Can you run an air wrench of a scuba tank?

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Blah - 21 May 2009 14:38 GMT

I know air tools only need 6 bar or so, so 200 bar straight off a tank
might be a bit overkill, but is it practical? Or would you run it off
2nd stage hose?
I need to strip down a couple of cars (so no overtightening
considerations), is this feasible?

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Gordon Henderson - 21 May 2009 17:11 GMT

>I know air tools only need 6 bar or so, so 200 bar straight off a tank
>might be a bit overkill, but is it practical? Or would you run it off
>2nd stage hose?
>I need to strip down a couple of cars (so no overtightening
>considerations), is this feasible?

You can run some off a 2nd stage - if it can deliver the volume of air
required. Check the tool instructions to see how much it needs. You might
find that your 200 bar, 12 litre cylinder, holding 2400 litres of free
air doesn't last long with an air wrench requiring 200 lires per minute..

Gordon

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Blah - 21 May 2009 20:00 GMT

>> I know air tools only need 6 bar or so, so 200 bar straight off a tank
>> might be a bit overkill, but is it practical? Or would you run it off
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Gordon

After posting, I bought this one:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/51020/Power-Tools/Air-Tools/Air-Ratchet-Set

what a bargain, tool plus sockets £29

4 cubic feet a minute = 113 litres a min
so 24 minutes constant operation - should be enough for a fair few nuts.

And since we invariably have around 10 tanks at about 100 bar after
every pool session, which are filled by a contractor who charges per
tank, regardless of how empty they are - its quite a nice solution using
up this air.

Obv not a alternative to compressor driven, but perfect for where you
are out of reach of leccy - in the street for instance.

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Nigel Hewitt - 21 May 2009 20:53 GMT

> After posting, I bought this one:
>
> http://www.screwfix.com/prods/51020/Power-Tools/Air-Tools/Air-Ratchet-Set

I had an air screwdriver to try as a DPV motor and it worked well but rusted
solid before I could try it again. This was in the sea.
It used a lot of air for the power too.

nigelH

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JRE - 22 May 2009 03:02 GMT

> I know air tools only need 6 bar or so, so 200 bar straight off a tank
> might be a bit overkill, but is it practical? Or would you run it off
> 2nd stage hose?
> I need to strip down a couple of cars (so no overtightening
> considerations), is this feasible?

Automobile racers run all sorts of air tools from tanks, including
impact wrenches, ratchets, and jacks (small "lifts," I think, to those
of you on the Eastern side of the pond). I have not tried it myself
because I have a compressor at home, but the key will be flow rate
through the first stage (as others have suggested) *and* the hose.

Signature

John Eells

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Mark G - 26 May 2009 00:28 GMT

>> I know air tools only need 6 bar or so, so 200 bar straight off a tank
>> might be a bit overkill, but is it practical? Or would you run it off
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> because I have a compressor at home, but the key will be flow rate
> through the first stage (as others have suggested) *and* the hose.

I think you wouldn't get more than a few minutes of constant use from
the air ratchet before the first stage would freeze.

I realise there shouldn't be any moisture in the air coming through the
first stage to freeze and cause a blockage internally, but could the
piston or 'ringside be damaged by such extremes in temperature?

One of our members had a free flow in the local duck pond a few of
months ago, it was only in about 4 metres of water, she surfaced
immediately to find an ice ball the size of a grapefruit encasing the
first stage. (Admittedly the water temp. was only 5C) ;-)

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