CO2 and air tools.

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rusty_tlc

rusty_tlc

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I'm a believer. We swapped the front and rear third members on my FJ40 Saturday. My CO2 tank lasted all day running a 3/8" air ratchet. I had already aired up the 36" swamper's from 12# to 32# on that tank, and still had enough CO2 left to air up the swampers from 12# to 36# when we finally got off the trail.

My set up is a 15# tank exchange tank IIRC it ran around $75, full. The regulator is the cheap beverage type. All the hose and fittings came from Harbor Freight. I found a tank mount from the local welding shop for $25.
All told I think I'm into it for under $200.

Or you could spend a bunch of money on a bling bling system.

Either way it's something I doubt I'll ever go without again.
 
Just make sure to use a really good synthetic air tool oil in your tools. CO2 runs really cold and can congeal the lube in your tools, causing them to run essentially 'dry'. Probably a gradual enough process that you won't notice it right away- but eventually you'll be surprised when you can't take loose a lugnut with an impact wrench that really isn't that tight.

I ruined a really nice Ingersoll-Rand 1/2" impact gun that way. Now I do it differently.
 
Been using my Powertank for years now with an impact wrench to change tires.
Works great.

I kick the regulator up to 100 PSI, and when I pull the trigger, it backs down to around 90 PSI which the toll requires.
 
LukeZero said:
Just make sure to use a really good synthetic air tool oil in your tools. CO2 runs really cold and can congeal the lube in your tools, causing them to run essentially 'dry'. Probably a gradual enough process that you won't notice it right away- but eventually you'll be surprised when you can't take loose a lugnut with an impact wrench that really isn't that tight.

I ruined a really nice Ingersoll-Rand 1/2" impact gun that way. Now I do it differently.
Click to expand...
Good to know. I don't think it would have ben a problem Saturday. It was around 110° in the Granite Bowl.
 
What happened to me was I was attempting to take loose a whole bunch of 3/4" nuts on a little bridge on my grandparents property. They sold the place and the new owner had plans to take down the bridge and enlarge the channel. After a while, I noticed that I wasn't making the progress that I first was making. And grandpa pointed out that I had these little tiny BB looking things on my pants leg near the thigh. The funny thing is they melted in your hand after you picked them up. The only thing we could figure out is that they were congealed oil. I had noticed that the handle of the impact gun was getting so cold I couldn't touch it and there was frost on the hose from the CO2 cylinder. After running that gun empty of oil, it never developed the torque it did when it was in better shape. I suspect that the internal tolerances were all much larger than they should have been because of the increased friction.

Now, to combat that- if I need to run any pneumatic tools off CO2- I use a teflon based oil (Tri-Flo) that should, even when ridiculously cold, leave behind a bit of a lubrication film. I also don't do the long, long pulls that would frost up the tool and the hose.

I have no idea if what I had happen is common or if I even understood the problem correctly. I do know, that since doing my 'modified' procedure- I haven't had the same problem.

My $.02.
 
Thank you Luke this is good to know. I knew that I used my cheapy air tools with CO for a reason, now I know what that reason is. I shall also use Teflon lube to avoid this in the future, better safe than sorry.
 
LukeZero said:
What happened to me was I was attempting to take loose a whole bunch of 3/4" nuts on a little bridge on my grandparents property. They sold the place and the new owner had plans to take down the bridge and enlarge the channel. After a while, I noticed that I wasn't making the progress that I first was making. And grandpa pointed out that I had these little tiny BB looking things on my pants leg near the thigh. The funny thing is they melted in your hand after you picked them up. The only thing we could figure out is that they were congealed oil. I had noticed that the handle of the impact gun was getting so cold I couldn't touch it and there was frost on the hose from the CO2 cylinder. After running that gun empty of oil, it never developed the torque it did when it was in better shape. I suspect that the internal tolerances were all much larger than they should have been because of the increased friction.

Now, to combat that- if I need to run any pneumatic tools off CO2- I use a teflon based oil (Tri-Flo) that should, even when ridiculously cold, leave behind a bit of a lubrication film. I also don't do the long, long pulls that would frost up the tool and the hose.

I have no idea if what I had happen is common or if I even understood the problem correctly. I do know, that since doing my 'modified' procedure- I haven't had the same problem.

My $.02.
Click to expand...
I've had the regulator freeze to the point that I couldn't fill up tires. For trail repairs you don't run continuous. Just intermittent. I'll keep an eye on the regulator in the future, if I see it start to froat I'l give the tool a break.
 
you already have the quick fitting on the end of the Co2 tank.. It shoudl be the same fitting as an air tool...

All a plasma cutter does is use the air to move the arc (gross simplification but..)
 
Mace said:
you already have the quick fitting on the end of the Co2 tank.. It shoudl be the same fitting as an air tool...

All a plasma cutter does is use the air to move the arc (gross simplification but..)
Click to expand...
We talked about getting some plain welding wire for the ready welder and using CO2 with it, but after a little research I find that CO2 causes a lot of splatter when used as a shield gas.
 
rusty_tlc said:
We talked about getting some plain welding wire for the ready welder and using CO2 with it, but after a little research I find that CO2 causes a lot of splatter when used as a shield gas.
Click to expand...

No more than flux core wire does..
Splatter can easily be deat with by using some anti platter spray or apparently (Never tried it myself) Pam...

The bumer about Co2 is that when it is really windy, it does not work..

The good thing is how hot the weld will be..
 
Mace said:
No more than flux core wire does..
Splatter can easily be deat with by using some anti platter spray or apparently (Never tried it myself) Pam...

The bumer about Co2 is that when it is really windy, it does not work..

The good thing is how hot the weld will be..
Click to expand...
Since the ready welder is use for trail fixes I'm guessing wind could be an issue. We'll stick with flux core.

:idea: I'll get Chicago to try the pam thing. If it works I'll throw a can in my kitchen box. I love stuff that does double duty.
 
At Rubithon we were welding on Cruiserdans truck, and using CO2 to run the grinder and sander to prepare the surface. You may also recall that mosquitos are attracted to Co2.

Sure enough, we went from no mosquitos, to dozens, all around Rick who was using the CO2 to power his air tools.

Just something to consider!
 
Cruiserdrew said:
At Rubithon we were welding on Cruiserdans truck, and using CO2 to run the grinder and sander to prepare the surface. You may also recall that mosquitos are attracted to Co2.

Sure enough, we went from no mosquitos, to dozens, all around Rick who was using the CO2 to power his air tools.

Just something to consider!
Click to expand...

I need to pick up a HF grinder.

I had never thought of CO2 attracting skeeters.

Rick's a trooper.
 
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