Hey I am some what looking at a Makits big bore compressor and want to know your likes and dislikes of smaller compressors. I just burned up my third compressor in a year and a half. I am not a big fan of small ones but I have a one man crew doing handy man stuff and smaller jobs and he needs one for mobility.
Let me know what you think!!!
If you are not a liberal by the time you turn twenty you have no heart, if your not a conservative by the time you turn forty you have no brain!!
Replies
What ones did you burn up?
2 Rolairs rebuilt once and blew again (pump) and a Porter Cable get a free nailer too (oil less motor problems).man found sitting on toilet is said to be high on pot!
I been shopping them. This one seems to be pretty light and has good air flow. People say it is loud.
http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=2952
Searching around the oldtimers here are not real happy with Dewalt and I'm getting cold feet. I started looking at the Dewalt tools in my collection, hammer drill, scroll saw and Black and Decker Hammer Drill. I have had bad luck with 2 of the 3.
Would love to hear somebody had good luck with this AC.
I have a DeWalt Emglo that works just fine. It doesn't like to start up in cold weather, but I am happy with it. I also have two Hitachis. They also work flawlessly. I can use one or two and still have a backup. Together, they do not cost much more than a larger compressor. They can keep three nail guns fairly busy, unless someone is shooting off siding or roofing where one gun can use up the capacity. I just slow down a bit and go for a more precise pattern.
If your compressor is having a hard time starting in the cold try some winter weight compressor oil. You should be able to get it at the lumber yard or where you buy your nails. I had the same problem, switched to winter oil (interstate brand) and bingo, no more problems!
Rich
best portable(?) compressor ...
Thomas st2820 ... or might be ts? ok .. now it could be 2028 too ...
but it's those letters and numbers! Dammit!!
it's their twin stacked hotdog model ... two 2 gal tanks .... for a total of 4 gal ...
2 hp ... with two cylinders ...
the one pump model is much louder ...
this is one of the quietest compressors that'll last and run a coupla guns at once when you have help ... I've run both 2 framing guns ... and two roofers off it ...
I'd not wanna run 2 roofers all day/everyday ... but it'll do it when need be.
I've had mine a coupla years now ... 4 or 5? No problems ....
bent the snot outta the drain petcock once ... my fault ... called Grainger and away we went ...
now that I'm thinkiing about it ... gotta remember where I stuck that extra petcock I bought at the same time .....
Jeff
Buck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Your problems about burning up compressors dont sound like they should be happening to rol-airs.
IM thinking its user error. My gut feeling is your handyandy isnt being smart about YOUR compressor. Id be willing to guess he/she is running that compressor off of an extension cord (thats too little and too long) where youre not getting full voltage, or the compressor isnt being drained daily or being taken care of. Never run compressors off of power cords, and use longer air hoses. Drain your tank and after its drained you check the oil(refill with non-detergent oil) Following what ive said a rol air should last a long time.
I have a DeWalt Emglow. It is only two years old. I have used it for three roofs and several smaller framing situations.
It stopped working a week ago or so. I suspect the switch. Hope so.
Up until it stopped working, I had been very happy with it.
Two years old, but I'm sure a lot of guys put equivalent usage on a compressor in six months (or less).
What I don't understand about compressors is that you are supposed to empty the condensation out of the tank fairly often (every four hours on mine). But the condensate comes out rusty from the very beginning. Don't they coat the inside of the tank with anything????
If it's already rusting, how long before it is no longer safe??
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
Rich,
A suggestion...
First, there is a chemical out there that changes iron oxide, into iron phosphate. I can only remember the name of one product that does this, but there are several products out there. The one I remember is "Rust-Pho."
It's usally expensive, for a small amount.
Except...
I found it in a boating store. One that carries boats, supplies for boating, hardware, sealants, etc... Kind of like an rv store for boats.
This stuff was the same for a gallon that the others were for tiny 8 ounce bottles.
Now for the suggestion.
Remove your tank from your compressor. Remove all fittings. All you should have left is the tank with some openings in it.
Dry the tank out by sitting it in the sun, or over a heater, etc.
When you are positive the tank is bone dry inside, you could pour at least a quart of phosphoric acid in there, and swish it around, to clean the tank, but I don't think it is neccessary.
Pour at least a quart of Rust-Pho in the tank. Now cap the holes. Now carefully move the tank around, making sure that you get every part of the inside of the tank coated with this stuff. Let sit in the position that the tank always sits in, for about a half hour. Now move the tank around again, making sure you coat all inner surfaces. Let sit another 15 minutes, then take off the caps, and pour out what is left. (You should be able to save it and reuse it, I think.)
