The Air Tool Argument

[JWC86]

I use both and don’t care what others use but I just want to address something I read in the OP:

“Cordless tools die after a couple years”

That hasn’t been the case for me. I have lots of cordless tools that are 10 years old or more and still work fine.

 

[Timmastertech]

23 years ago when I started my career air tools were king. IR impact guns, snapon FAR72 air ratchets were kings of their domain. We used air powered everything. Today, I couldnt tell you the last time an air impact was used in our shop. We have a pair of Dewalt DCF900B impacts that will walk circles around any air impact. Dad uses his as his all purpose 1/2 impact, I use my Ridgid as my regular gun and the dewalt only for really stubborn stuff because it hurts my wrists. It has been so long since I touched an air impact that I couldnt actually tell you where my MG725 is at the moment. At the moment, the only air tools that see regular use, besides lifts, tire changer, tire inflators ,and cooling system filler are our air hammers and cut off wheels. Occasionally where space is tight we will use an air powered body saw for cutting as opposed to a battery reciprocating saw but thats about it.

 

[Hohn]

As a long time DIY, cordless is so much easier to use. No need to start up or wait for the compressor, no cycle time or noise. No snake like tripping hazards on the floor... I still have my 30 gal. USA made compressor and various air tools, but they get used less and less.

Especially if you have multiple battery units and don't have to change sockets all the time.

I also like the intelligent settings on the battery tools. Helps to prevent damage on fasteners.

Once you get the hose off the floor and have pipe on the wall, it really changes this. Just installed my air pipes very recently and I’m smacking my head at not doing it years ago.

If I want air, I plug a hose into a manifold and open a ball valve. The line is already pressurized.

It closer to getting water for your garden now. Connect the hose and turn on the spigot.

Before I did the piping, I’d often grab cordless for a quick task precisely because of the extra work the air required. But then I’d often end up needing the air anyway so it was a Pyrrhic victory.

I still think cordless makes sense the more casual a person is. The more you do metal or automotive work in depth, the faster it shifts to air being the more useful and less limiting option. I’m still not seeing a cordless needle scaler for sale. And there’s no cordless option that fits as well around some really tight hub/control arm interfaces for suspension and brake work.

Not everything can be automated. Sometimes you just do it by hand. Things like breaking loose badly rusted fasteners simply need feel no power tools can provide. But I find I can use a power option earlier and more effectively with air. And as I get stiffer and even more arthritic, that matters more to me.

 

[Hohn]

I have a good high dollar air system in my shop & still prefer battery operated impacts & ratchets.......It's dragging an air hose around & having to switch the hose to different tools that bothers me. You can have 5 battery impacts lined up with different sockets & go to town!

Still need air though....
Air Hammer
Blow Guns
Solvent Blow Gun
Coolant Refiller
Coolant system pressure tester, Hand pump ones suck!
Fluid Extracter
Injector test stand
Transmission Solenoid test stand
Transmission Jack
Air Jack on my 4 post lift
Air locks on my 4 post lift
My big press is air over hydraulic
And of coarse a tire inflator

There’s definitely no free lunch and your post is bang on.

The tool swap hassle I addressed by just running 12 air hoses in parallel to my work point so I can keep all the tools connected at once.

Just kidding. Can you imagine?

Kidding aside, I think a good coupler like the Prevosts helps. These days I love that little 5-in-1 with the sliding collar. Effortless swaps since you don’t fight line pressure. HF has a Merlin copy of the Milton that is great and affordable.