Cold weather and air tools

[Twisty]

I've been thinking about this recently.  What do all of you do about your air tools in the winter weather?  I'm talking below freezing, and near 0* temps.  Is it bad for them to be left in a tool box in an unheated area?  It never bothered me before, but this year I have moved all of my air tools to a location that will remain 30*-50* throughout the winter months.  I hope that the previous years have not damaged the seals inside the tools, and that I didn't shorten their life.

[HEYzipupyourfly]

Ive never had a failure that was an obvious cold weather issue.
However if you leave or use your compressor outside and are not running a good water separator/ oiler than i would think it would be worse in the cold than not.
but if your not running a separator/oiler than i would think the cold alone isn't going to be the main contributor to failure.

metal shrinks in the cold so clearances in the gun may be a bit compromised but i dont think it would be enough to worry about it. do any manufacturers recommend anything for cold weather use?

[jps4jeep]

I swap out the summer air for winter air.. never an issue.

[Posimoto]

Timmy, I have no heat in my garage and hit temps similar to yours 28-45. I use a winter oil in the compressor and empty after use. I add a couple drops of oil to my tools each day I use them haven't had a problem to date. However, I won't use my lift if the temps go under 40. 

[Ian]

Timmy, I have no heat in my garage and hit temps similar to yours 28-45. I use a winter oil in the compressor and empty after use. I add a couple drops of oil to my tools each day I use them haven't had a problem to date. However, I won't use my lift if the temps go under 40. 

i do the same but i've had the ballcock on my compressor freeze after a full day in the shop. 

oil, oil, oil the tools

[Bluerocket]

I haven't had issues with mine either, abuse them, sometimes not enough oil etc.   hopefully it lasts a while.   
Next set will be better taken care of.   

I plAn to plumb my compressor outside the garage, with a hookup inside for the winter.    Shal see if it works outside or not.   It always used to at my old place. 

[Twisty]

Chuck, where I normally keep my stuff there is zero temperature control.  My compressor is in an attached "shed" between the barn and the house.  Everything is protected from the elements, but not the super cold.  I took my air tools out of the tool box and put them in the basement. 

I checked the manual to my air hammer (it's the only manual I have for all my air tools) and there was no mention of cold weather storage/use.

[Posimoto]

You have power to the shed for the compressor, you could use a space heater on the really cold days. If you choose not to use a space heater I'd recommend 10w oil for your compressor for temps 32* or below. Your tools will be fine if oiled before use.   

[Twisty]

Maybe some think like this would help if I need to use the compressor when it's super cold out?  http://www.amazon.com/Kats-24150-Watt-Universal-Heater/dp/B000I8TQD6

[HEYzipupyourfly]

im thinking you are over thinking it.

[jps4jeep]

Tim, I always have stored my compressor in my unheated garage.  it definately gets below freezing.  In 13 years of onwership, I emptied the water out of it maybe twice, once this past spring and quite a bit of condensation came out.  I have never had an issue with the compressor, even running it in sub-freezing cold temps other than the airchuck icing up, but that was also a function of trying to air up a tire literally in the snow, so that was completely on me being lazy.
For reference I have a bottom-of-the-line cheapo craftsman 20 gallon horizontal tank compressor.

As for air tools, I do nothing special, I am in the practice of oiling them after use regardless of time of year or temperature so I assume that is enough.

[Twisty]

im thinking you are over thinking it.

You're probably right.  It's not like I've never done that before (<---extreme sarcasm).

I guess I'll continue to be mindful of the tools and keep them well lubricated (compressor, and tools).
)

[HEYzipupyourfly]

i mean, have you ever taken apart or rebuilt an air tool? they are about as simple as it gets. there is no "magic" inside them. as long as things stay lubed and move freely i think they are ok.