What size aire compressor do I need for an air framing nailer as well as impact wrench?

Question

What type of things do I need to look for when buying aportable air compressor? I will use it for trim work, framing and for car repairs (drill, wrench, impact wrench, grinding etc.) How many gallons? What PSI? What CFM @ PSI? What brand?

Answer 1

Well, youve covered the basics of what you need in your own question... how big of a storage tank do you need, what pressure can it attain and hold (psi) and cubic feet per minute (CFM).

For a trim nailer.... this is a relatively low CFM usage tool. Most trim nailers require only 60 PSI to operate...well within the operating range of most compact compressors... framing nailers require up to 90 PSI. Ive toted a Campbell Housfeld "torpedo" compressor for several years, and it has been more than sufficient for my nailing needs... it has a 2 gallon tank, with a 2.2 horsepower compressor, that runs off of 110v, at 15 amps peak. Ive had this compressor for several years, and have had no problems at all with it. I have had to trim the air line between the tank and gauge on one occasion, because it got kinked (a thin hard plastic tubing), and the copper supply line between the compressor and the tank, Ive also had to replace twice, because it was bent to the point it cracked, lol... rough handling. Both were easy fixes tho...other than that, my compressor has not required any maintenance at all, so I feel very good about recommending the Campbell Hausfeld Brand.
I mentioned the 15 amps peak... because there were times when I needed to run my compressor off of a voltage converter from my work vehicle... converting the "dc" to "ac" voltage. MOST of the smaller power converters, will NOT attain 15 amps... you need a fairly large power convertor to reach that. Check the stats on the convertor, if you decide to go shopping for one.. and make sure it can put out 15 amps.

Now, Over the years, Ive also used this same compressor, for such things as an air impact wrench, and even a hopper gun. These two items require much more CFM.... I found my little portable compressor was able to keep up, only in short bursts, that is, I had to work a little, wait a little.

So... Youve got a decision as to which is more important... ease of portability, or the ability to use larger CFM tools on a continuous basis. Perhaps one of the 5 gallon tanks, on wheels, would be a good compromise, Ive never used one that size. I do know that it has basically the same compressor on top of it, as the smaller tank compressors do.

Larger tool shops, garages and such, that need to use the larger CFM tools frequently, dont bother with a portable compressor, they buy a large 50 gallon tank, minimum, compressor, with a 2 stage compressor. The difference between a 2 stage and single stage (portable), is that the air is compressed, in literally, two steps... this makes it less work on the compressor. These units are also belt driven, as opposed to a direct drive ...this makes the 2 stage compressor motors last longer....the belt absorbs a lot of the 'shock', or stress, if you will, of startup.

I recently changed a tire on my 3/4 ton van, with my portable air compressor, and impact wrench... I could break and remove each tire lug, in about 5 seconds... but had to wait about 20 seconds in between lugs... that doesnt sound like much... but if you were trying to do that all day.. it would become a major pain. Since I mainly used my compressor as a traveling warranty service tech... portability was my big concern... I needed something that took up a small space, and was easy to pick up and carry around. For my needs, this particular compressor is perfect. I do not have to remove too many tire lugs, heheheh. I did find tho, that when doing textured ceilings with my hopper gun.... I spent more time waiting for the compressor to gain enough CFM, than I did actually spraying.

Im no longer traveling now...so, I dont need to concern myself with doing ceilings, so, I am very seriously considering finding a big tank, to put in my garage, without a compressor... that I can use my portable to charge, when I need to run a grinder, or impact wrench...that might be something you would want to consider... if you do not need the large cfm tools in a portable setting... but you do need the portability for trim nailing, etc... then go with a smaller tank compressor, and buy a second air tank that will hold much more volume, at home. (Im currently looking at several used propane tanks.... 250 to 500 gallon range, hehehe)

Another good brand name is Porter Cable... they have a reputation for building high quality tools. Ive also heard good things about the large tank compressors sold at Lowes. Stanley/Bostich also makes some very nice portable compressors.

