Why an air compressor?

[reible]

I just took the time to read through the thread, a lot of interesting things from quite a cross section of the forum, and good reading I might add.

As in most things I have a few things I'd like to add. There seemed to be a bit of a debate on "oil" and "oil less". I dug out my paper work as I seem to recall mine being the oil less type. I got it in 1988 so that means its just 20 years old now and I've never had any problem with that portion of the system. I did how ever loose the cooling fan, just over the first year point and it was somewhat my fault. I heard this light buzzing sound and it got louder but I was busy and then with a sudden loud bang and plastic parts flying about it was clear what had happened. Another 10 or 12 years later I got a call at work from my son saying he had "killed" the compressor. After a couple of questions it was clear that he had inherited my deaf ear to that problem. So in 20 years I've had to replace the fan blade twice.
The fan was $1.69 the first time and $5.49 the last time. So you can put down a check mark from me for oil less.

The other advantage for oil less is that you are not feeding oil into your hoses, tires, and painting. I still have filters for water and oil that I can add as needed depending on what tools I'm using. I also have an oiler that I have that plugs in and a hose with "oil" written on it that is not use with non-oil operations. I also have a regulator that I can plug in local to eliminate having to go back and forth to the tank to make adjustments. The regulator also works well when doing air brushing.

Another thing to look at is size of air hose. Like anything else in life the 1/4" hose is cheaper but the flow is better with 3/8". I have several that I can hook together and extend the reach for a long distance, that saves from having to run a heavier electrical extension cord.

I use the compressor for working on cars, painting, caulking, and of course woodworking. Some of the auto tools tax the 5.6 output at 90 psi but things like nailer are no issue. I have a 12 gallon tank on the compressor and a 6 gallon portable tank which I can also link to the main tank for added volume. If you just plan to use this compressor for woodworking then a smaller tank and smaller output is fine.... just know that you have limited yourself.

When you are getting your nailers I'd like to add that the pin nailer are really cool to own. The pins are so small it is hard to believe... I got one a few years back and I'm glad I did. However the cost is higher then the brad nailer for some reason... or it was the last I checked.

The other thing to remember the compressor is the cheap part. By the time you add all the tools you will have spent a lot more for them then you did the compressor.

Ed

[Ed in Tampa]

Hi Tim, yes I think that is the correct site. They were reasonable, quick service and the product is excellent. Got it for about half price with a new unit gaurantee.

Dave

I think their prices are a little high. I have the C3151 compressor they are selling for $329. I think Lowes sold it for $299 and I bought mine for $249
I know prices change fast but I would check a few places before I jumped on their deals.

[a1gutterman]

Back to the nitrogen topic for a second, if you please. Just bought new tires at Costco. Yes indeed, they use nitrogen to fill tires. The technician, when I asked, gave me some additional information: He said (I am no chemist, so I can knot verify this), the air we breath is 85% nitrogen already, and that it will knot hurt anything to add regular air to the tires. He also said that their compressor just filters the air, so that it only puts nitrogen in them. After some thought, I concluded that there is no way to have 100% nitrogen in them. When the tires are mounted, but not preasurized, they are still full of regular air. The only way to remove it, wood be to create a vacuum, something that I know Costco does knot do (That wood probably suck the tire off of the rim of the wheel, and they wood have to start over). The tech also said that the main reason for using nitrogen IS to keep the tire preasure more stable.

[wgander]

(I don't know how this subject got into this thread...)
No chemist here, either, but I think nitrogen is more stable than oxygen. I've seen several reasons for inflating tires with nitrogen but they all ignore the fact that the tires already have oxygen in them, so adding nitrogen results in less than full nitrogen.
Despite any advantages of nitrogen, I seriously doubt that it really makes any difference for passenger cars, even motor homes; maybe there's a measurable advantage for race cars.

[beeg]

And just WHERE was that tire and nitrogen MADE?

[a1gutterman]

And just WHERE was that tire and nitrogen MADE?

Hi beeg,

The tires are US made and so is the nitrogen.

Hi wgander,

...(I don't know how this subject got into this thread...)...

see earlier posts 26,27,28,29 and 30.

[a1gutterman]

More in keeping with the main subject of this thread, I wood like to make an additional comment. Regarding my earlier post;

I used to sell tools, and still know people in that trade, wholesale. My current information on compressors is that most problems that consumers have with air compressors is with the oil-less variety. My source says that he very seldom has to deal with warranty issues with the oil type, but he wood NEVER purchase an oil-less one.
...

and some of the comments discussing the merits of oil or oil-less compressors, please consider this thought:

If you are in a business that sells hundreds of compressors every year, and say that out of 250 sales of oil-less compressors, you get 10 back as defective, and out of sales of 250 of oil lubed, you get one back as defective, what wood you recommend when someone asked you which is better? That still means that out of 250, 240 worked without problems, and most people are happy with their oil-less compressors. But it also means that out of 250, 249 people with oil lubed compressors are happy.

[dusty]

What do woodworkers use an air compressor for?

In the Workshop Solutions magazine by Fine Woodworking, almost all of the featured shops have an air compressor. (I realize that several of the shops belong to professional woodworkers.)
Anyway, I'm thinking it would nice to have a brad nailer to tack things together that are difficult to hold and hammer/screw, and it would be nice to clean the inside of the Shopsmith head. I don't do much finishing or painting, so don't need one for that.

For those of you who have or want an air compressor, why? Maybe I should consider one...

I guess mine is an oiless air compressor since I have never oiled it or added oil to it. It is someweher between 15 and 20 years old and seems to be working correctly.

However, the real subject of this thread - why an air compressor?

I have previously listed some of the reasons why I have an air compressor but I think there are really two primary tasks for which I use the air compressor most frequently.

The leader (in terms of frequency of use) is by far blowing the sawdust out from where it does not belong.

In close 2nd place would have to be to power my brad nailers.

Everything else is infrequent but when needed I don't know what I would do without it.

[shydragon]

#1. Blow the sawdust off the shopsmith and other woodworking equipment.

#2. Running the air nailers

#3. Keeping tires up to the correct pressure

[regnar]

You guys need to expand a little into vacuum clamping, forming, chucking !!!


http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/v2-about.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEZbCEiGXwo

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?Offe ... ct=Details

http://www.vac-clamp.com/

http://www.vac-clamp.com/vacjigweb.pdf