Replies

1. 
   gdavis62 | Apr 07, 2004 07:43pm | #1

   A 2HP pancake should suit you fine, unless you are going to use a framing gun.  Mine is a 1HP 4gallon, and it will keep up with heavy shooting when I am firing my PC 15-gage nailer.

2. 
   davidmeiland | Apr 07, 2004 07:48pm | #2

   I was just saying to myself how much I love my little Emglo compressor, for about the 500th time. It's about 15 years old and runs like it's new, after years and years of all sorts of work, framing, stapling, and finish nailing. Cost $300 when I bought it and it's an excellent piece of equipment.

3. 
   JohnTN | Apr 07, 2004 08:41pm | #3

   Cyrus,

   I bought a Rolair portable a few months ago and am very pleased with it.  Running on a 20 amp circuit is no problem.  Manufacturer reccomends against extension cords, better to use more air hose instead

   It will run any of my trim guns and would probably deliver enough air for two men to trim at once.  I've also used it with my framing gun and no faster than I nail, it always keeps up.  Even run my palm nailer with it but not continuously.

   Here's the unit I bought - I went with the low speed, oil lubed model:
   http://www.rolair.net/id30.htm

   Specs for all portables here:
   http://www.rolair.net/id23.htm

   Best of luck with whatever you buy,

   John

   
   

   ---

   Edited 4/7/2004 2:00 pm ET by JohnTN

4. 
   mccarty12 | Apr 07, 2004 09:03pm | #4

   When I worked in CA everyone used Emglos. When I got back to WI I couldn`t find them locally but I ordered it through the mail. It´s worked great for 10 years. The only thing I don´t like about it is that one of the drain cocks is hard to get at when you have to empty the air. I´ve had to use my hammer handle to loosen it when I was impatient and I´ve had to order a few new ones. I use it for finish, roofing, and medium fast framing.

   When my back started to give me trouble and I didn´t want to lug the Emglo around the whole house triming out rooms I bought a little Makita hotdog compessor. It´s much lighter and has worked fine with trim. I even hook up my framing gun to it if I just have a little framing to do. The only problem is it is way loud

1. 
   pebble | Apr 09, 2004 05:04am | #16

   I know what you mean by the drain cock being hard to reach. If you don't mind may I make a suggestion? When I worked at an asphalt sealing company, the boss noticed I had a hard time reaching under the compressor to drain the water at the end of the day so when he got a new compressor -- same model, he had the drain cock removed and thread a ninety degree elbow into it. Then he ran a stainless steel tube from the elbow parallel to the underside of the compressor until it stuck out a couple inches from under and put a regular little ball cock valve or whatever on the end of it. I thought that was the niftiest thing. No more scraped hands and banging with a hammer.

   Handyman, painter, wood floor refinisher, property maintenance in Tulsa, OK

   "If yer gonna drive fast on the highway why not go as fast as you can? Like... a hundred miles per hour or more lol."

1. 
   caseyr | Apr 09, 2004 07:29am | #18

   I recently purchased an automatic drain cock to bleed the accumulated water from the tank of my 5hp compressor.  Haven't installed it yet, so can't verify how well it does or does not work... 

1. 
   IMERC | Apr 09, 2004 07:39am | #19

   If it's a decent one it worksLife 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!

2. 
   Fingrs | Jul 27, 2004 07:09pm | #33

   Hello, Casey.  Did you install that automatic drain yet?  I never remember to drain my tank and a neighbor (who is a dentist and has a compressor in the basement of his office) tol me about Ingersoll Rand's automatic drains for compressors.  One works on time, and the other on the presence of moisture. 

   My compressor is the 25 gal, 6 HP version.  Any advice on where to go to find a solution?  Thanks!

1. 
   caseyr | Jul 28, 2004 12:23am | #34

   Nope, the planning commission continues to sit on my application for my shop - thus no shop, no place for air compressor, no need for draining yet...

   Hopefully someone else can provide the experience and advice.

5. 
   reinvent | Apr 08, 2004 12:07am | #5

   I second the rol-air. But I got the fast speed version(faster recovery time) I asked rol air if there was any other difference between the fast and slow model. They said nope. So i figured why wait.

6. 
   rbishop108 | Apr 08, 2004 02:13am | #6

   http://www.thomaspumps.com/ultra/renegade.html

1. 
   JeffBuck | Apr 08, 2004 06:37am | #7

   thomas.

   the 2 piston is much quieter than the one ...

