A
pneumatic tool,
air tool,
air-powered tool or
pneumatic-powered tool is a type of
power tool, driven by
compressed air, supplied by an
air compressor. Pneumatic tools can also be driven by compressed carbon dioxide stored in small cylinders allowing for portability. Pneumatic tools are safer to run and maintain than their electric
power tool equivalents, and have a higher
power-to-weight ratio, allowing a smaller, lighter tool to accomplish the same task.
General grade pneumatic tools with short life span are commonly cheaper and are also called disposable tools in tooling industries while
industrial grade pneumatic tools with long life span are more expensive. In general, pneumatic tools are cheaper than the equivalent electric-powered tools.