I have to start buying tools at my new job. Priority number one is
an air drill.
The guy I've been training with has had hell with Matco's drills.
His old one lasted 8 years before it broke, but Matco claimed to have no
replacement parts for it and he bought a new one. It lasted one year.
Literally died the day after warranty was up. Matco says: he's SOL.
I was thinking Chicago Pneumatic. They've got one that I can get for
about $150 and advertises needle bearings. Ooh! High-tech.
Anyway, anyone know if CP's drills are sturdy as they claim to be and
if I'll be able to get parts later on should I need them?
Any other brands/models suggested?
I don't want to pay Snap-On prices nor do I want Harbor Freight junk.
In-between is best.

--
B.B. --I am not a goat! thegoat4 at airmail dot net
http://web2.airmail.net/thegoat4/

I was thinking Chicago Pneumatic.
[...]
nor do I want Harbor Freight junk

I thought Chicago Pneumatic was now just a brand name for Harbor
Freight junk? All of it is made in China and seems to be the lowest of
the low end. Not that it doesn't work but it is not a tool you use
day-in-day-out for years.

Now "old" Chicago Pneumatic stuff, that may have been OK. But now it's
just a name put on the cheapest Chinese tools.

Tim.

On Tue, 24 May 2005 12:09:00 -0500, the inscrutable "B.B."
u spake:

I have to start buying tools at my new job. Priority number one is
an air drill.
The guy I've been training with has had hell with Matco's drills.
His old one lasted 8 years before it broke, but Matco claimed to have no
replacement parts for it and he bought a new one. It lasted one year.
Literally died the day after warranty was up. Matco says: he's SOL.
I was thinking Chicago Pneumatic. They've got one that I can get for
about $150 and advertises needle bearings. Ooh! High-tech.
Anyway, anyone know if CP's drills are sturdy as they claim to be and
if I'll be able to get parts later on should I need them?
Any other brands/models suggested?
I don't want to pay Snap-On prices nor do I want Harbor Freight junk.
In-between is best.

CPs were great 30 years ago when I got mine. It's still working and
has never been rebuilt. Although I never used it in production mode
and always oiled it before use each time I did pull it out, it's never
given me a lick of trouble. I just hope they're as good today as they
were then. The CP had about triple the torque of anything else on the
market at that time and when I used the Silver & Deming bits, I needed
-both- hands on the beastie. Let's see, that's a CP-787. I wonder if
they still build it...

-
The only reason I would take up exercising is || http://diversify.com
so that I could hear heavy breathing again. || Programmed Websites

On 24 May 2005 11:49:09 -0700, the inscrutable "Tim Shoppa"
spake:

I was thinking Chicago Pneumatic.
[...]
nor do I want Harbor Freight junk

I thought Chicago Pneumatic was now just a brand name for Harbor
Freight junk? All of it is made in China and seems to be the lowest of
the low end. Not that it doesn't work but it is not a tool you use
day-in-day-out for years.

Don't be dissin' the best air tool mfgr around, son.


Now "old" Chicago Pneumatic stuff, that may have been OK. But now it's
just a name put on the cheapest Chinese tools.

Harbor Fright's stuff is "Central Pneumatic". CP is American made (or
at least it always was. Hmmm... http://www.chicagopneumatic.com/

"The CP brand, the name for quality tools and assembly systems from
four of the world's major and long standing power tool manufacturers:
CP Chicago Pneumatic, CP Desoutter, CP Georges Renault, CP Qianshao,
CP Scanrotor and CP Techmotive, now fully integrated into one
business. Together we provide you with the complete range of products
to satisfy all your production needs. We have harnessed our combined
R&D, engineering design, manufacturing and sales expertise to form one
global organization serving you at local level yet providing the
security of a large back-up organization. The end result is the most
extensive range of products, services and production solutions
available, from simple fastening tools, drills and abrasive tools to
the most advanced assembly and drilling systems available. Whatever
the application we have the tools for the job. CP - a name synonymous
with quality, durability, power and excellence in its field."

It looks like the 789 is the replacement and has needle bearings.
The new 788R is an 1800rpm reversible 3/8" drill.
My 787 is an 1800rpm model while the newer ones are 500rpm.

