Used to be I thought air tools were for dinosaurs, but, ever since getting my first air impact butterfly wrench several years back I've fallen in love with them.

I'm now up to that, a 1/4 in. stapler, no less than four nailers (framing, finishing, brad, and pin), and an air wrench gifted to me by one of my best friends.

A bit over a year ago I decided it was time to protect my investments, so the first thing I did was add a moisture and debris separator to the air line:



(I'd already added a smaller one to my pancake compressor.)

After I did that it occurred to me I'd been remiss in regularly draining the air tank in my venerable old Craftsman 1.5 HP, 8 gal. compressor. Yeah, just a >< bit. There must've been a half gallon of rusty water in there. Stupid, stupid, stupid

When I read, here, that, when air tanks go, they tend to go catastrophically--propelling shrapnel everywhere, and my compressor started losing air unaccountably, I decided I best not chance it.

Upgrade time!



In it's new home:



The new compressor can supply up to 6.5 CFM at 90 PSI, rated for continuous duty cycle. Now I can drive air chisels and die grinders

With the drain valve conveniently located right up front, it being a ball valve, and the compressor filling it's 5.3 gal. tank so fast (a minute and twenty seconds): It'll get turned off and drained after every use.

But now I had a new problem. This thing can do up to 135 PSI. My old 5 gal. portable air tank



is listed for a max of 125 PSI. Would have to be careful with that. Then I got to thinking...

I'd upgraded that portable tank once, already. Thinking it could drive my smaller air tools longer, as a portable tank, if I put a regulator on it, I'd done this:



Wasn't very effective.

Hmmm... ok: Add a fill inlet with a check valve, replace the short little hose with a regular fitting, and add an over-pressure release valve to it:



The manifold had to be removed from the tank to get all that on it. I honestly wondered if I'd get away with doing nine fittings, all in one go, with none of them leaking. Darned if I didn't! Props to Loctite's 567 Thread Sealant, because I'm sure I'd never have gotten away with it with tape.

Now it can serve as portable air, for extra capacity (up to about 115 PSI [that's when the "125 PSI" over-pressure valve really releases, I found out]) to reduce compressor cycling, and as a reservoir to improve performance at the end of long air lines.

Wheee!

Nice set up! While I still use air I’m gradually working my way towards battery. So much better imho.

ROLAIR VT25BIG...Nice Compressor!

That one's on my list...Though my plan is to use it as a true portable compressor, and mount the hose reel to the black top tray on the the ROLAIR.

Interesting. I would have thought there was no way in hell a compressor that size would have handled most air tools.

quote:

Originally posted by apf383:
Nice set up!

Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by apf383:
While I still use air I’m gradually working my way towards battery.

Battery-powered tools can be nice, but they're almost always more bulky and batteries die. Thus I tend to stick with corded tools and air, except for my Hitachi drill/driver set and a Milwaukee M12 drill.

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
ROLAIR VT25BIG...Nice Compressor!

It is.

It was between that, California Air Tools, and Ingersoll Rand. The CAT is "made in America," but from mostly CCP-made components. IR doesn't say where their compressors are made. I wanted American-made. Plus this one fit where the old one was. The garage is kinda full

The funny thing is: This smaller compressor is actually rated at higher CFM at 90 PSI than the other two were, even though they were larger.

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
That one's on my list...Though my plan is to use it as a true portable compressor, and mount the hose reel to the black top tray on the the ROLAIR.

I rarely need a compressor other than around the garage and house. For what little I do I have a little pancake compressor I picked up that somebody was actually throwing out.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
Interesting. I would have thought there was no way in hell a compressor that size would have handled most air tools.

It's that 2.5HP motor. And it's rated at only 13A at 125VAC.

quote:

Used to be I thought air tools were for dinosaurs …

Air (and electric) tools are probably the only reason this dinosaur can still wrench on cars at 63 years old. (I don't intend to do it much longer.) Otherwise my fingers, hands and arms would have worn out a long time ago.

The compressors and setup is nice and all… But the Jorgensen Clamps are awesome. Someday I hope to have a set of wood and pipe clamps similar to yours. Very nice!

Nice setup!

