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Tools that Blow - Pneumatic tools and compressors?

325 views 0 replies 1 participant last post by  ReubenD 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I am looking at a new piece of equipment for the work sites. Actually, I am trying to decide if it is worthwhile or not and which way would be better to go with. While, like anyplace, we require our crews to have their own tools, I am really considering a large mobile industrial style air compressor. This would enable the crew on big projects and new construction to use primarily pneumatic tools, reduce the need for other generators for electricity on some sites, and enable work to continue when the electric is off.

The pneumatic tools cost much less and last much longer as well. The issue is that while they cost less and last longer, the crews all have other tools already and not a large number of air tools. As a side note, it may enable me to get rated as a "green" construction and home improvement company, which has its own benefits in advertising and may appeal to a good segment of our customer base.

I was looking at the many air compressors available, and while the smaller more portable have a lot of advantages, the large industrial ones are far more efficient but require a lot of hose to be stretched out all over the place which I am sure would become an OSHA issue as well. I do think there would be a lot of savings though in painting using the air guns over the rollers most of our painters now use, and we would probably be able to finish jobs a little faster and less to subcontract out.

In addition, I could add some small jobs to the list of available services for "extra crew" in the busy months, like the maintenance work of sealing decks and driveways. Anytime I have found a way to do something extra, it pays off in the long run as I do not need to contract it out and gives me one more reason to be in a client's house. Being the first call on their list for any work means I am more likely to get the big jobs.

I am hoping to find somebody that will offer up a compressor and tool set to use for a couple weeks on preview to get a better idea if it would make sense. That would really be an advantage to try it out before investing in it. I am also going to spend a little time doing some market research on if I can make a reasonable profit on offering smaller painting and maintenance jobs just so the company name and placards are visible more often.

The other consideration is if it would have a negative effect. I do not want to get known for doing small jobs and then overlooked for bigger jobs because people have the wrong impression of where our focus is. I guess the real question is if it is possible to be known as the company that can do any job.
 
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