There are several small air comressors out there (Senco makes one, as does Husky, both with baby tanks of about 1-2 gallons) that are fairly lightweight, and I’ve been contemplating getting one. The problem is, the rated compressor output is only 100#, and while I have no doubt it will drive a brad nailer, I’m not sure about a 15ga 2.5″ nail in a finish gun. Anyone use one of these lightweights and how do they perform near the upper limit of their performance? (The Husky is on sale at HD for $99.)
I never met a tool I didn’t like!
Replies
I'd have to check ...
but I'm pretty sure my Thomas is set pretty much permanantly at 90lbs?
drives my pinner ... 15G finish ... and framer.
it goes higher .... but why?
Jeff
My Bostich 15 ga gun doesn't set 2.5" nails with pressure less than 100#. I'd like the little thing to use on small trim jobs without having to haul out the beast, but if it can't set a 2.5, then it might not be worth it. Of course, it might be time for a new finish nailer, but the tool budget got blown to bits with the new van, so...
I never met a tool I didn't like!
My Bostich 15 ga gun
sounds like Senco Time ...
don't ya got an adjustable depth on the gun?
Jeff
Yeah, but it's inconsistent at best, and depth of set is primarily based on air pressure. To get consistent set, I would need to set the pressure near the lp kick-in point, which doesn't set the heads below the surface.
Sounds more and more like I should be looking at a new finish gun and not a compressor.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
If'in you can run your framer at 90# yer workin' too slow <g>. We run ours at 95# or a little more...
(I am so just teasing you, but that is what we run when we're framing...)
We run ours at 120!
I'm fairly certain that the Hitachi will operate at 90.
I used to use a Senco, my partner Forest used Paslode. He would set the compressor to 120. The paslode never misfired and sunk everything. The Senco was quite snappy and I eventually blew the head apart. '
I bought paslode after that but eventually they changed and became less reliable.
i now run Hitachis.
blue FRAMING ADVICE ALERT!!!! DON'T TAKE ANY FRAMING ADVICE FROM ME. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IF YOU WANT GOOD FRAMING ADVICE, JUST ASK GABE. DON'T ASK ANYONE ELSE....JUST ASK GABE! REMEMBER, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FRAMING...I JUST BS ABOUT IT.
END OF ALERT!
Yeah, we often do run it higher when we're at high-speed-framin' mode, which is not often. We're mostly on remodling jobs, so our framing is nothing like what you are doing. (Bob often subs out the framing on all new houses and large additions.)
Well yeah, when we're fulltime framing like you do (new and addys), we run between 100 and 120. Otherwise on most remods, there is no need. Everything takes a bit more time and adjustments. (Bob usually has me working on my own, saving me for only the high end and finish stuff...)
We have the hitatci and the senco 2-tanks, but I love the lil' senco the bestust cuz it doesn't re-rip my keg-carryin' shoulders. I have only used the baby senco for trimwork.
(Bigger and more pressure ain't necessarily better. (Hey, I'm a gal, so I naturally know these things... <g>)
Too much pressure can drive the nails too deep, compromising the strength of the lumber.
Naw, Jeffy has the 2820, which is a 2-tank, twin cylinder compressor.
If I recall, the bottom tank is maxed out pressure-wise, the regulator bleeds air into the upper, feeder tank, at the asked for pressure. 90psi in his case.
With the bottom tank feeding the upper, there's always air in reserve.
For those that want a small, quiet unit, with a fast recycle time, Thomas' pancake is something to sink your teeth into.
U know anything about the little thomas single dog ...
saw an ad once with one ... looked like half a single dog ...
little fellow.
read a review ... guy said it sounded like an aquarium pump ...
I'd love something like that for pick up jobs ... probably cheaper than a "cordless" trim gun ... but with all the power.
Jeff
My first pancake was a thomas t150 or somthing like that. It lasted a long time and did a lot of framing.
blue FRAMING ADVICE ALERT!!!! DON'T TAKE ANY FRAMING ADVICE FROM ME. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IF YOU WANT GOOD FRAMING ADVICE, JUST ASK GABE. DON'T ASK ANYONE ELSE....JUST ASK GABE! REMEMBER, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FRAMING...I JUST BS ABOUT IT.
END OF ALERT!
Nope, never heard it run.
Have only really looked over the 2820...I have the same one you have...I forget how long ago i bought that thing. '98 or '99? Can't recall.
Came close to getting the pancake way back when. Quiet, but I wanted the flexibility of the 2-tank. Plus, being "Mongo", toting around a 50-pound compressor never seemed like too much of a struggle. Beer in one hand, compressor in the other.<g>
dude ...
