A difficult question to answer. Perhaps if you would think of my "
machine shop" as just another tool, things would fall into perspective better.
There are a number of places that nothing but air tools would do the job. I have heard that there is now available a battery powered nailer, but my air nailers have been around so long that the triggers and seals have been replaced several times. For
hobby work, none of my stuff is for professional use. Filling tires, a blow gun, model painting(air brush),
some 12 inch to the foot scale painting with a spray gun, some brush, a lot of spray cans. Sand blasting, I could go on all night.
There are some things that I have air tools because they were the first item of the sort I could afford
at the time. A sheet metal nibbler, for example. So seldom used, I can't justify acquiring an electrical version now. Heavy sheet, industrial weight roofing panels and the like. A small (1/4" drive) butterfly ratchet for driving roofing screws, with a shop made adapter of course. An electric driver heavy enough to drive the roofing screws would be pretty heavy and difficult to handle on the roof.
Then there are the tools like the air powered hacksaw. It
is light, I'll give it that. Only used a couple of times in the last 30 odd years. More of a toy than anything useful. But it did the job it was intended for. Been taking up space in the tool box since. A SawzAll works much better. But I never let go of tools once they are acquired. Might need it again, one day. Or I might go to meet my maker tonight. Ya never know.
There are a few impact wrenches, but for the most part, I prefer to use end wrenches. Feels like I'm doing something useful. And such tools could be carried on my pouch when I was working at the mill. Old habits do die hard.
Then there are the tools that I have both air and electric versions of. Whatever works best in the circumstances,
at the time. If I didn't need the lathe and the milling machine and the shaper for something, none of them would have been acquired. But I needed each one for something. And as the most appropriate tool for the job, none will be disposed of. Until I need a better or larger version for something.
Does that answer the question? I don't know, but its' how I see it.
Bill Hudson