thinking about buying some air tools....

[rusty ol ranger]

Craftsmen has an online deal right now with a 1/2 in impact, a 3/8 drive air ratchet, an air chisel for 80 bucks.

Heres my question....my air compressor is a older craftsman 6hp/25 gallon.

Will it handle these tools ok?

 

[Dirtman]

Yes 6hp and 25gal is more than enough. The only tools that really require massive amounts of air are things like paint sprayers and sanders. Even then, the motor will just run more so you may need to give it some cool down time. My shed compressor is 6hp, 33 gallon and 125psi and runs all my tools just as good as my 120 allon 10hp shop compressor.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Yes 6hp and 25gal is more than enough. The only tools that really require massive amounts of air are things like paint sprayers and sanders. Even then, the motor will just run more so you may need to give it some cool down time.

Perfect. Thats what i was hoping to hear. Ive never had air tools before, its gonna be nice not having to do everything with arm power!

 

[Dirtman]

With the amount of rust you deal with you'll still be reaching for the breaker bar and cheater pipe alot....

 

[G8orFord]

A lot of it has to do with the cfm. You'll want decent hoses, not just those little dinky spring type hoses a lot of compressors come with.

Also, air tools are great, but the battery powered options nowadays are superior in most cases, IMO. They ain't cheap though.

 

[Grumpaw]

Saw that set just now. Not a bad price.. The 300 ft lb impact will take care of most stuff you run across unless you get into larger vehicles like taking off one ton lug nuts and really torqued down frame/suspension parts.
Down the line add a cut off tool or a right angle die grinder...invaluable.
Once you start using air tools you will never look back.
One item that the kit doesn't have...
You will need to get a set of impact sockets for that impact tool. Regular sockets won't do...they'll likely crack or shatter.
For what that impact puts out, even Harbor Freight stuff will be OK.
Regular sockets will be OK for the 3/8 inch ratchet tool, but I'd recommend impact sockets for it anyway..
Grumpaw

 

[Dirtman]

I love my Milwaukee fuel impact gun but here's no replacement for air. Air is always there... batteries need to be charged. Plus as you've said, I spent more on my one battery impact set than I did on my entire compressor and 5 or 6 air tools. It's also about 3 times bigger than an air impact of the same power.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

My buddy has one of the fuel battery impacts....its bad ass but im not paying for it lol.

Ive actually got an impact socket set. So im set there.

Im buyin the stuff mostly right now for the air ratchet...i gotta pull the tranny on my quad.

 

[Curious Hound]

I second the motion for due grinder and cutoff tool. They will be indispensable once you get them. I find that I don't use my air ratchets as much as I did when I was using them for industrial maintenance. I have a 3/8" butterfly impacto wrench that I really like using.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I second the motion for due grinder and cutoff tool. They will be indispensable once you get them. I find that I don't use my air ratchets as much as I did when I was using them for industrial maintenance. I have a 3/8" butterfly impacto wrench that I really like using.

Oh i fully plan on getting a cutoff. I got a trailer i wanna redo this winter and the cutter will work real well for gettin all the old bolts out that hold the wood floor in.

 

[adsm08]

I have a 8hp 60 gallon Kobalt in my shop, it keeps up with things like the impact gun and air ratchets just fine. If I get into body work my little grinders can outrun it after a while, and it doesn't even pretend to keep up with my sander. My 90* angle grinder is pretty small but if I am doing a lot of detail sanding with it, or cleaning an engine for assembly I can get the air lines hot.

If I am really getting into a project my 3/8 air ratchet can out run my dad's 25g Craftsman. I have taken that tank from full to "I gotta stop and let it catch up" before having a single wheel off with my AirCat TH1000.

 

[Grumpaw]

Rusty, I'm gonna throw this out to you...
If your not familiar with air tools, the set your looking at is basically a light duty "beginners" set. The tools, while Craftsman in name, aren't the best . The impact, at 300 ft lbs, will remove some stuff, but it won't budge a properly torqued 3/4 or one ton truck wheel lug nut. And, its a single speed which means if your not careful you'll strip a bolt/nut very easily. The second you hit the trigger it hits 300 ft lbs. A gun with a variable speed trigger is the way to go. You can hit the trigger and apply the torque slowly...very easy to manage.
I have several, and a 300 lb won't budge the lugs on my E-450 based motor home wheels. Takes at least a gun with 450 ft lbs, and when I travel I carry one rated at 600 ft lbs.
The ratchet is only 45 ft lbs...better ones go up to 60 ft lbs .
If you already have a compressor and hose, and only need a ratchet, go for a better one, and add to your tools as needed.
There is a reason why the impact your looking at comes in an 80 buck kit, while a good quality gun with 450-600 ft lbs can cost hundreds of dollars.
You do get what you pay for. I've got a number of air tools that I paid dearly for over 30 years ago, but I still have em and they still work like new.
If your only going to do some light work, then that kit is a good buy, but for heavy duty with a lot of use, not worth it...you'll be looking for better tools shortly.
Those two tools are going to be the most expensive. Tools like air hammers/chisels, die grinders and cut off tools are relatively inexpensive.
Grumpaw

 

[Uncle Gump]

To get started that air tool kit will do... but I would keep your expectations in line with the purchase price.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Honestly....

Im more after the speed/ease of it then torque.

If it wont bust something loose then i got my trusty old 1/2in drive and 2ft bar lol.

I think for 80% of what i do anymore this will be fine. Plus worse case i always got my map torch on standby.

 

[Grumpaw]

Understood Rusty...was just throwing some suggestions out. Bought a lot of tools in my 70 years and hate to see anyone get bummed out after buying cheaper tools.
Grumpaw