I have the small Porter Cable pancake compressor that came with my trim nailer kit. Will this compressor be enough for a framing gun for a small project? I’m assuming it has enough umph, but that it will just need to run more often. True?
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A few years back we ran a 6 gallon PC pancake compressor on a big remodel job. It kept up excellently with every aspect of the job - even running two framing nailers all day for a few weeks. I'm pretty sure this is the same model you got with your kit. It's a great little compressor and should keep up with you just fine. Hope that helps - Nick
It will be fine for a framing nailer. Especially on a small project, you don't drive a lot of framing nails quickly. You might occassionally experience times when the air pressure gets low while you nail off siding or roofing, but probably not. It takes a pretty experienced carpenter or roofer to go that quick. And if it happens, take a 40-second break, then continue.
Note that you should run more air hose, NOT extension cords. Plug the compressor in to an outlet near the service panel with a short, heavy cord. Then get enough air hose to reach everywhere. A tee-adpator in the middle of the air hose run and an extra air hose going off to the side will save you have to relocate all your whole air hose run as often.
The reason for this is that long extension cords cause voltage and low voltage is not good for electric motors.
Thanks, David. I think I about have myself talked into buying a pneumatic framing nailer instead of a cordless. For the stuff I'm doing I won't be using it a ton and I'm having a hard time justifying the extra $100 to $150 for the cordless. I already own the compressor and a finish nailer.
If you have doubts that the little compressor would be too slow for framing..........get a decent air framer gun and bet the house against anyone with a cordless paslode framer.....trust me....you'll win!
Those hoseless guns are nice to have around.......but as a second gun. Unless you like standing around half the day waiting for the hoseless to cycle so you can shoot another nail........and that's only if you've been keeping up with the cleaning....other wise you'll be dreaming of the days when you just had to wait.........unlike those now dealing with misfires every other nail.
Save the extra money and get a good hosed framer.........and blow the hoseless guys away. Jeff.......Sometimes on the toll road of life.....a handful of change is good.......