Do You Need Pneumatic Tools In Your Garage?

When it comes to power tools, pneumatic tools offer unique advantages and challenges. Pneumatic tools use compressed air from an air compressor to work, which makes them powerful and efficient to use. Just like any other tool, pneumatic tools help people do their job faster and maximize the amount of work that they can do. From paint sprayers to impact wrenches, these tools have found their place in many auto shops. However, is getting one for the garage worth it?

Pros and Cons of Pneumatic Tools

Before we delve into what pneumatic tools you should get, you should understand their pros and cons.

Pneumatic tools can provide a wide range of advantages over their electric-powered counterparts. Firstly, pneumatic tools tend to be cheaper and lighter compared to their electric counterparts because they don’t have electric motors or batteries. Pneumatic tools also tend to be safer in wet environments since the risk of electric shock is much lower. Lastly, since these tools rely on an air compressor for power, they don’t have any batteries that need to be constantly replaced or recharged. Pneumatic tools can run for hours, as long as they have access to an air compressor.

Unfortunately, pneumatic tools also have a few drawbacks, the most obvious of which is the fact that you need an air compressor to make them work.

This connection to a large and heavy compressor limits their portability. At the same time, not all compressors can run all pneumatic tools consistently. Some compressors might run out of air often when using certain tools like an air hammer, as they use up a lot of air pressure.

Make sure the compressor has the capacity to run whatever tools you’re trying to run. If the tool is constantly running, then you need to have a larger tank on your compressor, or the tool will be too weak to perform properly.

–Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

What Pneumatic Tools To Get

If you’re serious about repairing or customizing vehicles in your garage, then it’s probably time to get yourself an air compressor, the right pipes, hoses, fittings, and some pneumatic tools. Not sure which tools to get? We think these are the most essential.

Orbital Sander

An orbital sander can create ultra-smooth surfaces as well as remove paint. This tool is useful whether you’re repainting a vehicle or merely buffing its paint. If you wax vehicle paint frequently or if you want a fast way to remove paint, then an orbital sander is going to make the job a lot easier.

Drill

Pneumatic drills don’t overheat, which is a distinct advantage over their electric counterparts. If you’re working on installing aftermarket components, a pneumatic drill can make the job a breeze. That said, electric drills generally perform better than pneumatic drills according to mechanics.

Paint Sprayer

You can’t repaint vehicles with a proper paint sprayer. This tool is the best when it comes to giving vehicles an even, smooth coat. You can also create custom paint designs with the help of a stencil. If you’re going to work on applying primers and paint on vehicles, then a paint sprayer is a must.

Cut-Off Wheel

Cut-off wheels are used for cutting, notching, and grinding materials like steel sheets.

Air Hammer

Air hammers can be used to smoothen or shape a metal surface. If you’re shaping a piece of metal for a vehicle’s body, an air hammer can be a good tool to speed up the job. With the right chisel accessory, air hammers can also be used to cut metal.

Impact Wrench

If you’re repairing suspension components, there’s a high likelihood the bolts holding the parts in place are stuck or rusted. Using an impact wrench combined with a rust penetrant can remove stuck bolts easily. Impact wrenches can also make removing tire lug nuts a breeze.

Tire Inflator

If you have an air compressor, the most obvious tool to get is a tire inflator head or valve. This is the easiest and most affordable tool or accessory to get, and it might be something you might use very often. This tool can help you do the job in an instant.

How to Oil Pneumatic Tools

If you’ve gotten some air-powered tools for your garage, you should know how to lubricate them to keep them running in good running condition for a long time. This is a relatively simple process. It involves dropping varying amounts of pneumatic tool oil into the air inlet depending on the type of tool. Tools like the impact wrench motor will require 10 to 15 drops of oil. For a pneumatic rivet gun, you should drop 4 to 5 drops of oil into the air inlet. That said, you need to be careful since putting in excess oil can be detrimental.

Overall, air tools make tasks like drilling holes, tightening bolts, and inflating tires incredibly easy. The fact that pneumatic tools use compressed air also brings many advantages that make them better than electric tools.