Air Tools & Compressors

Having a ready supply of compressed air at hand allows you to do many things that would otherwise be impossible or time consuming. Whether it’s quickly removing lug nuts, applying a coat of paint, blasting away rust and grime, blowing off dust and debris, or inflating tires and recreational equipment, compressed air makes it happen. At one time, air compressors were mostly large, stationary pieces of equipment, and air tool use was confined to auto repair and body shops. But today, with the proliferation of portable compressors, with capacities that are ideal for tools like nail guns that don’t require the volume of air that tools like spray guns do, air tools can be used just about everywhere. If you’re ready for the benefits of compressed air and air tool use, we have the compressors, tools, air hoses, and accessories to make auto repair, construction, and many other tasks easier.

Compressors are available in a wide range of gallon size, horsepower, CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute), and PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) capacities, in positive displacement, piston-type single and 2 stage, and rotary screw designs, for stationary installation and portable use, and with various tank configurations. Stationary compressors are commonly available with 30, 60, 80, or 120-gallon tanks, with the tank arranged horizontally or vertically, in stand-up configuration, which takes up less room, with the compressor driven by a gas engine or single or 3-phase electric motor. Single phase is appropriate for residential use, while 3-phase is mostly for industrial applications. If your compressor will be supplying tools like sanders and buffers that require a continuous high volume of compressed air, go for a compressor with a high CFM rating. 5and fewer horsepower motors are usually single stage, 2-stage motors are more common and generally between 5 and 30HP, and rotary screw compressors are for when a continuous supply of compressed air is needed.

Our portable compressor selection ranges from compact 12V compressors you can carry in your car for tire inflation, to 1-6 gallon pancake and single and twin-tank compressors with carrying handles, to wheeled vertical and horizontal tank units up to 28 gallons. Horsepower on portable models ranges from fractions of a horsepower up to 5HP, most are electrically powered, and some are cordless with a rechargeable battery. Both stationary and portable compressors are available “oil-less” meaning they are pre-lubricated. There is no oil level to check or oil to periodically change, meaning less maintenance for you. Along with the compressor you’ll need oil for oiled compressors, and air lines, fittings and couplers to connect the air tools to the source. We have coiled lines that are convenient for bench use as well as lengths of hose up to 100 ft. Our retractable hose reels allow you to feed out only the length of hose that’s needed. Moisture can destroy air tools and ruin paint jobs, so we offer filter/regulators to remove water and dirt and set maximum air pressure, and air tool oil for lubrication.

Air tools are generally more powerful than their electric or battery powered counterparts, and they are safer to use than electric models in wet conditions. The most recognized air tool may be the impact wrench, the choice of auto technicians everywhere for removing lug nuts and rusted bolts. Impact wrenches, available in pistol grip and straight styles up to 1” drive, provide the force to remove fasteners in hard to reach places where applying the necessary leverage to remove them manually would be impossible, plus, we have 3/8”, ½”, ¾”, and 1” drive impact sockets and complete shallow and deep well socket sets. 90-degree angle and straight air ratchets are another technician favorite because they remove and install fasteners much faster than would be possible cranking a hand ratchet. Air hammers are another essential garage tool, and many are available in complete kits that include the driving attachments which enable them to separate ball joints, cut apart rusty exhaust pipes, and drive out pins and seized bolts.

Drills, grinders, sanders, and polishers are also available air powered. We offer 1/4", 3/8”, and 1/2" drills with traditional pistol grip, including reversible models, as well as angle drills. We can also supply you with air screwdrivers and diamond core drilling machines that can drill holes from 5/32” to 18” in diameter in concrete, brick, block and stone. Air die grinders are great for deburring engine blocks and porting and polishing cylinder heads, and other kinds of wood and metal finishing projects, while air angle grinders are used in auto body repair, metal working and construction. Jitterbug, orbital and dual action air sanders are used in the preparation of surfaces for paint and finish coats, and are indispensable in woodworking and auto body shops. Using an air polisher or buffer can be the final step in a paint job or an important tool for reclaiming tired and dull finishes. Air cutting tools are a useful addition to a tool collection. Cut off wheels can be used to cut exhaust pipes and shorten bolts and studs, while air nibblers, shears, riveters, and punch and flange tools are ideal for metal fabrication work and auto body repair.

Of course, spray guns and related tools are basic equipment in any paint refinishing operation. We can supply you with gravity feed, suction feed, and pressure feed spray guns, including HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) guns, airbrushes, undercoat spray guns, spray gun cups, filters, and other spray gun parts, and spray gun washers and cleaning kits. In addition to the above, we have many specialized air tools that are perfect for garage and body shop use including air grease guns that allow you to make sure the nozzle stays on the grease fitting instead of having to pump a manual grease gun; air surface prep tools that can remove adhesives and undercoating, or remove decals without affecting the underlying paint finish; and an extensive selection of blow guns with many different nozzle styles for cleaning carburetor and engine block passages, blowing away debris after sanding and grinding, drying wet components, and much more.

Air nailers and staplers revolutionized the construction industry, dramatically increasing productivity because they only require one hand to use and can drive many more fasteners, consistently and accurately, than a worker armed with a hammer or manual staple gun. We offer nail guns for framing, finishing, roofing, and flooring, as well as palm nailers for driving nails in tight spaces. Our air stapler selection includes models designed for wood finishing and assembling, carpet installation, and upholstery repair. Combine high air pressure with the right abrasive media and you can remove rust, dirt, old paint, and baked on grease and oil from metal with a speed and thoroughness that would be impossible if attempted manually. We have air blasters that can be used with sand, glass beads, metal shot, aluminum oxide, and nut shells, including efficient units with vacuum and filter systems that reduce abrasive consumption. Here you’ll also find air needle scalers for removal of the toughest rust buildup and benchtop and floor mount blasting cabinets in various dimensions, some that include dust collectors.

Safety should always be the most important consideration when working with high pressure air and powerful air tools. Safety glasses are absolutely essential. A piece of debris thrown up by a blow gun, dust or debris from an air grinder, or rust particles and media that become airborne during abrasive blasting, can all cause everything from mild eye discomfort to complete loss of vision. We offer safety glasses and goggles with clear and tinted lenses, face shields, and eye wash safety stations. Sanding paint, grinding metal, abrasive blasting, and other air tool operations can all fill the air with dust and debris that can be harmful if inhaled. The particulate respirators we offer are adjustable for a tight fit and optimal lung protection. Paint spraying operations and exposure to other harmful airborne toxins and chemicals requires more sophisticated protection. We can supply you with half face and full face air purifying respirators that fit comfortably and have replaceable filters or cartridges. And for protection under the most extreme conditions we have supplied air masks, visors and hoods. And for hand protection we have mechanics gloves and impact resistant and anti-vibration gloves.