U must be Mongo ...
I think it retails at 70 lbs ...
I'll have to see if I can find out for sure ... short of putting it on a scale ...
here I was ... all proud of myself ... from carrying around 70 lbs ...
man I hope it's not just 50!
Jeff
Just checked from the link I posted...66 pounds.
Just think of it as a couple of cases of bottled Traquir. Make the pain slowly drift away...<g>
Just think of it as a couple of cases of bottled Traquir. Make the pain slowly drift away...<g>
+++++++++++++++++
Where do you get it? Sounds interesting.
Leon Jester, Roanoke VA
Q: How do you know when a politician is lying?
A: His lips are moving.
Anyone got a pic of the $77 compressor?
I'm fired up to get me one of those....I might use that for the rest of my career!
blueBe cautious when taking any advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, some of it is viewed as boogerin and not consistent with views of those who prefer to overbuild everything...including their own egos!
pic...Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Ed, I gotta track one of those down. Its just the right size for me...I cant lift my lunch anymore!
blurBe cautious when taking any advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, some of it is viewed as boogerin and not consistent with views of those who prefer to overbuild everything...including their own egos!
Ed, what's the pressure switch cutin/out setpoints? The nailer is the new Bostich magnesium finish gun, right? Does it shoot 2.5's at the low end of the pressure range? Thanks.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
BTW, where did you get it? The name isn't familiar around these parts.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
I got it at Lowes. The switch points are 80 & 100. That is the magnesium Bostich, and I run the regulator at 100# so I don't know how it works at lower pressure.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Lowes has it. I've bought a Husky (Campbell Hausfield) last summer and love it. It's 3 gal and only goes up to 100 but it's plenty for my 15 & 16 guage nailers. I had a Devilbiss 3 gal for 6 or so years till it finally gave out, that thing used to easily shoot framing nailes. I love the things, you can't beat them for small items and punchlist.
I bought one of these too, at Lowes. I needed a compressor and the little Thomas's were all out on jobs.
It's OK, but one guy complained that it wouldn't set nails in maple. Still, for the price, it'd be great for shoe mould and small pine or poplar stuff.
Ed.
Exactly ED! Tell the guy to burn the maple and order pine.
blueBe cautious when taking any advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, some of it is viewed as boogerin and not consistent with views of those who prefer to overbuild everything...including their own egos!
Well, that'll be the doors, jambs, base, casing, shoe, floor...
I guess we have to burn the house back to the drywall?
Ed.
I get my Traquair from...Jeff Buck!
I'd never had Traquair until Jeff gave me some.
Jeff and I have traded beer through the mail a few times, we also swapped a bunch at Rhodefest.
Tool weight: 66 lbs.
Yes!
btw ... amazon ... "only 5 left ... more on the way" ...
so ... uh .. either hurry up and buy them ... but ... I guess come back ... 'cause we'll have more later?
interresting advertising over there ...
Jeff
Thomas 635HD. Fanfreakintastic.
I bought one when they came out. The guys laughed - thought it was a toy. Now we've got three and they fight over them. Two of the guys bought their own.
Light as a feather, quiet, sinks 2 1/2 15g in oak and have lasted forever. The plastic handle breaks off after a while. I replace them with screen door handles.
It's a must have for punch-out or small repair jobs.
Ed.
thanks Ed.
sounds like the one.
good review.
Jeff
Thomas link for those who care:
http://www.bobstools.net/Store/Thomas.html
Product DescriptionFrom the ManufacturerThomas Industries T-635HD is a quiet running (69-decibel) 3/4 HP compressor that is both portable and versatile. Delivering 1.7 cfm at 100 psi, it has plenty of power to support a framing gun when doing studwork, a roofing gun when shingling, or (2) finish guns at the same time. Weighing only 26 pounds it is easily transported and moved around the job-site. With it's low amp draw (6 amps) it can be used most anywhere without fear of fuse or circuit breaker problems. Other uses include, tire inflating, painting, airbrushing, small air tools, and winterizing water lines and RV's.
Sounds like the one to get!
Jeff
Best thing I lke avout Ed's 635? The 69-dB rating.
Be kind to your ears...
yeah ... that what I "heard" the first time I was looking for somthing smaller ...
and one of the big reasons I have the 2820.
btw ... not sure if I'm overly fond of the Traquair Jacobite ...
at these prices ... $60 for a 12 pack ..... I'll probably stick with the regular stuff.
when I have that extra $60 for a 12 pack.
it's a "hard" beer ... first swig is like doing a shot of liquor. Mellows after the 3rd beer .... but then ya fall asleep! Ok ... then ya have a coupla High Life's because money is money ... then ya fall asleep.
