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- From: bruce_eckstein@gateway.qm.apple.com (Bruce Eckstein)
- Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house,rec.woodworking
- Subject: Advice needed on Finish Nailers and Compressors!!
- Message-ID: <34125@goofy.apple.COM>
- Date: 23 Dec 92 22:42:37 GMT
- Sender: usenet@goofy.apple.COM
- Organization: Apple Computer, Inc
- Lines: 47
-
- I'm in the market for an air compressor and a finish nailer and was hoping
- to get some advice on things that I should be looking for, and in particular
- what brands/models to buy or stay away from.
-
- My initial use for this setup will be for installing about 1000 linear feet
- of baseboard/casing/crown molding. However I would like to be able to use
- the compressor for things like air ratchets, impact drivers, sanders, and the
- occasional small spray painting job.
-
- In the compressor arena the features that I think I'm looking for are.
- 1. Portable or semi portable (ie. 50-70 lbs max, 4-10 gal. tank).
- 2. Enough capacity to run MOST air tools (ie. 4 cfm @ 90 psi).
- 3. Oil-less lubrication? (is this a must for finish work?)
- 4. Tank size? (what is the min. size for painting?)
- 5. Current draw? (it should be able to run EASILY on a 20 A breaker)
-
- Two models that I've seen that seem to fit the bill are the 1 1/2 hp
- Emglo/AirMate with dual vertical tanks (4 gallon total cap.) and the 2 1/2 hp
- Cambell-Hausfeld with an 11 gallon tank. The Emglo (AM78-HC4V) is a true
- portable at around 50 lbs and can be carried with one hand. It puts out
- 5.1 cfm @ 40 psi and 4.1 cfm @ 90 psi and draws 16 A. I've seen it for right
- around $300 mail order. The Cambell-Hausfeld is more of a semi-portable
- size with wheels and handle to drag it around by. It provides 6.5 cfm @ 40 psi
- and 4.5 cfm @ 90 psi with and 11 gallon tank. This is a 2 1/2 hp model yet
- claims to only draw 13 A. This model can be had from Home Depot for $278
- (plus CA sales tax). This model is definitely an oil-less design but I'm not
- sure about the Emglo. Are there any other brands, models or features that I
- should be looking for?
-
- The choice of finish nailers seems to be even further unbounded than for that
- for compressors. The ones I've looked at so far drive either 15 or 16 guage
- finish nails in lengths ranging from 3/4" to 2 1/2". For the trim that I've
- nailed by hand, I used 1 1/2" finish nails, is this in the ballpark? With
- nailers, I've also seen the term oil-less and convenionally lubricated used.
- Is this important? How about variable depth setting, is this useful, or just
- a hack to make a cheaper tool work the way it should? The models I've run
- accross so far are....
-
- 1. Senco SFN-1 $250 mail order1"-2" 15 ga.
- 2. Bostitch N60-FN2 ~$340 mail or Home Depot 1 1/4"-2 1/2" 15 ga.
- 3. Hitachi NT65A $320 mail order 3/4"-2 1/2" 16 ga.
- 4. Houbold 6416? $469 local store 3/4"-2 1/2" 16 ga.
-
- Any others?
-
- Thanks for your help!!!
- Bruce Eckstein
-