Things You Should Know about Air Tools
You’ve probably heard it before, but it’s true. Air tools can really make your life easier. For many years, a lot of people thought that only the rich or only full time mechanics can have this tool, but now everyone can easily set up air tools equipment quickly and cheaply. You can just start out with the basics and add tools gradually when the need arises. The basics include an air compressor, a hose, a regulator and a gauge.
When choosing a compressor, you must always keep the type of tools you’ll use on top of your mind since this will affect your decision. Check out the tag on the compressor that rates the compressor’s air delivery. The label would usually appear as “5.9 AVG. SCFM @ 90 psi.” Now check out the air requirement number in your tool. This would probably look something like “5.5 AVG. SCFM @ 90 psi.”
What you need to make sure is that the air delivery or the number on the compressor you’re looking at is larger than the air requirement or the number on the tool you’re planning to use.
One thing you should remember is that you should always choose the right fittings for your tools. There are basically two types of fitting: automotive and industrial. These two types can never be interchanged, so you need to decide first which type you’ll be using before you buy components. You should also determine the size of fitting that you want. The fitting is measured by the ID (or inside diameter). The most popular fitting is 3/8 over 1/4 inch, although any size would often work okay especially for occasional users. Make sure though that the NPT number on the air inlet is the same as the NPT fitting number.
Make sure that the hoses are properly arranged. You can use a coil hose or a reel storage system to keep the hose looking tidy.
When determining the tools that you’ll be needing, consider the air delivery rating of your compressor. Remember, this should be higher than the air requirement rating of the tool. This is why you should consider the air requirement of the largest tool that you have when picking out a compressor. For a lot of people, that would be the air impact wrench.
If you’re on a limited budget, what you can do is to search online to find air tools for sale. With just a little effort, you can save money.
