: Air Tools Beginner's Guide
Author: Jake Strong
Buying air power tools for the first time can be a daunting
task—as can finding the right tool anytime. In an effort to make
your eventual purchase more enjoyable and rewarding, I'm
presenting you with this air power tools buying guide. I'd
recommend printing it out or bookmarking this article as a
guide.
The first thing you need to know is that there's an air power
tool for virtually any job out there—and I mean any job. And the
second crucial point to remember is that all air power tools
require a separate air compressor. Many first-time tool buyers
don't realize this or forget. Keep that in the back of your mind
always.
Let's talk about air compressors for a moment. They are not all
the same. When you buy an air power tool, it will have a PSI
(pressure per square inch) rating. You need a air compressor
with the same PSI capability. It should go without saying that
your air hoses and connections must match perfectly. You want a
tight fit.
Two main types of air compressors are: compact and piston-type.
Compact compressors don't use a tank to store compressed air.
As such, the compact compressor runs while giving your tool the
air it requires. The benefit of compact compressors are the
ability to take them anywhere with ease, because they are small
and light. However, this is a tradeoff. While being small and
light, they lack power. If you're going to doing any power
painting, for instance, a compact compressor will most likely be
inadequate.
Piston-type compressors, on the other hand, are more powerful.
They have a tank that stores the compressed air. The compressor
doesn't need to run constantly like the compact compressors do.
Instead, it only runs when the air needs to be adjusted back to
a certain pressure. The piston-type compressors have two stage
models—single and double. If you're doing a heady-duty job, it's
best to get a double-stage compressor.
Perhaps one of the most common air power tool bought is a nail
gun, so let's go over some quick basics about them.
Nail guns come in two main varieties: coil and stick. A
coil-based nail gun holds the nails in a drum-like container.
Typically, these guns will hold a few hundred nails. The
stick-based nail guns are for your smaller, general jobs. They
usually hold a couple dozen or so nails. Unless you're doing
some construction or a very large project, a stick-based gun
will do the job.
When buying an air-powered nail gun, think about what you
intend to use it for. Many nail guns are built with a specific
task in mind. Some examples of task-based nail guns are: framing
nail guns, finishing nail guns, roofing nail guns, etc.
Finishing nail guns are more for your light work, while framing
nail guns are for heavy-duty work.
Just like anything great in life, air power tools come in a
variety of sizes and loaded features. As to brands, that's
really a personal question. Some people become loyal to specific
brands. If you're not sure what to look for, try Bostitch,
Craftsman, DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Porter-Cable first.
About The Author: You can find air power tools at a deep
discount at: http://www.Air-Power-Tools.com. For high-quality,
but dirt cheap, reconditioned power tools visit:
http://www.reconditioned-power-tools.com. Liven up the worksite
by getting a worksite radio at a cheap price from
http://www.Worksiteradios.com.
Author: Jake Strong
Buying air power tools for the first time can be a daunting
task—as can finding the right tool anytime. In an effort to make
your eventual purchase more enjoyable and rewarding, I'm
presenting you with this air power tools buying guide. I'd
recommend printing it out or bookmarking this article as a
guide.
The first thing you need to know is that there's an air power
tool for virtually any job out there—and I mean any job. And the
second crucial point to remember is that all air power tools
require a separate air compressor. Many first-time tool buyers
don't realize this or forget. Keep that in the back of your mind
always.
Let's talk about air compressors for a moment. They are not all
the same. When you buy an air power tool, it will have a PSI
(pressure per square inch) rating. You need a air compressor
with the same PSI capability. It should go without saying that
your air hoses and connections must match perfectly. You want a
tight fit.
Two main types of air compressors are: compact and piston-type.
Compact compressors don't use a tank to store compressed air.
As such, the compact compressor runs while giving your tool the
air it requires. The benefit of compact compressors are the
ability to take them anywhere with ease, because they are small
and light. However, this is a tradeoff. While being small and
light, they lack power. If you're going to doing any power
painting, for instance, a compact compressor will most likely be
inadequate.
Piston-type compressors, on the other hand, are more powerful.
They have a tank that stores the compressed air. The compressor
doesn't need to run constantly like the compact compressors do.
Instead, it only runs when the air needs to be adjusted back to
a certain pressure. The piston-type compressors have two stage
models—single and double. If you're doing a heady-duty job, it's
best to get a double-stage compressor.
Perhaps one of the most common air power tool bought is a nail
gun, so let's go over some quick basics about them.
Nail guns come in two main varieties: coil and stick. A
coil-based nail gun holds the nails in a drum-like container.
Typically, these guns will hold a few hundred nails. The
stick-based nail guns are for your smaller, general jobs. They
usually hold a couple dozen or so nails. Unless you're doing
some construction or a very large project, a stick-based gun
will do the job.
When buying an air-powered nail gun, think about what you
intend to use it for. Many nail guns are built with a specific
task in mind. Some examples of task-based nail guns are: framing
nail guns, finishing nail guns, roofing nail guns, etc.
Finishing nail guns are more for your light work, while framing
nail guns are for heavy-duty work.
Just like anything great in life, air power tools come in a
variety of sizes and loaded features. As to brands, that's
really a personal question. Some people become loyal to specific
brands. If you're not sure what to look for, try Bostitch,
Craftsman, DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Porter-Cable first.
About The Author: You can find air power tools at a deep
discount at: http://www.Air-Power-Tools.com. For high-quality,
but dirt cheap, reconditioned power tools visit:
http://www.reconditioned-power-tools.com. Liven up the worksite
by getting a worksite radio at a cheap price from
http://www.Worksiteradios.com.
