air compressor for homeowner

[Jeffrey]

I'm looking to purchase a air compressor and nailers to use while working on our house. Anything from framing to finish nailing. I've heard that the smaller Senco compressor is good along with the pancake Porter-Cable compressor. Any one care to coment? Feedback and sugestions are always welcome.

Thanks,

Jeff

[giddonah]

I have the PC 16&18ga combo. I love the thing. The compressor is small enough for me to not get totally irritated when I have to bring it from room to room. I haven't used senco stuff, but have heard good things about it.

[VALENT]

I built my house with a pos cambell hausfeld and it did a good job.I'm pretty sure any one you buy will do a good job for what you have in mind. Definitely keep in mind dragging it around.

[Pokey]

I have the same set up as giddonah and absolutely love it. For the package price at home depot you absolutly can not beat it. I would have some concern about framing with it, but if your just doing some light duty framing it should work fine. I wouldn't reccomend nailing off subfloor or anything that requires a lot of air.

[giddonah]

... unless you were working alone at a moderate pace so the compressor could keep up. If I were going to do that much with it, I'd get a nice 50' hose and put the thing in another room - it can get a little loud. But definitely, if you were going to hook up two guns, or work fast, it might leave you wanting.

[briwnt6]

I Bought a Porter Cable job boss and a Paselode framing gun to frame my house both have worked flawlessly. Their a little expensive but good tools. As for trim guns and brad nailers i've been real happy with bostich. never had a problem with either of those guns

[What the?]

I have a twin tank porter cable, and couldn't be happier. But when there's no generator, I use my Jeep. I custom built a compressor in the engine bay

[VALENT]

Sweet deal What the? I have often considered doing similar but never took the time.

[What the?]

Sweet deal What the? I have often considered doing similar but never took the time.

It's not really that difficult if your vehicle has the room. You need to have room in the engine bay to mount the belt driven compressor, mine was an old volvo air-conditioning compressor from a junk yard. You also need room for an air tank, optional, but I like mine, it's 2.5 gallons mounted under the jeep between the chasis rails. Add the plumbing, clutch, and longer serpintine belt, and you're good to go.

It's great when you blow a tire from a nail from the job site. You can use an air wrench to take the tire off, plug the hole, and then air it back up. All from the side of the highway. No spare tire needed.

[giddonah]

that's one of the coolest mods to a car. Almost as good as my carpc :D

[What the?]

that's one of the coolest mods to a car. Almost as good as my carpc :D

Then I added a 21" Mack Truck airhorn to my system. Is it cooler than the carpc yet?
:twisted:

http://ohiomurals.com/jeepin/horn.jpg

[giddonah]

wow. that's gettin' there. :lol:

[VALENT]

I looked at your link about adding the air compressor. Does the compressor pump air all the time or does it stop at some pressure? If so, how?
Alright, I see mention of a clutch but tell me more.

[What the?]

Ok, here's the setup:

First, you grab an air conditioning compressor, this is going to be your pump. You need an older York model (or Motocraft), becuase is has a separate oil resevoir. The newer ones like Sanden, are lubricated by the refridgerant. Since you are pumping air, and not freon, this is a big deal. I got my compressor from an old Volvo at a junkyard.

Now you need to fabricate a bracket to hold the compressor. This is the tough part. You need to have room to mount this sucker since it is going to be belt driven. My bracket is mounted using the holes that held the alternator, and the bracket hold both the compressor and the alternator.

Now add an electric clutch. This keeps the pump from always running. If you are lucky, you can use the one that came with the compressor. You may need a v-groove, or flat belt, or a different size. Then buy a serpentine belt that wraps around everything.

Now the plumbing. FIlter the intake of the compressor. Output goes through a check valve, then to a tank (mine is 2.5 gallons). The tank has a emergency pressure relief valve, and a drain cock. The plumb the tank to a manifold. The manifold has a pressure switch that engages the clutch at low pressure, and dis-engages it at high. The manifold also has the air hose connector.

That's about it I guess. Trust me on this, you spend much more time planning this than actually building it. But then again, I'm an engineer. :wink:

[VALENT]

Alright you said add an electric clutch which keeps the pump from always running. Where do you get the manifold which controls the clutch?

[What the?]

I use a Grainger catalog when all else fails, but the internet had everything you need.

A 'manifold' is just something that the hose from the tank plugs into. It has multiple outlets that use can use or plug. Here's an example of one: http://store.yahoo.com/alamohose/683-4.html But you can find all kinds to suit you needs. I needed one that split the output to the pressure guage, the pressure switch, and to the quick connect coupler (to hook up my tools to).

The pressure switch is what turns on and off the clutch. Here's an example: http://doityourself.com/store/6934368.htm

These links are examples only, Since this is a custom project, you'll want to buy equipment that has the specs you are looking for. I wanted my pressure switch to turn on the clutch when pressure dropped to about 80psi, and turn off at about 125. My pressure releif valve is set at 150 psi, which should never go off unless my pressure switch malfunctions.

This starting to make sense?