Replies

1. 
   baseboardking | Aug 06, 2003 03:27am | #1

   I am also a fan of quiet compressors. The loudest are the Rol-Aire units, although any direct  drive electric is too. I am going back to the oil-lube units, just bought a Dewalt/Emglo 2hp, but I have yet to turn it on. The quietest are the belt drive units, but they are big and expensive. Good luck!

   Baseboard been VERRRY good to me
2. 
   RW | Aug 06, 2003 04:46am | #2

   Actually yes. I have a tiny little thing that I actually get some use out of, and it's got enough juice you could trim a whole house with it if you really wanted to. The brand name is Puma, which near as I can tell is a made in China import, it's got a small single tank, oilless, with the guts on top. With a handle it maybe weighs 25 lbs. It's slow recharge, which really doesn't matter for finish guns, but its so durn quiet you just about couldn't hear it in the next room. Certainly not across a house. At any rate, I don't know how prevalent that brand is. It can't be the only one. I would think that the recharge rate might help direct you some, slow will be quieter. Its the perfect little thing to carry around for the times when all you need it for is a couple of window casings.

   "The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb "      lyrics by Roger Waters

1. 
   fdampier5 | Aug 09, 2003 05:41am | #7

   I've got one of those too (puma compressors).. I second your opionon of them !  I bought it as a spare to carry in my trailer to the races.. it's at least 15 years old and reliable as a tank..  It's been rained on, stored for years, and in general mistreated because it's a cheap made in china tool.. It cost me $50.00 at a swap meet..new!

        It's stunningly quiet and reliable..  I've used it in the past tied together with my large stationary compressor when I do sand blasting and the big one runs out of air too fast..

      I can, if doing a lot of nailing with my big framing nailer run it out of air so that it affects the performance of the nail gun..   But usually by that time I need to stop and striaghten my back.  I've never run it out with the trim nailer or the roofing stapler. 

     I like that it's an easy one handed carry and even a wimp like me has no trouble hauling it around..

   Edited 8/8/2003 10:45:33 PM ET by frenchy

   Edited 8/8/2003 10:46:29 PM ET by frenchy

1. 
   RW | Aug 09, 2003 07:08pm | #8

   I'm actually glad to hear that. I've had mine for only a few years and wondered what the longevity factor would be like. The brand was new to me when I bought it. Not that I care a whole lot on the little one, but I've also got the large wheelbarrow style with the 18a induction motor on it. The thing weighs a ton, takes two mules to get in and out of a truck, and I only use it when I know I'm going to need a ton of air, like three guns going at once or running a spray pot. I'd care if that didn't last. "The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb "      lyrics by Roger Waters

1. 
   armin | Aug 09, 2003 09:45pm | #9

   Senco, has a deal out as we speak, an 18 ga  2" pinner combined with a small, very lite  1/2 hp. compressor, packaged price less than 200 bucks.  It's about the smallest compressor I have seen built for the trades. Don't know how quiet it is, has anyone out there used one of these?

3. 
   JeffBuck | Aug 06, 2003 06:11am | #3

   I looked around before I bought mine and decided on the Thomas 2820 ST.

   I needed all around use, but still portable for one guy.

   This is their 2 piston model ....have run 2 framing guns off it while framing and sheathing .....so it's plenty for my usual one trim guy at a time.

   Way quiet compared the a similar Emglo.

   stacked 2 gal tanks ...total of 4 gal ....2 hp.

   Way, way quieter than the hitachi a buddy had too.

   They have a smaller one I haven't seen but a co -worker saw first hand and said it was about as loud as an aquarium pump...said it was a real little guy that a trim sub was using. ...one man/one gun

   Jeff

   Buck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

    Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

4. 
   byoung0454 | Aug 09, 2003 05:13am | #4

   I bought a CENTRAL PNEUMATIC 2 HP 5 gallon twin tank compressor a few years back from Harbor Freight, it is a oil lubed and low rpm and is pretty quiet and has a fast recovery. I have used this compressor quite a bit and have had no problems with it. I even run 2 pasload staplers off it to sheet a roof and it had no problem keeping up. With harbor freight anything over 50.00 is free shipping. The model or lot number is 42321 and it normal price is 149.99 but it is on sale now for 89.99.

   http://www.harborfreight.com

1. 
   Edgar76b | Aug 09, 2003 05:28am | #5

   I just Picked Up one of those Cheap ones and so far it works great. the only thing I can see that i don't like is one of the welds is kinda sloppy. It looks like the bostich. yellow Too. I have to check the oil seems quiet enough. i was told you can get them at Tractor Supply. 2 Hp  drws 14 amps? cost me 79 plus tax and fittings. I bought mine at a tent sale. 

