I am kind of new to the woodworking and home repair fun and could use a
little help. I am in the market for a compressor and don't know what size to
get. I don't care about the brand so much as the type. LIke what HP or
gallon size or oilless. Most of my jobs will be light, from nailing trims
and baseboards to painting(indoor) and most hobby stuff. No big jobs like
deck work or outside painting or nailing. Can anyone help with this?
To answer the question, I have an oiless that I take to the job that
powers my trim nailers and will run my framing gun for light framing.
I have also used it for roofing with no problems. To get something
useful in a lug around compressor you will need to get something that
will kick out at least 2.5 CFM at 90 lbs. And of course, MORE is
always better depending on your needs.
Oiled compressors are generally quieter than oiless, and both of my
oiled pull an amp less than than the oiless. In this case I believe
the amp rating because my oiled compressors never blow a circuit, and
the oiless frequently do. Taking the oiled out to a job where the
breakers frequently blow seems to solve the problem.
For me, I actually prefer the oiless since there is no maintenance to
keep up with, and no oil to leak out when it has ridden around in the
back of the truck and been banged around on the job for a while.
Lots of talk about oiled compressors lasting longer than oiless, but in
actual everyday use for me that hasn't necessarily been the case. I
haven't actually had the pump itself fail on any of the last several
compressors I have owned, it is always something else that gives up,
breaks, or wears out. If it is a shop compressor, made for you to goof
around with on the weekends and evenings on projects and then maybe
some light remodeling, I would probably go with the best deal
dollarwise. Sears has some good sales on occasion on compressors that
have the same pump assembly as some of the Bostitch, Senco, and Porter
Cable compressors (made in Taiwan or Itay).
If you don't have your nail guns yet, there are some great combo deals
floating around out there.
Robert
I picked up one of the nailer/compressor combo kits from porter cable.
It includes usually one or two types of nailer, some hose and fittings,
and a compressor that can wake the dead. For nailers, this is almost
overkill. You'll empty the nailer magazine before the compressor kicks
on. It's more than enough for filling tires on cars.
For other things, it's not enough. I framed an entire basement finish
with a full size framnig nailer hooked up to this compressor. For me,
it was ok. For a pro, it would be woefully inadequate. Once 8' high
wall with 16" OC studs totally framed, emptied the compressor. So it
ran after every wall frameup. This didn't matter to me since it ran
while I was lifting the wall into position and lining it up.
I also use it with a 1/2" impact wrench. It can remove maybe 2 to 3
lugs, then has to run again. It's similar with the air ratchet.
I haven't tried to use it with anything like an air sander or an hvlp
gun, but I know it won't work. I'm shopping for a much larger
compressor, like an 80 gallon unit. But it's way down on the priority
list as I have other machines I want first.
I wouldn't try to paint with a smaller one. But the other things you
mentioned should be no problem. I wouldn't hesitate to use the little
porter cable and the full size framing nailer to put up a deck.
brian
"David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Brian wrote:
> > I am kind of new to the woodworking and home repair fun and could use a
> > little help. I am in the market for a compressor and don't know what
size to
> > get. I don't care about the brand so much as the type. LIke what HP or
> > gallon size or oilless. Most of my jobs will be light, from nailing
trims
> > and baseboards to painting(indoor) and most hobby stuff. No big jobs
like
> > deck work or outside painting or nailing. Can anyone help with this?
> >
> >
> What makes you think nailing is a "big job"? A die grinder is a CFM
> hog; not a nailer. An air drill is a CFM hog. An HVLP conversion gun is
> a CMF hog. A 1/2" impact gun is an air hog. An air nailer is NOT.
>
Holy cow - if you think any of those are CFM hogs, wait until you get a DA
in your hands.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
Brian wrote:
> I am kind of new to the woodworking and home repair fun and could use a
> little help. I am in the market for a compressor and don't know what size
> to get. I don't care about the brand so much as the type. LIke what HP or
> gallon size or oilless. Most of my jobs will be light, from nailing trims
> and baseboards to painting(indoor) and most hobby stuff. No big jobs like
> deck work or outside painting or nailing. Can anyone help with this?
Most of your better tool manufactures offer combo's that include the
compressor and the nailers. I know Porter Cable had a deal where you get a
pancake compressor, finish and brad nailer for ? 299.00. I have that setup
and I'm happy with it. Have used it even with a 16 penny nailer and it
works fine. Also to spray texture coat on ceiling and walls. Think it's a
125-135 psi and 5 gallons. Not sure the cfm
RV
--
"You can lead them to LINUX
but you can't make them THINK"
OK thanks everyone. I take it the important thing is CFM and I will go and
investigate what my requirements will be for future air tools and then maybe
go one bigger just in case.
"Mike Marlow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>>
>> First you need to do some research on what tools you will expect to use
> now
>> and in the future. Get their CFM requirements and the compressor that
> will
>> at least match the tool that uses the most/volume of air is the one you
>> should consider.
>> You mention your jobs will be light however spray painting is typically a
>> heavy use job for a compressor as compared to any nailing job. Deck work
> is
>> actually quite easy on a compressor when using nail guns.
>>
>> A good minimum size would be in the 20-30 gallon size as it will let you
> do
>> small spray painting jobs with out having to wait on the compressor to
>> recharge constantly. Oil lubed will typically be quieter/more tolerable
> and
>> last much longer.
>>
>>
>
> To tag on to Leon's comments - spray painting is certainly more demanding
> than running a nail gun, but don't confuse that with demanding of a
> compressor. Spray guns typically require 10-12 CFM, and that's quite easy
> to find in a compressor. Air tools such as impact guns, die grinders,
> etc.