A Sigforum thread on compressors got me started down a similar rabbit hole a couple of years ago but for a different purpose. Taking the California Air Tools air compressor recommended in that thread, I researched some more and found the 2 gallon aluminum tank version on the Home Depot website and waited a long while (watching frequently) until it went on sale before snapping it up. It's very quiet (about 58 db) and works great for filling tires, balloons, and general high pressure air cleaning, and I've since picked up a combo stapler/18 gauge brad nailer.

However, the main thing I'm using it for is for the airbrush that Sigforum member wreckdiver (thanks again, wreckdiver!) gave me last year. I built a new worktable and spray booth from my son's old model train table, built a new Lazy Susan as a paint platform, added a combination air regulator and filter, and started airbrushing small models. I have several items nearing completion, and I also have several miniatures (including Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser), a few model armor kits (including a couple of M4 Shermans), and a model sailing ship in line for completion over the next few months.

And like Beancooker, I like the clamps. I used my Jorgensen clamps that I purchased 25 or so years ago in building the table, the spray booth, and the Lazy Susan.

Next up, using the compressor and brad nailer to build wall-mounted shelves for all the hobby paints.

Nice. I just had an occasion yesterday to use my pneumatic die grinder and air hammer with a punch to drive a pin out of something.

I no longer own a portable compressor since I've upgraded to the IR 80 gallon / 16cfm @ 90 psi shop compressor.

I like the hose reel along with the filter and dryer, I've currently only got a hook from which the hose is coiled.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
... But the Jorgensen Clamps are awesome.

Oddly enough: With all those clamps, and those aren't all of them, I still occasionally need another

Sadly, I've never much used those Jorgensen clamps. I bought those when I thought I'd get into fine woodworking. Turned out I didn't have the patience for it.

quote:

Originally posted by StarTraveler:
Nice setup!

Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by StarTraveler:
... added a combination air regulator and filter, ...

Some kind of moisture- and particulate-filter is absolutely necessary, IMO. While I've never seen the miniature one I put on my pancake compressor gather much, that one in the garage sure does.

quote:

Originally posted by StarTraveler:
Next up, using the compressor and brad nailer to build wall-mounted shelves for all the hobby paints.

Of my four nailers, my brad nailer gets the most use. More than the other three, combined, so far.

quote:

Originally posted by the_sandman_454:
I like the hose reel along with the filter and dryer, I've currently only got a hook from which the hose is coiled.

That hose reel was a Christmas gift from my wife years and years ago. (I've already replaced the original hose once, just from age.)

She got it for me after watching me wrestle with un-coiling hose, doing something, and having to coil it all back up, repeatedly.

It's a Beautiful Thing

I do need to replace the coil spring on the simple ratcheting mechanism with a stiffer one, though. When it gets cold the ratchet lever wants to stick such that the reel won't retract w/o me sticking a screw driver in there and poking it out of the way.

Here's another handy component of my air system. In the garage:



Just the other side of that wall, in an unobtrusive corner of the stair landing between kitchen and garage:





Allows me to use the compressor in the garage throughout the entire inside of the house w/o having to leave the door cracked-open to let the hose through.

(Had to have a custom length of pipe threaded for me to get the exact length I needed. It was just long enough for their pipe-threading machine.)

It was only after doing that I got the free pancake compressor. Even then: I still use it because my little pancake compressor is noisy and slow to recharge.

Father In Law got me started on Air Tools when my wife and I first got married.
Got me a good sized compressor and a number of Ingersol Rand tools.
They collection has increased over the years but all the originals work just fine.
I drain the tank nearly after every use and a couple drops of oil on the tool air inlet before each use and they have been great.

I have found air tools are like trucks. Lots of folks want to borrow them.
So, I have buddies over frequently when they need to work on their vehicles.

Because the Die Grinder turns at such a high speed it would probably appreciate having an inline Lubricator downstream from the filter so it can get a bit of oil on the vanes. If you only use it now and then, a few drops of oil in the inlet fitting before you start may work fine.

 
Very nice, and neat, setup ensigmatic.

I also like air and air tools. I keep my system pressurized at all times because, after two tries, my 1/2" black pipe installation is pretty much leak free. I've been refining this set up ever since we built the house in 2002.

