I hear about all of you fabricators out there who make their own things. Do you find that you use a COW for most about all the home made things that require steel to be cut.

im really cheap..but was wondering if its a worthy $40 air tool investment.

BTW...

Will it run fine on a 10gallon tank?

FC content....Should i use a cut off wheel to make things for my car (for ted so he doesnt move it )

 

Yes, a cutoff wheel is definately worth it. What would you rather do, 10 minutes with a hacksaw, or 5 seconds with a wheel? It would pay for itself just in the time and aggravation saved.

 

My cut off wheel is probably the second most used tool in my garage. You will find endless uses for it. But I don't think a 10 gal tank is going to work. My Craftsman 25 Gal 5.5 HP compressor can't keep up with the cut off wheel. I can only use it for maybe a straight minute of cutting before the pressure drops below what is necessary to turn the wheel, and that is with the pump running the entire time. I plan on adding another 40+ gallons of air to the system in my garage but then my pump will not be up to the task.

BTW: I do think this thread should be moved :)

 

The cut off tool and impact wrench tie for first place as most used air tools in the shop. Well, add the die grinder with wire wheel attatchment to that tie also. My advice though, just get a drill arbor and cutoff discs and use with a die grinder, and some safetly glasses. IF you buy the cutoff tool itself, with teh fat body and guard around it, it wont fit into places a die grinder can.

Oh, and a 10 gallon tank wont even consider running that cutoff tool. I have a craftsman 80 gallon 2 cyl compressor for the shop and it just does the job well enough...anything less than about 10cfm wont do the job well.

 

hehe me and roy james have tons of fun with the die grinder and some cutting wheels.... so yes i say get a cut off wheel and whatever tool and cut away my friend

 

CUT OFF WHEEL GO FOR IT............
but if you don't plan on getting a bigger air compressor then i would look for an electric alternate.
also look at harbour frieght , i got mine 10 years ago and the price is still the same $19 us. and it works great.
if no on the compressor look for dewalt or craftsman.
robert

 

is it possible to get another air tank w/out buying a full motor and all that? full compressors can get expensive...and if i can get an aux. tank, how would i get it filled with air?

 

get it filled with naws yo, it will spin 30 times as fast as an 80 gallon with ur 10 gallon.

 

I do all my fab work without airtools as of yet. My shop is basically a wood shop but I am adding metal tools all the time with no air comp. I resort to electric things.

Makita(sp) makes some decent tools and I also have an electric impact wrench.

-Morbius

 

Whatever Rex..

Without a compressor, the cutoff wheel is useless.. They just suck up way too much air.

Get a sawzall or a jig saw with a metal cutting blade. I use those two things far far more than I ever use the cutoff wheel.

PaulC

 

Or an electric bandsaw, Milwaukee Portable!

 

You will need to run a hose or hard line from your existing tank to the new one. This will be easy enough with a trip to your favorite HomeDepot or Lowes.

But don't add too much capacity to your system. You might get away with doubling the amount of storage but if you go beyond that it might put too much of a load on the pump and motor. For example if you were to put an extra 100 gallons of air storage it may take your pump (that is designed to fill 10 gallons) 30 minutes to fill the system up to full pressure. Odds are that pump is not designed to run that long at one time and it could overheat.

Before next racing season I plan on adding around 40 gallons of air tanks to the bottom of my trailer. And if I have the budget I will also buy one of the high duty air pumps used in the air ride suspension on show cars. That way I can have compressed air at the track. The last time I checked I could get some old Co2 canisters for around $25.00 each but the high duty pump was around $300.00.

 

DaYm Yo!!! JuS Go To ThE GaS StAtIoN. PuT 25 CeNt iN dEm AiR MaChInE, ThEn AtTaCh ThE ToOl ThInGy To It, ThEn U dUnT hAvE To BuY dEm TaNk!!

 

HAHA!!! You called it a COW!!! Funniest thing ive heard all day. After you get a bigger air compressor GET IT! Together with some welding skill you'll be one dangerous guy. I use mine for everyting. Oh, and another fun tool is the recripocating (sp.?) saw....or saws-all. You can cut a car in half with one for like $80.....

 

Another good point is the COW can reach into a lot of small/tight places a hacksaw can't. Saves a lot of time and aggrevation.

 

I never think about my "cow" or 4 ' grinder but now that you bring it up....i sssoooo love them. But... never bye one for $40 . You will pay more but, both Snap-on and Mac make the best hand and air tools.

Heres the list:
1 bad *** compressor..Ingersoll rand or something 100 cfm at 175psi
Mac and Snap-on air tools ratchets,impact wrenches,die grinder,"cow",drills,air hamer,ect.
1 Mig welder >>> MILLER only<<<
1 Plasma cutter (even ezer to cut a car in1/2 with)
Now you've got a good start and R ready to make a mess or ................some art.

 

jesus a compressor rated at 50cfm costs more than my car...and probably most peoples cars in the 2nd gen forum.

 

Best finessing tool ever:

Right angle die-grinder with Roto Loc sanding discs!

It's almost like sculpting. Especially on aluminum.