Basic air tools?

[Dragnet]

I'm new to compressed air, but now appear to have a running compressor which is sitting there to see if it leaks at 120PSI.

May I have some advice on a basic set of air tools? I'm intending buying secondhand good ones rather than Chinesium, unless they're all much of a muchness and new is OK without breaking the bank.

Needle scaler/chisel - I have an idea the scaler's the ideal tool for getting gunk off old cars. Is it worth it or not? Is one of the chisels that has a scaler attachment all right or a dedicated tool better? The chisel seems a good idea after the sweat equity I put into separating snottily welded previous-owner panels with a thin chisel and a lump hammer.
Sander - for scratching up panels for painting after wire brushing, surface preparation and polishing. Are these the same or is a dedicated polisher something else?
Cut off tool - is this just an angle grinder without the angle?

I have corded and cordless drills; a terrifying Hitachi die grinder and some angle grinders. Is it advantageous to have these as air tools as well, as they're smaller? I guess speed adjustment is easier with air tools by using a valve of some kind. My electric grinders are not variable speed.

The spray gun(s) I got the compressor for originally, but that's a whole new thread.

 

[MetalMonkey]

A lot will depend on your compressor and how much air it can deliver - some air tools are very hungry and are not going to work well, if at all on a small "DIY" compressor.

Needle scalers are fairly air hungry, but quite useful. An air hammer with interchangeable attachments (including flat and chisel) is also very handy especially for knocking anything stuck apart.
You can get a needle scaling attachment for an air hammer so no real need to buy two different tools.

Air sanders are good if you do a lot of bodywork, but again very air hungry - you might be better off with an electric one, cheaper to run.

Cut off tool, is a small disc cutter, usually a 3 inch disc, handy for cutting in tight spaces. They can be quite nice because they will tend to stall if the disc binds, which happens quite a bit if you are cutting out bodywork.

Die grinders are also a handy too, but again can be quite air hungry - available in straight and angle versions, both useful.
Small air sanders, or a die grinder with a roloc sanding pad attachment is also very useful.

Air impacts, still have their place IMO, but depends if you are on a cordless platform and already have them in battery form.
Air drills, I don't really bother with myself, I find cordless better. Air angle drills might be worthwhile if you can find one cheap.
Air ratchets, pretty pointless for me, noisy and I don't run in that many bolts I can't do it with an impact or by hand. I have one, never use it.

Air grinders, again I don't bother with them, they are quite air hungry I just use electric ones.
You can get air nibblers and shears and rivet guns if you do a lot of fabrication work they might be worth looking at.

Blow guns, invaluable.
And of course the most obvious one - a decent tyre inflator - an absolute must.

 

[Dragnet]

Thank you - I should have mentioned the compressor's a 200l 3hp job. I have a cordless impact driver.

 

[fizzy]

I find I am using air tools less and less.
A good quality air pop riveter is brilliant if you have the need for one.
I have a nice but cheap PCL die grinder.
I also like my air silicone gun. Very useful.
Oh and my air jack and air grease gun.

 

[dan.taylor.1]

Ive got a few used but decent brand air tools for sale if you're interested I'll have a look what I've got and message you. There's definitely a Chicago Pneumatic Impact Wrench, and some blow guns, probably a tyre inflator and a Underseal Gun.

 

[tom2207]

blow gun is mighty , wouldnt be without one , die grinder is a must have and ideally two , a striight one and a 90 degree one ,,, thats about it really , small geared recip/ hack saw is very very handy too , but they are about 120 quid for a decent one . after that its just what you fancy ,,
small air tools are still mighty hard on air , but once you have them nothing else will do.

 

[Dragnet]

Thanks all. I guess these also need to be lubricated, so I need a 'Filter-Regulator-Lubricator' set, too. The compressor will have to be semi-portable, so I was considering building a frame off one end of the platform with the motor and pump on, and mounting the outlet on there. Perhaps two - one from the FRL for tools, the other without the lubricator for spray-painting. I could also put a little roof on to save the assembly from the Cornish climate since this has to sit outside...

 

[Cobbler]

No need for a lubricator, just put a drop of oil in the intake before you start & if you are not expecting to use it for a while, do the same when you’ve finished & blow it through to stop it rusting.

 

[Erie Fred]

Can't forget blasters, both suction & pressurized.
Not really a "non pneumatic" replacement out there.

 

[Dragnet]

I have been given a 'spot blast gun' which I haven't been able to try yet. I think 'proper' blasting is out of my range at the moment, probably for reasons of air capacity and the need to have somewhere to do it (and clear up all the media!)

 

[Dragnet]

Thank you - I should have mentioned the compressor's a 200l 3hp job. I have a cordless impact driver.

More on that driver - tried it on a top plug on a compressor pump and it rattled it without undoing it. It also rattled without undoing the vertical link suspension spring bolt on the Herald. While great for DIY, perhaps an air one is required for extra oomph!

 

[Erie Fred]

I have been given a 'spot blast gun' which I haven't been able to try yet. I think 'proper' blasting is out of my range at the moment, probably for reasons of air capacity and the need to have somewhere to do it (and clear up all the media!)

if your compressor is truely a 3 hp, you would do alright with a small benchtop cabinet.

 

[Dragnet]

Thanks to @dan.taylor.1 I now have a drill, blow gun and 1/2" impact driver! I guess next a die grinder, hammer and cut off tool, as per @MetalMonkey's suggestions. I was looking at this air hammer on eBay since it's a known brand, but can't tell if it would take a generic needle attachment, and the seller couldn't tell me. They sent pictures of the chisel ends which I think are generic, so perhaps that's a possibility.

