well then use both. sometimes cordless is enough and sometimes you have to use the extra power and smaller size of the airtools. and if you need some chearing up on a rainy day - use airtools:)
Old comment but this just happened to me, i let my friend borrow my electric impact and he had damaged my gun (no proof but no longer removes a single lug). So the positive with pneumatics will be that they cannot borrow my tools anymore
same here... air tools are so awesome looking... and sound is so addictive. BTW milwaukee angle die grinder =239$ Canada tool air die grinder = 49$ and it did clean engine head so fine.
I've had a couple electric tools and they've always failed in a year or two (as a hobbyist mechanic). My air tools though were inherited and are older than I am but still work beautifully. They're well worth the hassle of an air hose to me.
It's why I keep pneumatic as a backup. Those electric tools have more points of failure be it the batteries or the motors or other parts. But air is pretty straight forward and they're cheap and readily available when they do fail.
@@zachwolf239 The Car Care Nut channel talked about his tools. Says his electrics die once a year (or so). He works on cars for a living. He doesnt have a problem replacing them. Mostly Milwaukee. I guess the convenience outweighs the cost for him. I have both. Mostly use cordless. I just use my tools for DIY at the moment.
I work in a locomotive repair and servicing shop. We recently got some cordless electric impacts, and they're wonderful! However... Unless you're willing to shell out big money, the cordless electrics can't compare to the air tools in terms of brute force (of which we need a lot, in my industry). However, even with all the electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic tools that we utilize on a daily basis, so often it comes down to hand tools and leverage. Many times, I'll find myself in a position where a socket won't fit, only an open end wrench with a pipe will work. In the end, I'm a hand tool guy. Pneumatic is great, until your compressors are down. Cordless electric is great, until the last guy to use it ran the batteries down and didn't recharge any. Hydraulic is great, but heavy, awkward, and sometimes dangerous. Hand tools can be used ANYWHERE. Sometimes all you need is a bigger pipe to go over the end.
well i cant use handtools everywhere. the hard to reach places in my 7mgte motor can only be reached with a small 1/4" air impact ratchet. and taking the supra apart downnunder, is a lot easier with a special high torque air ratchet that can creep in everwhere. so, airtools has the advantage of small size and big power - way better than cordless in that aspect.
^This. All day long. New technology can be great. New meaning anything newer than hand tools. But never count out the old proven technology. this saying is used FAR too much, but in this case it's true with tools: There is strength in diversity.
I find electric tools way more convenient. Just grab it and go. No need to hook up an air hose. Though I still haven't seen an electric alternative for an air hammer.
@@302diamondstate7 They do have electric angle grinders. I hear Dewalt Flexvolt angle grinders are actually usable compared to earlier electric angle grinders. I still wouldn't go cordless with that if you have a lot of angle grinding to do, like an industrial worker.
@you build it we destroy it I don't think cutoff wheels put as much strain on an angle grinder as much as grinding discs on hardened steel in some industrial applications but I've never had to use an angle grinder for long periods of time except when I had to remove the the rust and paint from long steel rails in parks before repainting them. This was years ago and we used DeWalt 4.0 batteries and they would last maybe 10-15 minutes of straight grinding.
@you build it we destroy it I know batteries have gotten better. At the time we switched over to a portable generator after running through batteries. Other people in the crew needed to use batteries too for other tools. This was around 2013. After I saw the Flexvolt system and the larger capacity batteries, I wish we had them back then. It was city work so budgets are an issue but don't get me started on that. It would have been great to use a paint removing gel but not so great for the environment and even when we put wet paint signs around benches adults would still move the cones and sit on them and wonder why. Then there are the kids...
Agreed but I will admit I've invested lots of money in them and only use them few times a month now. So for me it just dosent make sense to buy battery. I love that sound of pneumatics
Im still stuck on air tools. I dont like having to replace batteries. I have several air tools in my box that are over 20 years old and they still work just fine. Every single battery tool I've had over the years has given up the ghost in a short amout of time.
It's a shame. I hate air tools, dirty inflexible hose in a tiny garage smacking my car's paint and getting in my way. Loud 15 gallon compressor that has to be charged and then emptied every time, so much noise in a condo complex. But I keep an air compressor around for the mighty hammer. And the occasional bolt that electrics just can't touch.
i'm aeronautical fitter/deburrer, and i use some electric tool, but the most of my tools are pneumatic because they are much more compact for the power and run high RPM (compare for example the size and weight from a 750W electric tool with the same power pneumatic...), same thing with pen size tools, pneumatic have much higher rpm (60000 to 100000rpm) and are more powerfull, and smaller, this is why dentists still use pneumatic tools...and pneumatic tools last decades, electric only some years...
Air tools last a lifetime. Electric tools wear out and batteries need replacing. Plus, I can use my air compressor for other things like draining my inground sprinkler system and filling tires with air.
I agree - this marks the difference between either a professional mechanic, or financially well-off enthusiast, vs. the average joe who has to work on his own vehicles. The expense of each electric system, their batteries, and their shorter lifespans is just too much for many of us to invest in. Now... if harbor Freight would make many of the same electric tools with cords to plug into the wall, then they'd be cheaper - but a little less handy.
@@workingguy-OU812 you can get good air tools for a lot less. As a pro, I feel like the convenience of electric unaffordable. I have a couple electric for the small places, but beyond that electric tools would take away from my food and retirement. Every couple of years needing new ones? I don't think so. If I was paying for the electricity, I may have a different tune. Briansmobile1 said his electric bill went down by hundreds.
TrakSpock1 air tools last a good long time, true if maintained properly. How about compressors? Same thing, atleast with a really good care. Electric tools need zero maintenance. Plus during a power failure, your battery electric tools does still work, but your compressor usually doesn’t.
RestlessJack 00 "Electric tools need zero maintenance". That's the problem. Typical "one use" mindset. The same reason why serviceable parts are not used on vehicles anymore. Throw it away when it doesn't work. To hell with longevity.
I too find myself using electric more and more, I don't have that many, could use more, but just enough. I haven't used my 3/8" air ratchet in over two years. But you can't do without the power of air tools completely. I hope that when an electric impact can put out 900-1200 psi that we'll see air tool prices drop considerably. For us that already have an air system it will be great, I'll be able to buy more air tools.
The Homie Hektor not for a while on the wheels.. put crews already use them while rebuilding things in the pits, but as far as pit stops air will rule for a while. At least until battery operated tools have the same power for the same weight.
3:24 you can see the 1/4" pneumatic tool is significantly lower profile than the electric tool even though the electric tools have gone down in size. For tight areas the air tool still has a major advantage
As for my "shop", I've always loved having the air for blowing dirt and crud away, filling my constantly leaking tires, and using air tools. The way I see it, electric tools that are worth having and relying on to get the job done are just too expensive for me. I've had very good luck with my less expensive air tools that don't need $150 in batteries each. The best tool i've purchased so far was my 30 gallon compressor. I use it almost every time i walk in my garage.
that is true on most jobs, sometimes you need that air to really bust out a bad bolt! But man I tell you have a 3/8" craftsman electric impact and that took off a dang axle nut, while I had the car lifted up! Was very surprised that it did it!
That's great if you have that experience. Electric tools just let me down almost every time again. Of course if I go to a junkyard I take my cordless with me for small stuf it is fine.
Electric tools are great to have but the impacts are just not there yet for me. Also they cost a arm and your first born in comparison to a quality air impact.
Cornwell makes a very good swivel! The Matco one is $35, cornwell is $20. Works almost perfect! I've got a good amount of them. Makes air tools so much smaller.
I'm poor so I keep using what I have air tools 4 life. The investment is largely too high still for me. $200 tool $60 batterys nah. Air works and it works so well it never complains even after 30 years of abuse. No electric impact will last 30 years I'd bet on that.
I have a Black & Decker Bull Dawg electric (corded) still works like snot except the cord has rotted in some places. it is more than 35 years old It was part of the B&D black Pro series that was discontinued when B&D bought Dewalt.I have owned many battery products and have found HD Ridgid to be tough and the warranty is great, break it and they fix or replace it. Drills and impact tools that can take a 10foot drop and still run and the warranty covers it. AND cheaper than the BIG brother Milwaukee Too big for close work but where space is not a problem great.
Air is more powerful, too. The guy in the stall next to me almost exclusively uses electric tools, and even though he says they're "just as tough", he constantly struggles with lug nuts on trucks and chassis bolts. Meanwhile, my nitrocat impacts can breeze through it all.
@@tr4nsg0th1ca I would have to disagree with your comment that air is more powerful. Maybe if he has some older or cheaper brands tools but the newest Milwaukee impact I'm pretty impressed with. I haven't ran into anything yet that has gave it much of a problem including a foot Class A motorhome lugnuts that it had been years since they were off.
I've always been kinda fascinated with pneumatic tools - powered by air, "forever" tools. Recently replaced some stolen tools with Milwaukee and quickly fell in love with them - kinda perfect(for me). I've noticed that I can tolerate the electric noise more easily than that noisy compressor kicking on. Still waiting to replace compressor - maybe I'll get a quieter one. Living without the compressor, I can say I've really only missed it for woodworking related reasons - spray gun, DA Sanding. Will always want a compressor one for filling/spraying - having both is best for me.
