Tools

[geo3@earthlink.net]

(If this sends twice, sorry, web mail glitch)

Daniel Lee <danclee@jps.net> wrote:

>Air tools are really nice to have, but you know what? You can get by fine
>without them. There are very few things you can do to an SE-R that
>absolutely require you to have them, if there are any at all.

You know what?  I have had a compressor and air tools for almost two years.
I'm really glad I have them.  But, about 98-99% of the work I do on my cars
I don't even break out the air tools (even the ratchet).  Why?  I'm not
sure.  For some stuff I'd rather not subject it to the air tools.  In fact,
I kind of like *feeling* what is happening when I'm undoing a nut or bolt.
You cannot do that with air tools.  If the nut on some small stud on the
chassis (that can't easily be replaced) binds, you cannot feel it with an
air ratchet, but you can with hand tools.

I think air tools is partly responsible for the monkeyness of many
mechanics (and enthusiasts).  When you cannot feel the work, you are less
sensitive to it and become ham fisted (IMHO).

And perhaps I'm just getting old, but air tools and my compressor (oil-less
- Mike warned me, but it was a gift from my wife) are loud.  I have a boom
box in my garage and like to listen to music when working on my cars.
Forget that with air tools.  And, the boom box is filled mostly with
classical music, so even if you cranked it up, you'd miss the subtleties
(sp?) of the classical music.

So, even though I have air tools and wouldn't want to give them up (they
are wonderful when I really want to use them - especially the air nailer
ARG ARG ARG), most of the time I just stick to hand tools.  Nothing like
feeling the work with your own two hands.  I'm beginning to understand why
some woodworkers still like to work with hand tools a lot (especially
planes).  You feel more connected with your work when you aren't using
power tools.

George Roffe