How to Keep Air Tools From Freezing Up

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Things You'll Need

  • Pneumatic tool oil

  • Clean rags

Condensation will cause air tools to lock or freeze up after an extended amount of time. Condensation forms when air enters the air compressor intake. The humidity in the air turns to water vapor under pressure, travels through the air line and eventually ends up exiting through the exhaust vent of the air tool. If you add an air dryer to the compressor system, less condensation will build within the air line, but condensation still will enter the air tool.

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Step 1

Disconnect the air line from the air tool by compressing the quick disconnect fitting on the air line.

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Step 2

Rotate the air tool so that the air connection coupling faces skyward. Pour pneumatic tool oil down the coupling of the air tool. Add a lot of oil to an air tool that has stopped working properly.

Step 3

Depress the handle of the air tool to allow the pneumatic oil to flow inside of the air tool.

Step 4

Connect the air line to the air line connector on the air tool and point the exhaust vent of the air tool toward the ground.

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Step 5

Depress the trigger to activate the air tool. If the air tool is frozen, release the trigger and manually turn the tool's external component. Continue this procedure until the tool works freely.

Step 6

Add additional pneumatic tool oil to the air tool as described in the previous steps if the air tool does not return to proper working.

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Step 7

Clean the excess oil from the outside of the air tool with a clean rag.

Step 8

Continually oil the air tool throughout the workday and when you finish using the tool for the day to keep the air tool from freezing up and to prepare it for its next use.

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