Different Types of Pneumatic Tools and Their Uses

Many people rank safety as their first consideration when purchasing tools. They want to know if pneumatic tools are safe to operate. While any tool can be dangerous if misused, pneumatic tools are considered to be very safe due to being powered by air rather than electricity. If working in an environment around flammable liquids, such as gasoline, or in wet environments, the lack of electricity in the tool is a key safety feature.

Long term safety often depends on the ergonomics and weight of a tool. Repetitive stress injuries may be lessened by using lighter tools. In large tools, like framing nailers, a pneumatic tool is significantly lighter than a battery powered tool.

The big safety issue with pneumatic tools is easy to see: the hose follows the tool and creates a trip hazard. There are also safety issues around the compressor itself. Noise is a problem that can be addressed by moving the compressor away from the work area and building a sound dampening enclosure around it. Also, compressors and air tanks must be maintained for safety reasons.

Nailers and staplers are often the first tool that comes to mind when considering pneumatic tools. When thinking about construction and woodworking, nailers and staplers are the most common pneumatic tool.

• The fasteners driven by pneumatic nailers range from 23 gauge headless pins to framing nailers that drive 3-1/4 inch nails into tough materials like laminated beams. Staplers can range from light gauge for upholstery up to heavy fence fasteners.
• For woodworking, the most common nail sizes are 23, 18, 16 and 15 gauges, and framing nails.
• A 23 gauge headless pin is often used in fine woodworking to hold pieces together while glue cures. The 18, 16, and 15 gauges are often used for various building and molding tasks, with the heavier being used to install windows and doors. Framing nailers drive the big nails that hold the frame of a house together.
• Many other kinds of nailers are made for various jobs. Coil nailers are often used for roofing and siding installation because they have a large capacity magazine that is suited to the size and type of nails needed for these jobs. These are hard use tools that are built to drive thousands of nails every day.
• Staples are like driving two nails at once, with a connecting bar between them. Staples are sized by the gauge and the width of the crown, which is the horizontal piece that connects the two legs. Two common sizes are the T50 and an 18-gauge narrow crown. T50 is a lightweight staple with 3/8 inch crown and leg lengths that vary from 1/4 inch to 9/16 inch. The 18-gauge narrow crown staples have a 1/4 inch crown and legs that vary from 3/8 inch to 1-1/2 inches.

In the simplest terms, sanders and grinders remove material by moving an abrasive over a surface. Pneumatic sanders and grinders complete this task with a wide variety of methods, from spinning a tiny burr to moving large sheets of sandpaper.

• Die grinders are handheld tools that spin a burr, cutoff wheel, sanding drum, grinding stone or abrasive pad. They can be operated with high precision or pushed to do a great amount of work in a short time.
• Angle grinders turn an arbor that is at a 90 degree angle to the handles. The arbor can accept tools ranging from wire cups to thick grinding discs.
• Many sanders operate by spinning or vibrating a sheet or disc of sandpaper. The operator moves the sander across the surface. Many times, a succession of finer grits will be used to take a surface from rough, to smooth, then polished.
• Straight line and jitterbug sanders are two types that use rectangular, flat sheets of sandpaper.
• Random orbital sanders spin and orbit a round disc of sandpaper in a random pattern. They are popular with metalworkers and woodworkers for their ability to work quickly and produce a smooth result.
• Belt sanders operate by moving a belt around rollers. The most common pneumatic belt sander uses 1/2 inch wide belts that are often called bandfiles.

The sound of a pneumatic impact wrench is closely associated with automotive mechanic shops. The “brrt-brrt” of an impact wrench tightening lug nuts on a wheel is instantly recognizable to many. The use of air wrenches goes beyond changing tires though.

Pistol grip impact wrenches are used for any large fastener that requires a great deal of torque. Other models work at high speeds.

Pneumatic ratchets are used in place of manual hand tools for many applications. Often, an air powered ratchet can fit into a tight area and tighten or loosen a bolt or nut when no other tool can do the job.

Spraying large volumes of paint or finish is one place where pneumatic power truly shines.

Compressed air can be dialed in precisely to spray thinned lacquer, or dialed up to spray materials as thick as drywall compound through a hopper sprayer.

The most basic pneumatic tool in existence is an air nozzle. It allows you to direct the flow of air to remove dust from inside a bolt hole or force water from a surface. The next would be a chuck for inflating tires or filling sports balls or other inflatable items.

Many other tools are powered by air. Drills, metal shears, air hammers and reciprocating saws to name a few. Many of these are more commonly known as electric or battery tools by homeowners, but they have wide usage in industrial applications.

Pneumatic tools require compressed air to operate. The air is compressed by a compressor and delivered to the tool via a tank and air line. This system can be as simple as a small compressor and tank unit, attached to a tool via a single hose, or a massive compressor and tank with a manifold that delivers air through pipes with many take-off points.

• A tank and compressor usually come in a single unit. The capacity will be measured in PSI (pounds per square inch) and CFM (cubic feet per minute.) These two numbers tell how much air can be delivered and how quickly it can happen.
• The compressor can be powered by an internal combustion engine or electric motor.
• The tank’s capacity determines how much compressed air can be stored. The compressor fills the tank until it reaches its cutoff pressure, then starts running again when it drops down to the cut-in pressure.
• A single-user setup will only be running one tool at the time, so the capacity of the system can be determined by looking at the highest demand tool.
• A multi-user setup like a roofing crew or a mechanic shop will need to consider the air usage of many tools being operated at one time.
• In any case, it’s smart to figure in future needs. For example, if a woodworker wants to power an 18 gauge narrow crown stapler, it would be a good idea to buy a compressor that will be able to operate a paint sprayer in the future.

The whole system of compressor, tank, delivery, and tool needs regular maintenance. Specific steps will be covered in each part’s operator’s manual, but here are some general steps to take.

• The air tank will have a valve to drain water. Air contains humidity and compressing the air forces some of the water out of it. This water will cause the tank to rust, weakening it. Drain the water at the manufacturer’s recommended frequency.
• The compressor may require oil. Keep the correct oil on hand and check it regularly.
• Tools should be oiled. Some should be oiled every use, others on a scheduled basis. Use oil intended for air tools.
• Pneumatic tools are often built for years and years of hard use, but don’t abuse them. An impact wrench isn’t a hammer.
• Inspect the tank, pipes, hoses and fittings for wear and damage on a regular basis. Any wear or damage to parts that contain compressed air should be replaced or repaired immediately. Compressed air is extremely powerful and a failure in any of these points is dangerous.