Air Tools and Air Compressor

Hello,

I am in the market for some air tools and an air compressor.
I see that sears has this air tool set for $68 and looks pretty good.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_1015...916852000P

As for the air compressor I am looking at this one..
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_1015...916472000P

Is there any coupons available to save a little extra money on these two? I tried the maydeals one but says the items I have do not qualify

Thanks!

You can eke out a little more (~$17.50) by doing the following:
1. Copy/paste link in address bar:
http://www.sears.com/?sid=IAx2009...0001&aff=Y
2. Add your items to the cart
You should see AAA 5% off

If you don't need the horse power - this compressor is also avail for $55.24 (Reg $100): Link
FYI if you purchase the lower priced compressor - use coupon code SEARS2012

Thanks! I will try that.

Well a sears rep. suggested me to go with a 33 gal. air compressor. I am not sure what it is I need, just want to buy one and use it for many things and long period of time. Any advice is appreciated.

Quote from eIplbe : Thanks! I will try that. Well a sears rep. suggested me to go with a 33 gal. air compressor. I am not sure what it is I need, just want to buy one and use it for many things and long period of time. Any advice is appreciated.

If you do want it to be versatile for a bunch of different activities/tasks the higher power compressor is probably the way to go.

Quote from joendsu : If you do want it to be versatile for a bunch of different activities/tasks the higher power compressor is probably the way to go.

Have you checked your local Home Depot or Lowes? Depending on what's in stock, they may have a compressor with more SCFMs than the one you're looking at for less money. Not to mention, you could use a Lowes moving coupon at Home Depot to take an additional 10% off.

You really need to figure out what you're going to use it for. If just for a nail gun or filling up tires or whatever, a small one will work. If you plan on taking big bolts off of cars or using an air chisel constantly or something, you either need a (relatively) strong compressor or a (relatively) big tank or both.

"Big tank" = I guess I'd say 20 gallons or so for medium duty stuff and to not get annoyed by it. It really depends on how heavy you're going to use the thing and your annoyance factor if you have to wait for it to catch up. A decent motor with like a 10-gallon tank is probably plenty for most people doing odd jobs here and there during the year... they just may have to twiddle their thumbs more often waiting for it to fill back up.

Smaller = more portable too, of course. Bigger ones have handles and wheels, but, still, pulling/lifting an 8-gallon up stairs or putting it in a car is less annoying than dragging a 20-gallon around. If you get a really big one and you need to transport it for some reason, that can be a BIG problem. literally.

BIG ones will also require 220v. If you don't have 220v, that's another problem.

Main things I guess I'd say for now are:
1) Roofers use pancake ones for nail guns and things, but they're not made for tools that are on longer.

2) Check out Harbor Freight for compressors and tools. For most people, something like their 21-gallon 2.5hp for $180 is probably more than plenty for household-type stuff. I haven't shopped for air compressors lately, but add a 20% off coupon on that if you can, and that should be a pretty good deal and a "more than enough" size for things like air chiseling plaster off walls or taking bolts off cars or whatever.

3) imo, you need to be doing some fairly big stuff to need something bigger than that. Bigger is always better, of course.

4) Craftsman doesn't actually make much if anything anymore as far as I know, so if someone is thinking, "Oh no, Harbor Freight = China," well, most stuff is made in China.

5) Compressors aside, check out the tools at HF. I've seen professional roofers say the $20 nail gun they got from HF is equal to their non-HF expensive one. ymmv, but just sayin'. Heck, I have an air chisel I got from HF for like five bucks. Works good. I also have a cheapie air ratchet from there that's done its share of breaking bolts from too much torque.

Figure out what tools you plan on using, look at their CFM requirements and things, and go from there.

I also want to know what you will be using this compressor for.

Quote from Deusxmachina : You really need to figure out what you're going to use it for. If just for a nail gun or filling up tires or whatever, a small one will work. If you plan on taking big bolts off of cars or using an air chisel constantly or something, you either need a (relatively) strong compressor or a (relatively) big tank or both. "Big tank" = I guess I'd say 20 gallons or so for medium duty stuff and to not get annoyed by it. It really depends on how heavy you're going to use the thing and your annoyance factor if you have to wait for it to catch up. A decent motor with like a 10-gallon tank is probably plenty for most people doing odd jobs here and there during the year... they just may have to twiddle their thumbs more often waiting for it to fill back up. Smaller = more portable too, of course. Bigger ones have handles and wheels, but, still, pulling/lifting an 8-gallon up stairs or putting it in a car is less annoying than dragging a 20-gallon around. If you get a really big one and you need to transport it for some reason, that can be a BIG problem. literally. BIG ones will also require 220v. If you don't have 220v, that's another problem. Main things I guess I'd say for now are: 1) Roofers use pancake ones for nail guns and things, but they're not made for tools that are on longer. 2) Check out Harbor Freight for compressors and tools. For most people, something like their 21-gallon 2.5hp for $180 is probably more than plenty for household-type stuff. I haven't shopped for air compressors lately, but add a 20% off coupon on that if you can, and that should be a pretty good deal and a "more than enough" size for things like air chiseling plaster off walls or taking bolts off cars or whatever. 3) imo, you need to be doing some fairly big stuff to need something bigger than that. Bigger is always better, of course. 4) Craftsman doesn't actually make much if anything anymore as far as I know, so if someone is thinking, "Oh no, Harbor Freight = China," well, most stuff is made in China. 5) Compressors aside, check out the tools at HF. I've seen professional roofers say the $20 nail gun they got from HF is equal to their non-HF expensive one. ymmv, but just sayin'. Heck, I have an air chisel I got from HF for like five bucks. Works good. I also have a cheapie air ratchet from there that's done its share of breaking bolts from too much torque. Figure out what tools you plan on using, look at their CFM requirements and things, and go from there.