Jeff
And to theink I was cringing over Westvleteren's $3+ a bottle.
what's Chimay run ya?
I can get a 24 case for about $80 ... red/blue ... not much difference in price.
Jeff
Chimay? About $3.50 a 4-pack, or about 90 cents a bottle. Same for red/white/blue.
You'll never go back to the old style twin tank (think Emglo) and your back will thank you for it.
Ed.
I went and bought the thomas 635 - I love it! no regulator though, oh well - it does well for a lot of little jobs and even shoots the framer in a pinch. sure easy on the old arms carrying it from the truck into the house, etc.
Ha ha, I am so dumb when you guys start talking about tool numbers...
But Bob bought me the lil dinky 1-tank Senco the other day. . . perfect, since I do all his finish work.
Of course, I reacted as though he just bought me a huge diamond!!! (yes that, too)
(Functional trinkets have always been far more important to me than jewelry.)
I'm looking at a smaller compressor so I can have one here and one there. The smaller compressor would only run a 15g finish and an 18g brad nailer.
Glad to hear you like the Senco...I'll have to take a peek at it.
Ha ha, you guys and your technical info...
Yeah, I guess I am here to study and learn, but basically, Bob points and I do. Or sometimes I point and Bob does: If something isn't working, I tell him and he carries it off and comes back with something new and better. (I love that part <wink>)
I have never used the pancake type, but I have heard good things about them.
who's Bob?
Jeff
My boss.
I figured boss ...
wasn't sure if boss and husband were the same guy.
Jeff
I bought the1010 single tank senco oil less. I liked it so much that i bought two more to give away to friends. When my back hurts or just for a light job it is great to have. If your tire is low just grab it and air it up. It works in the cold weather. It is the best balanced and best looking compressor I have ever used. It looks so nice I keep one next to my desk in the house. Wife does not care. I have fired a few 16d clipped nails in 20 degree weather with it to test it out. It worked fine. I do not know how it would keep up if it were doing a lot of framing. It is great for blowing off things that are dusty. Just grab it. There are a lot of little compressors out there but none better to look at. You can get the kit at this link:http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/senc/pc0947.htm?E+coastest
I do not recall where I bought mine but there were 100-125 shipped.
yes, Thomas pancake, I agree compleatly. My boss has one thats 20 years
old. Between the five of us we also have two twin hot-dogs from emglo
(one is dewalt, both wet bath) and one PC pancake oil-less, and an
air-pac 4gal...uhh.. I dont know what to call it, kinna like 1 short fat
hot-dog. No matter what were running, framer, finish guns whatever, we
allways use the thomas first. its so quiet! It's almost soothing to hear
it.
Yea noise,if i use my campbell haus around an occcupied house it'll share the skit out of the H-O and bother me... With my older bostich N 80 stick framer I dont need to hand set nails at as low as 80 psi...I'm oiling religiously,and I have swapped the trigger kit once since I got it in about 97 I wiped all the crud off all the parts and oiled them and put her back together...Sweet...Scribe once, cut once!
My local Lowes has the Task Force little compressor on close-out for $69. Not much of a drop from $77.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
I still say go for the lil' Senco.
Check local dealers.
One local dealer here had it for $159, plus you got a 16g senco finish gun free with it! (Okay, he prolly lost his shirt on that one, but maybe he made up for it in volume.)
Nearly every guy in my crew rushed over there to get one...
(not me tho, I had to buy groceries, argh!)
Delta has the best little outfit for less than a hundred bucks. I bought mine at Lowes. Weighs about 25 Lbs and develops 100 PSI.
Not for a framing crew but runs my Pasload framing gun as fast as I need it to. Extremely quiet. Perfect for trim nailers like Senco.George Bush
FOUR MORE YEARS
I'm gonna get the Senco next time a hundred dollars falls out in front of me. They are very quite. That's what apeals to me.
Who Dares Wins.
Saw Jed the stair-building guy at the Providence JLC using his, and you couldn't even tell it was running (ok, background noise was a little high...) Got me drooling even then.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
That's what turned me on to them, was watching the demonstrators at JLC in Columbus use them. You never really noticed them kicking on.Who Dares Wins.
I have been thinking about building a small LIGTHWEIGHT compressor out of aluminum or composites. the weight in a compressor seems to be in the motor.
(maybe a scuba tank for the air...) but - don't know how to make the pump/motor lighter???
anybody have any ideas.??
strength training? Vitamins? more sleep? Hire a grunt? possibilities are endless......