To be 100% real with my self; you must have both. You will always need compressed air. So I would go that way for someone who is starting out in an automotive type trade. For other trades electrics will be the go to. You don’t have compressed air on a roof Top or out in the middle of no where (most of the time)
I used a dewalt cordless circular saw the other day and my mind was blown. I never realized what a bummer the cord is. Sooo much easier to cut with. Where have you been all my life?!
I was the other way round I started off with electric impacts etc they great for short work but on a long job with lots of rusty nuts on bolts the things were phasing out quicker than I could charge them also the rate I was using mine it didn't take long to wear a battery out after xxx amount of recharges which makes it an expensive way to work, so went over to air, you can go all day with air tools with out reduced power, no charging of batteries and new need to buy expensive batteries when they fail, also durability between electric tools vs air tools is no contest
I bought 3 tools that share the same battery. I'm only ever using one and the lithium ion charge quick as f***. If you do it professionally it's quicker to not have to fuck around and pay all the electricity to run a big conpressure. The money I save in power covers new batteries once every year or two. So far though my m18s. Have been going strong for almost 2 years
@@josephv5346 That is honestly a sad fact of current battery tech. I have used mine average 2-8 hours a day and all my batteries still run good. They are just starting not to last as long.
I got started in DIY auto repair back in the late 70s with a small garage and a 30 gallon compressor that was just used for shop air, it didn't really have the balls necessary to power serious air tools. In the early 90s, I finally moved into a home where I could have a "serious" workshop and garage, and upgraded to a IR two stage 60 gallon compressor, a proper two station air distribution system, and a variety of Ingersoll-Rand and Chicago Pneumatic air tools. Those air tools are quality and I still use them today, they still run strong. I have resisted taking the plunge into cordless tools until fairly recently, and given how cordless tool technology has progressed, I am glad I waited. However, I now agree with Eric and find that going forward, I am not purchasing any new air tools but rather putting my money in *quality* cordless tools, which give me equal or better power than my pneumatic tools coupled with portability for use outside the shop. Having taking the plunge into the Ingersoll-Rand 20v platform, I own the W7153 high-torque impact wrench, the D5140 1/2" drill/driver and the 1/2" W5350 right angle impact wrench. I don't plan on getting rid of my compressor or my air tools, as having shop air is always necessary and there are times where the lighter weight or smaller dimensions of an air tool is a key requirement to get a job done. But if and when my current air tools (air impact, ratchet, long barrel hammer, cut off, drill, die grinder tools) bite the dust in my remaining lifetime, I just don't see myself putting new money into replacing them with new quality air tools but rather new quality cordless tools.
Guilty, I grab my cordless impacts before the air tools but I won't give them up. If the cordless can't do it (rarely) then I fire up the compressor and use my air pneumatic tools.
Yeah, its exactly the opposite with me. If my IR air impact can't remove it, my IR 20v cordless impact will. But I still love using my air gun, if for nothing other than nostalgia. I've owned them so long......
I didn't have an air system in my garage yet, and was right on the verge. By the time I was going to pull the trigger, the cordless stuff had caught up, and I went electric. They are great. Nice to be able to throw them in a bag and take to a friend's house as well.
When I started my diesel apprenticeship, all there was available was pneumatic tooling, from hand tools to pipe benders to hoists. Today, as a Mechanical Engineering Supervisor employed on Australian mine sites, the engineering workshop use only pneumatic tools for several reasons, from near indestructability, simplicity to repair, readily accessible spare parts, massive torque thru gear reduction drives, availability of drives from 1/4" to 4", can be used safely in excessively damp or submerged conditions and, primarily, are intrinsically safe. There is also very limited access to power boards for battery charging, as they too are not intrinsically safe. Battery energised industrial tool manufactors cannot guarantee their tools will perform to the standards the mines request of their products, so hesitant to supply. Even in my own personal workshop, pneumatic is utilized extensively. The only battery tools I keep are for explicive use within the house. 👍👍
Industry is a way different horse than the pro-sumer field. We are talking $100-200 or so for a shop's tool versus a few grand for handheld industrial mining equipment. If my boss was paying for everything I wouldn't really mind having tools like that. Even a road-work/concrete pneumatic jackhammer will run you like 500 bucks USED, and that's not even that tough of an environment. It's not apples to apples here. It'd be like asking if you prefer electric cars or internal combustion engine cars and arguing that in the mines they run 50 ton diesel dump trucks and loaders and that's why your next car will be running on diesel too.
@@mikewalko536 : The tools utilized in mining workshops are freely available to civilian purchasers at slightly increased price differences, the average being 22% increase on RRP. This is a very small price to pay for tools that will outlast your career and follow you into retirement. And the tools supplied on Australian mines remain the property and responsibility of the user, as you are supplied with the required equipment to acheive your employment. Mines engage long term outlooks on purchases, engaging extensive testing to ensire reliability, performance, and maintenance. Anyone operating a business will share the same views and practises.
@@andrewhallett-patterson9778 Ah, that's a pretty remarkable system then! Seems very fair and rather reasonable. Here in the US you can't even buy half the stuff used in industrial applications because the manufacturers don't want to deal with selling to consumers and the niche market doesn't warrant having a product division for it. Just about nothing except what breaks (and even then!) is your own property.
@@mikewalko536 : In Australia, if you enter into an employment agreement, which is legally binding to both parties, your employer must supply you with the correct equipment and tooling to perform the requested work safely without causing injury. This includes all personal safety equipment. In my suituation, I regularly supervise and mentor new apprentices. Part of their 'kit' is a extensively equipped toolbox, which contains all the necessary tools for them to perform job requests. The toolbox expands as they are tasked with more complexed jobs, with no cost to them. A discharged apprentice, now a certified tradie, has a extensive and conclusive toolbox comprising of some 1300 pieces, from air tools to electrical scanners to specialized hand tools. This is their property for life. If they decide to continue employment at the mine, they are given a yearly budget of $1000AUD to purchase lost, damaged or updated tooling. If you exceed this total, purchases can be deducted from your monthly pay, with your permission. My onsite tools exceed 3800 peices spread over 8 double height boxes, but this is 25 years of employment !!!. This is the stated policies of my employer. Different employers may employ different workplace systems, but all must comply with federal goverment legislation. 👍👍
I'm a DIY guy and I started with a DeWalt electric impact which was good to me but it can't remove nuts torqued over 100ftlbs, then got the M18Fuel from Milwaukee and that removes anything. I then bought a small compressor for the compressed air, air hammer, and 3/8 ratchet. Combination of both is helpful.
I see a lot of automotive channels use electric for sure. I'm a DIY guy and still hang on to my pneumatics but yeah, I see a change to electric (even that they are costly) for the convenience. It just so happens I'm going to HF today...who knows what I'll bring back. You guys are costing me money! :)
Hi Eric. The problem I've found is that the electric tool is generally not as tough as the air tool. I bought a DeWalt 1/2 inch brushless impact wrench and 5amp battery around one year ago. The battery or wrench casing has worn and now the tool cuts out in use due to the loose battery. It's out of warranty too. Gone back to my trusty Lngersol Rand air wrench.
My 1/2 gun is pneumatic, since it’s cheaper, 375$ nitrocat, 3/8 is an air ratchet, but i don’t use it often, only when there is tight space and then i’ve got snapon electric machine with like interchangable adaptors (i’m russian, don’t know this word), i most oftenly use 1/4, but sometimes 3/8 too and i use it all the time for the last 3 years lol. It’s not always strong enough to break the bolt loose, so what i end up doing is breaking a bunch of bolts loose with 3/8 ratchet and then unscrewing them all the way with a snapon electric machine
I have three air tools in the shop at the junk yard I work at in my box. An old half inch impact, a 3/8 ratchet and an air hammer. I've never used them. Like you I run my 1/2 inch and 3/8 Milwaukee impact wrenches entirely. When I can afford it I plan on getting the ratchets from them.
In general, I prefer air. Very lightweight and powerful, and you never run down the battery. The hose never bothered me. The fact that you don't have a smartphone app seems useless to me. At the moment, I still like pneumatics better.
Steve Packard They should move their air line to a pullout overhead line and get the benefits of air without the hose hassle. Air still kicks butt with minimal size and a relatively low price. The 3/8 inch lime green Flexilla hoses by Leggacy are an amazing advance in technology an user friendliness.
Batteries still have a long way to go...the problem with current electrics are those motors...check the cooling on most brands (even the good ones), it's shite especially for how fast they have to spin them to get any power (massive gear reduction)....they aren't your dad's electric tools...the main brands (Milwaukee and DeWalt are shadows of their former selves).
@@angusandleigh I'm not sure if other brands have it but Milwaukees have a built in protection that shuts the tool down to prevent overheating. I'm pretty hard on my tools and I never had it kick in on me.
Here, Here, I started the switch in 2010 or so. I did not have enough tank size to bust wheel lugs lose and my Milwaukee did not even breath hard. When working on BMWs I found 1/4 inch tools to be the perfect size and the best tool size to access the areas needed.
Cordless is the Future. Move over air. Just ordered a ingersoll Rand W7152. With 1500ft lbs, hand tight mode, wrench tight mode, half power mode and Full power plus Led light to me makes it an all around gun. That and a stubby and im good👍
@KT Tangos Spot on brother! I have the same impact wrench (love that front mounted LED halo ring), along with their 20v 5140 drill and the W5350 right angle impact wrench. I've resisted cordless for years, but after working with a friend's older IR 7150 as well as the Milwaukee 2767, I'm a believer.