   .......I have st2820 .. i think that's the model.

   more powerful too...

   btw .... you'll kill any compressor with a long cord ...

   try a shorter cord ...

   and a longer hose.

   JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

        Artistry in Carpentry                

1. 
   Lateapex911 | Apr 08, 2004 06:55am | #8

   Has anyone been to a recent JLC live event (like the one recently in Providence?) and seen the ones that were being used in the demonstrations?

   I don't know the specs, but they were dual pressure, low, and super quiet. Really quiet.  I think that Mike Smith suggested they are Maxs', but I haven't been able to find confirmation on line. Anyone have a clue about this animal??Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

2. 
   Mongo | Apr 08, 2004 07:22am | #9

   Dang, Jeff...

   Yer drkining my beer, now yer using my compressor.

   I'll follow Jeff and M-o-N2 and give a thumbs up to Thomas.

   I have the 2820, twin stacked tanks and twin pistons. Fast recycle, more than I'll ever need. Oiless. All-weather. Runs real easy on 15amp, never mind 20. Thomas got rave reviews from an FHB review a few years back.

   I think Pro-Dek has the 2820 as well.

   Ditto Jeff on the hose/cord.

1. 
   JeffBuck | Apr 08, 2004 07:29am | #10

   so we both have expensive tastes for the finer things in life ....

   important stuff ... like beer and compressors.

   JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

        Artistry in Carpentry                

1. 
   Mongo | Apr 08, 2004 02:53pm | #11

   Could be worse!<g>

2. 
   ANDYSZ2 | Apr 08, 2004 03:28pm | #12

   I just bought a Porter Cable 2540s oillube sidestack clearanced for 167$ list was 269$.

   I have the pancake version but i was ready for more power and quiter but the extra weight was to much so I set up a dolly with bench stool inverted compressor on top and used a pair of toolbelts with pouches to strap it in.Even had room to put 4' level in holder and several extra hammer loops.

   next i am going to buy a hose spool and extension cord spoolto attach to dolly.This has definately reduced my setup and takedown time.

   ANDYSZ2I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.

   Remodeler/Punchout

3. 
   JoeyB | Apr 17, 2004 03:13pm | #29

   Just curious about something Jeff. If I have a compressor that draws 14 amps, am running off a 15 amp circuit, and run a 25 foot 12 guage extension cord between the compressor and the outlet, what is (in theory) the problem? For example: If the breaker panel is at the back of the house, we will say my first outlet is 10 feet away from the panel in the kitchen. Let's say I have another outlet 35 feet away from the panel in the living room. What is the difference in running the compressor off a 25 foot (big enough guage of course) extension cord from the kitchen? Isn't the electric travelling the same distance in both cases with the same amount of resistance? I'm not an electrician so this has always puzzled me about the non-use of extension cords and compressors. Thanks!Coming to you from beautiful Richmond, Va.

1. 
   JeffBuck | Apr 20, 2004 06:37am | #31

   no problem with that ...

   I actually have a "dedicated" 12g 25' cord ....

   for my compressor ....

   the problems come from amp drops with longer ... and usually thinner ... cords.

   even a bullrope cord at 100ft drops.

   plus ... it's so much easier to err on the side of caution and run more hose.

   Then again .. I have that nice flexible blue hose ... boston or something like that .... a nice house makes life so much easier.

   Jeff

   Buck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

        Artistry in Carpentry                

7. 
   pz | Apr 08, 2004 08:04pm | #13

   FHB had an article some years ago on compressors.  Based on that, I looked at, then got a Thomas Ultra Air Pac (617HD).  It's quite small, only a 3/4 HP motor, so it's only good for inside trim work, or maybe a very small interior remodel (like a partition wall).  But, the thing is just awesome.  Because of the small motor, it won't pop circuits and can run safely off an appropriate size cord.  It's totally small and lightweight.  It's easy to tuck into a corner of the room where your working, without tripping over it all the time.  And, when you're going room to room there's no more banging doorways and stairs.  It's definitely light enough to carry one handed.   And, best part is, it's *really* quiet.  The motor just kinda burbles when it's recycling.  Won't leave you deaf and numb.

   I got mine off an internet site, don't remember which.  But if you follow some of the links above, or do your own search, go to the Thomas home page.  As I remember, they have links to some internet storefronts.

   So, if all you need your compressor for is some trim nailers, I'd recommend this one whole heartedly (or, if you can stand the expense of a dedicated compressor for inside work, and a separate one for your framing/siding/roofing/etc type needs outside).

