Does anyone have experience with this Air Compressor kit? (Porter Cable)

ewils91

We use the older version of the Porter-Cable nail guns almost exclusively. We specialize in custom finish carpentry and have never had a problem with them. We maintain them as required, however we have never used an oiless compressor. Even for our trim work we use an oil sump Makita.

I think that setup would last you as long as you need it to for what you're going to do with it. I'd buy it without hesitation, beware though those oiless compressors are loud...seen or I mean heard them on the jobsites as our little Makitas just purr along.

woodworkbykirk

the newer porter cable compressors have gone downhill quite a bit from the earlier generations of the pancake compressor. i had one of the older ones up until 2 years ago.. it lasted me 3 years of which 2 years it was used for small cash jobs running trim and building custom furniture.. the 3rd year i had it on site to trim 8 houses in which it took a beating..

the newer models dont deliver as much air and take forever to fill up . also the newer guns are poorly made.. ive used 2 of the new 18 gauge guns.. both struggled to sink nails and left large nail holes in trim not to mention they have some break in time of roughly 500 nails

do yourself a favor and buy the makita, i know several guys that own them and have nothing but good things to say about them. except about larger models which are just hard on the lower back to carry

Hardway

Woodworkbykirk beat me to it.

I have a porter cable pancake that came with a frame nailer. I also have several other nailers, purchased 5 years or so ago. I had/have a 20 gallon sears oil bath 220v compressor in service for 26 years (hard running), the tank rusted thru on the bottom. I purchased a new Ingersoll Rand 60 gallon to replace it (Just installed today). I have craftsman oil less 20 gallon compressor in the barn at deer camp. How long will the newer compressors last, I doubt 25 years. How long will the current model compressors or nail gun last, who can say. Nothing is made like it used to be. When the porter cable pancake was purchased it was $259.00 years ago at Lowes, it came with the framing mailer.

MooseWoodworks

Thanks to both of you. Although both of these testimonials are negative they shed light on what I really need to purchase. Sounds like a small non-oilless model is what I need to get into. Maybe a Makita Mac5200 is in my future? I've just never been that interested in buying "disposable" tools. Something like an air compressor should last 10+ years I feel. Anything less and I feel like I am throwing $$ away. I'd rather save a little longer and get something more worth its money. Soo.....

The Porter Cable kit is $260 (w/ 3 guns and 25ft hose) plus tax at the Depot

The Makita Mac5200 is $350 (no guns/no hose) at the Depot.

Even though the Makita is going to cost a bit more upfront, I feel like I'll get way more use and ease of maintenance on the back end of its life. I don't expect to get much manufacturer support if any on the Porter Cable.

woodworkbykirk

your right a oil less compressor wont last its well documented. if your only going to use it for a day or two once every 6 months its fine but if you plan on running it fairly often a oiled model will go for years provided you change the oil every 40 -60 hrs of run time and occasionally change the seals.

my gc currently owns 3 compressors, 1 eagle 5 gallon twin tank which is over 10 years old and still runs like a charm. then he has a 15 year old eagle 12 gallon which also runs great other than missing a wheel off the axle. and our workhorse is a 12 gallon rol-air which we run 4 -5 framing guns off of, the only thing with the large compressors is that they have to be plugged into a dedicated circuit which has nothing else plugged into other wise the breaker will continously trip