pancake compressor for driving nails and leave it at that.
I worked on sites that used one of those big wheel barrow type compressors, the ones that put out over 10 scfm and suck a ton of juice. We kept it buried in the basement by the panel. I think this would be the only way to use air tools for other than gun work on a site. My question was primarily pertaining to the performance of the air tools. my compressors are all a bit small to try anything now, but maybe in the future, on large houses, I may experiment. Of course, like was mentioned, air tools aren't cheap. Food for thought, though.
Thanks all
Aryn
The main difference with air is that it stores up energy as pressure in the tank. You can take short bursts out of the tank at a rate much faster than the compressor put that amount of energy into the tank. With electric tools, your maximum power is limited to the number of amps the breaker is rated for. That's why air has a major advantage for nailers, but you don't see it used for saws. (Come to think of it, how about a pneumatic circular saw that directs the exhaust air to blow the sawdust out of the way so it doesn't cover the line.... Maybe there is an advantage.)
-- J.S.
On a job site, air only for nailers.....for shop based stuff, my school shop is about half and half, trying to lean towards more air but still fall back into electric habits....if I was producing, in a shop, it would basically be all air, or mostly so. Tools are 'better' (for some tools, like sanders, definitely a difference), and last longer (but are more expensive). But, like someone mentioned here a while ago, sufficient compressed air can cost more than than doing it with electricity....depends where you are to some extent.
But I do love air tools. God, do I love air tools.cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, N.S
I can't remember if I've seen pneumatic circular saws....they definitely make pneumatic chainsaws.....one use is to saw standing dead timber in dams, etc, to harvest the lumber. They send divers down to cut them off at the base.
Pneumatic routers are nice; take a lot of air though.cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, N.S