It starts here, pipe going straight up to the ceiling, where the pop-off valve sits on top.

 
Then over to the right, where the main manifold sits between the two garage doors. This outlet is used for all air tools using the hose reel.

 
To the left, another smaller manifold near my workbench (1/4" hose reel coming next month).

 
Then completely across the garage (36 ft., the only place I've ever been able to use a full length 21 ft. piece of black pipe), and down to a manifold at what used to be my reloading bench, but is now just another workbench.

In the beginning, when dirt was young, air tools were the standard. I began picking them up in the 80's when I reassembled a Montgomery Wards air compressor from my boss - it was his fathers being used on construction sites for air nailers, and had fallen out the bed of a truck at 65 mph. Still has a massive dent in the tank. His dad was oooold school, no air nailer was ever going to replace a hand held framing hammer on their jobs, so he finally challenged him: He'd build the ridge beam with an air nailer on his lunch hour, and if his dad could take it back apart he'd never mention it again.

He laid it out, sandwiched flashing between the 2x and nailed it up. Plenty of time left over to sit and eat, too. That was quickly noted and his dad went with his biggest crowbar to lever it back apart. He worked 30 minutes and got nowhere - nobody mentioned the glue on those nails until after. They used it on the job that day and got halfway thru the next days work, too. Sold!

3/8 drive ratchets were the snitz as I was hot rodding a 66 Mustang and came in handy swapping motors, transmissions, rear ends, basically upgrading a 6 cyl 3 speed to a 302 with top loader and 9 inch. The old rubber hose getting snaked under the hood was a bit of a challenge but less hassle than todays battery packs. A swivel connector helps a lot. And having a 1/2 drive impact for lug nuts etc was so much better than a four way. Found out I could almost torque to 85 pounds by feel but the impact was twice as fast.

I was working on a 99 Forester 2.5 tearing it down to discover a massive clunking internally and one of the difficult points is getting the cam gears off - 285 ft pounds, the old CP impact just couldn't. The new HF thunder gun however, ripped them off like a ten foot cheater (which actually didn't work either, no way to lock down the engine stand.) Air tools - like electrics - have seriously upgraded power and efficiencies. I never upgraded the old MW compressor, which is losing steam now, as some of the demands for CFM tools require is still too low - grinders etc I was looking into need 10-12 CFM at 120psi and thats a $600 unit with 86 gallon tank usually.

I did kit my tire tank with a regulator much the same as pictured first - screwed on a cheap HF to dial down tank pressure to 45 psi for a finish nailer, it does extend the number of nails it can shoot and keeps it running much more consistently until tank pressure begins to equal out. With a brad nailer it's even better, I don't spend a lot of time straightening tiny wire nails or beating trim into submission. It's still a chore to carry the tank up the stairs to use but not as messy as draping the hose all over the house. It never fails to get dragged thru something when using it outdoors and wiping hose down constantly for interior use is now a thing of the past. Except for texturing sheet rock - by then that hose needs a cleaning. I have a curly shop hose on it for supply which works quite well and it's still capable of airing tires when needed - even at 45 psi output. I don't seem to overinflate them now. ; )

As for electrics - Im deep into 18V Ryobi for the universal battery application, even have a string trimmer - they have their place, but air does, too. It came into being for production line work, and body shops can certainly do a lot with them and sometimes with water sanding, too - which an electric can't. I may yet run a pvc line to the front of the house to reduce stringing hose out there for airing tires etc, done right it self drains and weathers well if hidden under the eaves, which in my case reach to the ground out front as it's an A frame.

Air tools are growing in my shop - maybe it finally is time to upgrade the compressor. One thing I have noticed is that the larger ones are rare in flea markets or auctions - very rare. Like a Craftsman tool chest, they stay in the family.

You made a great choice going with the ROLAIR.

I ended up going with a Makita MAC5200 from ACME last year when they were on sale. The ROLAIR was my first choice but I couldn't pass up the deal on the Makita.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
I drain the tank nearly after every use...

I'll be draining the tank on this one after every use. Not that I mind the compressor upgrade, but I feel bad about my trusty old Craftsman. Had I taken care of it, it probably would've lasted me my lifetime.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
... and a couple drops of oil on the tool air inlet before each use ...

