Air tools vs Power tools, which is better?

jT · Post by jT » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:13 pm

Just curious as to which is "better"...

I was looking on harbor freight for some stuff and there is a electric impact wrench on sale for $40... then looking at the air tools there are some even cheaper impact wrenches and stuff... but obviously the "downside" is then you also need an air compressor.. .

so does air vs electric really make a difference?

i was going to get the electric one for taking off my control arm because i dont feel like sitting there unscrewing a 20" bolt manually... and it would just be easier with a power tool...

maybe if i had a garage i would go the air route, but as it is im not going to store and lug around an air compressor as well as all the tools... heh

esteinmaier · Post by **esteinmaier** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:16 pm

Air is better. Electric works.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:27 pm

There is no 20" bolt on a neon control arm.

Air is way better for impacts, most electric impacts are useless.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:35 pm

jT · Post by jT » Mon Dec 03, 2007 12:34 am

i dont know how long it is, i was just quoting from http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=17192

Post by **racer12306** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 12:37 am

I typically use electric power tools. Those cheap ones from harbor freight do not compare to the torque of a name brand on such as a dewalt.

I believe air tools are supposed to have more power.

But electric power tools can be used with just an extension cord. The extra cost of an air compressor needs to be considered, as you have.

titansxt · Post by **titansxt** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 4:45 am

Don't buy cheap tools! You really do get what you pay for.....
Air is better, a good compressor is not hard to come by. Just make sure it puts out at least 13cfm! Sears just had a sale on some good ones. Not sure if they still have it going on though.

Post by **racer12306** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:07 am

titansxt wrote:Don't buy cheap tools! You really do get what you pay for.....

Agreed.

Our harbor freight impact has nothing on our dewalt impact. harbor freight specializes in cheap Chinese tools. if you do not need much torque the sure go for it. it will last in most situations, but there is always a risk of it dying early.

I will tell you exactly how DeWalt tools are designed. They are designed to last a full year in the most severe of situations. They find the group of people that beat the piss out of them and then make them last under those conditions.

i would put this up against a DW292 and i bet the DW292 would own it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=92651

Post by **Diablo0** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:20 am

I like air better, only thing I don't like about air is noise

If I'm working on the car late at night trying to get it put back together I feel like I'm waking the neighborhood if I'm using the die grinder or impact gun lol. Sound travels far where I'm at and it's already super quiet as it is.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:46 am

jT wrote:i dont know how long it is, i was just quoting from http://forum.2GN.org/viewtopic.php?t=17192

That guy needs to quit using his dick as a measuring device. That fastener is just a hair over 5" long and you're really only undoing a few inches of thread or so before you can pull it out.

Don't get anything cheap as it won't have the balls to remove anything. IMO don't buy anything sub 500ft*lbs, which pretty much makes it air. Those fasteners will be in there tight. Mine were so sezied I sheared one off in the frame.

Or just go to sears and get a Craftsman 45" breaker bar and a good 1/2" ratchet and go el manuelso. It's not that bad with a good breaker bar to start it off.

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:32 am

Good post. I am thinking about getting an air compressor too.

Just make sure it puts out at least 13cfm!

All I ever see in the ads is what the max PSI, how much HP, and how many gallons.

What would be a good cheap air compressor to work on a car with once in a while, and what kind of statistics it has mentioned above?

titansxt · Post by **titansxt** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:01 pm

MyNeonSaysHi wrote:Good post. I am thinking about getting an air compressor too.

Just make sure it puts out at least 13cfm!
All I ever see in the ads is what the max PSI, how much HP, and how many gallons.

What would be a good cheap air compressor to work on a car with once in a while, and what kind of statistics it has mentioned above?

Damn good price and comes with extras.
http://tinylink.com/?NjxrLxT3i0

rOniN · Post by **rOniN** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:09 pm

I use Cordless DeWalt and corded Milwaukee tools for all of my jobs. Being a user and a salesman of both I found out which ones are the best. I've used air and I would have a whole set up of air if I had the space and a nice compressor. I can take my electric anywhere.

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 11:10 am

I never knew they made cordless electric impacts.

TN.Frank · Post by **TN.Frank** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 11:59 am

Personally I like Air the best. They won't heat up and burn out under hard use like an electric will do. Granted, you'll have to get a compressor but once you get it you can use it to run all of your tools and you can even get a paint gun if you get a good compressor so you can do your own painting. Also, you can get a sand blaster and clean up rusted parts too. Air is the ONLY way to go in a decent garage/shop.

DannyBoy · Post by **DannyBoy** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 3:32 pm

I tried the new cordless 650ft pound snap on electric impact and I would rather use my Cornwell 250ft pound air impact.

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 4:20 pm

fixitmattman wrote:
jT wrote:i dont know how long it is, i was just quoting from http://forum.2GN.org/viewtopic.php?t=17192
That guy needs to quit using his dick as a measuring device. That fastener is just a hair over 5" long and you're really only undoing a few inches of thread or so before you can pull it out.

Don't get anything cheap as it won't have the balls to remove anything. IMO don't buy anything sub 500ft*lbs, which pretty much makes it air. Those fasteners will be in there tight. Mine were so sezied I sheared one off in the frame.

Or just go to sears and get a Craftsman 45" breaker bar and a good 1/2" ratchet and go el manuelso. It's not that bad with a good breaker bar to start it off.

Buy a breaker bar? When I did my axle on my 95 when I needed a breaker bar for the axle nut I used the ratched, a 30MM socket, and a handle bar off my brother's old scooter. T-handle shape was perfect!

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 5:59 pm

^only problem then is the ratchet wasn't designed for that and you could very easily strip out the gears inside.

get this... i LOVE it...

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp ... ir=catalog

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:13 pm

Hudson_Neon wrote:^only problem then is the ratchet wasn't designed for that and you could very easily strip out the gears inside.

I stripped out the ratchet gear on my 1/2" craftsman when changing my lca's (that's how tight the fasteners were). BTW, when you break a craftsman ratchet they only give you a new ratchet head that you have to change yourself, as opposed to getting a whole brand new ratchet from canadian tire.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:19 pm

or if you use snap-on they either give you a whole new one or give you a loaner while yours gets rebuilt

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:43 pm

Yeah, I actually broke one of my "husky" brand ones, not with my T-handle breaker bar though.