I probably need to get a new compressor large enough for framing with 2-3 guns running constantly. The largest I have is a Makita MAC5200 that is about 6 CFM. Looked first for an Emglo wheelbarrow but they seem to have been absorbed by Dewalt and there doesn’t appear to be a large (~12 CFM) model any more.
Rol-Air makes one:
http://www.portlandcompressor.com/store/p-88-rol-air-3hp-wheelbarrow-electric-air-compressor.aspx
and so does I-R:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4YW08
Anyone out there been on the market for something like this? What did you buy?
Replies
several guys have stopped using gas powered compressors and gone to electric ones, making sure their generator has the power to run both saws and the compressor at the same time.
I have the Rolair wheelbarrow. Got it after my older one was stolen. Great compressor, quite and works like a champ. We run four framers off of it no problem. Mine is electric not gas, I have it wired 110 and we almost always have a temporary power pole at the job.
Bruce
Edited 8/6/2009 10:00 am by Hiker
Thanks for the links. I'm impressed by Grainger's I.R. with the Honda. If I were choosing between those two, I'd buy the I.R. just from what I know about Honda's small gas engines.
Honda lawn mowers have a long record of reliable daily service. Every SoCal gardener I've seen working has a Honda mower.
I own a pressure washer with a 5.5hp Honda. Although I don't use it very often, it always starts easily and runs strong.
Ditto about the Hondas.
Ditto about Hiker's emglow. I framed many, many, many houses with an electric air compressor. It didn't matter which model as long as you could set it to continuous run. The shutting on and off would trip the breakers when there were three saws running but if the compressor was in continuous mode, it never slowed us down.
When we went up to larger crews, we switched to gas because we typically only had one 20 amp breaker to work off and the saws would eat up all that juice.
The Rolairs are nice. They make them in gas also ( http://www.rolair.com/products/spec_pages/wheeled_gas/6590HK18.html#specs).
Here's a place that has a gas model for decent price:
http://www.mytoolstore.com/rolair/gb6.html.
http://www.mytoolstore.com/rolair/gb6.html.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Good one!!!!
Rolairs lasts long time and the service is great...
talk to this guy...
[email protected]
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
This might still be too small for you but I bought one last summer on rec. from guys here.
http://www.thomasairpac.com/products/airpac/airpac_electric/T-2820ST/t-2820st.jsp
5cfm rated for continuous use--runs on 15a circuits and long cords.
I've used it with 2 framing guns going as fast as 2 guys could shear nail 8's on sheathing--3 roofing nailers, 3 siding nailers--runs but pressure stays up. Recovers in 8 seconds.
I found one for aobut 500$ on line.
Pat
No experience with 'em but there's company called Jenny (the same folks that make steam cleaners) that bought Emglo's industrial line when DeWalt moved Emglo to Mexico- according to them they used to make many of the components for Emglo. Still made in the US afaik ..... might be worth a look. http://www.jennyproductsinc.com/ Thomas has a gas powered wheelbarrow model- 12cfm. Don't believe any of their current electric models will do what you want. Rolair is a safe bet at least judging by the beat up ones I've seen on jobsites that just seem to run and run.
"There can be no doubt that Socialism is inseparably interwoven with totalitarianism and the abject worship of the state…Socialism is in its essence an attack not only on British enterprise, but upon the right of ordinary men and women to breathe freely without having a harsh, clammy, clumsy tyrannical hand clasped across their mouth and nostrils" -Winston Churchill
Just wondering why not have two smaller compressors?
If one is down you have a backup, they are lighter, and they draw less amps.
You are effectively spreading out the load in several ways.
Will Rogers
and if you need a lot of air...
slave them together using a reserve tank...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
That would work. My point was that sometimes one big thing isn't as good as a couple of smaller ones.
I had an Emglow wheelbarrel electric compressor and I got tired of loading it into the truck.
"There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers
Edited 8/9/2009 10:57 pm by popawheelie
no carry here..
it's bolted into the tool box on the truck...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
David,
Get the gas Rol-Air 5.5. I've had mine for 100 years. Best compressor out there. Look at the pump compared to the baby IR pump. Forget the electric. Can't blow a breaker or need a generator with a gas compressor. It cost about 800.00.
I need an electric unit. I can always get Sparky to hook it up so it doesn't trip the breaker. Often it has to live in the garage or the crawl space during the job--next job the compressor is going to live in a stand-up crawl for 4 months. I suppose I could gang two units together but three separate units works well for my business. One on the main job, one in the shop, a small one that can get pulled out and taken to a small job. I need to grit my teeth and drop a thousand bucks I guess.
Get the electric Rol-Air . The pump is the best one compared to all the other compressors.Joe Carola
Have you looked at Thomas?
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Compressors-TG-550H-Horsepower-Compressor/dp/B0000ANEJD/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=hiqid=1249992838&sr=1-11
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Compressors-T-200-Horsepower-Gal-Oil-Free/dp/B0001VO202/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=hiqid=1249992989&sr=1-10
"Shawdow boxing the appoclipse and wandering the land"
Wier/Barlow