A compressor is so handy to have around by itself. Now that I got some nailers I can't remember the last time I used a hammer to do anything other than persuade something.
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A compressor is so handy to have around by itself. Now that I got some nailers I can't remember the last time I used a hammer to do anything other than persuade something.
I know that they are handy to have, however I don't have a nailer.
(I do have a compressor due to my vintage motorcycle addiction.....Er I mean hobby).
I make furniture, and the only item I'd use a nailer for is when putting a back onto a cabinet, I could use a nailer rather than driving the nails with a hammer.
That said, it's maybe once or twice a year I'd use one to save a few minutes with a hammer.
Not worth it in my view, however if you do a lot of carpentry it would make sense to me.
Regards, Rod.
Perhaps this isn't allowed but if you are only reinstalling some baseboard you could just hand nail it? I have done this in the past to reattach loose trim.
That said I have recently purchased a small compressor and intend to get a finish nailer. I have this compressor
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00915310000P?vName=Tools&cName=Air+C ompressors+%26+Air+Tools&sName=Air+Compressors
It goes on sale at Sears pretty often for around $100. I got it for like $70, I think, on black Friday. It does contain oil so it should be a bit quieter but will require some maintenance.
Rob
I didn't think I'd use my compressor and finish nailer much when I bought them to install trim in my house but it turned out that I use them all the time. I now have a framing nailer, finish nailer, brad nailer and roofing nailer. I've even rented them out on occasion. I started with a 20 gallon compressor and and then bought a pancake compressor and then sold the 20 gallon and went witha 33 gallon. Now I'm thinking I want a 60 pr 80 gallon one for the shop. My wife thinks I'm nuts lol
Brad nailers, narrow crown staplers and pinners are the best thing since sliced bread! They hold well, automatically set the nail head, and save tons of time, as opposed to trying to hammer finishing nails in hardwood! Soft wood is easy to nail, BUT hammer dents are anathema!
If you only contemplate this one baseboard job, borrow or rent what you need to git er dun! But if you do woodworking as a hobby, the uses for a compressor and brad nailer will multiply exponentially! A compressor per se' is handy for just blowing out dust with compressed air, airing up a tire, or basketball! Mighty Handy!
Just picked this set up a week ago, only run a hundred or so brads through it so far but I've been happy.
One thing I found was don't be stingy with the oil when you first get it going had my mine jam briefly the second time I tried to use it. A little more oil and it was good to go.
Something is getting skipped over here. Polyurethane hoses are hands down the better choice in almost every situation. I was of the same opinion as Jason when I first switched to Polyurethane. The thing tangled like crazy compared to my rubber hoses. Then I got a tip. Switch to the 3/8" hose instead of the 1/4" hose. Sure enough, makes a world of difference. My 3/8" polyurethane hoses don't tangle.
I bought a 20 gallon oil-less compressor 15 years or so ago, and hardly ever used it until recently. I bought a factory reconditioned framing nailer for a couple of major carpentry projects around the house. I love it. In fact, I recently added two more nailers to my collection: a combination brad nailer and crown stapler (factory reconditioned), and a finish nailer. I've added a few other accessories too: I got a short hose and attached an inline oiler to one end of it. Two of my nailers need oil, so I snap that hose on when I'm using them. If I'm doing something that should not have oil (inflating tires, blowing off wood, painting) I just remove that short "leader" hose. My compressor has gotten more use the past few months than it did in the past 15 years.
Granted I build and remodel houses for a living as well as custom cabinets, but Even if I didnt do this I couldnt imagine liging without one. Currently I have a 60 gal in the shop, a 20 gal mounted in the trailer a 5 gal in each of the 3 trucks and a couple 1 gals as well for the small punch out items.
I got rid of my small 2gal compressor and bought the HF 21gal 3hp. I'm glad I did. My Wifes' tap dance instructor asked me to make 14, 16"x16"x16" boxes for the senior center Christmas show coming up in Dec.
After I got the compressor, I started buying some nail, brad, pin guns. I can now use my dotco mini grinders, air the car tires, use an air chisel, etc. The list goes on.
You will find many more uses than just wood working.
An air compressor and various tools are certainly useful. For doing trim around the house I have a Paslode cordless finish nailer which is a lot handier since you don't have to drag around a compressor. Admittedly, it's a little pricier than the alternative, but it's also something that I can easily pick up and use anytime, lend to a friend, etc. without having to deal with a compressor and hose. Nice to have around...
mark
blowing up tires, paint gun, air chisel, blow gun, air ratchet, metal cutters, cut off wheel, air grinder, blowing up balls air mattresses, air nailers, air drill, air buffer... don't know how anyone could live without one. I always had portable 3 to 5 horse power compressors... never, ever needed to move it... bought a stand up 60 gallon compressor and find it to be much more quiter, runs less. The airless and especially oilless compressors have a shorter life span by design... IMHO, but they do have a use and are frequently extremely cheap.
One more use for an air compressor is spraying finish. I was faced with the choice of buying a dedicated turbine for spraying, or a compressor large enough to run a HVLP conversion spray gun. The turbine has only one use, while the compressor has so many uses...I now own an 80 gal compressor. I can spray finish, run an air powered orbital sander(some of the best sanders are air powered, and lighter than electric), and power all the other air-tools that have been mentioned.
I don't use a nailer a lot, but when building cabinets for myself it was great. I glued and nailed my boxes together, and never ran out of clamps!
If it is only for a few baseboards just use some hand drive finish nails and a nail set. Maybe overall it will save you time because you won't have labor over which nail gun is best and search for the best price and look over the ones in the store wondering which will will deliver the way you want it to.
I use air all the time in my shop. Nothing beats an air powered ROS, but you will need a bigger compressor to run it. HVLP spray equipment is also nice to have.
Here's a brad nailer that should fit your needs for a one time or multi use project.