Framing nailer airline size?

[cashishift]

A buddy and I are doing a project soon, and he just bought a new Makita MAC2400 compressor.. well I have his old framing nailer, it's a old Duo-Fast CN-350b, was wondering what size hose i should get 3/8 or 1/4??

 

[yost69]

We use 3/8 for all of our stuff while building. 1/4 just seems way to small to me.

If your going to buy a hose for it buy 3/8. If you already have 1/4 try it and see if it works. It may or may not.

 

[Tribalvision]

I use 3/8" on my gun. If it's to much, you can turn the regulator down.

 

[cashishift]

We use 3/8 for all of our stuff while building. 1/4 just seems way to small to me.

If your going to buy a hose for it buy 3/8. If you already have 1/4 try it and see if it works. It may or may not.

i was leaning towards the 3/8 anyways. thanks for the quick reply.

 

[Jbullfrog]

Alot of framers use 1/4" hard hose for their guns. The main advantage is it doesn't tangle or snag as bad as rubber hose.

 

[Dustball]

I'd use 1/4 inch for a framing nailer. You're not using a lot of volume and you're moving around a lot so a lighter 1/4" hose is easier to handle.

 

[ishiboo]

I think 1/4 is fine unless you are sequential firing a ton of nails. Only framing pros would likely need more than 1/4.

 

[ChrisF250]

We use 3/8

 

[Ksullivan]

I have 1/4" PVC hose, I spent $30+ dollars on and have regretted it ever since I just need to break down and buy a better hose, I looked at some that have great flexibility in cold weather as well as being anti kink. I have used my hose for framing nailer and finish nailer without a problem.

 

[ishiboo]

I have 1/4" PVC hose, I spent $30+ dollars on and have regretted it ever since I just need to break down and buy a better hose, I looked at some that have great flexibility in cold weather as well as being anti kink. I have used my hose for framing nailer and finish nailer without a problem.

My first air compressor I bought HF's PVC hose... the moment it got cold it was like PVC pipe.

I now have a couple of the Bostich hoses which are fine in decent weather, but my favorite are the FlexZilla's. The only bad thing is the jacket gets very dirty very fast and is seemingly impossible to clean.

 

[dsmnickk90]

I just used my Bostitch framing nailer all weekend and used 3/8" hose. I've used 1/4" hose before without problems but if you need to buy a hose just go with 3/8" unless you only plan to use nailers.

 

[deter]

I use 1/4" hard hose with my framing nailer. Works just fine shooting 3" nails into 120 year old native-timber-framed houses

 

[cheechi]

i've used both with my smaller nailers indoors and testing /adjusting my (hf) framing nailers but i think if i had the room i'd still go with 3/8 every time. you may not need a hvlp style regulator for yours but i get more consistent results with a regulator at the gun end on mine. i get acceptable consistency with a regulator at the tank end but for my stuff the tank's regulator wasn't enough.

in general i think when i was using the 3/8 hose i was getting more controllable deppth of drive but did not measure, was only looking at reducing mis- & double-fires.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Mines 3/8". I bought it right before I left Swan. We could buy it at cost. I bought 2-50' sections and 2-25' sections. I believe I have less than $20 in all.

 

[bcradio]

So from all the comments posted, you can safely deduce that either size will work just fine for a framer.

If you already have one, save your money and use that. Otherwise think about other items you will use compressed air on and buy a hose based on that.

 

[rlitman]

Framing nailers have a hollow handle that holds a reservoir of air, so it will work through any size hose. Lots of people prefer the 1/4" hose because it is lighter (this is more of a concern for a roofing nailer).

As stated above, any size PVC hose just plain *****.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

buy 1/4 I have 2 1/4 hoses that are very flexible I use with my framing nailer, it works great.

I don't like use 3/8 because they are stiffer and when holding a nailer above your head every little bit helps.

I have 3/8 I use for my impacts and ratchets...

 

[mrtoolfool]

I agree that either 1/4" or 3/8" will work fine for nail guns, framing, roofing, finishing. The 1/4" is easier to drag around than the 3/8", Most roofers these days seem to prefer the 1/4". I just put a garage addition on using a 100 foot 1/4" hose. It worked well for both the framer and the roofing gun. I would suggest getting one of the newer super flexible polyurethane hoses. They are awesome.

Home Depot has them as well as Amazon. Good brands are Coilhose, Flexzilla, Amflo. Hitachi, and Bostitch also make the new polyethylene hoses.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=polyurethane%20air%20hose&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=SEARCHALL


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=polyurethane+air+hose

 

[camarotoolman]

Off subject, but be extra careful, nail guns are dangerous.

 

[Addrock]

Two words: Paslode Impulse! No hoses, every day I use it and don't have to uncoil/coil a hose, and move compressors around, make me happy.

 

[shoot summ]

Two words: Paslode Impulse! No hoses, every day I use it and don't have to uncoil/coil a hose, and move compressors around, make me happy.

Although it doesn't apply to the question, I do have to agree with this, just got my first Impulse gun, my "hosed" guns will see very little use now. I am not however working with these guns everyday, they are for my own projects.

I will say that I've used 1/4" and 3/8" hoses and as stated, there is no difference. I do like the manageability of the 1/4" hose.

 

[SlappyWhite]

I have no issue with a 1/4" line on my pancake compressor. If you have to go out and buy a new line by all means get 3/8" but in my case I am using the line that came with the little compressor.

 

[uncletater]

either

I have used both w/o any problems.