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freezing air tools

greerco

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2014
Messages
45
Location
Spencerville
Hey how do you all keep your air tools from freezing up in the winter?. Im having big problems with my impact guns when im doing service calls.
 

td25c

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
5,250
Location
indiana
I use a 110 volt electric tools powered off the gas drive welder year around .

Not a big fan of air tools in the shop or on the truck . They are inefficient needing a huge amount of compressed air produced by an engine or electricity .

Easier just to plug it in the electric socket & pull the trigger on the tool for constant non stop energy .…. Until the welder runs out of gas . LOL ! :D
 
Last edited:

willie59

Administrator
Joined
Dec 21, 2008
Messages
13,361
Location
Knoxville TN
Occupation
Service Manager
It's the moisture in the air lines. The only way to prevent it for certain is an air dryer system. Short of that, about the best you can do is a really good high capacity desiccant filter and constantly draining the tank and water trap on the filter
 

Junkyard

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
3,621
Location
Claremore, OK
Occupation
Field Mechanic
I use my cordless 3/8” Snap On every single day. I have a 1/2” Dewalt I use often. Sometimes I need the power of my IR 1/2 or 3/4” Air. The cordless tools these days sure spoil a guy!
 

DARO

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2014
Messages
178
Location
Duluth MN USA
Occupation
Mechanic
Drain the tank often. Every use works the best. Add air line alcohol after the compresser before the tank. I would put a T and a valve to make this easy. U dont need a lot just a splash. There is a check valve on the inlet of some tanks. This will pervent this valve form froatinf up. Run alcohol in a air line oiler. Oil tools after use. Every time you put them back.
I have used air in the cold for many winters. The key is to prevent problems. Dont fix problems.
When it is a project that takes a few hrs i prefer air tools. Short jobs i use battery tools or corded tools.
 

Simon C

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2015
Messages
663
Location
Rocky Mountain House , AB., Canada
Occupation
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Drain the tank often. Every use works the best. Add air line alcohol after the compresser before the tank. I would put a T and a valve to make this easy. U dont need a lot just a splash. There is a check valve on the inlet of some tanks. This will pervent this valve form froatinf up. Run alcohol in a air line oiler. Oil tools after use. Every time you put them back.
I have used air in the cold for many winters. The key is to prevent problems. Dont fix problems.
When it is a project that takes a few hrs i prefer air tools. Short jobs i use battery tools or corded tools.
Have Worked in Minus 40 Celcius with 3/4 and 1inch Drive guns for many years in Canadas North. I bleed off all Air from My Air Tank, open the line and put 2-3 ounces of methyl hydrate in the line. Start compressor to Charge the air up and hook a blow gun to the end of my hose and let her fly for 10 Seconds. I mix Air Tool Oil with 10percent or less methyl hydrate in a squirt bottle and shake it up. Put it in my gun hose ( about 30 drops worth ) and give the gun a shot to pass some through. It will usually work for a bit and I continue to reapply as it starts to freeze up again. I've Bolted up Mid-Ship rotation bearings with 1 inch bolts and never froze up. As soon as you get any sign of slow down, Shake up bottle and give fresh drink. Make sure you put rubber gloves on and blow away from Yourself. Simon
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,257
Location
Canada
The customer who was looking for a low temp air tool oil was in Alberta where it gets to -40. They were using in a large air tool in the oilfield but I can't remember what it was. They did say the low temp air tool oil allowed them to use the tool and standard oil the tool and/or lines would would freeze.
 
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