So, it boils down to this... do you need portability? or large CFM the most. This more than anything, will determine which type of air compressor you need. If you are using the air drill, impact wrench, and grinders, etc.. a LOT, at home... I would suggest you purchase a larger, stationary, 2-stage compressor for your shop. For portability, I would suggest a 'torpedo' compressor that will hold at least 2 gallons. I would actually advise against using a "pancake" compressor... its a little on the 'too small' side...Ive known roofing contractors who needed the much smaller pancake compressor to carry it up on the roof, but would use 2 of them, to keep up with the demand of the roofing nailer....I figure, if you have to tote two of them up... its just as much work, as toting one that will do the job by itself, lol.

One last tip.... If you decide to purchase a portable compressor, you're better off running extra air hose, to reach your work area, than to run an extension cord. The compressor does need a full 15 amps.... extensions cords lose "xx" number of amps, over so many feet... so, to purchase an extension cord of any length... you have to goto extremely heavy guage wire... the end result is, that the extension cord costs more than air hose, and is harder on the electric motor, because of the drop in amps. While, using more air hose, is like adding a little extra volume to your tank...less work on your motor.

One other alternative I can think of... mount a large, normally stationary, tank, on your work vehicle, and run it off of a generator...this is probably the most expensive solution, but would give you true portability, with large CFM. You would also want several air hoses to be able to reach your work area... the benefits to this approach would be a longer lasting compressor motor... the larger CFM to run the other tools.. the generator would help supply power to other electrical items, if you are working in a location without power (perhaps a new home?, or changing a tire out on a highway?)....and... it would keep the noise outside, lol. When I used my portable inside... I would often put it in a room no one was using, and shut the door, running hoses to where I was working...made it much easier on the ears, hehehe.

Happy Shopping!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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RE:
What size aire compressor do I need for an air framing nailer as well as impact wrench?
What type of things do I need to look for when buying aportable air compressor? I will use it for trim work, framing and for car repairs (drill, wrench, impact wrench, grinding etc.) How many gallons? What PSI? What CFM @ PSI? What brand?

Answer 4

Pneumatic Framing Nailer

Answer 5

Select the biggest tool you will use and then use those specs to determine the compressor. For instance, take your nailers - if you need a smaller brad nailer you can get by with much less than if you need a pro-line continuous-use nailer.

For household use pretty much any brand will suffice, so long as you don't choose the cheapest thing out there.

Answer 6

Air Compressor For Nail Gun

Answer 7

i have a 2 hp Hitachi compressor i can run 4 roofing nail guns at the same time. i also spent a little extra ($30) for a higher rated regulator but i have no problem adjusting the regulator to go from airbrush at (10-12 psi) to my framing nailer at (70-90 psi). its lite enough to take with you but really is tough enough for the job .

Answer 8

can a compressor be to powerfull for a nailer i have 200psi compressor and a 70-120psi nailer i cant adjust the compressor, can i use this

Answer 9

Once you decide on a compressor..I'd recommend actually LISTENING to the compressor when it is running. My compressor is so loud that is annoying to be in the same room with it.

Answer 10

The best place to buy cheap Pneumatic Nailers - Air Nail Guns online is at Amazon.com who stock a massive collection from leading brands at amazing prices like Hitachi, Senco, Freeman, Bostitch, Dewalt, Makita, Porter-Cable and more.

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From professionals who build structures from the ground up as a living, to DIYers who have a few home projects on their mind, anyone can benefit from the ease and convenience of the pneumatic nail guns.

Pneumatic nail guns can be fantastic tools to have around to make quick work of a variety of fabrication and construction projects. Pneumatic nail guns use compressed air to shoot different kinds of nails straight into wood, drywall, and more.

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Some nail guns are purpose built for specific jobs, providing you with the right tools to do your home improvement or redesigning work easily.

Answer 11

I'm a guy, and personally, I don't like long nails. We know a lot of like lengthy, painted nails cause they're "so pretty", but I don't like them.