Fun with air tools...

[Robin427]

Thanks to everyone who helped me get my compressor up and running. Satisfied that it was holding pressure OK (at least up to 100 psi) I valiantly drove out this morning and bought one of these:
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...2842&id=10989#

and one of these:

http://tinyurl.com/nm3zp

Also bought a 50' length of SIP rubber hose (from Hellfrauds)

After a mad dash to the plumbers to pick up some black iron fittings, and a few minutes assembling everything with lashings of PTFE, I've spent the last couple of hours playing with my new toys (mostly on my really rusty Landrover bumper)

Question for those bods in the know:

When I let the pressure get up to about 100psi and then start using, say, my air hammer or die grinder, the pressure drops fairly rapidly (over about, say, 20 seconds) to under 50psi - is this normal?

Haven't let the pressure get above 100psi yet, although the tank is rated to 150psi...

[Purple AK]

Quite normal Robin Most air tools (especially those that use full pressure) do use a lot of air. If I'm buffing up a tractor tyre for a gaiter repair with a die grinder, I have to have the compresor running constantly.

[Robin427]

Marvellous - thought it might be the case. My rubber hose keeps kinking too, although one I get a quick release onto the compressor end, that should help.

Can one use an impact gun to remove a crankshaft bolt or is it better to try and use a large bar?

[bogster]

Hi Robin,

If you go onto Ebay there are lots of air tools at cheap prices. I got all of mine on Ebay. Here is an example link

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-NEW-PRO-AIR-...QQcmdZViewItem

[Purple AK]

Originally Posted by Robin427

Can one use an impact gun to remove a crankshaft bolt or is it better to try and use a large bar?

We frequently get asked to undo stubborn crankshaft bolts with the 1" drive impact gun

[Syholl]

The air pressure will drop quite quickly when using certain tools, sanders use an awful lot of air to run....

It sounds like the air pump isn't quite up to the job for the size of the compressor.... Its worth keeping an eye out on Ebay for pumps, i bought one for £40 and its HUGE, fills up my 200 litre compressor in about 3 minutes, and stays up to pressure no matter what tool you use... All of this running on the original 2 hp motor...

[Robin427]

I'm wondering whether the piston rings might be worn or something - it's quite an old thing. That said, even though my pressure was dropping, the tools were still running and I don't have anything so "mission critical" that I need a permanent ai supply - it's really hobby stuff.

Having never used air tools before, I do like the way you can swap between them so easily - no need for several power cords for the Dremel, Drill etc. and the fact that working in the rain doesn't pose a problem (obviously they might rust after a while, but you're not going to get problems with electronics not working) - it's nice to be able just to use the air gun to blow swarf/rust/dust etc. out of the way - my engine bay looks cleaner already!! I also feel that if you try to apply too much torque to, say, the die grinder, and it stops, the tool isn't going to be damaged like one driven by an electric motor... probably

Only annoying thing is that I can't get my car close enough to blow the tyres up!!