1/4" air line
- Thread starter cgrutt
- Start date
^ ^ ^ Your Bostich roofing gun is likely all you'll ever need. Other top brands include Hitachi, Paslode, and Senco.
I've got little DeWalt twin-tank 4 gal oiled compressor that runs 100 ft of 3/8" hose to Hitachi roofing nailer or framing gun no problem. Compressor has never had problem keeping up, even with rapid nailing of framing gun. Actually have to feather down the pressure at compressor to little over 90 psi.
The 1/4" air line likely easier to handle, but I like the 3/8" capacity.
I've got little DeWalt twin-tank 4 gal oiled compressor that runs 100 ft of 3/8" hose to Hitachi roofing nailer or framing gun no problem. Compressor has never had problem keeping up, even with rapid nailing of framing gun. Actually have to feather down the pressure at compressor to little over 90 psi.
The 1/4" air line likely easier to handle, but I like the 3/8" capacity.
Zeke
Well-known member
For a long run and a small compressor I'd recommend 3/8ths line and fittings. If you don't get the lines at least use the larger fittings with reducers. You may want to open up the reducers a tad and make sure they are smooth inside.
A 3/8ths line will add to your ballast or capacity as well. Not that 100 feet doesn't hold quite a bit of air.
sberry
Banned
Improving connectors on 100 ft of 1/4 hose wont mean squat. For long runs use 3.8 and if you want use a shorter 1/4 whip.
rlitman
Well-known member
Guys, you missed the OP's question. He wants it for framing and roofing. Nail guns are designed with enough air capacity in the handle that the flow through the line is immaterial. If you put a valve on a nail gun's input, and pressurized it and then shut the valve, it would fire one nail. The line just needs to bring the gun back up to pressure before you need to fire the next nail. 100' of 1/4" line is regularly used by roofers.
Roofers especially like 1/4" line because it's super light and is less likely to damage shingles.
My favorite 1/4" line that I own is a 50' Amflo I got at HD when it went on clearance for $5. I believe it has been replaced by this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Amflo-1-...e-with-Field-Repairable-Ends-14-100/202205320
What I'd suggest you look for are the following features:
Polyurethane (stays flexible in all weather conditions)
Translucent line with a nylon mesh inside (I've had pure polyurethane coil hoses blow out after years in service. Never seen that with a line that's got mesh; translucent means you can see if you have water issues).
Plastic strain reliefs on the ends. (The ends are the first places that fail, but also the tapered plastic strain relief make it less likely for your quick connects to get snagged on something).
Zeke
Well-known member
You are regularly spot on and there's nothing wrong with what you said here, but I didn't miss the point. The air chamber on a framing nailer is larger than a roofing gun and therefore takes more air to fire each nail. In sequential bounce firing on sheathing this can take more air than his pancake can supply. A larger hose adds capacity as well as flow. Sure, he can do it with 1/4: air line but I find the connections to be less than a full 1/4" so I recommended 3/8ths fittings. He will experience longer recovery times but there's always the prospect of repositioning and reloading to buy some time.
WRT flow dynamics a long run requires up-sizing. The entry and exit mean less than the flow along the run. When running a natural gas line to a pool heater a 3/4" entry and exit are sufficient. However, depending on the length of the run, the pipe could be as big as 2". I know, apples and oranges because NG is very low pressure. But the dynamics are there nevertheless.
Sberry, good tip about the whip. But he needs to get air to near where the gun is to be used and not be starved when he's rapid firing. AFA large being heavy, I use GoodYear rubber hoses and they are fat. They don't kink or tangle.
Nitpicking, I know.
rlitman
Well-known member
You could use 1/2" line and still outrun a pancake bounce firing. If the pump can't keep up, no hose size will make a difference.
Yes, 1/4" line will limit the gun's recharge rate, but the compressor will limit it more.
Look here for the math:
http://www.gates.com/catalogs-and-resources/resources/repository/calculator/air-flow-calculator
100' of 1/4" hose at 100PSI at the compressor and 2.5SCFM flow equals 2.5PSI loss at the tool. That's NOTHING. Step that up to 6SCFM, and yes, you're seeing 15PSI loss at the tool, but that's on 100' of 1/4" line, and nobody is going to sustain that rate of flow through a nail gun. Besides, 1/4" hoses come in 50' lengths. If you need more than that, you couple it with a 3/8" hose for the rest of the run back to the compressor.
The fastest guy I've ever seen with a roofing nail gun was about 10 years ago when I was standing outside a restaurant, watching a development next door being finished up. The guy was putting four nails in each shingle so quickly that the echo of the sound blended together into one noise. It was mesmerizing to watch, and I stood there for quite some minutes in astonishment. He was moving so fast that he had two guys feeding him shingles, and he was using a 1/4" hose for at least the last 25' (where I could see the hose before it dropped behind a fence).
LOL, just looking for a good hose that is easy to handle and won't wear out too quickly. I'm quite sure the compressor will keep up with me no speed demon here 
I bought a pair of Hitachi hoses - poly/translucent/with mesh. Seems good enough for what I'm using it for. We're going to be running two guns. I've got a couple of 3/8 rubber hoses if it doesn't work out. Just using 1/4 fittings for now as I don't have enough 3/8 fittings to switch everything over at this point. Been running 3/8 off my main compressor and planning on converting everything over eventually but not in the budget for this project. Thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate it.
I bought a pair of Hitachi hoses - poly/translucent/with mesh. Seems good enough for what I'm using it for. We're going to be running two guns. I've got a couple of 3/8 rubber hoses if it doesn't work out. Just using 1/4 fittings for now as I don't have enough 3/8 fittings to switch everything over at this point. Been running 3/8 off my main compressor and planning on converting everything over eventually but not in the budget for this project. Thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate it.