Have you ever been stuck with an air tool wondering about its operational specifications? If you are the one who has a hard time choosing an ideal air tool and its components, and things get confusing at times, we are here to assist you with all the necessary knowledge about various air tools that you require to perform your tasks efficiently.
In this blog, we will be discussing different air tools and their industrial applications along with other specifications like airflow rate, hose ID requirement and working pressure of the tool.
Also known as a pneumatic tool, an air tool is a device which operates using compressed air supplied by an air compressor. Finding wide usage in various industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, automotive and construction, air tools are an important component of many working units. The table below shows the most commonly used pneumatic tools used across these industries:
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Industry |
Commonly used Pneumatic Tools |
|
Construction |
Air Impact Wrench, Air Ratchet, Pneumatic Drill, Pneumatic Screwdriver, Air Hammer, Pneumatic Reciprocating Saw, Brad Nailer, Framing Nailer, Pneumatic Riveter, Pneumatic Staple Gun, Air-Powered Sander, Needle Scaler, Sandblaster, Pneumatic Shears, Die Grinder, Pneumatic Blower |
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Automotive |
Air Impact Wrench, Air Ratchet, Pneumatic Drill, Pneumatic Screwdriver, Air Hammer, Pneumatic Reciprocating Saw, Pneumatic Riveter, Air-Powered Sander, Needle Scaler, Sandblaster, Die Grinder, Pneumatic Blower (Handheld), Tire Inflator |
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Manufacturing |
Air Impact Wrench, Air Ratchet, Pneumatic Drill, Pneumatic Screwdriver, Air Hammer, Pneumatic Reciprocating Saw, Brad Nailer, Framing Nailer, Pneumatic Staple Gun, Air-Powered Sander, Sandblaster, Pneumatic Shears, Die Grinder, Pneumatic Blower (Handheld) |
|
Agriculture |
Air Ratchet, Pneumatic Screwdriver, Pneumatic Blower |
We have a variety of air tools finding their applications in different industries. Let us discuss some of the widely used air tools along with their applications and specifications.
Let us deep dive into the pneumatic world and look closely at different air tools. These tools are as follows:
If you are looking for an air tool that can loosen and tighten nuts and bolts at lightning speed, an air impact wrench is a suitable choice. Also known as a torque gun or air gun, it finds its usage in construction, automotive and manufacturing industries. An impact wrench works the best with a ⅜ inch hose.The ideal working pressure and airflow rate requirement is 90 PSI and 5 CFM respectively. Various applications of an impact wrench include automotive repair, heavy equipment maintenance and product assembly.
An air ratchet can be called a mini version of an impact wrench as it performs a similar task. However, the produced torque is way less as compared to an impact wrench, a ratchet is used to loosen and tighten the bolts at hard to reach places. Since the power applied is way less the bolts need to be tightened one more time after using a ratchet.
Now let us talk about the pressure and Air flow rate. An air ratchet works efficiently at 90 PSI working pressure and 5 CFM airflow rate. This tool works the best with a ⅜” air hose. An air ratchet is used in construction industry concrete formwork assembly, maintenance of building structures, repair and maintenance of construction equipment, assembly of scaffolding and installation of construction machinery. It finds applications in the automotive industry such as automotive repair and assembly. Widely used in the manufacturing industry, an air ratchet is used for heavy equipment maintenance and product assembly. This pneumatic device is also used for the maintenance of irrigation systems in the agro industry.
Pneumatic drill is another widely used air tool. Performing the basic function of drilling holes, the applications of a pneumatic drill includes drilling holes in concrete, bricks and metal parts making it a useful tool in construction, automotive and manufacturing industries. Best suited with a ¼” and ⅜” inch hose, a pneumatic drill operates at 90 PSI working pressure and 4-5.2 CFM airflow rate.
Finding its usage to turn screws and fasteners, a pneumatic screwdriver is used in multiple industries such as manufacturing, automotive, construction and agriculture, this air tool becomes an essential to have. Used with a ¼ inch hose, the pneumatic screwdriver operates at a working pressure of 90 PSI and an air flow rate of 2.5 to 3 CFM.
Taking about specific applications, this tool is used in fastening of screws and bolts in drywall, roofing, and other materials, assembling parts such as engines, transmissions, and suspension systems, assembling electronic devices, appliances, and other consumer goods and in assembly and maintenance of farm equipment.
Air hammer is a pneumatic tool which finds application in automotive, manufacturing and construction industries. The major applications of an air hammer are breaking up concrete, chiseling through metal,removing tiles, freeing frozen and corroded nuts, rivets and hinge pins.It is also used in smoothing metal that has already been roughed, shaped or formed.Talking about the air pressure rating and air flow, an air hammer operates at 90 PSI at an airflow rate of 2.5 CFM.
Majorly used for cutting applications, a reciprocating saw is used in industries like construction, automotive and manufacturing. It works the best with a ⅜” ID hose at an air flow rate of 1 CFM. The working pressure of a reciprocating saw is 90 PSI. Its specific applications include cutting concrete, stone, ceramic tile and glass. Adding to the list of applications, sawing through nails, metal sheeting, and pipes and cutting through different surfaces, are the added uses of a pneumatic reciprocating saw.
