Why an air compressor?

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 12:55 am

regnar wrote:You guys need to expand a little into vacuum clamping, forming, chucking !!! ...[url=http://]http://[/url]

And yet another use for the compressor! Very cool tool, regnar!

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:29 am

All one needs is a compressor that will hold 2 CFM at 80 PSI

joedw00 · Post by **joedw00** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:22 pm

Pretty neat, where does the saw dust go when working with small things? Looks like it sucks it down the vacuum.

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

regnar · Post by **regnar** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:20 pm

joedw00, In the picture you are seeing the area that is not under vacuum. You take the rubber seal and make the area as large or small as you need it. V-Clamp is the lazy mans way of getting a vacuum table.

The V-Clamp requires a constant air source to be able to hold a vacuum. If you go with the Joe Woodworker V2 and have a good seal you will only cycle every 10 minutes for a few seconds so you can get by with a smaller air compressor.

I just ordered the V2 premium kit and will get back to you on how well it works. What I like most about the joewoodworker kit is that I can get the parts for it. Im not stuck to just vacuum clamping either.

I just wanted to throw out as much info for it as possible.

charlese, I have a Porter Cable Pancake compressor that will easily keep up with those requirements. My beautiful wife just bought me a 33gal compressor for Christmas that doubles the requirements.

I leave home for a few weeks so hopefully the kit is here when I get back but I will let everyone know how it goes. I havent seen a unhappy person yet with any of these kits.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:41 pm

regnar wrote:....I have a Porter Cable Pancake compressor that will easily keep up with those requirements. My beautiful wife just bought me a 33gal compressor for Christmas that doubles the requirements..

That's a real good thing, regnar!:D I had not seen one of these vacuum pads before and it's a really good deal. I'm sure your posting of it is appreciated by many besides me! My little Sears compressor was bought because it fit in the basement of the motor home. So far it has performed admirably for my other uses, but it just isn't up to the task of keeping a flow of 2 CFM at that pressure. Only 2 CFM at 40 psi.. No tank!

I am keeping a reference to your post, for future reference. Will need a new compressor for use with the vacuum pad. As I said - It's neat!!!

You must have dropped a hint to your Mrs. Santa. Good for her!!:D

bucksaw · Post by **bucksaw** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:38 pm

Sanders, nailers, impact wrenches, and blowing stuff off. Don't know how I ever built anything without a nailer. I have pin, brad, staple, finish, roofing, and framing nailers. If any one of these died today, I have a replacement ordered by tomorrow.

I have a small Makita that I use to run my nailers that is quiet enough to use indoors and a larger compressor for sanding and spraying.

wgander · Post by **wgander** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:50 pm

Thanks for all of the replies. I bought a remanufactured Stanley Bostich Compressor with 3 nailers (CPACK3) for $199 and I'm happy.
I've used it with 1 1/4" brads on several projects, a few 2" brads to repair a bird feeder, and to blow out my SS. I was surprised at how clean the SS was: I've evidently done a good job sucking dust out with my ShopVac all of these years. I made a base with casters for it so that I can roll it around the shop.
I don't plan on buying any other tools to use with it.

rcf · Post by **rcf** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:53 pm

I'll add my two cents worth, air sanders, random orbital, and straight board sanders are much faster and more efficient than electric sanders, and the variety of types and grits pre sized paper available is more comprehensive. Air drills are also faster and easier to use, along with the added benifit of air ratchets for working on shop machinery. I find an air compressor an invaluable tool, and that's not even mentioning air grinders, paint sprayers, air brushes, hvlp sprayers etc for finishing both large and small projects. And the prices of air tools lately have dropped dramatically compared to when I started out.

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 4:21 pm

Hi Ed,

I was reading your post on a compressor. What's you opinion on this compressor? HF is asking $60 for it. I am looking for an entry level compressor.

Mike

Ed in Tampa wrote:Blowing off dust before finishing, air tools, anything with inflatable tires.

I probably appreciate my compressor the most when I use my brad nailer. I can't begin to number the projects that didn't turn out the way I expected because I ended up almost hammering them apart trying to drive in the nails to hold them together. The brad nailer solved that problem and I believe lowered my wood working frustration 90%. I would not be without my compressor. However I think we tend to overbuy on this. I had a 25 gallon compressor that I thought was the just perfect. It got stolen and I replaced it with a smaller compressor, that I now love.
I think it is a mistake for a hobbiest woodworker to buy a compressor big enough to spray paint. There are too many excellent alternatives such as low price HVLP units that do a superior job and save tons of room.
Ed

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