> will all work very well with a compressor of this capacity. Some other
> tools such as a DA will not, but unless you're getting into autobody work,
> that will never become an issue for you.
>
> For spraying, most everyone in this group can be well served with a 20 or
> 30
> gallon tank. Certainly, the bigger the tank the better, but again,
> everything is relative. Most woodworking spraying is small volume and a
> small compressor is just fine. I sprayed cars, doing complete
> re-finishes,
> with just a 30 gallon compressor for a long time. You need to install
> good
> water separation and drain your tank frequently when you paint something
> as
> big as a car with a small compressor, but it will do the job and when it's
> done nobody will know that you used a dumpy little compressor.
>
> The one piece of compressor advice that I have taken to pushing
> obnoxiously
> on people, based on things that have been posted in this group, is *do not
> install an oiler*. Oilers save you a second's worth of effort on a very
> occasional basis, but they make an otherwise acceptable paint system
> almost
> totally useless. Oil and water in your lines are both your enemies when
> you
> are spraying finishes. Oil goes in tools, not in air lines.
>
> Glad I didn't say I was going to tag on with "one brief comment"...
>
> --
>
> -Mike-
> [email protected]
>
>
"Brian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am kind of new to the woodworking and home repair fun and could use a
>little help. I am in the market for a compressor and don't know what size
>to get. I don't care about the brand so much as the type. LIke what HP or
>gallon size or oilless. Most of my jobs will be light, from nailing trims
>and baseboards to painting(indoor) and most hobby stuff. No big jobs like
>deck work or outside painting or nailing. Can anyone help with this?
First you need to do some research on what tools you will expect to use now
and in the future. Get their CFM requirements and the compressor that will
at least match the tool that uses the most/volume of air is the one you
should consider.
You mention your jobs will be light however spray painting is typically a
heavy use job for a compressor as compared to any nailing job. Deck work is
actually quite easy on a compressor when using nail guns.
A good minimum size would be in the 20-30 gallon size as it will let you do
small spray painting jobs with out having to wait on the compressor to
recharge constantly. Oil lubed will typically be quieter/more tolerable and
last much longer.
...
: What makes you think nailing is a "big job"? A die grinder is
a CFM
: hog; not a nailer. An air drill is a CFM hog. An HVLP
conversion gun is
: a CMF hog. A 1/2" impact gun is an air hog. An air nailer is
NOT.
:
: dave
Ataboy David, right on! You managed to waste ether without
saying a single useful thing. You might's well use your regular
name; most everyone know who/what you are anyway. Come back when
you learn how to read/communicate.
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> First you need to do some research on what tools you will expect to use
now
> and in the future. Get their CFM requirements and the compressor that
will
> at least match the tool that uses the most/volume of air is the one you
> should consider.
> You mention your jobs will be light however spray painting is typically a
> heavy use job for a compressor as compared to any nailing job. Deck work
is
> actually quite easy on a compressor when using nail guns.
>
> A good minimum size would be in the 20-30 gallon size as it will let you
do
> small spray painting jobs with out having to wait on the compressor to
> recharge constantly. Oil lubed will typically be quieter/more tolerable
and
> last much longer.
>
>
To tag on to Leon's comments - spray painting is certainly more demanding
than running a nail gun, but don't confuse that with demanding of a
compressor. Spray guns typically require 10-12 CFM, and that's quite easy
to find in a compressor. Air tools such as impact guns, die grinders, etc.
will all work very well with a compressor of this capacity. Some other
tools such as a DA will not, but unless you're getting into autobody work,
that will never become an issue for you.
For spraying, most everyone in this group can be well served with a 20 or 30
gallon tank. Certainly, the bigger the tank the better, but again,
everything is relative. Most woodworking spraying is small volume and a
small compressor is just fine. I sprayed cars, doing complete re-finishes,
with just a 30 gallon compressor for a long time. You need to install good
water separation and drain your tank frequently when you paint something as
big as a car with a small compressor, but it will do the job and when it's
done nobody will know that you used a dumpy little compressor.
The one piece of compressor advice that I have taken to pushing obnoxiously
on people, based on things that have been posted in this group, is *do not
install an oiler*. Oilers save you a second's worth of effort on a very
occasional basis, but they make an otherwise acceptable paint system almost
totally useless. Oil and water in your lines are both your enemies when you
are spraying finishes. Oil goes in tools, not in air lines.
Glad I didn't say I was going to tag on with "one brief comment"...
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
"mikehawk" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Are the pancake compressors like were mentioned (5-6gal) enough for
> blowing dust off the project pieces you just finished sanding, along
> with shooting a few brads in? How long would it last doing things like
> that before it had to recharge the tank?
>
Pick any nail gun that you load with a strip or coil of nails and you will
probably get 20 - 100 shots between recycles of the compressor. Blowing off
dust will probably get you 5 to 10 seconds with out the compressor running
and then it will probably run continuously never really catching up until
you stop blowing.
Brian wrote:
> I am kind of new to the woodworking and home repair fun and could use a
> little help. I am in the market for a compressor and don't know what size to
> get. I don't care about the brand so much as the type. LIke what HP or
> gallon size or oilless. Most of my jobs will be light, from nailing trims
> and baseboards to painting(indoor) and most hobby stuff. No big jobs like
> deck work or outside painting or nailing. Can anyone help with this?
>
>
What makes you think nailing is a "big job"? A die grinder is a CFM
hog; not a nailer. An air drill is a CFM hog. An HVLP conversion gun is
a CMF hog. A 1/2" impact gun is an air hog. An air nailer is NOT.
dave