My wife has to use some prescription eye drops that come in tiny little bottles



One day it occurred to me "Hmmm... those would make great little oilers for my air tools."

I strip the labels off, get every last little bit of remaining medication out, suck in a bit of alcohol, swish that around for a bit, get every last little bit of that out, fill 'em with air tool oil, and keep one with each tool.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig Vicious:
Because the Die Grinder turns at such a high speed it would probably appreciate having an inline Lubricator downstream from the filter so it can get a bit of oil on the vanes.

Good thought. Thanks. If I ever do add a die grinder to the collection, I'll pick one up.

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:
Very nice, and neat, setup ensigmatic.

Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:
I also like air and air tools. I keep my system pressurized at all times because, after two tries, my 1/2" black pipe installation is pretty much leak free. I've been refining this set up ever since we built the house in 2002.

Wow! That's a heckuva setup you have there

I've thought about black pipe, but the only remaining hassle I have with my current setup is when I want to put air in the vehicle tires. Then I have to reel-out the hose all the way. It would be more convenient if I had another reel at the front of the garage, but I don't have to do that frequently, so adding another reel and properly plumbing it all would be more for amusement than need

quote:

Originally posted by Tirod:
Air tools are growing in my shop - maybe it finally is time to upgrade the compressor. One thing I have noticed is that the larger ones are rare in flea markets or auctions - very rare.

Rare and, when they do appear, they go fast.

There was a nice, well-preserved, older Craftsman that appeared about 5-10 minutes away two-or-three years ago when I first started thinking about upgrading. Very good price, too. It was gone within a couple hours. Kind of kicked myself for not jumping on that, right away, at the time.

quote:

Originally posted by Jupiter:
You made a great choice going with the ROLAIR.

I hope so. Time will tell.

quote:

Originally posted by Jupiter:
I ended up going with a Makita MAC5200 from ACME last year when they were on sale. The ROLAIR was my first choice but I couldn't pass up the deal on the Makita.

Makita is good stuff. One of my go-to's for corded and cordless power tools. (Hitachi [now Metabo HPT] generally gets the nod for air nailers, though.)

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
I've thought about black pipe, but the only remaining hassle I have with my current setup is when I want to put air in the vehicle tires. Then I have to reel-out the hose all the way. It would be more convenient if I had another reel at the front of the garage

Even with my 50' hose reel at the front of the garage, I have to reel out most of it to reach all 10 tires. But I only do that twice a year, for summer and winter pressures.
 
The one nice thing about black iron pipe is that it acts as a giant heat sink, and condenses out all of the moisture in the air. Almost none of the water (well, actually none here in AZ) reaches the regulators, falling down from the risers into the drop legs.

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:
Even with my 50' hose reel at the front of the garage, I have to reel out most of it to reach all 10 tires.

Our garage is 23' deep and the two vehicles are parked in front, so I can easily reach all eight tires with the 50' reel.

And even that's going to become less a problem, eventually. Once I get the Man Cave done and the garage straightened-away the vehicles are going in the garage.

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:
The one nice thing about black iron pipe is that it acts as a giant heat sink, and condenses out all of the moisture in the air.

I might still consider black pipe if my one next door neighbor still had his pipe-cutting and threading equipment.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
I drain the tank nearly after every use...

I'll be draining the tank on this one after every use.

Thanks for the reminder. I usually bleed off the air in mine (it's a two gallon tank so it only takes a few seconds) but I generally don't drain the tank since it's aluminum and less susceptible to corrosion. However, just read an article about water in the line and buildup of water in the tank. Not good news, so I'll be draining mine much more frequently now.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
I might still consider black pipe if my one next door neighbor still had his pipe-cutting and threading equipment.

That's almost a necessity to do a decent installation. Thankfully, the local old-time hardware store/lumber yard had such equipment. I would mark several pieces to length and take them in to be cut and threaded. I would have cut them myself, but their machine had a built in powered tubing/pipe cutter, and the cut was part of the nominal charge. I seem to recall seeing a pipe threading machine at Home Depot, at some point.