I know this is a little aged, but thanks for this advice...I've been wanting to get a compressor for some time and you kinda helped narrow the field down for me and my use.

Quote from tnvolinal : I know this is a little aged, but thanks for this advice...I've been wanting to get a compressor for some time and you kinda helped narrow the field down for me and my use.

Just last week I was remodeling some rooms using a nail gun with a three-gallon Craftsman compressor. It was more than enough to use a nail gun, but I know it would be wimpy for heavier car-type stuff like the 20+ gallon in my garage. But I wouldn't want to lug around a 20+ gallon just to use a nail gun. I've moved a 20+ gallon up some flights of stairs, and it's ok, but it's not fun. And screw lugging one around in a minivan. That would suck.

Everything has its place. woo!

I can't recommend Harbor Freight's air compressors. They're just not reliable.

The air tools, however, are some of the most reliable things HFT sells. I can't compare them to other brands, but if you're considering making some of your purchases at HFT, the air tools are a pretty safe bet.

Deusxmachina: So I don't need to use an air compressor much, but when I do it's usually for some lug nuts, or bolts on the cars, or airing up tires. Only occasionally would I be doing things where I needed to lug one around. Any recommendation from your experience? I've been thinking about a 10 gallon with a strong enough motor to keep up. So you have any suggestions?

Sounds good to me. A big thing is simply "time." How many bolts do you want to take off at a time? How long do you want to be able to run an air chisel without taking a break? etc. It's hard to remember exactly now, but the last time I was air chiseling with a 22-24 gallon, I don't think the motor even had to kick in until after around 10-15 minutes. I don't know about anyone else, but if I'm standing on a ladder chiseling with an air tool with a big ol' heavy hose attached, I don't mind taking a break every 10-15 minutes.

Especially if the thing is mostly stationary, I guess how the tank stands is something to keep in mind. For instance, you can lug a 3-gallon around with one hand. I wouldn't classify it as "light," but it's not exactly heavy. A 10, suddenly you need wheels on it, or two hands. A 20-ish gallon, you need wheels and two hands. A 20 can be wheeled up stairs by one person a step at a time, but a 10 can generally be lifted by one person. I mean, a decently-strong person can lift a 20 up stairs without the wheels or put it in a minivan by themselves, but it probably won't be fun.

Also, a 20-ish may not have all that bigger of a floor footprint vs. a 10-ish due to being taller, not necessarily much wider. I'm generalizing there because they do make 20s that are horizontal instead of vertical, but unless the storage spot for it is under a shelf or something, a tall 20 may take up less garage floor space than a horizontal 10.

Again, though, overall size can really come into play if the thing needs to be picked up. If someone has a 20+ and needs to move it using the backseat or trunk of a car, I don't think they're going to enjoy it.

A thing about bolts on cars is I thought oh I'll use the compressor all the time. But unless I plan on doing a lot of bolts at a time, I rarely bother to turn it on. And even then it only gets so much use because various bolts may require finesse to not risk snapping them or maybe it's simply hard to get the air tool and hose in there in an enclosed space. Some people love using a compressor for pretty much every bolt, though. ymmv.

And then for lug nuts, I've seen enough "professionals" use their air tools to tighten them and then they warp the rotors.

It's not like I'm an air compressor savant or anything. Just tossing out some stuff someone may find interesting or helpful.

For compressors themselves, I don't use them hardcore, so various brands have gotten the jobs done. I've had an HF one for years, and the tank still looks good, the motor still goes, never changed the oil, etc, but I'm not using it every day, or week, either.

Btw, if someone is reading this and just wants to pump up some tires once in a while, just get one of those cigarette lighter compressors for $15. They're slow and wimpy, but they work, and they're immensely portable. Well, as long as you have a cigarette lighter socket to plug it into.