   Where there's A wheel there's a way, got any wheels?

   Edited 8/8/2003 10:35:08 PM ET by MuleSkinner

5. 
   FrankB89 | Aug 09, 2003 05:33am | #6

   Friend of mine has a dive shop.  Several finish carpenters have 80 cf SCUBA tanks set up to supply trim guns and they get their tanks refilled at the shop.  One tank will go a long ways.  Very quiet!  Refill for 3000psi nitrogen or just air is about $10.

   A couple of the guys have their tanks mounted in little wheeled carts...easy to move around.

    

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Aug 10, 2003 04:39am | #10

   What kind of first stage regulator are they using. I have used my tanks with an adapter on my first stage high pressure hose, for my BC, to air up flat tires in an emergency. I can't imagine subjecting my ScubaPro regulators to the dust, dirt and rough conditions of a construction site. Unregulated and just cracking the valve could be real hazardous to the equipment and people. Think about. Helpers cranks the bottle on. A full 3000 psi hits the trim nailer and...... ER run.

   Dave

1. 
   FrankB89 | Aug 10, 2003 06:34am | #11

   I'll try to get the particulars.  This set up is not uncommon; I've seen it around since the 80's anyway, never heard of any safety problems.  I do believe the regulators used, however, are not diving regulators.

   There's a variety of industrial pressure regulators, like medical air, or welding gas, for example, that use the same range of bottled pressures as SCUBA air. 

2. 
   PhillGiles | Aug 10, 2003 08:47pm | #14

   I've seen this done with an old USD Conshelf 12 regulator using the BC port.

   EDIT - but to your other point, most of old-timers have either seen the aftermath of a valve breaking off a tank, or at least have seen pictures. I heard (i.e. I was there, but my back was turned) a valve go through the trunk-sill of a car and carry on through the grill, A/C condensor, rad, fan, and most of the water-pump of the car parked behind - frightening.

   .

   Phill Giles

   The Unionville Woodwright

   Unionville, Ontario

   Edited 8/10/2003 1:54:36 PM ET by Phill Giles

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Aug 11, 2003 03:29am | #15

   I have had a burst disk rupture while my tanks were in the back of our van. I think there were six or eight tanks back there. Sounded like a freight train. I almost messed down both legs before I got pulled over and figured out what happened. That is 3000 psi direct blow. A first stage hose rupture is only around 180 psi, not nearly as loud.

   Does anyone know what a normal phnumatic air hose is rate at?

   Dave 

1. 
   calvin | Aug 11, 2003 05:45am | #17

   Contact the Dana Corp.  They used to (might still) supply air hose to senco.  Weatherhead was their fitting co.  Perhaps they supplied the hose too.  http://www.dana.com/Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   Quittin' Time

2. 
   jgjgjgnn | Aug 11, 2003 05:27am | #16

   In San Diego, 80's & early 90's, most of the trim carpenters I worked with had leased CO2 tanks w/ regulators. The regulators had 2 gauges, tank pressure and adjustable output pressure. Worked great, $8 to refill, just be sure to turn off the tank so that a small leak would not empty the tank.

   The quietest compressor I ever owned was a pancake type with a sealed refrigerator motor mounted on top of the tank. Heavy for its small size, but very quiet.

6. 
   PaulParadis | Aug 10, 2003 08:54am | #12

   I just bought a small ROL-AIR hotdog copressor.  1 hp, think it is 2 gal., very quiet, oil, alot easier to carry than my other compressors.  About $270

   We become by effort primarily what we end up becoming

    - Zig Ziglar

1. 
   SHazlett | Aug 10, 2003 03:42pm | #13

   when working alone or with a single laborer i use a small 3/4 horse Rol-Air susage tank.noise not a factor---and very important on older houses----doesn't draw a lot of start up amps----though a little finicky in cold weather .