A brad nailer is a pneumatic device used for shooting out 18-gauge nails referred to as brads in order to efficiently perform tasks like attaching baseboards, crown molding, decorative finishes, furniture manufacturing, cabinetry and upholstery etc. The ideal hose size for a brad nailer is a quarter inch. It operates at a working pressure of 50-100 PSI and the air flow consumption is around 6-7 CFM. A Brad nailer increases the efficiency of the job and is very useful in the construction and automotive industry.
Framing nailer is one of the most frequently used tools in the construction and manufacturing industry. A framing nailer is widely used for applications like Framing walls, building roofs, attaching plywood sheets to flooring systems, building wooden crates, pallets, and shipping containers etc. The primary purpose of a framing nailer is to shoot framing nails at a high-speed. A framing nailer works the best with a ⅜” inch hose and operates at 90 PSI working pressure and 2.2 CFM airflow rate.
A pneumatic riveter is an air tool which uses a rivet to connect two surfaces together. The rivet is driven through previously drilled holes to make the connection. A pneumatic riveter is used in multiple industries such as construction, manufacturing and automotive industry. If we talk about specific applications, a riveter is used for fastening metal components such as steel beams, fastening body panels, engine components, and other metal parts. Additionally, a riveter also comes to use in fastening a wide range of materials, including metal, plastic, and composites. Operating the best with a ½ inch hose, a riveter requires an air flow rate of 8.8 CFM at a working pressure of 90 PSI.
A staple gun is a pneumatic device used to drive staples into hard surfaces like wood. Majorly used in the construction and manufacturing industry, it is considerably one of the most useful air tools. A quarter inch hose is the most suited with the staple gun. If we talk about its operational specifications, a staple gun operates at 50-100 PSI working pressure and 5-6 CFM airflow. A staple gun is widely used for fastening insulation, roofing felt, and house wrap. It also finds its applications in upholstery industry, packaging industry and carpentry.
An air powered sander is a pneumatic device used to sand objects and surfaces to smoothen them. This device is widely used in the automotive industry for sanding and finishing drywall, plaster, and concrete surfaces. Construction industry also finds usage of air sander for applications like sanding body panels, preparing surfaces for painting, and finishing work. Moving to the manufacturing industry a sander is used in woodwork and metalwork factories. The air sander works the best at 14 CFM airflow and 90 PSI working pressure using a ⅜” hose.
Another commonly used air tool is a needle scaler. This air tool is used to remove rust, mill scale and rust from metal surfaces. A needle scaler is most compatible with ¼ and ⅛ hose ID. It operates on a working pressure less than 50 PSI and requires an air flow rate of 8.8 CFM. Used for the purpose of surface preparation for painting, welding, and removing rust and other coatings from metal surfaces, a needle scaler is majorly used in the construction and manufacturing industry.
A sandblaster is similar to a needle scaler in terms of applications. It is used to remove rust, paint and oxidation residue from surfaces resulting in preparation of surfaces. One of the major differences is the energy consumption. A sandblaster uses more energy as compared to a needle scaler. It operates with a 1/2 inch hose at a working pressure of 90 PSI and an air flow rate of 10-20 CFM. A sandblaster is commonly used for preparation, cleaning and finishing of surfaces. It is also used for removing rust from metal surfaces.
Pneumatic shear is an air tool that is an essential for a sheet metal worker. It is used to make straight and curved cuts in sheet metal with precision and ease.. This tool operates at a working pressure of 90 PSI and the air consumption is 3 CFM. A pneumatic shear is most compatible with a ⅜ hose ID. Another peculiar usage of a shear is in the meat processing industry. It is used to cut through meat easily.
Die grinder is another interesting air tool having plenty of applications in construction, manufacturing and automotive industries. The ideal size of the air hose used with a die grinder is ⅜ inch. It operates at a working pressure of 90 PSI and requires an air flow rate of 4.5 CFM. To be more specific about its applications, a die grinder is used in smoothing weld seams, removing rust on metal surfaces and grinding metal in automotive manufacturing.
A pneumatic blower or an air blower is an air tool that uses compressed air or gas to generate a stream of air or gas for various industrial or commercial applications. It is widely used in various industries.
For example: An air blower is used for Drying, cleaning and ventilation in the construction industry. It is also used in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and woodwork. Grain and seed cleaning is also done using a pneumatic blower.
It operates perfectly with a ¼ inch hose at 100 PSI working pressure at an air flow rate of 5-10 CFM.
Tire inflator is an air tool which is found in every nook and corner. It finds usage in the automotive industry and is used for tire inflation. This tool uses compressed air to complete the job. Both ¼ and ¾ hose ID. It operates at 150 PSI working pressure and 30-40 CFM airflow rate.
Air tools are an essential component of every pneumatic setting, hence the knowledge about these tools becomes necessary. In addition, air tools are versatile and can be used for a variety of tasks, including sanding, drilling, painting, and more. They also require less maintenance and are generally safer to use than their electric counterparts. The above discussed air tools are very widely used in various industries making the knowledge of their operational specifications very necessary.