-
The only reason I would take up exercising is || http://diversify.com
so that I could hear heavy breathing again. || Programmed Websites

"Larry Jaques" wrote in message

Don't be dissin' the best air tool mfgr around, son.



Yup, CP is good stuff. I've got a 1/2" impact wrench, 1/4" die grinder and a
1/2" air ratchet, they are all going strong after several years of use with
the occasional oiling. The impact gun and ratchet were used daily while I
was turning wrenches as an auto mechanic lots of moons ago in a prior life.

Lane

On Tue, 24 May 2005 18:16:24 -0700, the inscrutable "Lane" lane (no
spam) at copperaccents dot com spake:

"Larry Jaques" wrote in message

Don't be dissin' the best air tool mfgr around, son.

Yup, CP is good stuff. I've got a 1/2" impact wrench, 1/4" die grinder and a
1/2" air ratchet, they are all going strong after several years of use with
the occasional oiling. The impact gun and ratchet were used daily while I
was turning wrenches as an auto mechanic lots of moons ago in a prior life.

Ditto my zip gun. Front end work needed the best and the large CP
was the gutsy one. I'm really glad I'm no longer doing that for a
living.

-
The only reason I would take up exercising is || http://diversify.com
so that I could hear heavy breathing again. || Programmed Websites

On 24 May 2005 11:49:09 -0700, "Tim Shoppa"
wrote:

I was thinking Chicago Pneumatic.
[...]
nor do I want Harbor Freight junk

I thought Chicago Pneumatic was now just a brand name for Harbor
Freight junk? All of it is made in China and seems to be the lowest of
the low end. Not that it doesn't work but it is not a tool you use
day-in-day-out for years.

Now "old" Chicago Pneumatic stuff, that may have been OK. But now it's
just a name put on the cheapest Chinese tools.

Tim.

Ayup. You are correct.

I have several HF type air drills. They were inexpensive, work well
and when they die, replacements will be inexpensive as well.

Someone should do a cost comparison between time/life/cost of a $350
air drill and a $39 air drill from HF.

Btw..they sell air drills on Ebay. Some good stuff there. Some junk.

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire.
Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us)
off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give
them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the **** out of you
for torturing the cat." Gunner

I have several HF type air drills. They were inexpensive, work well
and when they die, replacements will be inexpensive as well.

Your luck is better than mine. I bought one HF air drill. It consumed
massive quanties of air and still had less torque than a CP. The trigger
was digital. Full speed or stop, no variable speed like a CP. I threw
it away and bought a CP. This was many years ago; Maybe they are better now.
chuck

ARO is a brand that's been used in industrial and manufacturing environments
for decades. There probably isn't a better air tool than ARO.

Chicago Pneumatic might've been their equal at one point, because a lot of
their air tools were also in industry, but by todays manufacturing
standards, their quality has probably been compromised.

Buying from a tool truck dealer doesn't necessarily mean the tool is above
average quality. They probably purchase specific units with their name
attached to them, and may obtain a small amount of repair parts.
Snap-On and others were selling non-USA-manufactured air tools as far back
as 1981.
A tool company that emerged years ago as an economical alternative to the
high dollar brands was Florida Pneumatic. They were a popular competitor,
and their products held up well to daily shop use. I think their tools were
made in Japan.
Another quality tool manufacturer was Hutchins, although I don't remember if
they produced any air drills. Their made in USA tools were relatively more
expensive than CP, FP, Rodac, and generics.

WB
...............

On Tue, 24 May 2005 12:09:00 -0500, the inscrutable "B.B."
u spake:

I have to start buying tools at my new job. Priority number one is
an air drill.
The guy I've been training with has had hell with Matco's drills.
His old one lasted 8 years before it broke, but Matco claimed to have no
replacement parts for it and he bought a new one. It lasted one year.
Literally died the day after warranty was up. Matco says: he's SOL.
I was thinking Chicago Pneumatic. They've got one that I can get for
about $150 and advertises needle bearings. Ooh! High-tech.
Anyway, anyone know if CP's drills are sturdy as they claim to be and
if I'll be able to get parts later on should I need them?
Any other brands/models suggested?
I don't want to pay Snap-On prices nor do I want Harbor Freight junk.
In-between is best.