I work on big rigs, trailers and some earth moving equipment. There's a lot of stuff that a battery just can't touch, so I generally grab my air tools first. But we recently got all new Milwaukee stuff and it impresses the hell out of me.
I’ve been buying a lot of old and not working air tools and rebuilding them and re-bluing the steel on em. Battery tools are great and I have almost the entire Milwaukee catalog of battery tools. But air tools can be fixed and rebuild for dollars versus battery tools. Convenient yes, until they break. And I will give huge props to Milwaukee and their 5 year warranty. Had a drill burn up and they replaced it no questions asked. But if it was past 5 years I’d be out 300 bucks. But an air tool can be rebuild for 50 bucks max.
I have both at the house, as an avid diy person. As a profession I work on GE locomotive engine remanufacturing, as well as machining and assembling brand new loco engines. They switched from ingersoll air tools to snap on battery powered tools. I figured it would be a bust, but they work great. So I did the same at home. Very convenient.
I have both and my air tools aren't going anywhere, they have more power, they last longer, and the tools are cheaper, not to mention I love my air hammer, it makes so many jobs a breeze. Initial cost of a compressor is expensive and you are limited with the air hose, but for garage/shop use air is still the way to go in my opinion.
I went back to watching this video, and we are in a time where tool companies like Milwaukee (especially Milwaukee) has come out and stepped up their game to make everything cordless. Yes, air tools still have their place today, but with the way how Milwaukee is going with their impact wrenches, and even the stubby impacts and right-angle impacts that recently came to market from them, have all been a game changer from Milwaukee. I recently picked up a mid-torque and stubby impacts, both 1/2" from Milwaukee. I love them!! I've been wanting so much impacting power from impact wrenches for a long time, but HATED the idea of using air hoses and air compressors from the get-go, even though they are the standard for any reputable mechanic or avid DIYer out there.
@@TheOzthewiz Yeah that's what I thought until I actually brought my impact wrench to the salvage yard. One 5.0Ah battery was way more than enough for me, went home with more than 50% capacity left.
As a die maker, I use ingersoll rand air impact wrenches more than anything else because the die is on my workbench and the air hose connects to the compressed air system that runs throughout our facility. We use battery powered impacts at the press while troubleshooting, so I think it’s mainly just mobility or constant use as the deciding factors.
Not willing to spend Milwaukee money just to give cordless a try, I bought an Earthquake 1/2 drive impact and immediately fell in love with it doing struts and ball joints. The Milwaukee M12 stubby is next on my list. The Earthquake will hold out fine until I expand into the big Milwaukee stuff.
In your opinion, they are. In reality, no difference in reliability or performance anymore. Well actually, electric has better performance in terms of things like impact guns. You can't get 1200 ft lbs of torque out of even the best pneumatic, but even an entry level electric can do that. About the only disadvantage to electrics is that batteries run out, but guess what? They make these things called 'chargers' that you place them on, and like magic, they're ready to go in an hour. Get out of the 1990s, a lot has changed in the last 30 years.
Carpenter here. Seeing the same thing in my industry. Battery replacements for air tools are getting better and better but not quite there for everything yet
Hey I'll take your air tools off your hands for you just send them to me lol I literally just got an air compressor a few months ago and got my first air impact wrench. Honestly the price of batteries and battery tools keeps me from buying into these tools that I just dont use very often. But to be perfectly honest I LOVE my cordless 18v ridgid impact driver.
I’m disabled and will never be a mechanic, I just do small projects. Using air tools is often painful for me because of pulling the hose, though mine's only 1/4” and won’t be as heavy as yours. I have a lot of nerve damage in my upper border especially round my lungs which is profoundly painful. Battery tools are light, easier for me to manipulate, quieter for the neighbours and are getting cheaper. However, I'll fight to the death for my die grinders and especially my 3” cut off wheel, it’s easier to use than my angle grinder and more efficient that my imitation Dremel. I have looked at battery die grinders but they seem cumbersome and expensive.
Air tools are less convient, but definately more cost effective. An IR 1/2" drive impact cordless wrench is hundreds of dollars, while by AirCat 1100ft-lb 1/" drive air wrench was $150.
Matt's Garage Well, if you gotta have an air compressor anyway for the tasks a cordless still can't perform, air tools are a good choice, especially for a DIY. (And even for a pro, how much does the juice cost to run even a thirsty air impact?) I can see why a pro would choose cordless tools over air, but I don't think cost would be a good reason on that list.
lakorai2 I have accumulated a rather large collection of quality air tools from techs who are switching to cordless. I can see why since cordless definitely has its advantages. I may invest in some cordless eventually but for a weekend warrior like me pneumatic is just fine.
I have bought quite a few of the fuel series tools. I bought the 1/2 Fuel impact for the sole purpose of not having to drag out the air hose when pulling tires off or messing with rusty bolts.
I think that is and excellent point. While not a huge issue, because I can have an extra battery or two,I think the biggest thing holding back battery powered tools the the lack of a universal battery. Every brand and sometimes multiple tools withing one brand take some kind of different battery. You never know when battery systems will change within a brand and you will be left with obsolete tools. Air is Air and it can be shared with any brand.
I think you said it best, my compressor is being used for air specific jobs...walnut blasting, tires, painting... basically jobs where there aren't decent electric alternatives. Still need/love air... just changing how we use it.
Love my electrics. ...I work in my garage/driveway and it's a PIA to fire up the air compressor every time I want to do something. There's also no waiting for a compressor to refill (since mine isn't an 80 gallon like yours). Not to mention the best part like you mentioned of not having hoses hanging over stuff or wrapped around your leg/arm.
NASA developed high torque cordless power tools and better battery technology to do work on the satellites and naturally they filtered through to workers back on earth. I'm a Makita slut, but Milwaukee does make that 12V ratchet and a better 12V range that Makita doesn't have. Frankly, I've never needed air tools, and as I became a more skilled tradesman, cordless tools became way better quality and better priced. Pneumatic tools are still great quality and value, but not having to worry about a hose or extension lead makes life so, so much easier.
I'm a little bit old school. I never had much faith in battery powered tools until just recently. I bought a Ryobi cordless drill. It seems batteries and overall power has improved greatly. I'm still using air tools but will be looking into some cordless (hoseless) tools. Thanks for sharing your opinion, much appreciated!
I've noticed specifically 1/2" and larger air impact wrenches tend to last 10 years or more while you only get a few years out of the cordless versions.
My impacts are over 15 years old and still going strong. I can rebuild it myself at minimal cost. They're also a Hell of a lot lighter than any electric equivalent.
And cost????? Airtools off hand cost way less. Set up with a good compressor (biggest initial cost) and lines and off you go.......10+ years no issues. Let's see a battery last that long
@@AL-mm9mc If you have a battery system for example from Milwaukee you only have to get the tool itself and you can take your impact every where if you need to
I don't like the weight of battery-powered tools over air tools, or having to worry about charging batteries, or having to stick to one brand or tool line so the batteries will be cross-compatible. I've got a mix of Craftsman, Snap-On, and Harbor Freight stuff and they all have the same air fittings. Just a matter of preference, I guess :)
Gotta say, I absolutely love my DeWalt 1/4" hex driver, got 1/4"-3/8"&1/2 square adapters, use it for lag screws and some mechanicing... But still use air for 90%+, but then, working on farm equipment, heavy equipment and trucks.... Nothing can beat a good 1" drive air impact.... Except maybe a good spline drive😎 I do want to get more battery powered tools though... Good video! Thank you!!
Sorry, I'm not giving up my Ingersoll-Rand 1/2" impact any time soon. I've used it 30 years and expect it will last a good 30 more..in 20 years your electric will have long since rotted away in some land fill..
I wrote this comment today on another channel: I was initially going to buy an electric impact gun (Milwaukee), but went with a compressor and air impact instead. Mostly because I could the compressor for filling tires too - with 5 cars in the driveway, the compressor is exceptionally useful.
When I lived at my parent’s house I’ve invested a lot of money in pneumatic tools, and definitely loved the 32gallon compressor. But since I got a job and moved on my own, living in an apartment is really hard to have a full garage with compressor and tools, so the electric tools came to the rescue. I now have a 1/2in impact, and a 3/8 Milwaukee ratchet. Considering that the car is somewhere in a parking lot, it’s just incredibly convenient to have battery powered tools
Can't wait for the day we see the battery version of an air hammer. I use it quite often at the shop. Cordless is just so much more convenient. Only thing that sucks about it is having them die on you when you really need them and you're in a tight spot.
Moved to all milfuky m12(due to the huge range of tools) ryobi/ridgid, and bosch. My big compressor sits idle until I need to air up a tube for boating. I get referb tools at direct tools outlet for a fraction of the cost. I also did the same for lawn equipment! No more gas. 40v is awesome. Love the chainsaw.
Ha ha you silly bugger, 'Dancing with Hoses' Not wolves :-D Your air impact tools have lasted and have a simple mechanical design. They can be applied for long periods to remove stubborn parts. They can only be used as far as the airline goes. When they do fail it's empty pockets day :-(. Battery tools are really nice to use and can be taken anywhere without power. You can carry a spare charged battery to extend usage. No dance is required :-D But electronics do fail without notice and apparently no reason. When they fail, it's going to be a new tool purchase, unless it's within the Guarantee period. Having a backup of eather type is really nice, a safety net of sorts.
