Air tools, or pneumatic tools, are tools that are driven by compressed air rather than electricity. Air tools, contrary to popular thought, are cheaper to run and safer than their electric counterparts, and they have a higher power to weight ratio, making them more efficient. Because of their very nature, Air tools do not have a weighty electric motor encased in them – this immediately means that Air tools are far lighter than their electric counterparts. Air tools are extremely common in the industrial and manufacturing world, but until recently have been shunned in DIY circles. They are now, however, becoming more popular in the DIY world as people realise their advantages.

Many people at this point will want to know what sort of Air tools are available on the market. The answer is that just about any of the power tools that you have in your workshop can be substituted by an air tool. For example there are pneumatic screwdrivers, hammers, impact wrenches, grinders, sanders, drills, hacksaws, trimmers, paint guns, airbrushes, nail guns, polishers and tackers, to name just a small selection. Many of these Air tools are not yet on the shelves of DIY stores in South Africa, but if demand grows in the same way as it has done in the EEC and the United States, then supply should start appearing on the shelves.

One thing that you must be careful about when choosing Air tools is that you have the correct air compressor for the tools. Your compressor should be marked with a label that gives the air delivery and similarly each tool should be marked with a label denoting the air requirement of the tool. It is, of course, vital that the delivery rate and pressure of the compressor is greater than the requirement rate of the air tool. If not the outcome is obvious. The air tool will just not work. Perhaps the best way of deciding what output rating you need for your compressor is to determine which is the largest air tool that you are ever likely to need (normally this will be an air impact wrench), see what its requirement is, and match that to your compressor.

You may have wondered what all those letters stand for on the air compressor – you will need to for when you purchase your Air tools, and armed with this information will put you one step up the ladder with any salesman.

The fittings are also important – there are usually two types of fittings, industrial and automotive. Make sure that the fittings on your compressor are both the correct type and the correct gauge to fit the fittings on your Air tools. This all sound a little complicated when compared with electric power tools, but believe me, Air tools are much cheaper both to purchase and to run than electric tools.