Let the tank sit overnight. Set it in the sun again, the next day to make sure that it Dries thoroughly.
This is probably good enough, before you put it back together. But I would consider pouring in the best and toughest industrial enamel paint I could find, and making sure that every surface is covered. If you are going to do that, get it at the boat store again. They have products that are supposed to withstand constant water and harsh conditions. Do not go cheap on this one. You do not want to find paint chips in your air lines and tools.
The tank should now outlast the compressor. Best done when new. Or at least before the tank has a chance to get really compromised. Why do this to a tank that has already been compromised ?
I wish they would do something like rhinocoat the insides of these things. Or line them with a sealed plastic or rubber liner...
"Criticism without instruction is little more than abuse." D.Sweet
What you describe sounds just like Kreem tank restorer. I used it on my motorcycle and it would work well on an air tank, I think.
I drain my tank out every day, but because I'm concerned about dry air inside the tools and not the tank rusting through. I've never heard of anyone having a tank explode (except for stuff posted on the net) and I would think if it's a big problem they would build them differently.
I could be wrong.
Jon Blakemore
Kreem works ..
just like you said ... coating the inside of a gas tank is the same as coating the inside of an air tank ...
never done it myself ... but have heard from friends/relatives that coating does get rid of the rusty water ...
JeffBuck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
How much is this stuff ?
"Criticism without instruction is little more than abuse." D.Sweet
You can get a Kreem kit for a bike for about $25. I would think it would do a 4 gal. compressor tank.
IIRC, Kreem and POR-15 are pretty similar. I don't know if there is a price difference.
Jon Blakemore
Thank you very much.
: )
I'll google both.
"Criticism without instruction is little more than abuse." D.Sweet
Luka,
Thanks for the idea. But I doubt I'll be doing that anytime soon. It's not like I'm laying awake all night worrying about the integrity of my compressor's tank.
It is just one of those things that bugs me....
But as someone said, it doesn't seem to be much of a problem....and coating the tank would add to the cost, so......
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
Check this out POR-15.com
Larry
I also have the Dewalt Emglow. Mine stopped working recently and I depressurized the tank and pushed the reset button that's semi hidden on the opposite side of the unit from the switch. Bingo! Works fine.
Mine also doesn't like to start below about 20 degrees.
Overall I'm satisfied with it: fairly easy to move, doesn't get knocked over, came with two hose connections that only require one hand to use.You're unique! Just like everyone else! Scott Adams
Nope. Not the reset. I am familier with the reset from the many times I've had to push it trying to get going on cold mornings.
Also, I read the instructions.
Thanks!
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
I'm not surprised that you had tried the reset... but when you're looking at a dead tool I figure any suggestion is worth making.You're unique! Just like everyone else! Scott Adams
No, mine are not emglo's however I would sooner use another brand of oil that would not cause my compressor's motor to burn out than worry about using a oil that is not emglo endorsed. It's up to you, but I have been using winter oil for several winters with no problems. You might give the company a call to see if they have a winter weight oil, I'll bet they do. Have a good one.
Rich
Any opinions on Stanley Bostitch!?
Those daring young men in their flying machines!
I'm happy with my "cheap" hitachi,about 225 bucks new, bought it used 2 1/2 years ago and no problems. They are heavy though...As far as rust in the tank, I flip it over and squirt WD40 into the petcocks every once in a while and find I no longer have any rusty water.
And if you limit yourself to just liberal or conservative, you have no imagination!!!
;)
Sorry. The bold red font caused my fingers to type...they just took over! "Bad hands...very bad hands! No cuticle scissors for you!"
Edited 7/25/2004 12:33 am ET by jmo
Favorite compressor of all time is the same as Jeff's. Thomas st2820. Oiless, twin tank, and twin cylinder.
Never had it balk at starting, works year-round, and as he said, it's one of the quieter ones out there.
As to them all dying, what someone else said...try using less extension cord and more hose. That's the most common killer of compressors.
I have had emglos in the past and they were a good compressor when you were right near the breaker box but had problems with alot of draw even on 10/3 25' cords
I bought a campbell hausfield extreme about 4 years ago and have been shocked at the quality. had it overhauled about 2 years ago but it has been a real good tool otherwise. DeBliss makes a great little hotdog that will run a roofer at a good paceand not to noisy. I bought a porter cable pancake model that makes a ton of noise and takes forever to kick off wish i didnt buy it
Remember if you can plug into 20 plug use a short heavy gauge cord and when its cold out leave drain valves open when you fire it up I did that all last winter even at -25 and it still ran maybe a little slow at first but o-pen valves seem to start easier