As an hourly technician myself, even though I'm not one of the "big guys" yet in my dealership, I own and have plenty of experience with electric tools and I absolutely agree. The convenience factor and the portability of my electric tools is a wonderful thing, especially working in places where there's no compressed air available (I.E. my driveway doing a side job). I haven't totally given up on my pneumatic tools. I feel like there will always be a time and a place for those air tools no matter what companies can come up with on the electric side. But with today's electrics and how far they have come, that time and place is getting fewer and further between. Great video Eric!
Jack Stowage yeah, my dad has a pneumatic impact wrench that recently stopped working after more than 20 years of use. I was bored one day, pulled her apart, and saw that she still looked perfect inside. Everything polished perfectly. The problem was some built up crud that go it in who knows how. Sprayed some wd-40 wiped it down put it back together and she’s ready for another 20 years of service. Hope I can pass it down to my kids one day
Not without a rebuild although I did get close to 30 years out of Snap On impact but it's in bad need of a rebuild now. Being I don't have access to a Snap On dealer and for the work I do now, I replaced it with an AIr Cat which I'm impressed with for substantially less than another Snap On would have cost me.
Jack Stowage, Wrong! I got about 25 years out of my Snap On 1/2 impact and the last 15 years was only occasional use, not daily. Yes I could get a rebuild kit and get some more use out of it but even then there is limited life on the hammers, the parts that impart the impact. Just like any mechanical device, when you have moving parts, you have wear. Like I've said earlier, they both have their pros and cons. Only an idiot proclaims one as clearly superior to the other.
I have Ryobi 3/8” and 1/2” cordless electric impact tools that have proven to be a godsend for me. They’re super convenient for all the DIY and out call work I do when I’m not doing my day job. One of the best investments I’ve made next to my Solus Ultra.
@@heavymechanic2 If you have the patience, you can rebuild a 231 for half the cost. I used a 231 for a while, until I got sick of the noise... now I run Nitrocat tools.
@@tr4nsg0th1ca Yeah, I did that with a 261 and it works well, after a few years they get beat up or the hammer breaks, sometimes the replacement parts are nearly as much as a new tool.
i have a 10ft section of 3/8 reinforced silicone hose that attaches at the air tool..my little son calls it "the jelly hose" makes air tools feel like they aren't connected to anything..its the only way to go..i know this a a pretty strong statement but because of that little hose Ive never felt the need for bulky (compared to pneumatics) battery powered stuff..
I do love my electrics. Lithium ion you've changed my life. However, 10 years from now the air tools will still work. The electrics will be in the trash and have been replaced with newer ones for even more $.
I was fascinated to hear you say What did I ever do to an air hose as you through it in the trash. Hoses have a memory you know. I use electric on light things but air on most every thing else.
Cordless tools and the Battery Technology that accompanies them is really in its infancy the platforms will grow tremendously and overtake air tools within the next 10 to 15 years
Still use my air tools, finally have a nice 5HP 60 gallon compressor that does not see as much use as my old 3HP 22 gallon system. I'm getting older and don't do as much wrenching around as I used to. I painted a lot of cars with that 3HP unit...
Electric tools waste electricity which comes from lightning. Air tools waste air which comes from the atmosphere. I'd much rather run out of thunderstorms than to run out of air to breathe so electric tools win, no contest.
adolfojp you could always run around your yard holding something metal up high, you never know, you could catch some extra lightning and then you won’t run out. Make sure you also have a bucket to put it in.
After spending 3 days trying to get a flywheel off with manual and electric tools, another day borrowing the missing bits to get a working pneumatic impact wrench set and 3 seconds actually removing it, I have the greatest love for pneumatic tools. Maybe we just need to use scuba/paintball technology to bring them up to date vis-a-vis portability.
I think the change over happened when people seen how awsome a cordless drill can be... And then the hex driver. The control and ergonomics ... The clutch and lights! From there it was a skill saw / saws and how fast you can cut! Also the brand loyalty of a battery allows more tool company confidence or r and d for ever increasing tool lines!
a 1/2" impact and an air hammer are the only air tools I ever use. I have an electric 1/2" impact as well, but if I'm using an impact that big I usually need the extra power that air has.
I still have my air tools, I actually just replaced my 3/8 air ratchet that finally bit the dust last week, got a $90 Dewalt, but find myself owning/buying & actually using battery versions of the same tools more & more, I’ll probably always keep up my air tool collection, but I have issues when it comes to tools, I can NEVER have enough of them!! If I use them or not I need/want more!!! lol
We have just moved to pneumatic tools lol. We've always done things the old hard way. As my hubby and I get older we decided to invest in pneumatic tools. Now I find moving to 25 gallon air tank hoses and crap to the driveway just as aggravating. We were just discussing yesterday about looking into battery powered tools.
Per your question, I'm at that stage of picking the battery powered tools. Specifically the torque wrench. Thing about battery operated is you have to go with a brand right? I don't think the batteries are interchangeable. Milwaukee is great, but a little pricy for the driveway guy. I have some Makita tools but they are getting hard to find.
Sadly, even my girlfriend likes battery operated devices more too.
Well that tells us all we need to know
😂
Probably shouldn’t have kept going with the compressed air zerbert technique....sorry girlfriend.
Haha.
Mines does too😑
One thing to consider is that as a general rule, the more simple the tool, the longer it lasts.
I’m trapped between liking convenience of electric but also loving the feeling and sound of an air tool.😭
I miss the sounds of my air compressor 😭😂
well then use both. sometimes cordless is enough and sometimes you have to use the extra power and smaller size of the airtools. and if you need some chearing up on a rainy day - use airtools:)
@@brianlopez8196 get a new one! an air compressor is a must have! if not for anything else, then for sound therapy:)
Old comment but this just happened to me, i let my friend borrow my electric impact and he had damaged my gun (no proof but no longer removes a single lug). So the positive with pneumatics will be that they cannot borrow my tools anymore
same here... air tools are so awesome looking... and sound is so addictive.
BTW
milwaukee angle die grinder =239$
Canada tool air die grinder = 49$
and it did clean engine head so fine.
I've had a couple electric tools and they've always failed in a year or two (as a hobbyist mechanic). My air tools though were inherited and are older than I am but still work beautifully. They're well worth the hassle of an air hose to me.
It's why I keep pneumatic as a backup. Those electric tools have more points of failure be it the batteries or the motors or other parts. But air is pretty straight forward and they're cheap and readily available when they do fail.
how ive had my electric tools for years and they work fine? i like air more but just wondering how they failed what brand??
@@zachwolf239 The Car Care Nut channel talked about his tools. Says his electrics die once a year (or so). He works on cars for a living. He doesnt have a problem replacing them. Mostly Milwaukee. I guess the convenience outweighs the cost for him. I have both. Mostly use cordless. I just use my tools for DIY at the moment.
Eric, the obvious answer is cordless air tools.
CO2 cartridge power!
yeah, thats the way forward.. all the power but no PITA airline ... if only
CleanSC: Can’t beat airless cord tools.
Lmao. Nice.
BRILLIANT!
I work in a locomotive repair and servicing shop. We recently got some cordless electric impacts, and they're wonderful!
However...
Unless you're willing to shell out big money, the cordless electrics can't compare to the air tools in terms of brute force (of which we need a lot, in my industry).
However, even with all the electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic tools that we utilize on a daily basis, so often it comes down to hand tools and leverage. Many times, I'll find myself in a position where a socket won't fit, only an open end wrench with a pipe will work.
In the end, I'm a hand tool guy. Pneumatic is great, until your compressors are down. Cordless electric is great, until the last guy to use it ran the batteries down and didn't recharge any. Hydraulic is great, but heavy, awkward, and sometimes dangerous.
Hand tools can be used ANYWHERE. Sometimes all you need is a bigger pipe to go over the end.
Haha for the record you can break handtools too
well i cant use handtools everywhere. the hard to reach places in my 7mgte motor can only be reached with a small 1/4" air impact ratchet. and taking the supra apart downnunder, is a lot easier with a special high torque air ratchet that can creep in everwhere.
so, airtools has the advantage of small size and big power - way better than cordless in that aspect.
^This. All day long. New technology can be great. New meaning anything newer than hand tools. But never count out the old proven technology. this saying is used FAR too much, but in this case it's true with tools: There is strength in diversity.
Hand tools can strip bolts
@@MD-xl3ljso can air and electric tools, what’s your point?
I find electric tools way more convenient. Just grab it and go. No need to hook up an air hose. Though I still haven't seen an electric alternative for an air hammer.
Or a cutoff wheel and angle grinder and many more that isnt available in electric
@@302diamondstate7 They do have electric angle grinders. I hear Dewalt Flexvolt angle grinders are actually usable compared to earlier electric angle grinders. I still wouldn't go cordless with that if you have a lot of angle grinding to do, like an industrial worker.
@you build it we destroy it I don't think cutoff wheels put as much strain on an angle grinder as much as grinding discs on hardened steel in some industrial applications but I've never had to use an angle grinder for long periods of time except when I had to remove the the rust and paint from long steel rails in parks before repainting them. This was years ago and we used DeWalt 4.0 batteries and they would last maybe 10-15 minutes of straight grinding.
