Air tools advice/experiences needed.

[wrigh003]

I finally picked a compressor and bought it, waited a week for it to come in, and went and picked it up. It's great, fairly quiet, and pretty much the most CFMs I can expect out of a (semi)portable tank. All I've used it for so far is airing up tires, though, since I haven't bought any tools to go with it yet. So I come to you for recommendations, and I guess this is the order in which I'll be buying.

I need (well, want) a framing nailer, as I have a BUNCH of building projects on the bubble for this summer, and it would really help. Who's got a good one, what did it cost you, and where'd you get it? I'm guessing I can do better online than the $279 DeWalt that Lowe's has, or the $299 Hitachi.

Other stuff I want:
DA sander
Impact gun
air ratchets
eventually a HVLP sprayer (project car needs paint), but that might be pushing what I can do with this thing.

Also a decent tire chuck or air gauge- the one that came in the accessory kit from Sears freakin' *****, you have to push on the valve with all you're worth just to get a tiny little bit of air to come out.

Here's what I got:
compressor

 

[1320stang]

I'd look at the nails, I'd suggest trying to find a nail that fits most models, then look at those models. My framing nailer is a Bostich, I like it.

 

[Jeeper]

I used a friends Rigid framing nailer. FH350 or something. It was nice. Used it for hardiplank and to do some framing work. Used round head nails instead of clipped. not sure the difference, but i think round is preferred. It accepted several different length nails. It also had a rubber pad to put on the contact point so it won't marr surfaces.

 

[jhn9840]

I have the 2hp 33gal vertical compressor for about 2 years now and it works great. I mostly run a 3/8 air rachet and 1/2 impact gun. Also have a DA sander and die grinder and a air drill. Have always been very satisified with the way it works. Looking to get a hvlp sprayer also, I really think it will handle it if just for occasional use. Would like to get a sand blast cabinet someday but that may be asking to much of this compressor.

jhn9840
John

 

[SteveU]

Framing nailer- find out if your building codes allow clipped head nails or if you are required to use round head nails, codes vary in different parts of the country. Impact- I would get a 1/2" Nitrocat, very quiet & powerful, definitly stay away from tool kit impacts, you will still be hammering on something 10 min later that the nitrocat would take off without trying. Do a search on this forum there is an in depth review. Air ratchets- again I would go with Aircat, I have both the 1/4" and 3/8" and like them a lot. They are quiet and powerful enough to get the job done. I have another 3/8" air ratchet that is at least 2-3 times as loud, the aircats are about as loud as my B&D electric drill. My DA sander came with a tool kit, it is allright but probably uses more air than a more expensive one. Pretty much when it comes to air tools the cheaper ones work allright but use more air and require a bigger compressor than the more expensive/ name brand tools except for impacts, the cheap ones just don't have the power to do the job. Get a good one to start with & save yourself the frustration & cost of having to buy a good one when the cheap one won't cut it.

 

[Jbullfrog]

I finally picked a compressor and bought it, waited a week for it to come in, and went and picked it up.

Here's what I got:
compressor

I had a vertical tank oiless for 1/2 an hour before going back to Sears to get my compressor like yours. They used to have them in the store. I run a 1/2 impact on it quite oftem and have no problems.

 

[wythors]

I've got the 25 gallon standup version of that. Very nice compressor for the money.

 

[V-10 Killer]

It may seem odd but consider a Paslode cordless framing nailer. They're lighter and more mobile with all the power. Really handy if you ever need to use it outside the shop. You wouldn't need to drag the compressor, extension cords, and a couple of hoses along too. You can also use full or clipped head nails. I got one off ebay last month for $255 without a scratch on it.

As for impact or air wrenches, I use Ingersoll Rand tools a ton at work, and they work excellent.

 

[wrigh003]

It may seem odd but consider a Paslode cordless framing nailer. They're lighter and more mobile with all the power. Really handy if you ever need to use it outside the shop. You wouldn't need to drag the compressor, extension cords, and a couple of hoses along too. You can also use full or clipped head nails. I got one off ebay last month for $255 without a scratch on it.

As for impact or air wrenches, I use Ingersoll Rand tools a ton at work, and they work excellent.

I started making some noie to mom and dad about buying a framing nailer to go with my new compressor, and dad says "don't do that, just borrow my Paslode." I didn't even know he had it- he's bad to buy a tool for one use and then put it up for a long period of time, and notoriously unorganized besides, so I didn't even know he had it. Anyway, mom brought it with the other day when she came to spend her week off with me and help me do some work on my house (she TOTALLY got flowers on mother's day this year). It's easy to use and makes sense and all, but I keep having issues with it not feeding a nail or wanting to fire when I pull the trigger. If I play with it a bunch it seems to get by OK for a minute or two, then jam up again. In all the time I have had it, I've probably shot a nail out of it twenty or so times. Makes no sense to bother with it if it's supposed to save time and work and winds up making more on the "fiddle with this, reload that, hold your mouth just right, pray" end of things.

So... I actually came here to drag up this old thread of mine and ask if anybody had related experience with the paslode cordless framers- wouldn't surprise me too much if this was a problem with the cheapy nails dad brought, I guess, but it seems to me that a framing nailer shouldn't be too sensitive to that kind of thing. I hate to take an essentially brand-new tool to the service center, but it may come to that. I figure least I can do for dad is get his nailer fixed if he lent it to me half broken without knowing.

 

[1320stang]

My only experience with a Paslode cordless was about 20 years ago when they first came out. Nice tool but expensive, the gas cartridges were notoriuos about leaking down, you had to buy the cartridges seperate from the nails, boss figured it cost about $2.50 per nail shot and that was just in consumables. Everything has come a long way since then, I wished I could justify buying one now.

 

[hdroadkingc]

I love my Paslode Cordless. It has saved me alot of time. As long as you keep up on the maint. you wont have any problems.

 

[ovilla]

I have a regular Paslode F150 framing nailer and I really like it. I always oil it before every use and it has never let me down. I've gone through two full boxes of nails and haven't had a single issue with it. To me the real advantage of the non-cordless models is in weight savings and in not ever needing to buy the gas cartridges. I'm sure in a few years they'll totally redesign the cartridges too and then the prices on cartridges will go up (think replacement batteries for cordless drills). Anyway, the cordless models seem a lot heavier to me. With the right air line hook up the air line won't really even get in the way either. Plus, I like the fact that I can disconnect it and the kids can't use it. This is one tool that I always keep a close eye on and never leave laying around still connected to the air compressor.

 

[wrigh003]

So... I actually came here to drag up this old thread of mine and ask if anybody had related experience with the paslode cordless framers- wouldn't surprise me too much if this was a problem with the cheapy nails dad brought, I guess, but it seems to me that a framing nailer shouldn't be too sensitive to that kind of thing. I hate to take an essentially brand-new tool to the service center, but it may come to that. I figure least I can do for dad is get his nailer fixed if he lent it to me half broken without knowing.

For those keeping score at home- fuel cylinders for a Paslode cordless framer marked "Best By June of '05" don't work so great when they're coming up on two years out of date, even if they have never been opened. $12 for two cylinders, and my bathroom renovation was framed in just a few minutes. We'll see if I can even use up the cylinder before it leaks down- doesn't seem to be much in the manual on how many shots you get per cylinder.

Cool tool, especially when you take the bonehead operator out of the mix. :tard:

I wouldn't have bumped this again, but I figured it had to be good for a laugh for somebody.