Replies

1. 
   IronHelix | Dec 29, 2004 02:25pm | #1

   Your assessments about your potential purchase are on target.

   I assume it is sized to your tool & job spec!

   Now you must weigh the benefits of portabillity & convenience against the expense and probable short life while factoring in your job profit/ROI (return on investment).

   Sometimes the supposedly "cheap" products just "keep on ticking"...to everyones surprise....and you really get a lot of bang for the buck.   

   Other times they crash...usually one day after the warranty closed.

   Your call.....we all have our good & bad stories to tell!

   Now you will have one, also!!!

   .......................Iron Helix

2. 
   nikkiwood | Dec 29, 2004 05:23pm | #2

   I have a hotdog compressor (single tank) -- the Thomas Ultra (SC 35, or something like that). It is oiless, extraordinarily quiet, and easy to lug around. I bought it mainly for its portability, and in the three years I have owned it, the thing has performed flawlessly. It is perfect for finish nailers, but I often use it for a framing gun as well.

3. 
   slykarma | Dec 29, 2004 05:59pm | #3

   I'm in the same situation as you, my own tools are purchased for side work. So the potential lifespan is magnified by the the fact that they aren't being used more than a day or two a week. Also, you'll be the only guy using them so they should get better care than that dished out by typical contractor's employees. What I'm saying is, you may not need to buy the most super heavy duty stuff out there. Choose carefully and you can get a decent product one grade down and save some money.

   I have a Delta Shopmaster series compressor too. It is a twin tank type with oil, so a little different from what you describe. So far the cost/performance ratio has been outstanding, this thing moves a lot of air. It was the best price of all the twin tank ones I looked at, and it had the highest air output too. For $200 CDN it was a hot deal and I haven't been disappointed so far. Owned it 10 months now and no problems at all so far.

   Wally

    

   Lignum est bonum.
4. 
   JeffBuck | Dec 30, 2004 12:05am | #4

   that oil-less is not as good as oil and usually oil-less are louder as well as life span of oil less is significantly less than oil compressors. 

    

   not necessarily ....

    

   Jeff

     Buck Construction 

      Artistry in Carpentry

           Pgh, PA

1. 
   nikkiwood | Dec 30, 2004 05:36am | #5

   RE: "not necessarily ...."I agree. I don't know where that got started -- that oiless compressors are more noisy with a shorter life span.That Thomas I referred to a couple of posts back is more than 3 years old -- and has been pushed very hard, and it has never even hiccuped. And, it is just about the quietest compressor I have encountered. Moreover, the single tank makes it easy to carry in one hand, and it will operate on a 15 amp circuit -- just about the perfect renovators' compressor.

   Edited 12/29/2004 9:51 pm ET by nikkiwood

1. 
   JeffBuck | Dec 30, 2004 10:53pm | #8

   because people compare hamburgers to hotdogs!

   my Thomas st2820 .... twin stacked 2 piston ....

   is much quieter and much more powerful than anything oil'ed comparable in spec's/size/weigh ....

   Blows them away ....

    

   I have plans for the little bite size Thomas hotdog soon ... can't wait.

    

   Jeff  Buck Construction 

      Artistry in Carpentry

           Pgh, PA

5. 
   rasconc | Dec 30, 2004 08:05am | #6

   I have one of the DeVilbis single hotdogs I bought in Sam's Club at least three years ago.  A little noisy, all I have done to it is replace the drain petcock.  I use it a lot more than my Hitachi twin oil type.  I works great for trim and will run my Bostich coil framer with no problem.  Would not try to production frame with it but for the occasional small job it is fine.  The weight is right in there.  Makita sells the same thing in their Blue.  If you are not working it all that hard the Craftsman that looks like it might work. 

   I used a customer's PC pancake that seemed fine for the buck too.

6. 
   gordzco | Dec 30, 2004 08:54am | #7

   I haven't used the Delta, but was curious and went to the web site.

   First off there is no cfm @ 90lbs rating anywhere on the web site. Instead of hard facts it has a subjective list showing how many nails you can drive before recovery.

   Secondly, the compressor cuts in at 75psi and cuts out at 100psi. Driving 1 9/16"  18ga brads into any substantive material may not go all the way at 75lbs. Maybe there is an adjustment to increase the start/ stop pressure maybe not.

   Thirdly, it doesn't just look small, it looks tiny. Maybe too small.

   I picked up one of those chinese/ taiwan? knock offs a couple of years ago it was dirt cheap and I thought what have I got to lose?  2.4cfms @ 90psi  2gal short dog with an oil compressor. Runs my 18ga brad nailer non stop and I can small task with a stapler, 16ga or nailer.

   Look for a cfm rating, any less than 2cfm @ 90psi is too small, IMO.

    

    

   Be Constructive

   Gord

   St.Margaret's Bay NS

7. 
   arrowshooter | Dec 31, 2004 05:59am | #9

   http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/delt/cp200.htm?E+coastest

   I've had one of these for two years.

   I like it because it only weighs about 25 Lbs.

   They say its for brads but  I have built several fences and decks using a Pasload nail gun with three inch nails with no problems. I guess if you nailed very fast it might not be too good but I,m just a DIY'er and don't get that fast.

   I've got a two tank Emglo but I don't take it out of the shop since I started using the little Delta.