@you build it we destroy it I know batteries have gotten better. At the time we switched over to a portable generator after running through batteries. Other people in the crew needed to use batteries too for other tools. This was around 2013. After I saw the Flexvolt system and the larger capacity batteries, I wish we had them back then. It was city work so budgets are an issue but don't get me started on that. It would have been great to use a paint removing gel but not so great for the environment and even when we put wet paint signs around benches adults would still move the cones and sit on them and wonder why. Then there are the kids...
1) www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/ref=pa_sp_btf_aps_sr_pg1_1?ie=UTF8&adId=A064442026PG7L7Q3UPM7&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FYescom-1800BPM-Electric-Demolition-Insulated%2Fdp%2FB01FJ5C2GK%2Fref%3Dsr_1_23_sspa%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1539640612%26sr%3D8-23-spons%26keywords%3Delectric%2Bhammer%26psc%3D1&qualifier=1539640612&id=6838103888594962&widgetName=sp_btf 2) www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/ref=pa_sp_btf_aps_sr_pg1_2?ie=UTF8&adId=A0494632223UXHC5GKGMI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FXtremepowerUS-Electric-Demolition-Concrete-Breaker%2Fdp%2FB07BBYDRQW%2Fref%3Dsr_1_22_sspa%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1539640612%26sr%3D8-22-spons%26keywords%3Delectric%2Bhammer%26psc%3D1&qualifier=1539640612&id=6838103888594962&widgetName=sp_btf 3) www.amazon.com/Concrete-Jack-Hammer-Electric-Demolition/dp/B00Q1NJ6B4/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1539640612&sr=8-20&keywords=electric+hammer 4) www.amazon.com/XtremepowerUS-2200Watt-Electric-Demolition-Concrete/dp/B00IO3Z5MS/ref=sr_1_11_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1539640612&sr=8-11-spons&keywords=electric+hammer&psc=1
I looooooove pneumatic tools. I can’t stand dealing with batteries. Almost all my power tools are air powered. 😍
Agreed but I will admit I've invested lots of money in them and only use them few times a month now. So for me it just dosent make sense to buy battery. I love that sound of pneumatics
I fell in love with my air impacts again when I installed swivel fittings on them. Makes a huge difference!
Swivel fittings are a god send.......
there you have it!
sometimes a small change make all the difference.
i just ordered 8pcs. knew they would matter a lot.
Im still stuck on air tools. I dont like having to replace batteries. I have several air tools in my box that are over 20 years old and they still work just fine. Every single battery tool I've had over the years has given up the ghost in a short amout of time.
Air hammer, it's a must have.
That's probably the last air tool that has no electric equivalent.
Exactly my point Dima!
It's a shame. I hate air tools, dirty inflexible hose in a tiny garage smacking my car's paint and getting in my way. Loud 15 gallon compressor that has to be charged and then emptied every time, so much noise in a condo complex. But I keep an air compressor around for the mighty hammer. And the occasional bolt that electrics just can't touch.
Battery SDS drill on hammer only mode. Not as compact as an air hammer though.
I hear that! Big Nasty, FTW!! 🤘
i'm aeronautical fitter/deburrer, and i use some electric tool, but the most of my tools are pneumatic because they are much more compact for the power and run high RPM (compare for example the size and weight from a 750W electric tool with the same power pneumatic...), same thing with pen size tools, pneumatic have much higher rpm (60000 to 100000rpm) and are more powerfull, and smaller, this is why dentists still use pneumatic tools...and pneumatic tools last decades, electric only some years...
Air tools last a lifetime. Electric tools wear out and batteries need replacing. Plus, I can use my air compressor for other things like draining my inground sprinkler system and filling tires with air.
I agree - this marks the difference between either a professional mechanic, or financially well-off enthusiast, vs. the average joe who has to work on his own vehicles. The expense of each electric system, their batteries, and their shorter lifespans is just too much for many of us to invest in. Now... if harbor Freight would make many of the same electric tools with cords to plug into the wall, then they'd be cheaper - but a little less handy.
@@workingguy-OU812 you can get good air tools for a lot less. As a pro, I feel like the convenience of electric unaffordable. I have a couple electric for the small places, but beyond that electric tools would take away from my food and retirement.
Every couple of years needing new ones? I don't think so.
If I was paying for the electricity, I may have a different tune. Briansmobile1 said his electric bill went down by hundreds.
TrakSpock1 air tools last a good long time, true if maintained properly. How about compressors? Same thing, atleast with a really good care.
Electric tools need zero maintenance. Plus during a power failure, your battery electric tools does still work, but your compressor usually doesn’t.
RestlessJack 00 "Electric tools need zero maintenance". That's the problem. Typical "one use" mindset. The same reason why serviceable parts are not used on vehicles anymore. Throw it away when it doesn't work. To hell with longevity.
I too find myself using electric more and more, I don't have that many, could use more, but just enough. I haven't used my 3/8" air ratchet in over two years. But you can't do without the power of air tools completely. I hope that when an electric impact can put out 900-1200 psi that we'll see air tool prices drop considerably. For us that already have an air system it will be great, I'll be able to buy more air tools.
There’s a time and place for every tool. I do love the sound of an Air Impact Gun VS an electric gun All Day👍🏼💨
Yeah, although it makes me wonder when air tools get replaced in racing during pitstops.
The Homie Hektor not for a while on the wheels.. put crews already use them while rebuilding things in the pits, but as far as pit stops air will rule for a while. At least until battery operated tools have the same power for the same weight.
well thats reason enough. more happy equals better job done:)
3:24 you can see the 1/4" pneumatic tool is significantly lower profile than the electric tool even though the electric tools have gone down in size. For tight areas the air tool still has a major advantage
As for my "shop", I've always loved having the air for blowing dirt and crud away, filling my constantly leaking tires, and using air tools. The way I see it, electric tools that are worth having and relying on to get the job done are just too expensive for me. I've had very good luck with my less expensive air tools that don't need $150 in batteries each. The best tool i've purchased so far was my 30 gallon compressor. I use it almost every time i walk in my garage.
Air tools for me, cordless just isn't powerful enough for the rust buckets I'm working on.
that is true on most jobs, sometimes you need that air to really bust out a bad bolt! But man I tell you have a 3/8" craftsman electric impact and that took off a dang axle nut, while I had the car lifted up! Was very surprised that it did it!
My electric tools loosens nuts and bolts my collegues can’t with their air tools. 1200ft lbs torque you just wont get this with air.
That's great if you have that experience. Electric tools just let me down almost every time again. Of course if I go to a junkyard I take my cordless with me for small stuf it is fine.
Electric tools are great to have but the impacts are just not there yet for me. Also they cost a arm and your first born in comparison to a quality air impact.
That m18 impact blew the doors off my snap on mg725... Just saying
I put swivels on the end of all my air tools and I fell in love with them all over again
🤔
Cornwell makes a very good swivel! The Matco one is $35, cornwell is $20. Works almost perfect! I've got a good amount of them. Makes air tools so much smaller.
Well, I have only manpower tools.
skodovkar Preach it. Lol
EBay is your friend..and Craigslist...1/4 hex impact 89 3/8 impact 90 and a half inch drive 220
Got a breaker bar and a pipe... So yeah, manpower!
Aka im poor.
@@1212goose - lol, yes. That's exactly what that means. It happens when you have a stroke and work deems you a burden on operations.
I'm poor so I keep using what I have air tools 4 life. The investment is largely too high still for me. $200 tool $60 batterys nah. Air works and it works so well it never complains even after 30 years of abuse. No electric impact will last 30 years I'd bet on that.
I have a Black & Decker Bull Dawg electric (corded) still works like snot except the cord has rotted in some places. it is more than 35 years old It was part of the B&D black Pro series that was discontinued when B&D bought Dewalt.I have owned many battery products and have found HD Ridgid to be tough and the warranty is great, break it and they fix or replace it. Drills and impact tools that can take a 10foot drop and still run and the warranty covers it. AND cheaper than the BIG brother Milwaukee Too big for close work but where space is not a problem great.
Air is more powerful, too. The guy in the stall next to me almost exclusively uses electric tools, and even though he says they're "just as tough", he constantly struggles with lug nuts on trucks and chassis bolts.
Meanwhile, my nitrocat impacts can breeze through it all.
rockergod789 my electric impact makes 1200 ft/lbs if torque. Definitely enough to do someone’s lugs. Don’t buy shit tools
@@tr4nsg0th1ca I would have to disagree with your comment that air is more powerful. Maybe if he has some older or cheaper brands tools but the newest Milwaukee impact I'm pretty impressed with. I haven't ran into anything yet that has gave it much of a problem including a foot Class A motorhome lugnuts that it had been years since they were off.
Electric will never beat air in durability and power.
I just started switching my shop to air.
Don't make me come down there, Eric.
I've always been kinda fascinated with pneumatic tools - powered by air, "forever" tools. Recently replaced some stolen tools with Milwaukee and quickly fell in love with them - kinda perfect(for me). I've noticed that I can tolerate the electric noise more easily than that noisy compressor kicking on. Still waiting to replace compressor - maybe I'll get a quieter one. Living without the compressor, I can say I've really only missed it for woodworking related reasons - spray gun, DA Sanding. Will always want a compressor one for filling/spraying - having both is best for me.
To be 100% real with my self; you must have both. You will always need compressed air. So I would go that way for someone who is starting out in an automotive type trade. For other trades electrics will be the go to. You don’t have compressed air on a roof Top or out in the middle of no where (most of the time)
I used a dewalt cordless circular saw the other day and my mind was blown. I never realized what a bummer the cord is. Sooo much easier to cut with. Where have you been all my life?!
