Need help deciding on a compressor
I’m in the market for a new air compressor and am loosing my mind with all the options. I will for the most of my work be using a Hitachi NV 75AG coil nailer, but hope to get my wife on a framing nailer with me soon. Aside from framing it will also be used in my wood shop for brad and finish nailing.
I would like a portable unit that is built to last. I’ve looked at just about everything out there, but they all seam just about the same as far as their specs go. So what are some of my best options? I would like to stay under $400.
Thanks, John Stephenson.
Replies
Thomas and Rol-Air come highly recommended here.
Check out this thread:
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=66300.21
I have a Rol-Air Model D2000HPV5 which suits my one man crew needs just fine. It would run 2 framers but not at a high production rate. IIRC I paid $350.00 + tax.
This is going to be politically incorrect, but have you considered the 8 gallon oil bath compressor from Harbor Freight? Its portable enough to pick up and move around, but will require both hands. I mention it, because when I was framing our 3 story beach house with the help of 2 others, we were all hooked into it, and as a result, it spent most of the day running. I simply figured that at the price ($99 as I recall), at the end of the project, including roof, cedar shingle siding and finish work, that it'd be ready for the recycling center. But I'm now into the next project, and it still sounds and runs like the day I got it. Has never leaked or blown oil and holds its pressure without a problem.
BruceM
I have an Rol-Air @hp pancake. I have been using it for five years and have not had a problem. I don't know if it can run two framing guns production speed but it can handle two finish guns at the same time, or two roofing guns at the same time. I was going to buy an Emglo but the sale person sent me to another store to buy the Rol-Air.
Paul
I have a "Puma" - the name brand means almost nothing - go to a compressor store (it will be in the industrial area of town) Get a compressor that uses oil (they will have one in the size you want, and the price will be comparable with what you see elsewhere) They will personally fill the crankcase with oil, put their sticker on it and hand you a great warranty. Now go and use it for 25 years.
It will also be quieter than most - much quieter.
I just bought the Thomas 2HP Renegade compressor a few months ago, and love it (Thanks for the recommendations, folks). It's quiet, solid, well-made, you can use extension cords without popping breakers. Downside: it's heavy. My bosses would rather use my compressor than their own.
Young, poor, and eager to learn
Hmm..another satisfied Thomas Renegade customer. I must be the only one not impressed with this compressor. I bought mine about 8 mos ago. It leaked out of the box. Bad regulator (a chincy plastic POS). Kudos to the people @ Thomas, though--they sent me a replacement part ASAP, no questions asked. But 2 months later, I sprung a new leak. This time @ the pump switch. Thomas sent me a new switch, no charge (not a cheap part)... Still leaked. Turns out the pressure sensor hose was leaking somewhere (another plastic, chincy part). I removed it, cut it, and re-set it..Still leaks. I gave up. The compressor steadily loses about 1 pound of air/min and kicks on about every 10 minutes as a result..Highly annoying as it is--in fact--a loud compressor. (A little quieter than my old PC pancake--but barely so).
BTW, I still have and use my old cheap PC pancake. About 5 yrs old now and I abused the shyt out of it. Still holds air for months (I also never drain it). Go figure.
I used a cheap campbell hausfeld till last year it finally cratered at about 10 years,it was self lubricating it costed $199 in 1996. One horse,4 gallon tank. it ran my framing nailer real good, my leaky hoses were more trouble than the nail gun using any air...
I was shopping for a new one for a year before betsy died, and I got another cheapy,It cost only $99 go figure... same size tank and compressor, but this one is manual oiling (watch the bulls eye) I figure if this one lasts that long it costs only $10 a year...It is Task force brand and is at Lowes. Tell em Dave sent you...
SCRIBE ONCE CUT ONCE!
I think what you buy depends on the type of use. In short, does it want a clean 20A circuit or will it settle for less? I would opt for one that will settle for less as you can use it more places.
For framing new projects where there is job power, I use a double hot dog (CH - got a deal.) or the company's big Emglo wheelbarrow model - which sits next to the spider box. (Had to wire a switch on that one because the cold load was enough that it liked to burn the tips off the plugs, arcing as you plugged in. One RT switch and problem solved.)
For remodeling work, I found out fast that lots of power is not an option. Blowing breakers with double hot dog compressors (mine, co-workers' el cheapos, they would all take out circuits in this underwired '70s project) got old fast.
In self-denfese, I made up a pigtail that will plug into the 120/240 laundry outlet and give me two 120 circuits. Need it. Homeowner provides an extension cord from garage, locks up and leaves. Breaker goes out as he rounds the bend. Have a nice, productive day.
The other work-around is to use 10g extension cords. Bought a 100' one from HD, cut in half, put a 1G box on the other half. Use the three outlet end as the first 50' of my cord run. Plug chop saw, compressor into that if I can't get closer to the pole. Bosch framing saw has 50, 100' cords (Bosch), depending.
Wound up with a PC pancake that is rated for life at the end of a 100' extension cord. Been using that. The CH sits in the condo garage -where it will not even turn over as the voltage drop on those 40 yr old circuits is soooo bad.
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
hey stephenson, I was in about the same boat as you and just got mine for Christmas. I wanted the biggest portable unit that I could use in my shop but also take with me to frame and roof my houses ( I am on the two year build and sell rutine). What you want to look at is cfm @ 90 psi. My craftsman model number 919.195411 puts out 6.8 @ 90 psi. which is among the best for this price range. I it has a 25 gallon tank and is a belt drive compressor so it should last longer, and pumps up to 150 psi. I fired it up this weekend and it is the quietest compressor I have heard in a long time. It runs on a 20a circut and can be wired for 240v. Hopefull this helps.
Thanks everyone for the help so far.
I was in HD the other day and just hapened to stop and look at their Rigid line of compressors. I noticed that they where rated at SCFM rather than CFM. The numbers where good, but what in the world is SCFM? I'm familiar with CFM, but have never come across SCFM. Is this a way to make their compressors look better?
Thanks again, John.
SCFM = Standard Cubic Feet per Minute.
Standard means that it was measured at standard atmospheric conditions.
In this case SCFM is the same as CFM (or should be).
I have sued some foreign made stuff in the Army that is designed for extreme environments (extreme cold, high altitude, etc.) but they don't sell that stuff at HD. At least not around here.
BTW... I have a PC pancake with 3 hoses that can combine for 100 feet. It does a great job.