Air or Electric tools??

[JR2]

My wife bought me an angle grinder for my B-day and she bought me an air operated one, but said if I wanted she can return it and get an electric. I have a 20 gal compressor and plenty of hose so the air one will work, but I have never really used many air powered tools.



Whats your choice, air or electric.



This will likley come up again with future presents so its best to get it sorted out now.

 

[Simplysmn]

air is great if you have a compressor that will stay up with air demand , but then again electric is also good they both have pro's n con's I have some of each so if your tofar away from hose electric cord will also work.

val

 

[Nate]

Really the only air tools I use are an impact gun and once in a while an air ratchet and air chisel. Of course blow off nozzle and tire inflator too...



We have some air grinders and skill saws at work, and they don't have the power that the electric ones have, and that's with an air compressor powered by a 2 cylinder diesel, ~100cfm.

 

[nickleinonen]

both work well. . at work, i have all air tools [1/2", 3/4" impact, 1/2" air ratchet, sanders, disc & die grinders... ] at home i have mix between air and electric. most of the air ones are more compact than the electric versions if that is an issue. . at work we have 2 big screw compressors set at 90psi. . not sure of the cfm on them, but it is a 2" pipe coming out of the oil separators. at home i have a 60 gallon single stage 2 cylinder unit that is good for ~20cfm at 90psi

 

[RacinDuallie]

IMHO every good shop needs to have a selection of both air and electric tools.

 

[Nate]

Those screw compressors are nice. We have one at work too, fills a 90gal tank to 120psi fast and it's about as loud as the cooling fan on my MIG welder.

 

[smartineau]

You need some of both, but for air tools you need to have a compressor that can keep up with the air consumption of the tool.



steve

 

[Loghead]

In the case of an angle grinder or even a small burring tool (die grinder?), the air demand is so high that if an electric tool does the job, then that's what should be used.

Look at it another way... . I have a 5hp 30 gallon compressor. To run an angle grinder or die grinder at 90 psi, the compressor will kick on after 30 seconds or so, and continue running until the job is done. That means I'm running a 5 hp motor continuously to do the same job as a 1/2 hp (or less) electric tool will do.

Add to that the problems you'll have to deal with when it comes to humidity and cold temperatures, and electric tools win every time.

 

[rbattelle]

That means I'm running a 5 hp motor continuously to do the same job as a 1/2 hp (or less) electric tool will do.

That is an excellent point. For some reason, I never thought of it like that.



I do like the compactness of air tools, though. Especially grinders (I can never fit my electric grinder into all the spots I'd like).



Ryan