Air tool quality question

[guava]

Given the choice, which would you recommend?



I'm planning a couple house construction/remodel projects and would like to figure out now which brands to watch out for while I shop for decent prices.



THX

 

[TinyInOhio]

Can't go wrong with Ingersol Rand.

 

[Dl5treez]

Ingersoll-Rand is a fine choice.



Depending on what you're looking for they'd probably be the best way to go for you.



Many MAC air tools are simply rebadged IR's.



Snap-On makes some excellent air tools as well. Not all of them, but a few are very good.



Chicago Pneumatic (CP) has both a line of crap and a line of high quality, so you can get good stuff from them but you have to really watch the model numbers & such.



There are other great, high quality brands out there but they're not as well known and not as easy to find.

 

[RACE427]

Air Tools

We have had good luck with Ingersol Rand, Chicago Pneumatic, Snap-On and their low budget Blue Point line, also MATCO. All of these air tools have served us well. Be sure your air lines are dry, no water, and you lube the tools with the proper lubricant before every use!!

 

[Dieselnut59]

Ingersoll-Rand is a fine choice.



Depending on what you're looking for they'd probably be the best way to go for you.



Many MAC air tools are simply rebadged IR's.



Snap-On makes some excellent air tools as well. Not all of them, but a few are very good.



Chicago Pneumatic (CP) has both a line of crap and a line of high quality, so you can get good stuff from them but you have to really watch the model numbers & such.



There are other great, high quality brands out there but they're not as well known and not as easy to find.

Ingrosol Rand also has the crap line (made in Taiwan or China) and the premium line(made in USA or Japan)

Check the country of origin and buy a tool from a quality controlled country (usa, japan, germany, canada, etc)

I have several Florida Pneumatic air tools that are premium quality and made in USA. They were comparable in price to the cheaper quality IR or CP import models. I have some premium IR, CP and MAC air tools that are also reliable and high quality. My recommendation for both price and quality is Florida Pneumatic.

 

[Hohn]

IR-- it's the best China has to offer.

 

[sardoghauler]

Shop tools or nailers?

He asked about tools for a remod/const. project. I assume he's looking for nailers.



I'm a fan of hitachi and senco (easy rebuilds)



Stay away form dewalt nailers



As was said before-- keep your tools, lines, and tank dry. If you live in a particularly damp area mix half and half oil and antifreeze (shake like mad). the guy who repairs my tools told me that and I havn't had to rebuild anything in a couple years now. an inline water separator placed min. of 25 ft form the tank will keep a lot of water out of your tools.



my 2 cents

 

[guava]

He asked about tools for a remod/const. project. I assume he's looking for nailers.



I'm a fan of hitachi and senco (easy rebuilds)



Stay away form dewalt nailers



As was said before-- keep your tools, lines, and tank dry. If you live in a particularly damp area mix half and half oil and antifreeze (shake like mad). the guy who repairs my tools told me that and I havn't had to rebuild anything in a couple years now. an inline water separator placed min. of 25 ft form the tank will keep a lot of water out of your tools.



my 2 cents

Thanks for all the replies. Sardoghauler had it right in that I was looking at various nailers for my project. Rebuilding was definately one of my concerns.



I'll heed the advice on the water in the lines and oiling. I've oiled the current tools regularly but not worried so much about the water in the lines.

 

[WDixon27]

my new 3/8 air ratchet must be the crap line because it sucks, the first one fell off my tray and the bloody thing broke in two, the second one needed to be taken apart to get to work right and still is not quite right as it jams up and needs to have the body loosened to start and tightned to not leak, i am unwilling to screw with a 3rd if he'd taken it on trade it would of been traded yesterday on a rebuilt snap on

Ingrosol Rand also has the crap line (made in Taiwan or China) and the premium line(made in USA or Japan).

 

[HookMeUp]

Can't go wrong with Senco nailers. Alot of the newer models are oil-less. I've used mine through several remodel projects and have never had a problem with any of them.

 

[DocRhoads]

Home Depot has the Ridgid line of Air tools and also Stanley Bostich and Paslode and Portacable and Senco Used and own more then one of each All have air nailers and Paslode has Cordless also. And if your looking for cordless drills and saws Dewalt is good but I like Milwaukee and the Ridgid brand is pretty good as well and they all make corded tools as well. Sawsall only one Milwaukee Super Sawsall.



Good Luck



These are brands I have used and liked and not heard anyone complain about. I would and will buy tools from anyone of this companies in the future.

 

[daveshoe]

I have had nothing but problems with my two Stanley roofing nailers purchased several years ago. They drive nails crooked, and many nails need to be driven home with a hammer. I have heard other pros agree on easy rebuilds with a senco. If I am buying a tool that is new to me,and have no previous experience comparing other brands of tools that others have used at a jobsite,I will always go with Porter Cable. Every Porter Cable tool that I have ever bought [including two air nailers] is the first tool that I want to use ,because it has the features that you want to do good skilled work and is light enough that it does not punish the operator. I have some functioning tools that gather dust,just because they do not feel right in my hand. There are no Porter Cable tools among this group. The feature I look for on an air nailer is the ease of loadind and an adjustable depth of drive. Also try to determine how easy it would be to accurately place a fastener with the positioning aid on the nail gun.

Not all brands of tools have a good product line across the board. If you get a Milwaukee drill you really like,that is no guarantee that you will like Milwaukee circular saw. Your best bet is to try a tool before you buy it. Some stores have a 30 day buyback if you do not like the tool.

Milwaukee used to be the most bombproof of all motors. I bought a used metal body Sawzall for 20 bucks,and I have had it so hot making cuts in oak that you needed gloves to hold it. My two year old Super Sawzall puked a cheaply made trigger switch before the armature took a crap and turned the thing into a paperweight. When the quality toolmakers started selling their stuff at Sears,Lowes,and your local hardware store,the quality just is not as it used to be.

Sorry for the slightly off topic rant, but the advice on not always sticking to one brand of tools is something to consider. That is why Dodge has the Cummins.