----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
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In article ,
"Wild Bill" wrote:

ARO is a brand that's been used in industrial and manufacturing environments
for decades. There probably isn't a better air tool than ARO.

Chicago Pneumatic might've been their equal at one point, because a lot of
their air tools were also in industry, but by todays manufacturing
standards, their quality has probably been compromised.

Buying from a tool truck dealer doesn't necessarily mean the tool is above
average quality. They probably purchase specific units with their name
attached to them, and may obtain a small amount of repair parts.
Snap-On and others were selling non-USA-manufactured air tools as far back
as 1981.
A tool company that emerged years ago as an economical alternative to the
high dollar brands was Florida Pneumatic. They were a popular competitor,
and their products held up well to daily shop use. I think their tools were
made in Japan.
Another quality tool manufacturer was Hutchins, although I don't remember if
they produced any air drills. Their made in USA tools were relatively more
expensive than CP, FP, Rodac, and generics.

WB

Any estimates on ARO's price range? I did a little poking around on
my super slow connection and wasn't able to find any prices. But, given
the market they're targeting I suspect it's a pretty expensive option.

--
B.B. --I am not a goat! thegoat4 at airmail dot net
http://web2.airmail.net/thegoat4/

I didn't see any pricing shown at the 4 distributor sites I looked at. My
search was "ARO air tools" (with quotes), and the results included a
reference to the ARO site (which is partnered with Ingersol Rand now).

http://www.arozone.com/Tool/ind_tools_over.html
BTW, the site has tool repair kits and service manual PDFs available

I looked at the standard grade drills PDF and saw that the drill chuck sizes
are up to 3/8" capacity, but not really a problem since the chuck spindle is
threaded 3/8"-24 tpi, so a 1/2" chuck will fit on easily.
The production-duty drills have chucks up to 1/2".

The old drill I have hasn't seen much use in recent years, but still
operates as well as it did when I got it (used) back in the '70s. Rugged old
tool, no plastic to be seen on it.

WB
..................

"B.B." u wrote in message
news
In article ,

Any estimates on ARO's price range? I did a little poking around on
my super slow connection and wasn't able to find any prices. But, given
the market they're targeting I suspect it's a pretty expensive option.

--
B.B. --I am not a goat! thegoat4 at airmail dot net
http://web2.airmail.net/thegoat4/




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----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

In article ,
"Wild Bill" wrote:

I didn't see any pricing shown at the 4 distributor sites I looked at. My
search was "ARO air tools" (with quotes), and the results included a
reference to the ARO site (which is partnered with Ingersol Rand now).

http://www.arozone.com/Tool/ind_tools_over.html
BTW, the site has tool repair kits and service manual PDFs available

I looked at the standard grade drills PDF and saw that the drill chuck sizes
are up to 3/8" capacity, but not really a problem since the chuck spindle is
threaded 3/8"-24 tpi, so a 1/2" chuck will fit on easily.
The production-duty drills have chucks up to 1/2".

The old drill I have hasn't seen much use in recent years, but still
operates as well as it did when I got it (used) back in the '70s. Rugged old
tool, no plastic to be seen on it.

WB

Well, I went ahead and ordered the CP drill I was eyeing. One of the
guys I work with has had his since the 80's without any trouble, and the
tool truck guys at our shop can both get CP parts pretty easily.
Besides, the sale was about to end on it, and it would be $250 instead
of $160.
Oh well, if this drill is a lemon I'll give ARO a shot then. Or on
down the line when I need/get an air grinder.

--
B.B. --I am not a goat! thegoat4 at airmail dot net
http://web2.airmail.net/thegoat4/

Well, I went ahead and ordered the CP drill I was eyeing. One of the
guys I work with has had his since the 80's without any trouble, and the
tool truck guys at our shop can both get CP parts pretty easily.
Besides, the sale was about to end on it, and it would be $250 instead
of $160.
Oh well, if this drill is a lemon I'll give ARO a shot then. Or on
down the line when I need/get an air grinder.

I've missed this entire thread and am too lazy to pull it up...

Give me a call and I'll see if one of my units (a bit more pricey than what
you got but competition to ARO) can help you out.

Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
(800) 871-5022
http://www.AutoDrill.com
http://www.Multi-Drill.com

V8013-R