Pancake air compressors and tools?

[TRA]

I got one of those 3 gallon oil-less pancake compressors for Christmas. For pumping car tires and using a blow gun it seems like it's going to do ok, but are there any low CFM tools I should look into?

 

[Red Green]

If you are doing wood working those are good to use with a finish nailer or stapler. Rivet guns also. Basicly anything that you pull the trigger once and let go for the tool to reset. If its something like a DA or a Die grinder where you hold the trigger open the compressor won't get it done.

 

[TRA]

If you are doing wood working those are good to use with a finish nailer or stapler. Rivet guns also. Basicly anything that you pull the trigger once and let go for the tool to reset. If its something like a DA or a Die grinder where you hold the trigger open the compressor won't get it done.

Awesome. Exactly what I needed to know!

 

[tcianci]

I have used one of them for years for nailing, even a framing gun. The nice things about nailers and staplers is that you usually have plenty of time for the compressor to catch up. Mine is an old C'man, the same unit as the PC sold by HD. It has about a million hours on it. It died a couple of times, once it was a reed valve and another time it was a brush. cheap fixes. I'm thinking about buying one of the PC combo kits from HD, you can get the compressor and a brad nailer for really short money when they are on sale. Maybe I missed the window with Christmas sales but there was too much other stuff to spend money on right now.

 

[back2class]

they are ok for impact gun use in a bind.

 

[usmc_noma]

are those small pancakes good enough for a framing nailer? i know another post said it was fine but all the framing nailers i've looked into require a higher cfm than most pancakes put out.

 

[Chief]

are those small pancakes good enough for a framing nailer? i know another post said it was fine but all the framing nailers i've looked into require a higher cfm than most pancakes put out.

I would not use one to frame a house. But for a small project it should be fine

 

[Poppa Bud]

I have a 60 gallon IR compressor in the garage and used to fill up a portable tank to do small chores. Before christmas I was at HD and saw a Porter Cable pancake on sale for $199, it came with a brad nailer, finish nailer, hose and a couple other little accessories. I'll use it for misc chores around the place and can haul it somewhere else if I have the need.

I did use it with a framing nailer, works just fine, of course I'm not setting any speed records with my framing work.

 

[Bull]

I have used the Porter Cable pancake compressor that came with my finish and pin nailers for my PC framing nailer and my flooring nailer, too. I've done several rooms with it as I remodel my house, and I have never had a problem of any kind. So go ahead and use a framing nailer with it, you'll be fine!

 

[usmc_noma]

I would not use one to frame a house. But for a small project it should be fine

yeah, i would use it to frame some platforms for shelves hanging from the ceiling and also a small loft in the garage. at most i'd frame in a small shed.

 

[chrislehr]

I need to get my other one "installed" more so I have an excuse to buy a pancake one