air compressor for nail gun

[cdv]

lookin at some air compressors and framing nail guns, what do I look for and will do a good job in a electric compressor thanks cdv

 

[Russ from MN]

Should have a minimum output of 100 psi, with a regulator to reduce it as necessary. If you are just going to run one gun and not be too aggressive it doesn't need to be very big.
The crew that did our roof last summer had a pretty small compressor and ran two nail guns for the shingling.

 

[Ken-Pa]

You failed to say just what type nails you plan on driving . In the 25 yrs of being a self employed contractor , I always hauled my portable 1 hp 20 gal electric compressor around with me . I do wish I would've spent the money & bought a nice oil less twin tank or HD pancake compressor for my jobs . The newer & smaller compressors are made pretty stout & can supply enough air for a crew to be using 2 or 3 guns , & they will run on 110 volts . The one I carried was a headache because I always had to wire in a temp 220 volt plug directly into the customers electric service panel . Another obstacle to look at is the guns you wanta use & the air volumne needed . I own 5 different style Senco nailers & staplers .Bostitch makes some nice guns now also . And there's Pastlode . Those are the 3 best naqme brand guns I know of . But then there's always the Japon guns sold by HF of which I would not even consider as a promising investment .Keep safety in mind when using air guns .Years ago , I had a contract with a busy machine shop building all their shipping boxes . My wife helped me whenever I got large orders that had a short time expendency on them . Well even tho we wore safety glasses & used caution , being in a hurry , I had my hand too close to the nailing line . Needless to say , she drove a 2 1/2" staple thru my hand & into the board . We had to pull the staple out of the board before we could get it out of my hand .Sencos staples come in strips at which a special glue is used to keep the staples held together in these strips . It takes one strip to fully load my staple gun .Back to PAIN . the fact that I just had that dern long staple pulled back thru my hand , that glue of course was now in my skin/blood . That was one painfull experience which reassured me that I needed to be more careful . Good luck on your decision & play safeer than safe . HTH ! God bless , Ken

 

[Keith Molden]

I have a Porter Cable pancake compressor that I bough t at Rural King that does a darned fine job for me. I don't do any commercial work but do some work around the place here with it. I have an older Bostich framing nailer that's a little heavy. I think the newer ones are quite a bit lighter. If you buy an older nailer, make sure you can still get nails for it and be sure what angle and type when you go to buy them. I had a heck of a time finding out whether I needed a full or half head, what angle and what holds the nails together I guess makes a difference (some a re held by plastic, some by metal, some by paper. You can go on line with the model and find out about everything about them. Just my thoughts, Keith

 

[Geo-TH,In]

The first compressor I bought was a 3 hp oil-less////worthless, noisy, tripped breakers. After it died in less than 2 years, I purchased a small 1.5 hp oil type compressor with two small tanks. It still works today and can run 2 nailers. Don't remember the brand, purchased it from Furrows, before they went out of business.

 

[Pops1532]

What type of nails?
How many guns will be used at the same time?
Are you going to use these for work? Or will they just be used to build yourself a house or shop?
Budget?

I currently use a 1hp Senco pancake compressor. It's about 20 years old. Been freshened once. Could use a going through again. It has a tremendous amount of run time on it.
A good 1hp pancake compressor should run one framing nailer. Might not keep up nailing sheathing.
It should pull 2 roofing nailers, or 2 trim/finish nailers or staplers.

I briefly had a Chinese made Bostitch pancake compressor a few years ago. It was JUNK. Might have lasted 1 1/2 months.

For framing nailers I recommend Senco. Got my first one in '77. SN4 is the model number. I have two of them. They have more power than the newer guns. Use more air and weigh more as well.
The framing nailers I currently use are Senco 325+. They're probably 12+ years old.

I'm not a fan of coil framing nailers. Not a fan of several brands of stick framing nailers as some are extremely bulky and not balanced well. The 325+ is compact and well balanced.
Passload nails work in Senco framing nailers. Some brands of nails are made to use in many brands of guns and the angle of the nails may not be right. That can cause jamming. Stick with Senco, Passload or Pneufast and jamming should be minimal.

