Air Compressor & Air Tool Recommendations

[Harvs82]

Hi All,

I seem to be doing more and more work on my car as well as other family members cars, and I am looking at getting an air compressor and some air tools, mainly being a rattle gun. I'm after something that is good quality for the home mechanic, but also has enough capacity to run the rattle gun for undoing wheels and the like.

What brands should I be looking at for the compressor and rattle gun? What sort of capacities, in tank size and horsepower would be suitable? Any information, prices etc would be most appreciated.

Cheers

Harvs82

[Boonz]

well an impact gun needs 90-100 psi to operate properly, they also use alot of air, i dont know what size tank you will need but i would definately recommend atleast a 3hp engine or an electric motor.
if its mainly wheel nuts your undoing/ tightening have you looked at an 18 volt cordless rattle gun??? they are only a couple hundred bucks and do the same job as an air powered one and you can take it anywhere aslong as its charged

[Harvs82]

well an impact gun needs 90-100 psi to operate properly, they also use alot of air, i dont know what size tank you will need but i would definately recommend atleast a 3hp engine or an electric motor.
if its mainly wheel nuts your undoing/ tightening have you looked at an 18 volt cordless rattle gun??? they are only a couple hundred bucks and do the same job as an air powered one and you can take it anywhere aslong as its charged

Are you meaning something like this:
http://www.hitachi-powertools.com.au...roduct=WR18DMR
or something else?

It will be mainly for undoing wheel nuts, but if I go down this route, I wouldn't mind having a small compressor too, just for another jobs.

[Boonz]

that exactly what i had in mind most things now you will find you can get in electric tools and air tools, pretty much the only thing you wont get thats electric is a die grinder or power hack saw.
just depends on what you can find for a good price cos some power tools are pretty expensive and air tools can be relatively cheap. its just the compressor thats alot.... have you ahd a look in a repco or motor traders catalogue??? they often ahve decent air compressors and tools for sale at a good price

[Harvs82]

that exactly what i had in mind most things now you will find you can get in electric tools and air tools, pretty much the only thing you wont get thats electric is a die grinder or power hack saw.
just depends on what you can find for a good price cos some power tools are pretty expensive and air tools can be relatively cheap. its just the compressor thats alot.... have you ahd a look in a repco or motor traders catalogue??? they often ahve decent air compressors and tools for sale at a good price

I just looked up that 18V Hitachi, best price I could find was $630!

[Boonz]

nah go to a retailer and you will get it much cheaper than that... we got a ryobi 18v for $290 for our roadside assistance ute at work. hitachi are good but are way over priced...there are products that are just as good for atleast half the price floating round you just need it to pop up and smack u in the face to find it if all else fails then try EvilBAY they have stuff liek that all the time

[Harvs82]

nah go to a retailer and you will get it much cheaper than that... we got a ryobi 18v for $290 for our roadside assistance ute at work. hitachi are good but are way over priced...there are products that are just as good for atleast half the price floating round you just need it to pop up and smack u in the face to find it if all else fails then try EvilBAY they have stuff liek that all the time

Cheers for the tip, will do a bit more digging around and see what I can come up with.

[Boonz]

try bursons they have good prices for tools....

[matty88]

Also make sure you buy quality air attachments, I just had my el cheapo rattle (impact) gun lock up on me, and as far as I know I can't open it up (it's sealed) and I forgot where I bought it, so keep that in mind.

[geardys]

Go for a good belt drive compressor. like a 12-20 cfm with an adj regulator and try to get a water filter system on it. not only will it help with keeping ur air tools in top condition, but it will also helps heaps if u won't to do some spray painting.
also get some extra hose and wined it around the compressor in a circle then go into the water filter system & adj regulator.

this will help to cool down the air in the pipes and u should be able to get a little more water out of the compressed air..


Don't go for direct drive one (i think they use a worm type gear arrangment). they may be cheep but don't last as long and cost more to fix...

if ur after a good 'rattle' gun. value for money u can't go past SP air guns.
if u have a little more money, above $300+ try a sidcrome or JBS
if u won't the top of the range go for Snap on or ingersoll rand.

for the compressor u can't go past ingersoll rand, or if ur on a buget try Scorpion Air Compressor. The rand is what i have allways used. they are hard to kill.

sp air also do a good value for money air wrachet.

don't forget that u'll need some impact sockets, unless u like replacing normal chrome ones.

if u have some contacts u can get all that for well under a grand and it should last u for yrs.

[geardys]

Also make sure you buy quality air attachments, I just had my el cheapo rattle (impact) gun lock up on me, and as far as I know I can't open it up (it's sealed) and I forgot where I bought it, so keep that in mind.

don't forget to oil them.
i oil mine before and after use.
also as i said use a water filter.

and u get what u pay for.

[craigvk]

Get a belt drive with minimum 14cfm capacity. Most are made in China but don't get one from Bunnings or KMart. The direct drive units are crap. At least with a belt drive you can replace the motor later on if it packs up, and it eventually will. I went through 2 direct drives and they are pretty ordinary. Look at spending $400+ on a half decent one.

As for air tools, keep your docket. If the tool packs up within the warranty period, take it back and get a refund or replacement.

[Harvs82]

Thanks to everyone for their replies so far, much appreciated. Please keep the ideas and comments coming.

[veclubby]

we sell them at work (supercheap) too if ur on a budget...

2.0hp $99 (direct drive, useless for most shit, heaps returned)
2.5hp $195 (direct drive, decent quality good for price, very little returned)
2.75hp $399 (belt driven, high quality, good output, zero returned)

thats all we have at our store, i think there is a 3.0 hp belt driven one aswell. all come wid a 12 month replacement warrenty.

lots of tools to run off them as well all in store, wat ever your looking for should have it. recommend the 2.5hp at least to run most stuff.

hope that helps
cheers
ryan

[Stewart1000]

well the best rattle gun brand is ingasol ram, will go forever and has godo torque.

dont get a second hand one. get a new one and dont forget to oil it (propper air tool oil, not gear oil)

[matty88]

Where could I buy air compressor oil? I have a belt driven one and dad's never done any maintenance whatsoever on it, it's at least 6 years old and sounds really loud, I rekon I should get some oil into it before it packs up.

[veclubby]

we have it at work or any hardware shop should have it

[Reaper]

Get a belt drive with minimum 14cfm capacity. Most are made in China but don't get one from Bunnings or KMart. The direct drive units are crap. At least with a belt drive you can replace the motor later on if it packs up, and it eventually will. I went through 2 direct drives and they are pretty ordinary. Look at spending $400+ on a half decent one.

As for air tools, keep your docket. If the tool packs up within the warranty period, take it back and get a refund or replacement.

17cfm is about as much as you can reliably get out of a single phase motor. Anything more "claimed" is probably a wank. 14-17 cfm will drive most air tools quite well. As Slim and others said - belt drive is the way to go. For occasional garage use don't be too worried about the brand - just look at the capacity in CFM and the rated power of the motor (2 - 2.2kw for single phase).

Keep an eye on the oil in the crank case (should be 1/2 way up the eyeglass). Don't over fill it.

Reaper

[Harvs82]

Guys, I've had a couple of things suggested to me. First being to perhaps look at a cordless impact wrench, namely this one here:

http://www.hitachi-powertools.com.au...roduct=WR18DMR
Being the Hitachi 18v model.

And for the rattle gun for use with a compressor:

http://www.justtools.com.au/prod1798.htm
Being a Chicago Pneumatics 1/2" Heavy Duty Impact Wrench Kit

What are your thoughts? I'm still not 100% sure on the size compressor needed to run the rattle gun?

Any feedback appreciated.