I was the other way round I started off with electric impacts etc they great for short work but on a long job with lots of rusty nuts on bolts the things were phasing out quicker than I could charge them also the rate I was using mine it didn't take long to wear a battery out after xxx amount of recharges which makes it an expensive way to work, so went over to air, you can go all day with air tools with out reduced power, no charging of batteries and new need to buy expensive batteries when they fail, also durability between electric tools vs air tools is no contest
I bought 3 tools that share the same battery. I'm only ever using one and the lithium ion charge quick as f***. If you do it professionally it's quicker to not have to fuck around and pay all the electricity to run a big conpressure. The money I save in power covers new batteries once every year or two. So far though my m18s. Have been going strong for almost 2 years
@@josephv5346 That is honestly a sad fact of current battery tech. I have used mine average 2-8 hours a day and all my batteries still run good. They are just starting not to last as long.
I got started in DIY auto repair back in the late 70s with a small garage and a 30 gallon compressor that was just used for shop air, it didn't really have the balls necessary to power serious air tools. In the early 90s, I finally moved into a home where I could have a "serious" workshop and garage, and upgraded to a IR two stage 60 gallon compressor, a proper two station air distribution system, and a variety of Ingersoll-Rand and Chicago Pneumatic air tools. Those air tools are quality and I still use them today, they still run strong. I have resisted taking the plunge into cordless tools until fairly recently, and given how cordless tool technology has progressed, I am glad I waited. However, I now agree with Eric and find that going forward, I am not purchasing any new air tools but rather putting my money in *quality* cordless tools, which give me equal or better power than my pneumatic tools coupled with portability for use outside the shop. Having taking the plunge into the Ingersoll-Rand 20v platform, I own the W7153 high-torque impact wrench, the D5140 1/2" drill/driver and the 1/2" W5350 right angle impact wrench. I don't plan on getting rid of my compressor or my air tools, as having shop air is always necessary and there are times where the lighter weight or smaller dimensions of an air tool is a key requirement to get a job done. But if and when my current air tools (air impact, ratchet, long barrel hammer, cut off, drill, die grinder tools) bite the dust in my remaining lifetime, I just don't see myself putting new money into replacing them with new quality air tools but rather new quality cordless tools.
Guilty, I grab my cordless impacts before the air tools but I won't give them up. If the cordless can't do it (rarely) then I fire up the compressor and use my air pneumatic tools.
Same here.
Yeah, its exactly the opposite with me. If my IR air impact can't remove it, my IR 20v cordless impact will. But I still love using my air gun, if for nothing other than nostalgia. I've owned them so long......
I didn't have an air system in my garage yet, and was right on the verge. By the time I was going to pull the trigger, the cordless stuff had caught up, and I went electric. They are great. Nice to be able to throw them in a bag and take to a friend's house as well.
When I started my diesel apprenticeship, all there was available was pneumatic tooling, from hand tools to pipe benders to hoists. Today, as a Mechanical Engineering Supervisor employed on Australian mine sites, the engineering workshop use only pneumatic tools for several reasons, from near indestructability, simplicity to repair, readily accessible spare parts, massive torque thru gear reduction drives, availability of drives from 1/4" to 4", can be used safely in excessively damp or submerged conditions and, primarily, are intrinsically safe. There is also very limited access to power boards for battery charging, as they too are not intrinsically safe. Battery energised industrial tool manufactors cannot guarantee their tools will perform to the standards the mines request of their products, so hesitant to supply. Even in my own personal workshop, pneumatic is utilized extensively. The only battery tools I keep are for explicive use within the house. 👍👍
Excellent points. Thanks for weighing in.
Industry is a way different horse than the pro-sumer field. We are talking $100-200 or so for a shop's tool versus a few grand for handheld industrial mining equipment. If my boss was paying for everything I wouldn't really mind having tools like that. Even a road-work/concrete pneumatic jackhammer will run you like 500 bucks USED, and that's not even that tough of an environment. It's not apples to apples here. It'd be like asking if you prefer electric cars or internal combustion engine cars and arguing that in the mines they run 50 ton diesel dump trucks and loaders and that's why your next car will be running on diesel too.
@@mikewalko536 : The tools utilized in mining workshops are freely available to civilian purchasers at slightly increased price differences, the average being 22% increase on RRP. This is a very small price to pay for tools that will outlast your career and follow you into retirement. And the tools supplied on Australian mines remain the property and responsibility of the user, as you are supplied with the required equipment to acheive your employment. Mines engage long term outlooks on purchases, engaging extensive testing to ensire reliability, performance, and maintenance. Anyone operating a business will share the same views and practises.
@@andrewhallett-patterson9778 Ah, that's a pretty remarkable system then! Seems very fair and rather reasonable. Here in the US you can't even buy half the stuff used in industrial applications because the manufacturers don't want to deal with selling to consumers and the niche market doesn't warrant having a product division for it. Just about nothing except what breaks (and even then!) is your own property.
@@mikewalko536 : In Australia, if you enter into an employment agreement, which is legally binding to both parties, your employer must supply you with the correct equipment and tooling to perform the requested work safely without causing injury. This includes all personal safety equipment. In my suituation, I regularly supervise and mentor new apprentices. Part of their 'kit' is a extensively equipped toolbox, which contains all the necessary tools for them to perform job requests. The toolbox expands as they are tasked with more complexed jobs, with no cost to them. A discharged apprentice, now a certified tradie, has a extensive and conclusive toolbox comprising of some 1300 pieces, from air tools to electrical scanners to specialized hand tools. This is their property for life. If they decide to continue employment at the mine, they are given a yearly budget of $1000AUD to purchase lost, damaged or updated tooling. If you exceed this total, purchases can be deducted from your monthly pay, with your permission. My onsite tools exceed 3800 peices spread over 8 double height boxes, but this is 25 years of employment !!!. This is the stated policies of my employer. Different employers may employ different workplace systems, but all must comply with federal goverment legislation. 👍👍
I'm a DIY guy and I started with a DeWalt electric impact which was good to me but it can't remove nuts torqued over 100ftlbs, then got the M18Fuel from Milwaukee and that removes anything. I then bought a small compressor for the compressed air, air hammer, and 3/8 ratchet. Combination of both is helpful.
I see a lot of automotive channels use electric for sure. I'm a DIY guy and still hang on to my pneumatics but yeah, I see a change to electric (even that they are costly) for the convenience. It just so happens I'm going to HF today...who knows what I'll bring back. You guys are costing me money! :)
Hi Eric. The problem I've found is that the electric tool is generally not as tough as the air tool. I bought a DeWalt 1/2 inch brushless impact wrench and 5amp battery around one year ago. The battery or wrench casing has worn and now the tool cuts out in use due to the loose battery. It's out of warranty too. Gone back to my trusty Lngersol Rand air wrench.
I just miss the sound of air tools and bad coffee. Electric tools and Keurig are taking over the shops.
Open up the shop Keurig and I bet you’ll find mold. So “bad coffee” is alive and well.
Lol
Do you use a smart phone?.. do you own a computer?.. ur an idiot..stfu
Keurig +1
Keurig coffee is disgusting it tastes like coffee grounds it isn't filtered properly.
Hello, I just bought a mini 3/8 air rachet, I work on mowers ETC, and love what it does!
My 1/2 gun is pneumatic, since it’s cheaper, 375$ nitrocat, 3/8 is an air ratchet, but i don’t use it often, only when there is tight space and then i’ve got snapon electric machine with like interchangable adaptors (i’m russian, don’t know this word), i most oftenly use 1/4, but sometimes 3/8 too and i use it all the time for the last 3 years lol. It’s not always strong enough to break the bolt loose, so what i end up doing is breaking a bunch of bolts loose with 3/8 ratchet and then unscrewing them all the way with a snapon electric machine
Mark Douglas I know, sir, but I consider it an acceptable mistake on a youtube comment made by a russian guy lol
@@yurik1994 lol 👍
I have three air tools in the shop at the junk yard I work at in my box. An old half inch impact, a 3/8 ratchet and an air hammer. I've never used them. Like you I run my 1/2 inch and 3/8 Milwaukee impact wrenches entirely. When I can afford it I plan on getting the ratchets from them.
In general, I prefer air. Very lightweight and powerful, and you never run down the battery. The hose never bothered me. The fact that you don't have a smartphone app seems useless to me. At the moment, I still like pneumatics better.
Steve Packard They should move their air line to a pullout overhead line and get the benefits of air without the hose hassle. Air still kicks butt with minimal size and a relatively low price. The 3/8 inch lime green Flexilla hoses by Leggacy are an amazing advance in technology an user friendliness.
Technically you do run down the battery, it just recharges to usability in a minute or two haha
The dance with the air hose @ 0:54 was great. And that dance is always more intense when you're tired.
Electric impact guns have really improved over the past decade. With lithium ion batteries and brushless motors.
And they only keep getting better every year. Every major tool company produces mainly battery-powered electric tools nowadays.
yep exactly
Batteries still have a long way to go...the problem with current electrics are those motors...check the cooling on most brands (even the good ones), it's shite especially for how fast they have to spin them to get any power (massive gear reduction)....they aren't your dad's electric tools...the main brands (Milwaukee and DeWalt are shadows of their former selves).
