Anyone made their own "portable CO2" setup for nailers etc?

[Josh Reet]

There are numerous times when it would be really handy to be able to drive a few finish nails or brads into something around the house. But doing so means hauling out the compressor and lugging it from the shop across the yard. Sure, it's not that far. But hey, that damn thing is heavy. So more often than now I end up using some other slower method to do what I'm trying to do.

Lowes has it's Kobalt portable co2 regulator that looks pretty slick. But at $90, it also seems overpriced for what it is. Couldn't I just get a regulator, a paintball adapter and some fittings and have the same thing?

Here's a decent look inside the Kobalt version:

http://www.homebrewersassociation.or...php?topic=73.0

[Rich Engelhardt]

There are numerous times when it would be really handy to be able to drive a few finish nails or brads into something around the house.

I picked up a small ultra portable compressor (Evolv) from Sears for about 50 bucks on sale. It came with a fairly nice full 2" Brad nailer, a hose and a few fittiings.
It only weighs a few pounds.

I considered a CO2 setup - but - all things considered, a small compressor made more sense.
As long as I have electric nearby, I don't have to worry about running out of air in the middle of something.

Only real drawback is that it is kind of noisy.

[Craig McCormick]

I had a co2 set up. You could trim a whole room with it. The biggest drawback was you can't keep it in a truck or car when it's hot. There's a safety valve that empties the cylinder when it gets hot.
It always seemed like the thing was empty when I needed it.

Azcraig

[Josh Reet]

I had a co2 set up. You could trim a whole room with it. The biggest drawback was you can't keep it in a truck or car when it's hot. There's a safety valve that empties the cylinder when it gets hot.
It always seemed like the thing was empty when I needed it.

Azcraig

A valid issue, but not one that would apply to me regularly. Then again, I'm sure it would happen just when I needed it 'off-site'. But in general, this would just be aound the house type jobs for me.

[Scott T Smith]

If you only need to drive a few nails, have you considered picking up a portable air tank that you fill from your compressor? Every now and then Northern Tool has them on sale for less than $30.00. Simply remove the air chuck from the end, and replace it with an air coupler to plug into your nail gun.

[Josh Reet]

If you only need to drive a few nails, have you considered picking up a portable air tank that you fill from your compressor? Every now and then Northern Tool has them on sale for less than $30.00. Simply remove the air chuck from the end, and replace it with an air coupler to plug into your nail gun.

You know, that's probably not a bad idea.

I just really do like the 'cool gadget' factor of a small co2 setup. But the tank is surely more cost effective.

[Dave Gaul]

You know, that's probably not a bad idea.

I just really do like the 'cool gadget' factor of a small co2 setup. But the tank is surely more cost effective.

Wouldn't it be a good idea to add an in-line regulator too? or do these tanks come with one?

[Josh Reet]

Wouldn't it be a good idea to add an in-line regulator too? or do these tanks come with one?

The air tanks I have seen do not come with a regulator. So yes, you would probably need to add one. However, I'm just speculating here. So if Scott or anyone has used a tank to run a nailer, perhaps they will chime in.

If you do need to add a regulator, then you've probably run the price up to more than what a DIY CO2 solution would probably cost. Though of course you wouldn't have to deal with filling CO2 tanks.

[Scott T Smith]

The air tanks I have seen do not come with a regulator. So yes, you would probably need to add one. However, I'm just speculating here. So if Scott or anyone has used a tank to run a nailer, perhaps they will chime in.

If you do need to add a regulator, then you've probably run the price up to more than what a DIY CO2 solution would probably cost. Though of course you wouldn't have to deal with filling CO2 tanks.

I have used a tank to run a nailer; I have a couple of portable tanks that I use here on the farm. The nice thing about them is that they are multi-purpose; I can use them to air up a tire or as a remote air source (limited CFM though).

If I only need to shoot a few nails, I'll fill the tank up with regulated pressure (typically 90 psi), so it self regulates.

If I'm using the framing nailer, I'll put more pressure in the tank (around 125 or so), and use a regulator on the output. I have an old Sears regulator that I use; (also use it as a remote for paint guns), it has a female quick coupler on one side and a male on the other.

[Curt Harms]

The air tanks I have seen do not come with a regulator. So yes, you would probably need to add one. However, I'm just speculating here. So if Scott or anyone has used a tank to run a nailer, perhaps they will chime in.

If you do need to add a regulator, then you've probably run the price up to more than what a DIY CO2 solution would probably cost. Though of course you wouldn't have to deal with filling CO2 tanks.

I used a 5 gal. air tank to run a brad nailer and narrow crown stapler. I didn't have a regulator, just kept the pressure in the tank 80-90 psi. I could drive 15-20 brads or staples before the pressure dropped significantly. I had a tire inflater like Cliff referred to and had it plumbed into the tank with a pressure switch. Talk about LOUD!!! and took a long time to pressurize the tank from empty. It did work, however. Right now I'm using a little Sears compressor for portable use, had a gift card. It weights 37 lbs., is oil lubed though direct drive so not too bad for noisy. It's adequate for nail guns and inflating tires. I doubt it'd work with air tools like impact guns though. I did try it with a PSH1 HVLP conversion gun just to see. It would maintain pressure with the gun trigger held open but did not shut off. I guess it'd work to spray small items where I'm only spraying for a few seconds at a time.
aircompressor.jpg

[Bart Leetch]

I picked up a Campbell Housfeld portable compressor at Ace for around $75 with I think it was a $40 rebate & with Ace & with About $26 worth of $5 coupons added a regulator & fittings. Small enough to pick up with 1 or 2 fingers.

[Troy John]

I have the Kobalt one and it has worked great for me, I also have a portable compressor. I like the Kobalt for off site trim install, its so small and easy to load and carry. If I go to a clients home to put up crown I either have to drag a long and dirty hose through the house or bring the noisy compressor inside which is annoying, when using the portable compressor.
The only problem I have had with the Kobalt is there cheap hose blew up and messed up the regulator, so I took it back and they gave me a new one.
Now I use a normal air hose and have put up a few hundred feet of crown trouble free, and Im still on my first air cylinder. Ive been told that it can be refilled for about $3 so thats no concern, but if you run short in the middle of a job it will be annoying to drop everything to go find a place to refill it.

[Todd Hoppe]

If you only need to drive a few nails, have you considered picking up a portable air tank that you fill from your compressor? Every now and then Northern Tool has them on sale for less than $30.00. Simply remove the air chuck from the end, and replace it with an air coupler to plug into your nail gun.

+1 I have one and use it all the time. You get several brad nails out of a tank

[Laurie Brown]

If you only need to drive a few nails, have you considered picking up a portable air tank that you fill from your compressor? Every now and then Northern Tool has them on sale for less than $30.00. Simply remove the air chuck from the end, and replace it with an air coupler to plug into your nail gun.

That's what I got when my pancake compressor died. I had a 40-year-old homemade compressor passed down from my dad but no tank for it, so I bought one of these. I fill it up and cart it around the yard to fill car tires or run nailers. It has a handle but it's kind of heavy, so I sit it in the back of my cart that's pulled by my lawn tractor.

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

For one man, small jobs (like pin or finish nailing molding trim around a room) I've often wondered if a little Automobile tire inflating compressor might not do the trick.
like this
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...80&marketID=15