For coil roofing nails I recommend Bostitch. Mine is from the mid 80's. N12B is the model. Excellent gun. I've used a current production Bostitch coil roofing nailer as well. It's a great gun too.

For soffit staples I recommend Senco model L (if they still make it). EXCELLENT gun. I've got two. They're about 25 & 30 years old. The 25 year old one has never been rebuilt!


For finish nails I recommend Senco SFN1 (if I remember correctly), or Bostitch...... Don't know the model #.....It shoots 2 1/2" angled finish nails. My old Senco 2" finish nailers gave many years of trouble free service. My Bostitch finish nailer is more powerful. It's also bulkier.
The Senco doesn't like some brands of generic nails as they can cause jamming. The Bostitch has an unhandy way to clear jams.

Stay away from the cheaper line of Bostitch nailers or staplers. They are junk!

The older Senco stuff is very good. Maybe a bit on the heavy side by today's standards.

Senco has or had a home owner line too. Stay away from that stuff.

All told I've got at least 18 pneumatic nailers and staplers.
I'm well pleased with all of my Senco stuff and most of the Bostitch stuff.

Do yourself a favor and get belt hooks for your nailers. Senco sells them.

For air hose I use Parker silicone rubber hose. They're expensive but worth the money. I bought my hoses in '84, still use them daily.

 

[Pops1532]

Some of the older framing guns used clipped head nails. Full head nails are now available for the older Senco and Pasload guns.

 

[Pops1532]

Ken, OUCH!!!!!

We were framing up a house and one of our guys started cussing. I looked over to see what was wrong. He had a 3 1/4 inch framing nail through his left index finger. It looked like it had gone right through the knuckle but it actually missed (or glanced off) the bone and just went through tissue.

I have some 1st hand experience too. One leg of a staple hit something and curled back through the surface. It went in the inside of my thumb and came out through my thumbnail. Cut the staple with a pair of tin snips (had to use what was within reach). Then pulled it out with a pair of pliers. Let me tell ya, that's enough to ruin a guy's day.

 

[BAnNC]

cdv,
good responses here, from folks that USE 'em.

If you are gonna run more than one framer, you might take a look at Hitachi 2 hp, twinstack. Italian-styled OIL-TYPE pump, not diaphram style. Seem to last a long time.

Also, stay away from the big box "real-deal" lightweight junk.

 

[State of Jefferson]

I've had by far the best luck with Hitachi nail guns. I've got an NV83A coil nailer that has hundreds of boxes of nails run thru it. I've never done anything but put nails and oil and air in it. ZERO repairs. Also have a Senco SCN65 coil gun that has been pretty trouble free. Hasn't had as much use though, just cause I've never really liked it...
One of the first tools I bought when I got my contractors lisence was a little (2 hp-I think) Senco twin tank compressor. Never have done ANYTHING to it. Drain the condensation out of the tanks now and again. That's it. Never even changed the oil. Been a great tool.
Bought a MAX siding coil nailer on the recommend of the sales guy at the tool store SERIOUS P.O.S. Would never own another. Replaced it with a hitachi, the max has been gathering dust on a shelf in the shed for about 5 years... Hitachi has been trouble free.

Ben

 

[Ultradog MN]

I use my nail guns almost every day.
I have 6 Stanley Bostich nail guns.
Framing, finish, 2 1/4" brad, 1 1/4" brad, narrow crown stapler and roofing.
My finish nailer is shot. Diaphram is leaking and I pulled the feed spring out of it the other day. But I know I've put 250 lbs of nails through it.
It's time for a new one.
I'll buy the same thing again.

 

[Vito]

Rol-Air pancake compressor if used for professional use.If used occasionally a Porter Cable will do you fine.Framing nail gun there again depends on use.

HTH
Vito