which air tools?

[harvey639]

hi all i have 3 snap on air tools 3/8 ratchet, 1/2 impact, 90 mini die grinder that i use everyday at work and home and love. but i am in need of more for occasional use but cant warrant spending £££ on snap on/bluepoint for the occasional use. what are the best cheaper alternatives? any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[KemppiFrog]

I bought some Clarke's stuff and it seems OK for casual use. Nibbler gets most use and the 3/8" ratchet was great for the odd times I needed it. From comments on here, they are good on warranty too.

 

[outofthefire]

I've tried bergen, lidl and aldi and some other unbranded gear and I haven't been impressed. I would buy good stuff secondhand off ebay or from autojumbles, in my experience thats the best way and most of my tools cost no more than £15 each and a few have been a lot cheaper. I prefer chicago pneumatics or desoutter, you can get spares easily enough for both if necessary. I dont just buy the first thing I see though, I watch and wait and eventually I get a bargain and so far i've not bought a lemon.

 

[harvey639]

Done some reading and clarke seem to have a bad rep for there air tools, does anyone know if sliverline are any good?

 

[outofthefire]

I wouldn't buy anything by silverline. Look closely at cheap air tools and you'll see most of them are exactly the same with a different badge on them or painted a different colour, they will all be made in the same factory in china.

 

[Engineer1964]

I wouldn't buy anything by silverline. Look closely at cheap air tools and you'll see most of them are exactly the same with a different badge on them or painted a different colour, they will all be made in the same factory in china.

I've got a silverline Air Grinder, and Air Drill, Cheap as chips with a lifetime guarantee Had them both for about 3 years now without any problems or issues.

I never knock the cheaper brands as there usefullness often surpass their cheapness.

Why spend £100 on an air Grinder when a £20 one will do the job just as well and with Silverlines lifetime guarantee, thats a bargain on its own.

Does the job, at a fraction of the price, and cheap enough to just forget about it when the jobs done

As i said in an earlier post i bought a few silverline G Clamps the Orange ones with the Copper coated threads for a one off job about 2 years ago, I still have them and using them every day.

 

[F.J.]

I mostly have Chicago Pnuematics and a couple if snap on/blue point air tools. I tried a Sealy air grinder once and it gave up the ghost in no time. Makes a handy door stop now!

 

[BillFarworth]

E1964 I do agree and I had read your post .I do have a pair of the orange one clamps and it is really good quality for their money.
Personal speaking not happy with the most of the silverline stuff and except something I have used I will not recommend them.Very poor quality China made !
I will trust something like sealey or clarke far more than the silverline.
Chicago Pnuematics F.J. is a reallyyy good choice but this stuff not come cheap.
I have heard good things about the Sealey and the Betta tools that I really like.
h639, If I was you I will keep checking in ebay and see if something come up in good price and I will grap it.

 

[brightspark]

air belt sanders

what ever u buy under a particular brand name most are just made in china and re badged . heres a prime example the same sander can be bought for 45 quid without a brand name stuck on i bought one . it is well made and runs smoothly . but not all cheap air tools run sweet http://www.google.co.uk/products/ca...=aswwUJf5I-is0QWqoYDYDA&sqi=2&ved=0CGcQ8wIwAQ

 

[harvey639]

I have a silver line bench grinder cost £20 and is still going strong a year later. I might just Wait a while and get snap on to match my others. Other wise I will try sealey, I know the owner John sealey so I might have a word with him. I guess time will tell

 

[garethp]

Problem with cheap stuff is poor or non existant quality control, you can have two tools from same 'manufacturer' and one is great the other is garbage. I once looked at an Aldi air metal shear, the blade was broken even though it was new and the Aldi regulator literally blew apart when connected to the compresser.

But I've got other cheap tools (including other Aldi) and they are ok.