Milwaukee Fuel tools have ruined me. I rarely bother to drag out an air line anymore. Only time I use air now is for the 1" impact hammer, and some speciality tools like air chisel, needle scraper, and high speed sander. For everything else, the cordless tools get the nod. This goes for corded electric tools also.

I've been entertaining pulling the trigger on one for some time. It wouldn't get a ton of use (lug nuts, lag screws, etc...), but is this the one I want?

https://www.amazon.com/Milwauk...kee+18+impact+wrench

(I'm a fan of Milwaukee tools)

 
I still use air a lot, but not so much the impact tool. I use two die grinders (regular size and pencil size), chisel, cut-off tool, reciprocating saw, tire chucks, and just a plain blow gun is the default tool on each manifold. Clean out the garage? Pull both vehicles outside, open all doors, crank the pressure up to about 150 psi, and use the blow gun to blow out the premises, all debris to the outside desert. Surprising how much dog hair accumulates especially considering how little time the dogs are in the garage.
 

Air tools plus my 80 gal 18scfm IR air compressor continue to do most of the work I rely on power tools for.

The newer Milwaukee Fuel impact is up to 1400 Ft-Lbs now I believe. Can't say I see much use for most air powered impacts anymore.

I have a couple air tools collecting dust somewhere... The only service my air compressor sees now is airing up tires and running an air nailer.

But I'm more geared to construction, wood working now. I'm
mostly cordless.
All Milwaukee. All 18v Fuel except the 12v oscillating saw.
Need to add a jig saw to the list.

Angle grinder
1/4 impact driver
1/2 impact
1/2 drill
circular saw
sawzall
leaf blower
flashlight
oscillating saw

Charging simply isn’t an issue.
Extra Batteries. One is ALWAYS on the charger and waiting at ALL times. Take one off to use, or because I notice it’s charged, and I put another one on to charge.

The 1/2 inch impact spins off lugnuts and my commercial class zero turn mower blades like they were only on hand tight.

at home I use battery powered tool, at my shop in a professional setting, I don't see air tools being replaced for a long time.

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:
Charging simply isn’t an issue.
Extra Batteries. One is ALWAYS on the charger and waiting at ALL times. Take one off to use, or because I notice it’s charged, and I put another one on to charge.

Very true. Battery prices are coming down. To have multiple batteries is wise.

The compressor does have to charge. Some can take a while to build up enough pressure. They're noisy, too.

60 gal 5.7 hp air compressor and all the tools to use it up.

I have a 12v compact drill/driver, but I use air for everything else.

Have a Sears Craftsman 64 (I think) gallon compressor. I like to rotate my own tires from time to time on my rock-n-rollin' Corolla and the air impact wrench makes the job a snap.

As a rank-amateur home mechanic, I have exclusively used battery-powered stuff for many years. However, I have been looking to expand my repertoire into less-rank-amateur stuff, and as such, been exploring this very question.

Since I already had some Bosch Li-ion tools, I added a Bosch 1/2 impactor, and a Milwaukee M12 3/8 ratchet. Both for less than the price of a compressor and the respective tools.

For someone that is just looking into setting up a shop, I'd go battery all the way. Sure the tools are maybe very slightly larger in some dimensions, but you aren't tied-down to hoses, and you don't have a loud-ass compressor harshing your mellow.

Definitely. Big fan.

I like cordless, too, of course.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
Electrics are handy sometimes and supplement air tools, but, to use the example you gave, no electric impact gun can match this:

Actually, the Dewalt has 1200 lb ft of breakaway torque, so it's very close. As a homeowner, I also don't have a compressor that can sustain 8CFM. I understand that it would be different in a pro's auto shop where the tools are used constantly for really big jobs. The hammer is one tool that cordless can't duplicate (yet).

Yup. I have the dewalt and it's a beast. Very nice and will take off, just about anything.

I have a lot of Milwaukee and DeWalt corded and cordless that I use a lot.

However...Being in the aviation field I have a lot of money invested in air tools and special tools as well. Air tools are very light and run cool when I am rebuilding a wing or fuselage where there are about a million rivets to drill out. Every tool has a place and a job and each one of us guys here on this thread have their own jobs for their tools. Have fun and enjoy your shop time!

As a Mechanic I have both, top of the line IR air tools and snap-on electric air ratchets and impacts, from 1/4" to 1/2" and while the electrics have their place, they are handy as hell, they still cant beat the torque and power of air. My co worker has the Milwaukee fuel line of impacts and they are pretty damn good but maybe a step or 2 down from the Snap on stuff.

My newest 1/2 air impact will break loose anything! Honda crank bolts beware. It hasn't let me down yet.