Air tools! Need some opinions...

[Hotrodlincoln]

So here's the skinny. I may be starting as a tech at the dealership I work for around the end of this month. But I need some tools. Lots of tools actually, but I think the most important because they'll likely get used the most are some basic air tools. Impact wrench, air ratchet, air hammer, and maybe a grinder. If I feel like I need anything else I think I can acquire it later, but for now I just need something to get me started.

Does anyone here have (lots) of experience with various air tools and have opinions on what brands to buy that will be fairly reliable and still be somewhat budget friendly? I don't want to go out and spend $1000 on a set of air tools just yet.

I'm thinking more in the 200 to 400 range for a 1/2" impact, 3/8" impact, 3/8" ratchet, and an air hammer. I'd like to get something that will get me at least most of the way through the first year or so without much trouble.
I'm all ears to any suggestions or advice! I just don't know where to begin right now!

 

[Ranger Kip]

dude, get me a list and I will hit the outlet on thursday with Jason if I can, can pick all the tools up at less than 1/2 the price, brand new, and send them to you.

I am in Wellsboro, PA.

I can get you craftsman, for pete-sake, the impact wrenches are only $69 each, some of the larger ones are $75 or less. The grinders are like $45 to $69, and air ratchet with electronic gauge in case (Craftsman, new too) $85.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

i have a snap on 1/2 inch impact gun that is GREAT. its rated at 1000ft lbs breakaway torque and 800ft lbs forward- got it for $300 and its the strongest gun in the shop... if its too stuck to get out, it gets BROKEN off, another plus is that its whisper quiet and very smooth. before i got it i was using a cheap craftsman that could barely take lugnuts off cars, it eventually seized

-as for an air ratchet, i have the $30 craftsman 3/8" drive rated at 50ft lbs.. its very loud but is a good strong air ratchet for starting out.. i plan on getting one that is strong and quiet because this one makes my ears ring and it basically makes me almost never use it.

- then i have a craftsman air chisel that is decent, but i would recommend getting something that is nice and strong that can instantly pop out wheel studs out of truck hubs

-and you'll need a die grinder to put scotchbrite pads on. i have a blue point(snap on) that was about $100 and is super quiet and smooth so thats nice

-i recommend getting a good rechargable drill and some HSS(high speed steel) drill bits with a split point on them. i got a set for $200 and have not had one dull out of me yet, they slice through steel like butter

thats all i have in my collection at the moment... im the type of guy that will only buy something that will pay for itself, and when i buy it.. it has to be a great deal/value.

btw you'll need a decent multimeter.. i started out with a $20 craftsman pocket meter that was ok but did not have alligator clips and was a pain to use.. i recently upgraded to the fluke 233 which has a removable display and have not regretted it..

i got a $15 bendable magnet from snap on that is amazing too.. its made of ductile metal and can be bent to any shape... saved my ass once when i dropped a nut down an intake manifold.

keep track of all the tools you buy and keep receipts so you can put it on your tax return as a work expense.

the reason some of my tools are snap on is cause the snap on guy comes to the shop and accepts payments.. which helps out immensely.

 

[kcm1582]

Of the tools you listed you only really need two, everything else can pretty easily be done with regular hand tools. The half inch impact and a grinder. The others you can add to your collection as you start to make more money.

Starting with the impact wrench, we have the Ingersoll-Rand 2135TiMAX at the shop I work at, we have had it for a year or so and it gets used all day long, still works like its brand new. Hands down it outperforms every other impact I have used, including Husky, Craftsman, Snapon, and CP. The only downside to it is that I have read reviews of people blowing up cheap impact sockets with it because it is to strong for them.

For a grinder I use a Kobalt quarter inch angle grinder. I only really use it for light grinding and mostly surface prep and cleaning. It has a 3 year warranty so it it breaks I can just take it back to Lowes and get a new one.

 

[OilPatch197]

Rent your tools at first, just in case you are just a fill in.

A Diesel mechanic thought he got hired permanently at a truck stop, bought all his tools and his temp position was over in 6 months.

 

[Ranger Kip]

If you ever find a company called UltraLite Tools, they have THE best tools I know of, everything is forged steel, and ever tool is tested before they hit the shelf.

 

[adsm08]

IR 231 series impact gun. As for air hammer, I'm 5 years into this job and just felt the need to buy one. Air ratchets don't get used that much either.

I'm just get the impact gun to start and then pick up the rest gradually.

 

[JC 97]

+1 on the ingorsall rand.I have one.It's old but still works great.I bought mine in'89.Air ratchets are nice but I didn't use mine that much.I have a 1/4 inch and a 3/8.The 1/4 inch one is cp and the 3/8 is craftsman.Get a good torque wrench.That is one important tool.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

For a starter 1/2" gun the 231 is an excellent choice. They are strong and reliable and not overly expensive. You can get the IR version or the Bluepoint version of the gun (same thing, so it comes to name preference pretty much)

A 3/8" gun is nice but not essential.

My most used air tools are my 1/2" impact and my 1/4" air ratchet. I really don't like 3/8" air ratchets at all.

Its not too often that you need an air hammer.

 

[TheTopher]

IR 231 series impact gun. As for air hammer, I'm 5 years into this job and just felt the need to buy one. Air ratchets don't get used that much either.

I'm just get the impact gun to start and then pick up the rest gradually.

Can't go wrong with an ingersoll rand impact, mine muscles out any bolts I throw at it. Just wish it could do the same to the missus.

 

[Hotrodlincoln]

Rent your tools at first, just in case you are just a fill in.

Renting tools? Never heard of that. If I buy them I'm gonna use them, if not at work then for personal use. If your buddy didn't have the sense to put his tools to good use after getting canned that's his fault.

Of the tools you listed you only really need two, everything else can pretty easily be done with regular hand tools. The half inch impact and a grinder. The others you can add to your collection as you start to make more money.

I dunno. After turning a ratchet for half a day at a junkyard getting various things my arm gets pretty sore. I think an air ratchet will be pretty essential. From what I see in the shop every day, a 3/8" impact is not essential, but there are enough fasteners on these cars that don't require the power of a 1/2", but still need a little oomph to get them loose. That's a maybe, but yes the important one is gonna be the 1/2" impact.

Get a good torque wrench.That is one important tool.

Already have a $175 Craftsman. I think it'll work well enough. Been using it for about 3 years now and it hasn't failed me yet.

It seems that what it boils down to is Ingersoll Rand, or higher end like Snap-On, Mac, or Matco. We have a Matco rep that visits weekly so I'll talk with him next time he's around and see about getting an account going.

Thanks for the insight everyone.

 

[adsm08]

For a starter 1/2" gun the 231 is an excellent choice. They are strong and reliable and not overly expensive. You can get the IR version or the Bluepoint version of the gun (same thing, so it comes to name preference pretty much)

A 3/8" gun is nice but not essential.

My most used air tools are my 1/2" impact and my 1/4" air ratchet. I really don't like 3/8" air ratchets at all.

Its not too often that you need an air hammer.

Agreed. Most things that I would do with my 3/8 air ratchet I end up doing with the impact gun because the 3/8 doesn't have the torque and just ends up smashing my hand.

I have spent days (not as an employee) at the junk yard, and I have spent years working in the dealership garage. I spend more time using a ratchet in one day at the junk yard than I do in one week at the dealership. Most of the time you spend in the dealership is actually tied up in inspection and diag than in actual parts replacement.

Heck, I spent 4 1/2 hours replacing ball joints in a Jeep today (no I was not happy about it) I used my actual ratchet for 5 minutes.