There are a couple of retractable hoses for sale locally which are tempting.

I need to check the regulators on the rusty compressor I got, and then it's time to try some tools!

Blasting has gained more credence as I've got a number of awkwardly shaped things to strip rust and paint from. I'm not sure what's required though - from the stickied thread here there appear to be legal problems with actually blasting with sand rather than other media, and apart from a cabinet would I need a 'pressure pot' and a range of accessories?

An electrolysis tank is also tempting. Just as well my brother already has the lathe(s)...

 

[Jack_K]

My list would be long but mostly covered already. If you are doing body repairs to cars then a 10mm belt sander is great as well as an air body saw.

I do much prefer air die grinders over my electric one. I haven't used the electric one at all since getting a good air supply.

 

[julianf]

Ive got a handful of air tools, but the one that always amazes me is the £25 air rivet gun.

I put in way too many rivets by hand before getting the air tool, and its really like night and day.



The other one that i use really infrequently, but is impressive is an air mastic gun. You just pull the trigger, and it keeps pumping, until you release it, and it stops dead - no dribble.


I use a mirka ROS all the time, and a paint gun, but theyre way more obvious.

 

[Cobbler]

Ive got a handful of air tools, but the one that always amazes me is the £25 air rivet gun.

I put in way too many rivets by hand before getting the air tool, and its really like night and day.

The other one that i use really infrequently, but is impressive is an air mastic gun. You just pull the trigger, and it keeps pumping, until you release it, and it stops dead - no dribble.

I agree with you about the pop rivet gun, don’t use it often, but it makes it so easy, also the mastic gun, not much dearer than the standard crappy thing & so much more controllable. Mine was about £20 from MM.

 

[winchman]

We have changed from Air to battery and just use the compressor for tyres and a blow gun, I believe its cheaper?
Plenty of used air tools about I think I may have a few spare

 

[Dragnet]

Thanks for the further thoughts. I don't think I'll be doing many rivets! The only ones I can think of immediately hold on the rear quarterlight trim on my MGBGT. And what are you doing that needs so much mastic? I'll throw up my eco-hands here and say that for the house I'm building I'm eschewing all gun-gunk and sealing the gaps with pine-tar-impregnated oakum, covered with linseed putty...



Coming out from behind the sofa, @winchman if you have some spare then I would be interested if you wish to propel them my way. Does the chisel I linked to look like a reasonable purchase?

I have one of those electric powerfiles which has been useful. I can see an air edition might be a good purchase, as well as a saw. I've spent many hours poking a hacksaw blade into very awkward cracks to cut inaccessible snotty 'seam' welds from previous repairs.

I am wondering about how to link all these up. If the compressor(s) are to be semi-portable, then I was thinking of mounting the regulator/filters on the compressor, as was done with the one I just picked up for £20 (attached photo). However, @dan.taylor.1 made the good point to me that the water ought to be taken out close to the tools as it won't precipitate much so close to the outlet. If I mount the regulator on the compressor, then have say 10m of hose, should I put an in-line filter on the tool end of the hose as well?

I believe for spraying that further water-defeating methods would be advised, but I am not going to be able to mount yards of piping on a wall with several drops and drains as recommended in the 'spraying' section of this website.

If I lubricate the tools with oil (which oil? Straight 30 I've got in my can?) rather than use an oiler, will the line will remain clean enough to use for spraying? Or do I need to invest in a number of air hoses initially?

 

[Trevorleach]

Thanks for the further thoughts. I don't think I'll be doing many rivets! The only ones I can think of immediately hold on the rear quarterlight trim on my MGBGT. And what are you doing that needs so much mastic? I'll throw up my eco-hands here and say that for the house I'm building I'm eschewing all gun-gunk and sealing the gaps with pine-tar-impregnated oakum, covered with linseed putty...



Coming out from behind the sofa, @winchman if you have some spare then I would be interested if you wish to propel them my way. Does the chisel I linked to look like a reasonable purchase?

I have one of those electric powerfiles which has been useful. I can see an air edition might be a good purchase, as well as a saw. I've spent many hours poking a hacksaw blade into very awkward cracks to cut inaccessible snotty 'seam' welds from previous repairs.

I am wondering about how to link all these up. If the compressor(s) are to be semi-portable, then I was thinking of mounting the regulator/filters on the compressor, as was done with the one I just picked up for £20 (attached photo). However, @dan.taylor.1 made the good point to me that the water ought to be taken out close to the tools as it won't precipitate much so close to the outlet. If I mount the regulator on the compressor, then have say 10m of hose, should I put an in-line filter on the tool end of the hose as well?

I believe for spraying that further water-defeating methods would be advised, but I am not going to be able to mount yards of piping on a wall with several drops and drains as recommended in the 'spraying' section of this website.

If I lubricate the tools with oil (which oil? Straight 30 I've got in my can?) rather than use an oiler, will the line will remain clean enough to use for spraying? Or do I need to invest in a number of air hoses initially?

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I would just oil the tool direct, that way you do not contaminate the air if spraying.
You only need a drop or two of oil every now and then, if the tools exhaust is dry then it needs a drop or two, if the exhaust is damp it can go again.

 

[winchman]

Hoping to have a tidy up day today so I will let yo know if I find anything.
The Chisel, Its a good make but I sold my Snap on one with chisels for £25 and it took ages to sell, have look at the older ads on Marketplace