Air vs. Electric Tools

[cdogg44]

Maybe there's something I'm missing, but what is the point of a lot of air tools?

Like, why do you need air grinders, drills, and sanders? When an electric model will do the same purpose, usually, and you don't have to wait for your electricity to build up like to do air.

I'd be on my 10th compressor if I had an air grinder...

Thanks

[TheRipper]

I also prefer elctric tool's.I just bought another 4 1/2" angle grinder just to use cutoff wheel's on.I fyou have a large commpressor you do not haft to wait.But some tool's are just better being air.Also on a hot ass day it is easy to burn a electric tool up real quick.

[BUZZISCRAZY2]

Hard to beat the torque of a air impact gun............never heard of electric ratchets either :smokin:

[cdogg44]

Don't get me wrong, an impact wrench is the one of the biggest reasons I even bought a compressor.

It's just all the die grinders, angle grinders, sanders, and especially the air drill, that make me wonder why air power over electric?

[deke]

how efficant is the smaller motors over one larger motor in the compressor?
less things to break in the operation of said tool?
unlimited distance on the lines. no loss due to distance?
on larger compressor can power a lot more stuff at once then the same eletrical feed for a large shop?

i dont know 100% this is all me going on common sense/thoughts...

[Red Ibex]

You can use air tools in the rain
You can stall them
They are often smaller than their electric equivalent - if there is one
Cheap air tools work - for at least a few years, cheap electric ones can be toast in a day :mad3:

Never tried an air grinder though.

[socalchef]

i've got an air compressor that can handle the die grinders and stuff, so i don't have to wait. when i didn't, i was all about the electric tools, but a decent die grinder is upwards of $100, and they go way up from there. i tend to flip flop back and forth. my air drill is nice and small. my electric grinders heat up, but at times it's easier to run an extension cord then untwist an air hose. the air compressor is 220v, runs for a little while and stops...the electric tool just keeps running. don't know which draws less electricity. low priced air tools definitely last longer then low priced electric tools.

[DUG]

Longer life, reliability, easier to switch from tool to tool, I don;t know... just seem to work better for me and be more ocnveniant.

[PTSchram]

This is a standad topic of discussion among engineering disciplines. In some cases, it makes economic sense to use electric, others, air. In most home shops, electric tools are more efficient, whereas in most production environments, air is favored.

[glfredrick]

Just use them both as occaison arises... Tools are our friends - we be nice to our tools - we buy them lots of friends and new places to live... :D

[elusiv]

electric tools all have the motors right where you have to hold it up all day.. air tools are a LOT lighter and you can work with them for extended periods of time. It also allwos for smaller tools that fit into tighter places.
I have an ancient B&D electric impact gun that I've had to put 3 new sets of brushes into... still works great... but not like air tools.
I have a crappy compressor and it keeps up with any of the air tools with possible exception of the die grinder.

[D60]

unlimited distance on the lines. no loss due to distance?

Nah, as you increase distance you've gotta increase air line size, just like you'd have to increase AWG if electric.

I think there's two big advantages to air tools (both of which have already been eluded to):

1) they're lighter. This sounds insignificant but I've really noticed (particularly with my bad back) I can work longer, accomplish more and be less sore when the day is done. If you're a pro wrench, I think this would be a HUGE advantage.

2) you can stall them. This ties into #1 because, for instance... my air drill will just blow off at a certain point. My 1/2 electric will try to spin the operator if it can't spin the bit. After a full day of wrenching/fab, this is also a HUGE deal.

I always wondered if an air drill would be any better than an electric. I can tell you now that I MUCH prefer my 1/2 air drill over my 1/2" electric, it's the first tool I turn to. It's more comfortable, spins slower so it doesn't burn up bits (700 vs 1200), easier to handle, easier to store, more compact and just generally seems to do a better job of drilling.

Now angle grinders I really wonder about. I haven't bought an air grinder yet because I do think there are some places where electric might be better. However the cheap Drill Master angle grinders from HF are poorly balanced, and my quality Milwaukee grinder is somewhat heavy (relatively speaking), so perhaps I'd enjoy an air grinder as well.

As for having to wait for your compressor to fill up, that's really your own issue for not having a quality compressor.

[Urban Wheeler]

You can use air tools in the rain
You can stall them
They are often smaller than their electric equivalent - if there is one
Cheap air tools work - for at least a few years, cheap electric ones can be toast in a day :mad3:

Never tried an air grinder though.
I have an air grinder from HF. So far so good, but it is made for 4 inch discs and my shop supplies 4-1/2 inch discs. :( It is a little smaller and lighter than my electric. Keep air tools oiled and they will LAST. My air tools are smaller and lighter than their counterparts. Noise is about the same, maybe a tad quieter, and they sound cooler. You can stall an air tool all day long and not worry about it. There are no accidental unpluggings of the hose. Air tools never overheat unless you don't oil them. Compressors do overheat, so size one accordingly. I don't mind switching hoses from one too to another, it can be less confusing than switching plugs on extention cords, and less tangly. Also, I work in a shop, so it only makes sense to bring my air tools home for a weekend project.