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Get Sphere as yur grunt...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
I bought one from Lowes about 3 weeks ago. Task Force brand I think, maybe a Campbell Hausfeld. 2 gal tank, comes with a wide variety of quick connect firrings, a blow off nozzle, tire inflator, etc ... I was really surprised at the quantity of parts they included. Also included one of those yellow coil hoses. Literally everything you need in one box. Except teflon tape.
Goes to 100 psi, no idea what the cfm is. Very quiet, very portable. I used it last week with my Bostich 15 ga nailer and 2-1/2" nails to face nail some oak floor I was repairing. I was able to get about 6 shots before it cycled. It sank the nails everytime, except once or twice when I was at an angle trying to get under the wall, and that could have been cuz the tip was off the floor.
No regrets about buying it. For small jobs, it has replaced the pancake compressor. Cost $77 at Lowes, and that was regular price.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
I like the sound of a $77 throwaway compressor.
Will it fire a framer?
blue FRAMING ADVICE ALERT!!!! DON'T TAKE ANY FRAMING ADVICE FROM ME. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IF YOU WANT GOOD FRAMING ADVICE, JUST ASK GABE. DON'T ASK ANYONE ELSE....JUST ASK GABE! REMEMBER, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FRAMING...I JUST BS ABOUT IT.
END OF ALERT!
yea, once!
Why would you want to? The purpose of it is for touch-up work where compressor noise is an issue, and/or the size of the job doesn't warrant a medium or large compressor. I can't imagine using a framing gun for touch-up work.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
I have used a cheap knock-off 15 ga nailer for quite some time at 100 Psi or slightly less,It drives the 2" er's ok,and I use a framing nailer at the same Psi...Only... this is a 1Hp unit with 2gal tank the volume seems ok,cause the compressor starts about once in each 5 minutes when I'm busy nailing.(to top it all, this is a Campbell Hausfeld) GO FIGURE...
My advice would be to go to a serious tool store, where you can hook your gun up and rat-a-tat till you know if it will drive and keep up on the volume...
Scribe once, cut once!
Good idea, but the only 'serious' tool store within an hours drive won't let you 'experiment' or 'play' with the merchandise. Which is why I haven't been back. I haven't been real happy with the Bostich finish gun due to its inconsistancy, and this might be the reason to spring for a new one. Maybe. Gotta convince the 'powers that be' that it's in the best interest of the biz.
Thanks for the input.
I never met a tool I didn't like!
Nick, I do know my little craftsman 18 ga gun fires super, but can't give you a line on 15ga... I used my gun for 8 or 10 days with no oil (no time)when it finally hung up on me,Itreat it a lot better now,(and it shoots 2"er's) because of that,if I had the need for a new 15 ga gun the craftsman would be a non stop shop...or if I saw what manufacturer that gun resembled that might win out...I used a craftsman recip till it suddenly cratered, and being far from sears, I got the Dewalt that it resembled...go figure...Tell me what luck you have...
Scribe once, cut once!
I crank all my compressors to at least 120 lbs,framing or whatever, I hate hand setting nails. We run a cheap, 120 buck,pancake Hitachi on the job, three finish &/or pin guns work okay on it.
Just got the Senco 1 gal baby. Weighs 20 lbs. Shoots 6-7 1 1/2" pins before it cycles, takes a while to fill up, but did I mention that it only weighs in at 20 lbs? I really don't care how quiet it is, it only weighs 20 lbs...someday some of you may appreciate that...LOL...meanwhile, I'm carrying gun, compressor, hose & lunch in one hand<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!
I use the Senco for 18 and 15 gauge nailers. It also works for small jobs with my Bostitch coil framer. I love it...easy to use, quiet, very reliable. It won't shoot rapidly as it takes longer to recover than my regular compressor, but it suits my purposes fine for smaller jobs.
I have the Baby Senco. Cute. Runs my 18g brad nailer and the 16g nailer. I would rate it a one finish nailer compressor. If you're nailing fast, it falls behind.
Can't keep up with the SuperMax, but it will run on the low voltage in my garage.
My twin tank won't even start up.
I bought one of those cheap hot dog compressors this year. I think I bought it because it was so cute!!!!
Came with some fittings, 20' of hose and a cheapo 18 guage pinner.
I found that you can adjust the max pressure up from the standard 100 # to about 115. Probably lessens the life of the little bugger but there is less time between refills.
If you remove the plastic box covering the regulater you will see the "cut-in" and "cut-out" screws. Turn the cut-out screw in and it will increase the pressure. I probably would have turned mine higher but the pressure relief valve opens just above 115. This is fine for punch-list and reno framing even when you are toe-nailing a stud at a time.
Alan
Tnx.
I'm off to the garage to diddle with the cutoff controls.
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something."
Anon.