Air, Battery or Mains?
Discussion
Looking for some opinions... Most of my aging power tool collection is mains powered, except for a battery powered Dewalt drill (also aging and the 2nd set of batteries are on their last legs). I've got a small compressor which is from memory about 2.5hp, but no air powered tools.
So some new tools are on my Santa list, and it obviously makes sense to standardise on the type as much as possible, but I'm not sure which way to go. Seems most common these days is battery powered, but batteries don't seem to last more than a few years before you're up for a high cost replacement (or are they better now?). Air powered appeals as the tools are cheap to buy and I imagine lower maintenance, but I've never used any.
The tools at the top of the list are likely to be:
Grinder
Reciprocating saw
Drill (Will probably have to be be battery for portability)
Impact wrench
Nail gun
Thoughts?
So some new tools are on my Santa list, and it obviously makes sense to standardise on the type as much as possible, but I'm not sure which way to go. Seems most common these days is battery powered, but batteries don't seem to last more than a few years before you're up for a high cost replacement (or are they better now?). Air powered appeals as the tools are cheap to buy and I imagine lower maintenance, but I've never used any.
The tools at the top of the list are likely to be:
Grinder
Reciprocating saw
Drill (Will probably have to be be battery for portability)
Impact wrench
Nail gun
Thoughts?
Your compressor might be a bit small to run an angle angle grinder, drill or a reciprocating saw full blast for any length of time. Those three use a lot of air.
The other problem is while the tools are light and powerful the hose is stiff and even using garden hose no cheaper than extension cables. Moving a compressor because you can't reach or move the work into range is a class a one pain in the butt. Compressors ALWAYS end up stuck behind something sharp heavy or awkward (sometimes all three)when you need to move them. Cosmic law
Most angle grinders seem to be used as the poor mans milling machine so I'd go mid range mains on that say about $120. While B&D's get sneered at I've had a good run from the last couple I bought/was given
Nail gun? What sort of size brads, finishing nails or framing? I'm all over the ranch doing, do you think you could dear's, and I've never regretted buying a Paslode. But it's an expensive bit of kit and was only justified as we were building a lot of stuff.
For small stuff an electric brader is great. Only used a borrowed one for trim etc.
Drill's? Lot of people swear by 14v cordless, I prefer a decent mains Hitachi with a 10mm chuck and a lot of extension cord as the electric gobblins seem to magic the storage out of all the battery packs round here. If that won't reach the batteries never run out on a brace and bit with a long 20mm auger. It's got a lot of gates hung.
Cheers
The other problem is while the tools are light and powerful the hose is stiff and even using garden hose no cheaper than extension cables. Moving a compressor because you can't reach or move the work into range is a class a one pain in the butt. Compressors ALWAYS end up stuck behind something sharp heavy or awkward (sometimes all three)when you need to move them. Cosmic law
Most angle grinders seem to be used as the poor mans milling machine so I'd go mid range mains on that say about $120. While B&D's get sneered at I've had a good run from the last couple I bought/was given
Nail gun? What sort of size brads, finishing nails or framing? I'm all over the ranch doing, do you think you could dear's, and I've never regretted buying a Paslode. But it's an expensive bit of kit and was only justified as we were building a lot of stuff.
For small stuff an electric brader is great. Only used a borrowed one for trim etc.
Drill's? Lot of people swear by 14v cordless, I prefer a decent mains Hitachi with a 10mm chuck and a lot of extension cord as the electric gobblins seem to magic the storage out of all the battery packs round here. If that won't reach the batteries never run out on a brace and bit with a long 20mm auger. It's got a lot of gates hung.
Cheers
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