Air Tools

[Bird]

Sounds familiar, but never tried an electric spray gun

I put 2 coats, in two days, on a mobile home about 35 years ago with an electric spray gun. It did a very good job and of course, left my ears ringing and my hands sore.:laughing:

 

[Tinhack]

I was all air tools in the body shop. No other way. I went through 3-4 sanders a year. Usually 2-3 DAs and at least one in-line. The "expensive" ones didn't even last a year so I kept several HF units on hand all the time. I have one HF DA that's about 15 years old. It just recently started getting a rough bearing feel. I kept them oiled. They just wear out.

I've recently started a collection of Dewalt battery tools. I have the drill, driver, grinder and saber. I really like the Atomic line. Smaller, stronger and brushless. Not to mention light enough for my old hands and wrists to manage. They're for my hobbies and maintenance now. None will get the hard use of a business.

 

[neverfailyou]

Mmm, I didn't know that - looks like pretty close price wise I got 2 direct fit 6 amp hour LI batteries and also a new charger for $77 (amazon)
Tried them out, seem to have Good power. time will tell.

I really like these old Craftsman 19.2 volt tools. they are tough.
Dropped the 1/2 inch drill driver off the peak of the barn multiple times when i was screwing the roofing down. Didn't seem phase it.
Have also really worked the reciprocating saw and it has also held up well.
The only dog of the tools has been the fluorescent light, which has been my luck with all fluorescents.

My experience similar. First my Amazon charger died, then a while later one of the Amazon batteries won’t take a full charge so I was down to one Amazon battery and a older slower Craftsman charger. As I already have several Dewalt batteries, I can keep using 19.2 tools with the the adapter until they die. They’re tough tools... except the fluorescent light.

 

[ray66v]

I was all air tools in the body shop. No other way. I went through 3-4 sanders a year. Usually 2-3 DAs and at least one in-line. The "expensive" ones didn't even last a year so I kept several HF units on hand all the time. I have one HF DA that's about 15 years old. It just recently started getting a rough bearing feel. I kept them oiled. They just wear out.

I have over 40 years in the body shop, and I have owned a total of 6 DA's.

Five were National Detroit, four of which were used up. And, currently I have one ND fine finish DA and One Ingersoll Rand, DA that are still in good working order.

Yes, I used them a lot, as in everyday. Lots of heavy production work.

As with most bodymen, I did not oil them unless they stopped working, or made noises due to the contamination the oil would cause. :confused3:

 

[truckdiagnostics]

You might want to consider looking into a variable frequency drive (VFD) for your three phase compressor. It will cut the start up load by a lot, and you could rig the VFD make your compressor into a variable speed compressor so it isn't always cycling. VFDs have gotten a lot cheaper recently, not to mention more reliable. These days I wouldn't consider using a phase converter. YMMV...

All the best,

Peter

Thanks thought about, nice to know it wasn't a completely stupid idea. If I was younger and getting in or staying in the business, would have thought about it a lot harder.

 

[ponytug]

Thanks thought about, nice to know it wasn't a completely stupid idea. If I was younger and getting in or staying in the business, would have thought about it a lot harder.

Well, I don't think it was a stupid idea.

I bought a used Walker Turner drill press and put a small VFD on it. I didn't want to replace the original 3 phase motor. At low speed, I can jog it around for things like tapping. The control a VFD gives you is pretty amazing.

My only two cents is get a name brand one for your first one. It will come with a better manual, and tech support will be better. The learning curve will be easier.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Tinhack]

Well, since we're name-dropping, I've power tapped steel to 6-32 on my Bridgeport Mill. I felt a little too anxious to try 4-40 though.

I've got a VFD for it and run a 2.5hp 3-phase motor off the shop 1-phase 240v. I had a second VFD for the original table feed but the gears in it finally reached EOL. I've since installed a new X-feed and a table lift feed. I got tired of cranking that thing. I thought about getting a Y-feed but there's just not that much call for it.

 

[ponytug]

Well, since we're name-dropping, I've power tapped steel to 6-32 on my Bridgeport Mill. I felt a little too anxious to try 4-40 though.

I've got a VFD for it and run a 2.5hp 3-phase motor off the shop 1-phase 240v. I had a second VFD for the original table feed but the gears in it finally reached EOL. I've since installed a new X-feed and a table lift feed. I got tired of cranking that thing. I thought about getting a Y-feed but there's just not that much call for it.

Awesome!

I have a dream to have a Bridgeport, but I don't know enough to use it, or at least use it well. Amazing machines.

All the best,

Peter