@@angusandleigh I'm not sure if other brands have it but Milwaukees have a built in protection that shuts the tool down to prevent overheating. I'm pretty hard on my tools and I never had it kick in on me.
Here, Here, I started the switch in 2010 or so. I did not have enough tank size to bust wheel lugs lose and my Milwaukee did not even breath hard. When working on BMWs I found 1/4 inch tools to be the perfect size and the best tool size to access the areas needed.
The only Air tools I still use is an Air hammer, Die Grinders/ cut off wheel, and Air Saw, everything else is Milwaukee LOVE IT!!!
Cordless is the Future. Move over air. Just ordered a ingersoll Rand W7152. With 1500ft lbs, hand tight mode, wrench tight mode, half power mode and Full power plus Led light to me makes it an all around gun. That and a stubby and im good👍
@KT Tangos Spot on brother! I have the same impact wrench (love that front mounted LED halo ring), along with their 20v 5140 drill and the W5350 right angle impact wrench. I've resisted cordless for years, but after working with a friend's older IR 7150 as well as the Milwaukee 2767, I'm a believer.
I still heavily rely on air. I only really go to electric when it's more convenient, like not wanting to drag an air hose across an interior.
I work on big rigs, trailers and some earth moving equipment. There's a lot of stuff that a battery just can't touch, so I generally grab my air tools first. But we recently got all new Milwaukee stuff and it impresses the hell out of me.
Electric tools are cost prohibitive for me. I am fortunate to have a garage at home and sizeable compressor to run my air tools.
I’ve been buying a lot of old and not working air tools and rebuilding them and re-bluing the steel on em. Battery tools are great and I have almost the entire Milwaukee catalog of battery tools. But air tools can be fixed and rebuild for dollars versus battery tools. Convenient yes, until they break. And I will give huge props to Milwaukee and their 5 year warranty. Had a drill burn up and they replaced it no questions asked. But if it was past 5 years I’d be out 300 bucks. But an air tool can be rebuild for 50 bucks max.
"I didn't do anything to any airhoses in my lifetime, or in a past life that i'm aware of"
I have both at the house, as an avid diy person. As a profession I work on GE locomotive engine remanufacturing, as well as machining and assembling brand new loco engines. They switched from ingersoll air tools to snap on battery powered tools. I figured it would be a bust, but they work great. So I did the same at home. Very convenient.
I have both and my air tools aren't going anywhere, they have more power, they last longer, and the tools are cheaper, not to mention I love my air hammer, it makes so many jobs a breeze. Initial cost of a compressor is expensive and you are limited with the air hose, but for garage/shop use air is still the way to go in my opinion.
I went back to watching this video, and we are in a time where tool companies like Milwaukee (especially Milwaukee) has come out and stepped up their game to make everything cordless. Yes, air tools still have their place today, but with the way how Milwaukee is going with their impact wrenches, and even the stubby impacts and right-angle impacts that recently came to market from them, have all been a game changer from Milwaukee.
I recently picked up a mid-torque and stubby impacts, both 1/2" from Milwaukee. I love them!! I've been wanting so much impacting power from impact wrenches for a long time, but HATED the idea of using air hoses and air compressors from the get-go, even though they are the standard for any reputable mechanic or avid DIYer out there.
Try using air tools at a salvage yard.
Just bring plenty of batteries!
@@TheOzthewiz Yeah that's what I thought until I actually brought my impact wrench to the salvage yard. One 5.0Ah battery was way more than enough for me, went home with more than 50% capacity left.
@William Parker Spot on brother!!
I've used a gas powered air compressor before.
I just stick with good old hand and if its stuck on there being an impact socket set
As a die maker, I use ingersoll rand air impact wrenches more than anything else because the die is on my workbench and the air hose connects to the compressed air system that runs throughout our facility. We use battery powered impacts at the press while troubleshooting, so I think it’s mainly just mobility or constant use as the deciding factors.
Electric, easily. I don't even have a garage at home, so hauling around an air compressor in and out of the house is out of the questions for me.
Me to...
Not willing to spend Milwaukee money just to give cordless a try, I bought an Earthquake 1/2 drive impact and immediately fell in love with it doing struts and ball joints. The Milwaukee M12 stubby is next on my list. The Earthquake will hold out fine until I expand into the big Milwaukee stuff.
Air tools are still more reliable and more powerful.
In your opinion, they are. In reality, no difference in reliability or performance anymore. Well actually, electric has better performance in terms of things like impact guns. You can't get 1200 ft lbs of torque out of even the best pneumatic, but even an entry level electric can do that. About the only disadvantage to electrics is that batteries run out, but guess what? They make these things called 'chargers' that you place them on, and like magic, they're ready to go in an hour. Get out of the 1990s, a lot has changed in the last 30 years.
Carpenter here. Seeing the same thing in my industry. Battery replacements for air tools are getting better and better but not quite there for everything yet
Hey I'll take your air tools off your hands for you just send them to me lol I literally just got an air compressor a few months ago and got my first air impact wrench. Honestly the price of batteries and battery tools keeps me from buying into these tools that I just dont use very often. But to be perfectly honest I LOVE my cordless 18v ridgid impact driver.
I’m disabled and will never be a mechanic, I just do small projects. Using air tools is often painful for me because of pulling the hose, though mine's only 1/4” and won’t be as heavy as yours. I have a lot of nerve damage in my upper border especially round my lungs which is profoundly painful. Battery tools are light, easier for me to manipulate, quieter for the neighbours and are getting cheaper. However, I'll fight to the death for my die grinders and especially my 3” cut off wheel, it’s easier to use than my angle grinder and more efficient that my imitation Dremel. I have looked at battery die grinders but they seem cumbersome and expensive.
Thank you for that comment. You embody the phrase, "stay dirty". Well done.
Air tools are less convient, but definately more cost effective. An IR 1/2" drive impact cordless wrench is hundreds of dollars, while by AirCat 1100ft-lb 1/" drive air wrench was $150.
lakorai2 Yeah but then you need an air compressor to run it that costs a decent amount to buy & uses a lot of electricity vs. charging battery packs.
Everything has a trade off. Both are worth it. But having air alone won't do.
Matt's Garage Well, if you gotta have an air compressor anyway for the tasks a cordless still can't perform, air tools are a good choice, especially for a DIY. (And even for a pro, how much does the juice cost to run even a thirsty air impact?)
I can see why a pro would choose cordless tools over air, but I don't think cost would be a good reason on that list.
lakorai2
I have accumulated a rather large collection of quality air tools from techs who are switching to cordless. I can see why since cordless definitely has its advantages. I may invest in some cordless eventually but for a weekend warrior like me pneumatic is just fine.
until you need a compressor, then you might as well just buy a box of batteries
I have bought quite a few of the fuel series tools. I bought the 1/2 Fuel impact for the sole purpose of not having to drag out the air hose when pulling tires off or messing with rusty bolts.
Electric can do 90% of what I used air for, but I still need air some times.
100% agree.
except have a charge when you need it.
I think that is and excellent point. While not a huge issue, because I can have an extra battery or two,I think the biggest thing holding back battery powered tools the the lack of a universal battery. Every brand and sometimes multiple tools withing one brand take some kind of different battery. You never know when battery systems will change within a brand and you will be left with obsolete tools. Air is Air and it can be shared with any brand.
@@frugalprepper 👍👍👍 air + electric, a good combo
I think you said it best, my compressor is being used for air specific jobs...walnut blasting, tires, painting... basically jobs where there aren't decent electric alternatives. Still need/love air... just changing how we use it.
air tools are still better, no batteries to worry about
Love my electrics. ...I work in my garage/driveway and it's a PIA to fire up the air compressor every time I want to do something. There's also no waiting for a compressor to refill (since mine isn't an 80 gallon like yours). Not to mention the best part like you mentioned of not having hoses hanging over stuff or wrapped around your leg/arm.
NASA developed high torque cordless power tools and better battery technology to do work on the satellites and naturally they filtered through to workers back on earth. I'm a Makita slut, but Milwaukee does make that 12V ratchet and a better 12V range that Makita doesn't have. Frankly, I've never needed air tools, and as I became a more skilled tradesman, cordless tools became way better quality and better priced. Pneumatic tools are still great quality and value, but not having to worry about a hose or extension lead makes life so, so much easier.
I'm a little bit old school. I never had much faith in battery powered tools until just recently. I bought a Ryobi cordless drill. It seems batteries and overall power has improved greatly. I'm still using air tools but will be looking into some cordless (hoseless) tools. Thanks for sharing your opinion, much appreciated!
many people need air tools to run a long time at high rpm those crappy plastic things can't do that.
I've noticed specifically 1/2" and larger air impact wrenches tend to last 10 years or more while you only get a few years out of the cordless versions.
My impacts are over 15 years old and still going strong. I can rebuild it myself at minimal cost. They're also a Hell of a lot lighter than any electric equivalent.
And cost????? Airtools off hand cost way less. Set up with a good compressor (biggest initial cost) and lines and off you go.......10+ years no issues. Let's see a battery last that long
@@davidsparrow6247 You will pay more in the end try running them hours on end and see what happens
0:56 If this were an infomercial, this scene would be in black & white. "Tired of getting tangled air hoses? Well the new JML Hoseaway is for you!"
All these old mechanics in the comments make me laugh. “Electric tools are expensive” Yeah so are your 2000$ air compressors and 500$ snap on impacts.
