Pneumatic Tools

[sweensdv]

LCHIEN's thread about his recent purchase of an air impact screwdriver got me wondering about the use of pnuematic tools for woodworking. It's a given that pneumatic brad nailers, pin nailers, staplers, spray guns and to some extent 16 gauge and 15 gauge finish nailers are common shop tools. With the exception of the mentioned tools the only other pneumatic that I own are a few blow guns, tire inflators and an impact wrench. What other, if any, pneumatic tools do you regularily use in your shops?

[LCHIEN]

Air drills - you can get for about 10-15 bucks at HF, reversible but single speed. I have one 1800 RPM I use for Kreg Pocket Jig, the cordless drill for setting the screw and the air drill for the step bit - dont have to change bits that way.

Air nibbler for sheet metal (not really woodworking).

there's a thin belt sander I've been thinking might be good for wood.

The thing about air tools is that you have compact motors and a big energy storage media (the tank and the hose and a reservoir in the tool as well) which when filled with compressed air is like a giant coiled spring. You fill it at a slow rate (the compressor motor is the limiting factor) and you can release it quickly limited by the hose or not limited if the tool has a reservoir (like air nailers). THat's why air nailers work well, they can instantaneously release more energy than you can get in a short burst from 15A at 120V. You don't see electric staplers or nailers much and when you do they don't work all that well. Even rotating tools, you can get a lot of power/torque until the tank runs down.

[cabinetman]

Besides air drills, I use quite a few different air sanders. A D/A, jitterbug, and an air file (straight line sander). They take quite a bit of air. The compressor should be able to support the tool at the tool's CFM requirement. If not, when the tank depletes to the recovery pressure it has to support the tool, and fill the tank (if the tool is continuously running). If it can't keep up with the tool, the tool slows down. Intermittent tool operation can give the compressor a chance to catch up.

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[cwsmith]

IMHO, very much depends on the type and size of the compressor that you have.

Certainly many of the air tools (not including "nailers") that I imagine would be applicable for the woodworking shop (sanders, drills, etc.) are rather demanding in their CFM/PSI requirements and a good-sized tank with decent compressor displacement is going to be needed.

While most of us are familiar with the air demands of spray finishing, the typical rotating air motor, while requiring almost about as much CFM as a small- to medium-size spray gun, will require it at around 90 psi. That will take a 30 gallon tank down pretty quickly. (Typically, most consumer-air tool motors require 6 - 9 cfm @ 90 psi... thats 7.48 gallons per cu ft or 46 to 67 gallons per minute of 90 psi air) In other words, my 33-gallon tank, 150 psi, oil-less compressor would require activation in just a few seconds.

Unlike wrenches and nailers, sanders especially run for much longer time spans. Drills, perhaps somewhere in between.

My Craftsman oil-less is extremely noisey, the aggrevation would make such an application unbearable. Perhaps with a 60 gallon or better, lubricated compressor such tools would prove to be worth having. The point of course is that air tools need a compressor that not only can handle the demand, but can do so in a manner that is compatible with your shop working conditions.

CWS

[Pappy]

I have a small version of a grinder that would be best compared to an air powered Dremmel.

[dbhost]

With the exception of the air hammer, all my automotive type air tools can be used on various woodworking projects.

Impact wrench. I have seen lots of modern stuff that used LARGE threaded rods and nuts, you gotta drive them somehow...

Air ratchet, for the stuff like my workbench that doesn't go quite that large...

Die Grinder

Blow gun

Spray Gun

DA sander

I am sure there are more....

FWIW, I found out the hard way that a Blue Point impact wrench actually can, and will go kablooey on you over many years of hard use... I need to get a new one, and am considering one of the HF Earthquake dual hammer impacts... I don't need, and I pray I will never need a professional type impact again in my life, I think the HF gun would do better than well enough...

[T...K21]

Impacts-1/4's and 1/2's, drills-standard and right angle, sawzall, air hammer, sheet metal nippers, grinders, sanders, bottle jacks.

I've pretty much retired most of my pneumatic tools, with the exception of nail guns, paint sprayers, and air brushes,in favor for electric for the simple fact of convenience and the noise from compressors.

Don't get me wrong...I still use them once in awhile but I would rather use one of the electric counter part when applicable.

[vaking]

My workshop is in the basement and I don't want any air compressor there. I don't have any air tools. Even my nailer is electric, shoots 1-1/4" brads. I know that I could have used 2" with air nailer but the sound makes it unacceptable.

[Charlie R]

Took my 1/2" impact tool apart when it got weak. Found the vanes were gummy and sticking. Cleaned and it worked like new. I stopped lubricating with Marvel Mystery oil and run it dry. Bought an Earthquake from HF as a spare. Nice tool plenty of power.