[rockandroller]

I'm pondering whether it's worth buying an air compressor.

I have a project coming up which involves lots of framing, lots of drywall, insulation, installing a stairwell, ceilings, some flooring, a half bath and several very heavy doors.

All in fairly close quarters (its a basement reno project, building a home studio down there).

I'm thinking maybe it would be worth buying a compressor to use for a staplegun and nailer... Is that practical in 'real life'? (I'm a total noob when it comes to hands-on construction work!)

Any other 'killer app' air compressor uses I haven't considered, for such a project???

 

[RegeSullivan]

It's hard to answer your question not know what you are capable of as a DIYer. Compressors are relatively inexpensive theses days so even if you only use it a few times it would probably be worth picking one up just to find out what uses you would find for it.

I have a 6HP 30 gallon compressor in my shop that for me would be hard to live without. I also have a small very quiet 1 gallon compressor I use out of the shop. It's great for trim nail guns and blowing up tires and such.

 

[oh'mike]

It's hard to answer your question not know what you are capable of as a DIYer. Compressors are relatively inexpensive theses days so even if you only use it a few times it would probably be worth picking one up just to find out what uses you would find for it.

Your budget needs to be known----I haven hand driven nails in many years--
However, for a small project, it might make more sense to hand nail--

A compressor large enough to run a framing gun (2 cfm or more) $140-
Hoses---------------------------------------------------------------------$ 40-
Cheap but good framing gun-------------------------------------------$140-
Finish gun---brad gun--- Nails ($40. for 3 1/4"-brads,finish??)

Your call---is $400 or so in the budget?

 

[craig11152]

Other than running tools I use my compressor to put air in tires...cars, bikes, wheel barrow, generator,

 

[carmusic]

you can also rent one for a month if you dont think you will use it again

 

[joecaption]

You'll find it's far cheaper to buy the guns and the compressor as a set.
One way to check one out before buying is going on Amazon and scrolling to the bottom of the ad to check out the reviews.
My little portable pancake compressors has built garages, sheds, a few hundred sq. of shingles and still going strong.
I bought it at "CPO Tools" as a factory rebuild for about $150.00 and it came with three different nail guns.
It's a Porta Cable.
The whole thing looked brand new.

 

[ddawg16]

A compressor is one of those items that once you have it, you kinda wondered how you got by without it.

Same with a Sawzall.......and a framing nailer.....and brad nailer.....and shop vac.....and a right angle drill........and a volt meter....... and multitool........and pocket hole cutter..........and compound sliding miter saw..........and router.............and table saw..........

But I digress................tools......tools are to a guy what clothes are to a woman. You can never have enough

 

[danpik]

Springtime around here all of mine get a good workout doing pool toys/floats. I also have several nailers, impact guns, spray guns, utc. I have a 5 horsepower compressor in the garage with a line plumbed to the shop in the basement and two small pancake compressors that are great to take on the road when needed

 

[NickTheGreat]

Every job around the house justifies the purchase of a new tool.

I use my nail gun (and brad gun) way more than I'd think. And a compressor is very handy as well.

 

[DexterII]

On one hand, I can't imagine any home without an air compressor, but, on the other hand, I can't imagine how someone starts out today with all of the tools that people tell them they must have. I actually have 4 air compressors, and they all get used regularly, but have neighbors without, so they stop over every once in a while to inflate a low tire. I have a door jamb to move this weekend, 4 studs and a header, and will probably carry one of my small air compressors and a nailer to the house for that. But I have also built complete houses, garages, and additions, and any number of other such projects using hammers and nails. And no worse for the wear. Your question is good, but only you can answer it. As Mike mentioned, your budget is a factor, and things come up in any build, so maybe you don't want to tap yourself out on an air compressor that you have no other immediate use for. I agree that tools are good and usually enjoyable purchases, and I've done my share over about 50 years, but they sure didn't all come at once.

 

[rockandroller]

Yes, the budget can support a $400 purchase.
Its a drop in the bucket, really - this project is going to be stupidly expensive - and all to spare my neighbors the sound of my drumming (and to spare my quieter recordings the sound of traffic noise from the nearby road ).

I'm just trying to decide "how nice" a compressor kit to buy. Basically its building a "room-within-room" about 25x20 feet - with all that entails. (Labyrinthine ventilation systems, airlock door seals, etc). And double 2x6 walls with an airspace between them, each side of each sub-wall clad in two layers of that real heavy "sound-rock". Plus build a custom staircase to upstairs, with a roof and doorway where the stairs come up. And add a half-bath, and do some floor and ceiling works...

Having read your replies ( Thanks!! ) I'm now guessing that's probably going to entail enough nailing and stapling to justify a compressor purchase. Especially since I'm lazy enough to want one just to pump up my bike tires... I guess the question is whether a budget compressor is going to survive that much use, or if I should upsell myself a coouple hundred bux over the bargain-basement variety??

 

[oh'mike]

For a compressor that is small but will handle construction--2.6 cfms is a good one---

I have a couple of small compressors from Lowes---black, single tank and quiet--

Cost about $135. tough little machines.

The Porter Cable pancake compressors are LOUD--

 

[Mort]

True, but this combo kit is only $199 at Hombre Depot, and a pair of ear muffs (which you should have anyway) are pretty cheap too.

 

[Canarywood1]

Just don't buy an oil less, now those suckers are LOUD.

 

[MT Stringer]

A compressor is one of those items that once you have it, you kinda wondered how you got by without it.

Same with a Sawzall.......and a framing nailer.....and brad nailer.....and shop vac.....and a right angle drill........and a volt meter....... and multitool........and pocket hole cutter..........and compound sliding miter saw..........and router.............and table saw..........

But I digress................tools......tools are to a guy what clothes are to a woman. You can never have enough

+1 Got all of that stuff also. :biggrin2:

And cordless drill drivers/impact drill drivers. I don't have a screw gun for drywall because I don't have any drywall to put up. :surprise:

For the occasional DIY'er, Harbor Freight is a good place to shop. I have a 15 gauge finish nailer and an 18 ga brad nailer/ 1/4 inch stapler combo.

And five routers! :devil3:

Edit: I have that Porter Cable pancake compressor. I have used the heck out of it. But it couldn't keep up with the spray gun so I bought a 33 gallon compressor from Home Depot. That thing is nice...loafs along at 120 psig.

 

[rockandroller]

Is this one promising? Says 2.2CFM @ 90PSI ...

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p....ree-steel-tank-air-compressor.1000860329.html

 

[oh'mike]

rather low CFMs for such a large unit---

It will do what you want-2.2 will keep up with a single person operating any type of air nailer--but will not be good for two workers nailing,spraying or most mechanics tools.

 

[RegeSullivan]

That would be a great compressor for what you have described. Maybe as oh'mike says the cfm is low for the size but it is a very quiet compared to most others in that price range. 2.2 cfm @ 90psi should be more than enough and I am sure you will appreciate the noise level and vibration level.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I got a really good deal on this California Air Compressor last spring. Bought it for small things in the house.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Californ...3;jsessionid=ECE913F86EB0882466F41BF534D7CFA0

This is a similar unit to the linked one.

It is a good compressor for light nailing and such. It wouldn't be good one for sandblasting or painting, but you already know that.

It is quiet. Not quiet the 60 dB they claim, but a LOT better that my big upright in the garage.

 

[jim1824]

I just bought a Husky 8 gal, 125 PSI 4.0 CFM air compressor from Home Depot for Christmas. It has an oil-lubricated pump. It's inexpensive and takes care of most of my needs.

DO NOT BUY AN OIL-LESS PUMP. They are noisy and do not last long.