Replies

1. 
   Waters | Apr 22, 2008 09:23pm | #1

   There are 3 I know of, a little senco, a little thomas, and makita's mac 700 which I have.  The makita is bigger and will run one framing gun.  It's very quiet.

   "Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."

    

1. 
   JulianTracy | Apr 22, 2008 09:42pm | #2

   There's also a Bostich Trim Pro. I have it and the little baby Senco.The Trim pro is quieter (and a little bigger) and it refills much quicker. Ca't help but like the little Senco cause it's so cute.From what I've seen, the Makita is not really little.Not necessarily recommending the Bostich as the one I have - the plastic shroud cracked a bit near the screw mounts - it it's not been handled rough.Either the Bostich or the Senco probably would not be that efficient for anything larger than 16 ga guns.If I was doing it again - I'd get the Makita as it's now priced near $125 and it get's great reviews everywhere.When I was shopping, it was closer to $200 at the time./JT

1. 
   Waters | Apr 22, 2008 09:47pm | #3

   I agree.

   My Makita is Heavy.  No problems with it yet.

   I've been reading some about Thomas Compressors.  Oiless units that can run continuously-put out a lot of cfm.

   I need to get a bigger compressor for framing on two jobs this summer but I really do not want something big and heavy."Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."

    

1. 
   JeffBuck | Apr 23, 2008 05:04am | #10

   I need to get a bigger compressor for framing on two jobs this summer but I really do not want something big and heavy.

    

   define big and heavy.

   I have the Thomas st2820 ... it's a stacked hotdog so it's not so big ...

   but it is heavy compared to others it's size ... around 70lbs.

    

   but ... it'll run anything all day long.

   have had it ... 6 or 7 yrs I think?

    

   have had up to 3 framing guns off it at once ... and 2 roofers.

   Jeff    Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

1. 
   Waters | Apr 23, 2008 07:33am | #12

   That is the model I want-exactly.

   I read up on it right after that post.

   Thanks for the info."Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."

    

2. 
   JeffBuck | Apr 24, 2008 02:41am | #19

   when I bought it there wasn't any place local that sold them.

   I called Thomas direct and asked if they had any ideas where to stop.

    

   guy gave me the name / number of a lumber yard about 45min away ... then said he'd call to make sure they had one in stock.

   he called me back and said they'd have to ship them one ... and if I'd wait a week for it to get there he'd make sure they discounted the price!

   forget what I paid ... but do remember it was 20% off that lumber yards list price.

    

   have loved that company since!

   Jeff    Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

2. 
   ErnieK | Apr 22, 2008 10:12pm | #4

   It was Basswood and he was referring to the small DeWalt ....like this I believe.

   http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dewalt+compressor

3. 
   ErnieK | Apr 22, 2008 10:17pm | #5

   Sorry about that

   103633.14

4. 
   rasher | Apr 22, 2008 11:09pm | #6

   I've got the Makita MAC700. I like it, and its good for everything I need. Trim nailers, one framing nailer, an HVLP Conversion Paint gun, so I'd recommend it. I wish it was about 10lbs lighter, though.

5. 
   jeffwoodwork | Apr 23, 2008 01:42am | #7

   Yep I read the same post it was the 1 gallon Dewalt

6. 
   basswood | Apr 23, 2008 02:04am | #8

   Here is my "trim compressor" summary (the prices are out of date):

   I've done some research on some popular trim compressors mentioned here (Thomas 617HDN, Dewalt/Emglo D55140, Bostitch Trim Air CAP1516, Senco PC1010, Makita MAC700, & Campbell Hausfeld FP2040). They can all do the job (most around 1.0 CFM @ 100 psi)...so it comes down to these criteria:

   Weight, Noise, Price and Longevity/Reliability.

   Weight (range from 18 lbs. to 52 lbs.):

   CH is the lightest at 18#, followed closely by Bostitch & Senco (20#), then Dewalt (24#), Thomas (26#), and Makita dead last (twice as heavy as the others).

   Noise (range from 60 db to 80 db)

   Thomas is the winner here @ 60 db with CH FP2040 a close 2nd (FP2048 is 10 db louder), then DeWalt and Senco @ 69 db, Bostitch @ 75 db and Makita last again @ 80 db

   Price (range $99 to $316):

   CH is cheapest ($99), then Senco ($130), Makita ($156), Dewalt ($179), Bostitch ($182), and Thomas is most expensive ($316). The factory recon Bostitch is $120.

   On longevity, Most of these are new on the market...so we shall see. Thomas has a good pedigree (made in WI even), Makita is an oiled unit, and Dewalt/Emglo looks well built. Bostitch is available reconditioned already (is that a bad sign?), and Senco has been bashed here already. At $99 the CH is almost disposable.

   My conclusions:

   Top tool...Thomas (super quiet, light, & good quality with price to match).

   Best Buy...CH FP2040 (cheapest, lightest, and only Thomas is quieter)

   Dewalt & Bostitch & Senco are in the middle (all are light & fairly quiet at low prices). Dewalt looks more rugged and well designed compared to the others...worth a look.

