Too much air hose?

[Syberia]

I'm in the process of building a fence and have run into a small snag. I'm using a nail gun (which is awesome, by the way, and I don't know why I didn't buy one sooner) to speed up the process. I thought my portable 8-gal compressor would get the job done for me, and it does power the gun just fine, the issue is that it pulls 15 amps and on anything more than about 100 feet of #12 extension cord, it won't even start.

The problem with that is that I'm going about 250 feet from the house. Can I simply make up the difference with a lot of air hose, or will that drop the pressure too much for the nailer to function?

 

[rustyshakelford]

Should be fine with a 3/8 hose I'd think. Have a generator to keep it closer by chance?

Brett

 

[Syberia]

Unfortunately I don't, and I don't really have the money to drop on one either. Saving it all for the animals we're going to be putting inside the fence.

 

[MattPersman]

Just get more hose should be ok

 

[ttpete]

You can use a longer hose, but plumb a large portable air tank into the line at the nail gun end. It will work like a big surge tank and store air at the end where it's needed.

This also works if you need to use an impact wrench at a distance.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

You're not nailing off sheathing. You'll be fine with more air hose. If the nail doesn't sink, grab the hammer and give a tappy tappy.

BTW: nails are bad for a fence. screws are mucho better. But, if you do nail, make sure you run one nail at a left angle, and the other one at a right angle (or one upward and one downward). This makes it so the nails are not parallel and can not pull out together over time....b/c that WILL happen.

 

[72Anthony]

You can use a longer hose, but plumb a large portable air tank into the line at the nail gun end. It will work like a big surge tank and store air at the end where it's needed.

This also works if you need to use an impact wrench at a distance.

+1
Framing crews will do this. Compressor is near the street next to the temporary power pole and they will have a long hose running to the tank on the first or second floor, then individual hoses to each nailer.

You can pick up a portable tank at the home centers, typically 5 or 10 gallons. Run your compressor at full pressure, making sure it is below the maximum pressure of the portable tank. Then install a regulator at the tank outlet to control your pressure. This will give you a larger resevior of air to ensure adequate pressure and quick recovery time.

 

[Redfin]

Screws are better,good cordless drill or an airless landslide nail gun,bought one reluctantly a few years ago but what a machine go anywhere and nail on!

 

[Redfin]

Paslode nail gun sorry

 

[jmlcolorado]

I'd say the long air hose would be okay, since the hose is pressurized just as the tank is, just more air.
Extra tank, 1st best option, but you could also use a larger gauge extension cord.

 

[The Cobbler]

250' of 3/8 hose on a nail gun will not be an issue, unless of course you're trying for some speed nailing competition .
several years ago I was doing trim in an apartment hallway , our workshop was an empty apt. I had at least 300' of hose attached so we didnt have to keep moving the compressor. mind you it was only an 18g brad gun, but I don't see a problem, especially if you don't try to break any speed records with the nail gun