Dont gotta buy a $2000 dollar air compresser or even snap on
A $200 dollar compresser and a $35 dollar impact air gun will do fine as long as it can take a nut off
@@AL-mm9mc i mean if you want that route about $80 for cordless impact and no need for compressor.
@@AL-mm9mc If you have a battery system for example from Milwaukee you only have to get the tool itself and you can take your impact every where if you need to
@@TheDenialist a compressor is a tool you must have even before looking for pneumatic tools 100lt at least it has 1 million uses
I still love my air tools...they're powerful,reliable,durable and will last forever!
I don't like the weight of battery-powered tools over air tools, or having to worry about charging batteries, or having to stick to one brand or tool line so the batteries will be cross-compatible. I've got a mix of Craftsman, Snap-On, and Harbor Freight stuff and they all have the same air fittings.
Just a matter of preference, I guess :)
Gotta say, I absolutely love my DeWalt 1/4" hex driver, got 1/4"-3/8"&1/2 square adapters, use it for lag screws and some mechanicing... But still use air for 90%+, but then, working on farm equipment, heavy equipment and trucks.... Nothing can beat a good 1" drive air impact.... Except maybe a good spline drive😎
I do want to get more battery powered tools though...
Good video! Thank you!!
Sorry, I'm not giving up my Ingersoll-Rand 1/2" impact any time soon. I've used it 30 years and expect it will last a good 30 more..in 20 years your electric will have long since rotted away in some land fill..
I wrote this comment today on another channel: I was initially going to buy an electric impact gun (Milwaukee), but went with a compressor and air impact instead. Mostly because I could the compressor for filling tires too - with 5 cars in the driveway, the compressor is exceptionally useful.
But you can't do the floating screwdriver trick without a compressor
When I lived at my parent’s house I’ve invested a lot of money in pneumatic tools, and definitely loved the 32gallon compressor. But since I got a job and moved on my own, living in an apartment is really hard to have a full garage with compressor and tools, so the electric tools came to the rescue. I now have a 1/2in impact, and a 3/8 Milwaukee ratchet. Considering that the car is somewhere in a parking lot, it’s just incredibly convenient to have battery powered tools
How am I supposed to breathe with no air?
Can't wait for the day we see the battery version of an air hammer. I use it quite often at the shop. Cordless is just so much more convenient. Only thing that sucks about it is having them die on you when you really need them and you're in a tight spot.
Just moving over to cordless Milwaukee
For years thought electric was a waste. Never put them down now, used every day
Moved to all milfuky m12(due to the huge range of tools) ryobi/ridgid, and bosch. My big compressor sits idle until I need to air up a tube for boating. I get referb tools at direct tools outlet for a fraction of the cost. I also did the same for lawn equipment! No more gas. 40v is awesome. Love the chainsaw.
Ha ha you silly bugger, 'Dancing with Hoses' Not wolves :-D
Your air impact tools have lasted and have a simple mechanical design.
They can be applied for long periods to remove stubborn parts.
They can only be used as far as the airline goes.
When they do fail it's empty pockets day :-(.
Battery tools are really nice to use and can be taken anywhere without power.
You can carry a spare charged battery to extend usage.
No dance is required :-D
But electronics do fail without notice and apparently no reason.
When they fail, it's going to be a new tool purchase, unless it's within the Guarantee period.
Having a backup of eather type is really nice, a safety net of sorts.
Excellent points!
As an hourly technician myself, even though I'm not one of the "big guys" yet in my dealership, I own and have plenty of experience with electric tools and I absolutely agree. The convenience factor and the portability of my electric tools is a wonderful thing, especially working in places where there's no compressed air available (I.E. my driveway doing a side job). I haven't totally given up on my pneumatic tools. I feel like there will always be a time and a place for those air tools no matter what companies can come up with on the electric side. But with today's electrics and how far they have come, that time and place is getting fewer and further between. Great video Eric!
Ya but you'll need to replace the electric tool eventually. I betcha your pneumatic snap on will run the same 300 years from now
Jack Stowage yeah, my dad has a pneumatic impact wrench that recently stopped working after more than 20 years of use. I was bored one day, pulled her apart, and saw that she still looked perfect inside. Everything polished perfectly. The problem was some built up crud that go it in who knows how. Sprayed some wd-40 wiped it down put it back together and she’s ready for another 20 years of service. Hope I can pass it down to my kids one day
Not without a rebuild although I did get close to 30 years out of Snap On impact but it's in bad need of a rebuild now. Being I don't have access to a Snap On dealer and for the work I do now, I replaced it with an AIr Cat which I'm impressed with for substantially less than another Snap On would have cost me.
And by then it will almost be paid for lol
Jack Stowage, Wrong! I got about 25 years out of my Snap On 1/2 impact and the last 15 years was only occasional use, not daily. Yes I could get a rebuild kit and get some more use out of it but even then there is limited life on the hammers, the parts that impart the impact. Just like any mechanical device, when you have moving parts, you have wear. Like I've said earlier, they both have their pros and cons. Only an idiot proclaims one as clearly superior to the other.
My matco gun is from the 90s and it's just now starting to lose its power.
I have Ryobi 3/8” and 1/2” cordless electric impact tools that have proven to be a godsend for me. They’re super convenient for all the DIY and out call work I do when I’m not doing my day job. One of the best investments I’ve made next to my Solus Ultra.
I'll take my air tools, thank you... I'm too poor for your fancy electric tools!
I still use IR231 because its durable and pretty cheap to replace (120 vs 500 for electric)
@@heavymechanic2
If you have the patience, you can rebuild a 231 for half the cost.
I used a 231 for a while, until I got sick of the noise... now I run Nitrocat tools.
@@tr4nsg0th1ca Yeah, I did that with a 261 and it works well, after a few years they get beat up or the hammer breaks, sometimes the replacement parts are nearly as much as a new tool.
i have a 10ft section of 3/8 reinforced silicone hose that attaches at the air tool..my little son calls it "the jelly hose" makes air tools feel like they aren't connected to anything..its the only way to go..i know this a a pretty strong statement but because of that little hose Ive never felt the need for bulky (compared to pneumatics) battery powered stuff..
I do love my electrics. Lithium ion you've changed my life. However, 10 years from now the air tools will still work. The electrics will be in the trash and have been replaced with newer ones for even more $.
I was fascinated to hear you say What did I ever do to an air hose as you through it in the trash. Hoses have a memory you know. I use electric on light things but air on most every thing else.
Electric tools dont last nearly as long. Electric tools are also more expensive so you have less longevity at a higher price..
Cordless tools and the Battery Technology that accompanies them is really in its infancy the platforms will grow tremendously and overtake air tools within the next 10 to 15 years
Still use my air tools, finally have a nice 5HP 60 gallon compressor that does not see as much use as my old 3HP 22 gallon system. I'm getting older and don't do as much wrenching around as I used to. I painted a lot of cars with that 3HP unit...
Electric tools waste electricity which comes from lightning. Air tools waste air which comes from the atmosphere. I'd much rather run out of thunderstorms than to run out of air to breathe so electric tools win, no contest.
I hope that comment was a joke.
It's more effective to pray for Jesus to repair the car. That way, no tools are necessary.
adolfojp you could always run around your yard holding something metal up high, you never know, you could catch some extra lightning and then you won’t run out. Make sure you also have a bucket to put it in.
@@rsoul7282 That technique was invented by Benjamin Franklin and perfected with the Delorean from the Blast from the Past trilogy.
@@catalinnedelescu Don't complain when we end up importing canned air from Canada.
Love my Harbor Freight corded 1/2” impact wrench! Miracle tool. Can’t believe I waited so long to buy one.
Some of us cant afford it yet but sure will be the upgrade every mechanic would want i think!
Nice video!...
After spending 3 days trying to get a flywheel off with manual and electric tools, another day borrowing the missing bits to get a working pneumatic impact wrench set and 3 seconds actually removing it, I have the greatest love for pneumatic tools. Maybe we just need to use scuba/paintball technology to bring them up to date vis-a-vis portability.
I think the change over happened when people seen how awsome a cordless drill can be... And then the hex driver. The control and ergonomics ... The clutch and lights! From there it was a skill saw / saws and how fast you can cut! Also the brand loyalty of a battery allows more tool company confidence or r and d for ever increasing tool lines!
a 1/2" impact and an air hammer are the only air tools I ever use. I have an electric 1/2" impact as well, but if I'm using an impact that big I usually need the extra power that air has.
That new Milwaukee Fuel stuff is a game changer. Use my air for air and paint guns these days. Try the Milwaukee 2557 ratchet
I still have my air tools, I actually just replaced my 3/8 air ratchet that finally bit the dust last week, got a $90 Dewalt, but find myself owning/buying & actually using battery versions of the same tools more & more, I’ll probably always keep up my air tool collection, but I have issues when it comes to tools, I can NEVER have enough of them!! If I use them or not I need/want more!!! lol
We have just moved to pneumatic tools lol. We've always done things the old hard way. As my hubby and I get older we decided to invest in pneumatic tools. Now I find moving to 25 gallon air tank hoses and crap to the driveway just as aggravating. We were just discussing yesterday about looking into battery powered tools.
Per your question, I'm at that stage of picking the battery powered tools. Specifically the torque wrench. Thing about battery operated is you have to go with a brand right? I don't think the batteries are interchangeable. Milwaukee is great, but a little pricy for the driveway guy. I have some Makita tools but they are getting hard to find.