air tool and supplies advice?

[monterey1962]

I finally caved and bought a compressor and tools yesterday. $100 paint gun set from the paint supply store downtown, cheapy DA sander, cheapy die grinder/mini-sander, and hood stand. Air compressor came from the farm store. LINK TO COMPRESSOR

Anyone recommend any other tools or supplies that I should be getting? I plan on getting a regular air sander and discs. I need to pick up a hook and loop pad for the DA, too. Just need to wait for a paycheck. I pretty much tapped my wallet yesterday getting this stuff.

[Nathan in MI]

Get one of the combination air dryer/tool oiler deals and a bottle of air tool oil so that you can use impact wrenches and whatnot without having to dump oil into 'em all the time. That's assuming you want to use those types of tools, of course...

Also, I'd recommend doing what we did at home and getting two air hoses--one that runs from the oiler for the impact and such, and one that doesn't get any oil in it since obviously you'd rather not have your paint sprayer getting lubricated.

[portdizzal]

well, what kind of work are you plannin on doing? congrats on the tool collection though.

[LTDMan83]

+1 on the combination air dryer/tool oiler, it gets a little aggravating having to Oil my Air Tools constantly, but I'm painting most of the time with mine so I really only need the Air/Water Filter reg.

I've already completed enough side painting jobs with mine, that it has paid for itself. So now I basically have a free compressor and air tools, thanks to the work I have put in. Next I'm gonna sell the compressor, and upgrade to a 13cfm @ 90psi unit, so I can start painting on a little higher level.

[monterey1962]

Most of the time I'll be using the compressor for body work. I do need to get an air wrench, though.

I'm planning on painting my '91 this summer as a practice run, then doing S.U. next year.

[gadget73]

Hm, is that compressor gonna have enough volume to run a DA sander? Those things are air hogs.

[1987cp]

Heh ... most any tool can be run on a small compressor, at least for a short time ...

Wouldn't ganging one of those compressed-air tanks be an effective way to increase the compressor's capacity and emulate a larger compressor? Or are the smaller pumps usually just too small to pump the volume even if the motor is just as powerful?

[LTDMan83]

Remember, you can chain compressors together for more CFM.

A DA Sander or HVLP Paint Gun will eat that compressor alive. It should run it for a short time though.

The straight line sander I use fairs somewhat decent on my compressor, but will only run flat out for around 4-5mins straight before I have to stop, and let the compressor tank re-fill.

[monterey1962]

Under the circumstances, this was my best option for a compressor. When prepping/painting the '91, I'll be doing a section at a time (i.e.: trunk, then hood, then cab, etc). What was I supposed to do? I'm working out of a dinky little garage. There is neither room nor electrical capacity to house and run a larger more powerful compressor. It's all new to me. Honestly, I'm just sick of doing shitty patch work with a sanding disc on my electric drill and rattle cans.

[LTDMan83]

The compressor should be fine using HVLP, as long as your just doing a panel/section at a time. You only need to match the cfm rating of the gun for large jobs, like doing the entire car in one round. Most HVLP guns require the compressor to put out around 10-13cfm @ 50-60psi.

[85crownHPP]

you can get air powered sandblasters cheap too, I dont think they work well for body stuff but they're great to blast rust off undercairrage parts like control arms and steering knuckles

[CheeseSteakJim]

you can get air powered sandblasters cheap too, I dont think they work well for body stuff but they're great to blast rust off undercairrage parts like control arms and steering knuckles

Actually, they're one of the required tools for rust repair in body work. I repaired some rust on my car's quarter panel just the other day.

Do yourself a huge favor and if you get a sandblaster - and can afford it - get one with a vacuum attached so that you don't have sand all over the place. There's no describing how much of an improvement it is unless you've done it both with and without the vacuum.

[monterey1962]

A DA Sander or HVLP Paint Gun will eat that compressor alive. It should run it for a short time though.

Yes ... yes ... you are right. Trying to strip the '91's roof this afternoon. 30-60 seconds with the DA is about all I'm getting before the compressor kicks in. It's frustrating, but I'm getting some work done. I'm so f'n tired of working in this tiny garage with such a limited capacity. Unfortunately, this is all I have to work with.

On the bright side, I won't have to look at that god awful flaky clear coat, anymore. By this time tomorrow, I should be looking at a shitty paint job, instead.

[P72Ford]

Do yourself a huge favor and if you get a sandblaster - and can afford it - get one with a vacuum attached so that you don't have sand all over the place. There's no describing how much of an improvement it is unless you've done it both with and without the vacuum.

Sounds good. I have done it without, and I know what a pain in the balls that is...

[1987cp]

Sounds good. I have done it without, and I know what a pain in the balls that is...

Unless you really enjoy getting friendly with the pushbroom whilst reclaiming your blasting media by hand!

But if it would keep sand out of your eyes and hair and such, I could see where that'd be a HUGE benefit.

BTW, I think my small siphon blaster sucks even more air volume than my grinders, whose big air consumption are what prompted me to buy a cheap electric grinder that while not as nice to use is at least more economical to operate (4.5 Amp draw only whilst grinding, versus 15 Amp draw for at least three times as long as I'm grinding, plus taking lots longer to grind since tool power suffers so much as the tank empties).