What Air Compressor Attachments? Uses?

A

ahheck01

New member
I'll finally be detailing with an air compressor, and am in the process of shopping for a quite large one that could support a spray booth eventually, and most any air tools you'd expect to come in contact with. Probably either a 60-80 gal 2-stage.



So, for a primarily-detailing operation, what attachments would you want on-hand? Air-wrench for taking wheels on and off fast (what's a good one?), various nozzles for blowing air at interiors/engines/body panel gaps, etc., what else?



Cheers.
 
Ahheck01 said:
I'll finally be detailing with an air compressor, and am in the process of shopping for a quite large one that could support a spray booth eventually, and most any air tools you'd expect to come in contact with. Probably either a 60-80 gal 2-stage.



So, for a primarily-detailing operation, what attachments would you want on-hand? Air-wrench for taking wheels on and off fast (what's a good one?), various nozzles for blowing air at interiors/engines/body panel gaps, etc., what else?



Cheers.
Click to expand...

I use mostly Harbor Freight air tools. Let me state that they are used anywhere from once a month to daily. I have their 1/2 impact, 3/8th butter fly, the 3/8th wratchet, the air chisel, etc, plus three of their air grinders, their large, commercial air regulator and water trap,I use their brass quick couplers, and nipples, etc. I use a Goodyear 3/8th air hose, on one of their manual hose reels. all but two of my paint guns are from them as well. For really touchy paint's, I have a Binks and a Devilis.

All of my air sanders, be it the disc grinder, the straight line or jitter bug sanders, all HF. And I use them a whole lot.

The point I am attempting to make is that if the tools are not being used 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, they are fine.

In my research, I found that many "brand name" air tools are the same as the one's that HF offers, but the HF is about half or less than the brand name ones.

Example, my 1/2" impact is going on 9 years old and works like a champ, my "butter fly" is going on 8 years and no problems, etc.

Just hate to see anyone buy into "big brand" name for tools that are not used everyday, but those that one pays two or three or more amounts for the same tools.
 
Ahheck01 said:
I'll finally be detailing with an air compressor, and am in the process of shopping for a quite large one that could support a spray booth eventually, and most any air tools you'd expect to come in contact with. Probably either a 60-80 gal 2-stage.



So, for a primarily-detailing operation, what attachments would you want on-hand? Air-wrench for taking wheels on and off fast (what's a good one?), various nozzles for blowing air at interiors/engines/body panel gaps, etc., what else?



Cheers.
Click to expand...

You can take a look at my Gallery photo's. There are shots of my air compressor set up, blast cabinet, photo's of some of the air tools, etc.

Most of the "catalog" offerings are the same tools, like I saw the right angle air grinder in the Autobody Toolmart catalog, (I buy tape, sand paper, etc from them) which I get every month.

The same grinder was $50 vs right now at HF, it's on sale for $10, looked closely, same tool.
 
Air compressor equipment and machinery are critical elements in the productivity, efficiency, and economy of today’s industry. Maintaining and upgrading your gas or electric air compressor units with these air compressor accessories can make it last longer, save time, money and keep the equipment operating to its maximum.
 
The video is convincing but does it work as well as they claim? I think it's a new model and I haven't seen any threads on it yet.
 
I use the Vacula blowguns that David Fermani linked to. While there are lots of cheaper options I simply *love* those and have been using mine for decades. I also have their siphon-feed sprayer, which makes for a half-@$$ed substitute for a pressure washer, good for getting the big/gritty stuff off pre-wash during the winter.



I also simply *love* my 3" pneumatic RO polisher! Real defect-killer and great for spot-correction.



And the full-flow/easy-use quick disconnects from Griot's have amazed me...I thought they were a gimmick until I got a set as a gift, now I have 'em on every hose reel/tool.



Oh, FWIW, I'd much rather buy a rechargeable impact for lugs/etc. than use a pneumatic, but that's just me.
 
Ahheck01- I'd get the one (Rupes, IIRC) that Kevin Brown sells. I got the one from Griot's as a gift, and while I do like it I'm confident that the one Kevin has is sufficiently better as to justify the additional cost.



I never did get around to measuring the throw on my GG unit so we could compare them, but Kevin's confident that the Rupes is superior and it's not like he's usually wrong about such stuff ;)
 
One of the least expensive, but I have found most useful for a production detail shop or enthusist with an air compressor is the Harbor Frieght Adjustable Blow Gun, #68261, on sale now for $5.99.

Take a look and "think" about blowing out under seats, in engine compartments, wheels, etc. I use mine to blow the junk off the floor and out the door in the shop as well. Easy to blow off the saws, around the blast cabinet, etc.

One of those little in-expensive tools I would be lost without.
 
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