1. 
   JeffBuck | Apr 09, 2004 01:13am | #14

   that must be the one a buddy saw in action ...

   another trimmer had it.

   he said working next to it was as quiet as working next to an aquarium.

   JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

        Artistry in Carpentry                

2. 
   Mongo | Apr 09, 2004 05:37am | #17

   Is that the pancake?

   I cam SO close to buying the Thomas pancake, but chickened out and supersized instead.

   Used to be a site I'd link to on Thomas...Bob's Tools, or something like that...lemme google...

   http://www.bobstools.net/Store/Thomas.html

1. 
   pz | Apr 09, 2004 05:56pm | #21

   No, wrong meal.  It's not a pancake, it's a hotdog (I know.... groan).  I'll see if I can post a pic later.  I tell ya, if you just want a unit for doing trim jobs, this baby is sweet.

8. 
   steve | Apr 09, 2004 03:27am | #15

   have the pc pancake compressor, had it for four years, mostly small trim jobs, lots of kitchen cabinets with plenty of fancy trim, works great

   wont keep up, stapling down underlay, other than that its great

   caulking is not a piece of trim

9. 
   arrowshooter | Apr 09, 2004 04:40pm | #20

   Home Depot has a light weight super portable (Husky) for $99.00 that develops 130 PSI and looks great. I have a comparable Delta model that I bought at Lowes for the same price. Either of these will do what you want to do and be damn easy to carry around.

1. 
   pz | Apr 09, 2004 06:03pm | #22

   Hopefully, there is a pic of this Thomas compressor attached, for the curious.

1. 
   mccarty12 | Apr 10, 2004 01:01am | #23

   Thanks pebble for the idea on extending the drain assembly, it looks like a nice idea.

   When I saw PZ`s post and following picture of the Thomas I saw a decal that said COLD WHEATHER STARTS. Well the Emglo doesn´t start well in Wisconsin winters. I have to keep it in the cab of my truck when I drive to work and then keep it running fairly often once I get going.

1. 
   Buglehead | Apr 17, 2004 10:55am | #27

   Mc-

   I have heard that using synthetic oil can make your compressor easy to start in the cold.  My old Emglo always started in the cold, and is spending its golden years in Southern California, so no worries on that front.

   Bugle

2. 
   larryscabnuts | Apr 10, 2004 01:14am | #24

   Ya can't go wrong with that Thomas ya have there..

10. 
    larryscabnuts | Apr 10, 2004 01:18am | #25

    I don't know but I read somewhere that a few companys in Italy makes most of the portable air compressors. I have 3. A Senco, a Bostich and a tiny Senco for trimmin out a door or window.

1. 
   m2akita | Apr 10, 2004 05:13am | #26

   Id say try and pick up a used ( not abused) twinstack emglo ( 1.5 -2 hp, 4 gal).  Handles trim just fine, and has worked well for framing ( but Im not a fast framer).  I say buy used, becuase I have heard that the new ones are starting to go down hill since Dewalt bought them out.  Have no personel experience with this.

   Company I work for also has a twin tank/ 4 gal Thomas and the big single tank Dewalt.  Both of these are as good as the emglo, but they feel like they weigh a ton next to the emglo.

   Good luck with the hunt....

   m2akita

1. 
   JoeyB | Apr 17, 2004 03:17pm | #30

   I have that dewalt compressor that looks like the blue emglos. I have had it a year, and so far so good.Coming to you from beautiful Richmond, Va.

2. 
   reinvent | Apr 17, 2004 03:07pm | #28

   The company you are thinking of is called Fini. They make the pumps. Rol-Air uses them I dont know who else, but the cheaper compressors wont to save money.

3. 
   TrimButcher | Apr 20, 2004 04:00pm | #32

   Fini is the Italian company, as reinvent said.  I have one, works great.  Never popped a breaker/fuse. I see Fini's relabelled by lots of other companies to sell as their brand...Paslode for one comes to mind.

   Regards,

   Tim Ruttan

11. 
    cynwyd | Jul 28, 2004 03:39am | #35

    I've had this compressor for a short while and have not used it hard. I did talk to the owner of the company and he stands behind his product which seems solidly made and runs smoothly. http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catalog/item/733537/450646.htm

    The price breeds skepticism but he told me I wouldn't believe the markup the majors get on compressors.

    Worth a look.