[Amps] Air

[Will Matney]

Henry,

Back when I had my machine shop, I had a large compressor with an upright tank. I forget how many gallons but was a big one with I think an 5 or 8 HP motor, and the same size as in most garages. It ran anything you would hook to it and then some. Here in my home shop, I wanted something small as possible to run maybe an air screwdriver, a small die grinder, maybe a cut-off wheel, air ratchet, and possibly a small inpact to use with chassis punches. That's the slickest way I know of punching without using muscle on large punches over 1 inch. I did buy an electric impact yesterday for a real deal. Big Lots has one made by Nikota power tools which are a good tough tool, for a whole $19.99! Anywhere on the net I've seen them is at least $59.00 to $69.00 each. If anyone ever wanted one, right now is the time to visit Big Lots before theyr'e gone. This one has a 1/2" drive and we tried it on some stubborn lug nuts where it zipped them right off and didn't bog down. I can say it has all the umph you need being electric. The model number on this one is a 01230 by Nikota. It has 2700 inpacts per minute, 240 foot pounds of torque. The only fault is the weight as it's heavy. That's the reason I like air where theyr'e light weight.

I've never used an air screwdriver so I'm wondering how they compare to a rechargable like we all use now. I have 3-4 of these rechargables around I use, and they all work good. However, you have to keep them charged where an air driver would be ready anytime. The small compressors with a 2 HP motor say they'll run a small die grinder or cut-off tool, but I'm wondering how long as the tank aint that big. I would think the compressor would be kicking on about all the time running one, I dont know. The pressure and CFM matches but the storage capacity aint that big. I can pick one of these up for around $89.00 to $99.00, but dont want to waste money if it wont do what I want it to.

I never thought about using it for painting, but I may since it was mentioned. It would be one way to paint a chassis professionally. What I'm setting up to do is build custom HV power supplies along with transformers. The chassis would need painting along with some fabrication.

Thanks for everyones replies, it has helped in what I should look for.

Best,

Will


*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 5/6/05 at 11:26 AM Henry  Pfizenmayer wrote:

>Will - You probably already know most of this - but here are some things
>that I have found over the years  -just be sure the thing will deliver
>enough volume for whatever tools you are gonna use -- I made the "mistake"
>many years ago of buying a compressor that just did not deliver enough
>volume - plenty of pressure - 110 psi but only about 2 CFM at 60 psi or so.
>Would
>run some tools but won't really run a spray gun or sandblaster.
>
>I ended up buying a much bigger compressor later on that would run my spray
>guns so then  I had plenty of capacity for about anything .And the newer
>HVLP
>Hi Volume -low pressure guns suck a lot of air.
>
>The old one now resides in my garage and gets fired up to inflate tires ,
>run an air powered grease gun , blow off some small stuff etc and works
>great and don't have to drag out the big one.
>
>Another thing to think about is that you want to run air hoses or pipes to
>where you want the air , and leave the compressor close to the power
>source.
>In fact one of these days when I can't find anything more interesting to
>do-
> I am gonna put my big compressor on a  slab by my power panel and put it
>in a protective  box and run pipes to the garage . Then my daughter can
>have
>my little compressor and does not have to borrow it!.
>
>Finally "dry" versus "oil" -compressors -- for light home use the "dry" are
>ok but if you are gonna use it a lot I would go for an oil lubricated one.
>You will have to have oil insertion for most air tools anyhow. I saw in one
>of your message you play with old cars - a good air torque wrench is the
>nuts !!! and an air hammer /chisel . The only negative for an oil lube job
>is you need an oil separator if you are gonna drive spray guns with it to
>get any oil out of the air.
>
>I like to think of it in terms of buy something that will last you the rest
>of your life .
>
>Oh yes -- get one that has a valve to take the pressure off the regulator
>when you are not using it - I have yet to find a regulator that the blasted
>diaphram doesn't start leaking in a year or so if you leave pressure on it
>-
>and I like to keep pressure in the tank for when I want a quick shot of air
>. My old compressor has a valve but now it is leaking so the tank goes down
>from 100 psi to zip in a week or so.
>
>FWIW __ Hank K7HP
>
>
>From: "Will Matney" <craxd1 at ezwv.com>
>To: <amps at contesting.com>
>Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 7:50 AM
>Subject: [Amps] Air
>
>
>> Guys,
>>
>> Got a question. Does any on here use air tools in their electronics shop?
>If so, what are some of the pluses and the minuses? I'm thinking about
>buying a small air compressor next month to run a screwdriver, die grinder,
>ratchet, pop-riveter, and others. I may use a small 3/8" impact to use with
>chassis punches. I was looking at some with a 2 HP motor and has a
>"pancake"
>type tank on it. What would be a good recommendation for a small compressor
>for handtools, etc.? I'm curious on how well air screwdrivers work also?
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Will
>>
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