need advice on cordless compressor and air chisel

[Adam32]

I am in the market for a cordless air compressor. I want the portability / flexibility of cordless and can't justify the space needed for a much larger compressor. Aside from blowing tyres up, I mainly want it for running an air chisel to break stubborn stuff loose on the car. To be fair I would hardly use it, but it's a nice tool to have if necessary. With this in mind I wonder if something like this metabo compressor would work:

https://www.metabo.com/com/en/tools/cordless-tools...

Metabo say that it delivers 2.1 cfm at 80% pressure (90psi). Would this compressor work with something like the Snap-on PH3050BR super duty air hammer with a chisel:
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Super-Duty-Air-Ham...

Snapon list this as 2.1 CFM at 90psi, so this seems to equal the specs of the metabo compressor. One thing I don't understand is that Snapon list this at 2.1CFM, which seems quite low. Many other brands seem to specify 4 or 5 CFM for their air hammers / chisel.

Would this compressor work for what I have in mind? If not are there other cordless options?

[steveo3002]

not a chance in hell ....need a beefy compressor to keep up with an air chisel

[Adam32]

steveo3002 said:

not a chance in hell ....need a beefy compressor to keep up with an air chisel

But if you look at the Snap-on specs and the compressor specs, both meet the 2.1 CFM specs. Plus I suppose, I can simply wait for it to charge and do short bursts. It is not as though I would be using it everyday, so could wait for it to recharge.

[steveo3002]

id suggest spending the money on a better compressor so that you can buy other tools and make the most from it

or find another way to loosen the parts..what is it you plan to use it on ?

[E-bmw]

Adam32 said:

steveo3002 said:

not a chance in hell ....need a beefy compressor to keep up with an air chisel

But if you look at the Snap-on specs and the compressor specs, both meet the 2.1 CFM specs. Plus I suppose, I can simply wait for it to charge and do short bursts. It is not as though I would be using it everyday, so could wait for it to recharge.

116 psi max from the compressor, 5 litres in the tank.

90 psi required for the chisel 2.1 litres/min.

The chisel will work for about 5 or 10 secs before the pressure is too low if you are lucky.

[Adam32]

E-bmw said:

116 psi max from the compressor, 5 litres in the tank.

90 psi required for the chisel 2.1 litres/min.

The chisel will work for about 5 or 10 secs before the pressure is too low if you are lucky.

That sucks! So after every 5 seconds I would be waiting for it to recharge with air? The compressor I linked to seems to be one of the higher CFM ratings for cordless compressors. Anything else that is better in cordless?

[steveo3002]

you wont run one off a cordless ....struggle to get a 13a mains one thats man enough

need to be looking at this sort of size and above https://www.sealey.co.uk/product/5637197927/50l-be...

[paintman]

I'd be surprised if you got even 5 seconds meaningful usage.

I've got an ABAC 2hp compressor with 25 litre tank.
Works fine with small gravity feed sprayguns & will run a gravity feed full size gun (Devilbiss FLG5) but with that it's running all the time & the gun only requires 25psi.

Will run a rattle gun for a couple of wheelnuts from a full tank until the pressure drops & I have to wait until it refills. Big high torque nut? No.
Tried a spot blast gun. Would have done better throwing the medium by hand.
Air sander/polisher? Not a chance. I use electric for both.

Edited by paintman on Friday 1st April 16:53

[gazza285]

What exactly are you going to be chiseling loose on your car?

[Adam32]

gazza285 said:

What exactly are you going to be chiseling loose on your car?

Nothing right now. But it may come in useful for rusty suspension parts, seized fasteners in difficult to reach places etc. Seen videos on youtube of people using them in tight spaces, where very few other tools would have worked. But I am afraid garage space is a premium and I don't want a huge compressor.

[normalbloke]

Adam32 said:

gazza285 said:

What exactly are you going to be chiseling loose on your car?

Nothing right now. But it may come in useful for rusty suspension parts, seized fasteners in difficult to reach places etc. Seen videos on youtube of people using them in tight spaces, where very few other tools would have worked. But I am afraid garage space is a premium and I don't want a huge compressor.

Air chisel would be my last go to. You’ll be better off with an arsenal of impact drivers, induction heaters, MAPP gas torch, nut splitters and release fluids. Forget cordless compressors.

[steveo3002]

decent cordless impact gun and a gas torch , or if you have more to spend an induction heater

Edited by steveo3002 on Friday 1st April 18:49

[spikeyhead]

Use an axe

[E-bmw]

spikeyhead said:

Use an axe

Preferably a gas one.

[VanDiesel99]

I considered Cordless tools a while back and decided I'd neither the Budget nor space for them, so I bought a small Petrol Generator instead to run my existing 240v tools where mains power is not available

...not sure if there's a 240v equivalent of an Air Chisel, or not

[Adam32]

I suppose one thing I could do is use that cordless compressor to fill a larger tank, such as propane bottle that has been thoroughly flushed out with water. I even have an empty 47kg propane cylinder which is about 92 litres. Then I could run tools such as an air chisel off this tank for short bursts.

[steveo3002]

still not understanding the need for it , especially with extra tanks and all that mess

ive been a keen home tinkerer for 30 years and manage without an air chisel , i do own one but its still in the box as it wont work on a toy compressor

theres 100s of handy tools you could buy and use before you need that

[E-bmw]

Adam32 said:

I suppose one thing I could do is use that cordless compressor to fill a larger tank, such as propane bottle that has been thoroughly flushed out with water. I even have an empty 47kg propane cylinder which is about 92 litres. Then I could run tools such as an air chisel off this tank for short bursts.

Just think about what you are suggesting again for a minute.

Compressor output 2.1 litres/min.

92 litres will take around 45 min to fill to 1 bar, and another 7 x 45 min to get to 8 bar. (VERY approximate figures)

If your compressor is still running at this point rather than exploded I will be amazed.

If it hasn't been done before there is generally a good reason.

Try one of these.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353699925933?_trkparms=...


And one of these.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144243893827?epid=15054...

[gazza285]

normalbloke said:

Adam32 said:

gazza285 said:

What exactly are you going to be chiseling loose on your car?

Nothing right now. But it may come in useful for rusty suspension parts, seized fasteners in difficult to reach places etc. Seen videos on youtube of people using them in tight spaces, where very few other tools would have worked. But I am afraid garage space is a premium and I don't want a huge compressor.

Air chisel would be my last go to. You’ll be better off with an arsenal of impact drivers, induction heaters, MAPP gas torch, nut splitters and release fluids. Forget cordless compressors.

Not even as a last resort would I use an air chisel, I cannot think of one instance where that would be my preferred tool.

[AW10]

You’re likely to run into duty cycle issues with such a small compressor and such a big load and/or tank. Either it will overheat and shut itself off until it cools or it will overheat and self destruct.

As others have said - MAPP torch and/or induction heater for rusted fasteners. Air chisel really should be the last resort, not first. Especially if space for the compressor and hose is a consideration.

Edited by AW10 on Sunday 10th April 12:05