   Worst (IMO)...Makita (twice as heavy and many x's louder).

   All of these are much quieter than my old PC pancake (noisy beast @ 87 db) and only the Makita is heavier.

   Since the decibel scale is a logrithmic measure of sound energy, I have read that a 10 dB increase is 10x's the sound energy (this may be innacurate)...Wikipedia suggets we hear a 10 dB as a 2 fold increase in noise level. It follows that the MAC700 would then sound half as noisy as "most compressors." It also means the Dewalt and Senco trim compressors sound half as loud as the Makita...the Thomas and CH half as loud again.

   Here is a scale for comparison:

   dB (SPL) Source (with distance)
   194 Theoretical limit for a sound wave at 1 atmosphere environmental pressure; pressure waves with a greater intensity behave as shock waves.
   180 Krakatoa volcano explosion at 1 mile (1.6 km) in air [1]
   160 M1 Garand being fired at 1 meter (3 ft)
   150 Jet engine at 30 m (100 ft)
   140 Low Calibre Rifle being fired at 1m (3 ft); the engine of a Formula One car at 1 meter (3 ft)
   130 Threshold of pain; civil defense siren at 100 ft (30 m)
   120 Train horn at 1 m (3 ft). Perforation of eardrums. Many foghorns produce around this volume.
   110 Football stadium during kickoff at 50 yard line; chainsaw at 1 m (3 ft)
   100 Jackhammer at 2 m (7 ft); inside discothèque
   90 Loud factory, heavy truck at 1 m (3 ft), kitchen blender
   80 Vacuum cleaner at 1 m (3 ft), curbside of busy street, PLVI of City
   70 Busy traffic at 5 m (16 ft)
   60 Office or restaurant inside
   50 Quiet restaurant inside
   40 Residential area at night
   30 Theatre, no talking
   20 Whispering
   10 Human breathing at 3 m (10 ft)
   0 Threshold of human hearing (with healthy ears); sound of a mosquito flying 3 m (10 ft) away

1. 
   rasconc | Apr 23, 2008 05:11am | #11

   Over achiever (:-)  Good research.

1. 
   basswood | Apr 23, 2008 03:05pm | #15

   Thanks,I did buy the Dewalt and really like it. Less worries about pulling the hose and tipping it over (nice wide and low stance), compared to the others.No relatively delicate parts sticking out to be smashed or broken either.If I framed some or did more general remodeling, I would go for the Thomas that Jer has. (still light and quiet, but higher output and continuous duty rating). I have framed a few walls with my little Dewalt--runs a framing gun OK...just not too fast or it would fry.My comments on Makita seem harsh, so to be fair--it is not really a trim compressor--more of a general remodelers compressor. In it's rightful category, it seems better than most (just too heavy and louder than the true "trim compressors.")

1. 
   rasconc | Apr 23, 2008 04:04pm | #16

   I have a small DeVilbis (or CH) that I got at Sam's about 7 or 8 yrs ago for the very first remodel for money.  It was more of a favor for some old friends and got me to thinking, "hey this can support my tool habit". 

   It is a noisy little devil but all I have done to it was replace the drain valve and pressure regulator.  It looks like the little Makita they offered a few years ago. 

   I have run a Bostitch coil framer off it when not in a hurry.  It will run pinner and brads great. 

1. 
   MSLiechty | Apr 23, 2008 09:35pm | #17

   Heres the specs on it.http://www.thomasairpac.com/products/airpac/airpac_electric/T-30HP/documents/Classic_Ultra_T-617HDN_T-635HD_T-30HP_T-2820ST__3274_3-08.pdfML

2. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Apr 24, 2008 12:07am | #18

   has anyone tried the  grip rite that lowes has now. i really like the looks of it,puts out alot more air than the dewalt.[i bought one of those and had it back at the store in a hour becuse it was defective,so i'm a little spooked on dewalt] heres one on ebay ,lowes is selling thme for 135.00  http://cgi.ebay.com/Grip-Rite-GR152CM-AIR-COMPRESSOR-2-Gal-2HP-New_W0QQitemZ310043344795QQihZ021QQcategoryZ22662QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem 

   if any one has one let me know,everytime i go in there it grabs me by the shirt and says buy me. larryif a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?

7. 
   tashler | Apr 23, 2008 02:26am | #9

   I bought the DeWalt on Basswood's recommendation. So far I'm happy with it.

   Small, light, quiet. But I'm sure I don't use it as much as he does. But it wasn't very expensive, and I'm a happy camper.

   Glenn

1. 
   basswood | Apr 23, 2008 02:51pm | #14

   Glenn,Good to hear that you like the little DeWalt. As long as it holds up, what's not to like?Any of those trim compressors is so much nicer than the heavy, loud, beasts many of us used to use. My only regret is that the price has dropped so much since I bought mine. $115 now.G'day,Brian

8. 
   Jer | Apr 23, 2008 01:58pm | #13

   This is the one I now have. 26 lbs, quiet and made for constant running. It can easily run a framer, in fact I'll be framing with it in about an hour.

   http://www.toolbarn.com/product/thomas/T-635HD/?ref=base