Compressor Talk -

Mike Finley

Time to buy a new compressor. I have been beating the hell out of a Porter Cable pancake compressor, but now it can't keep up with my guys doing demo with an air chisel, so sadly I am going to have to purchase another compressor.

Things I liked about the PC -

Small - small foot print to transport around, small so it was less likely to be slammed into a wall or door by somebody
Light weight - easy to carry around and deal with
Oilless - low maintenance
Reliable - keeps taking a licking and keeps on blowing (don't let glass or tom read that)
cheap

Things I didn't like -
noisey as hell
Took a long time to fill
Not enough air capacity

So far the pancake has had more than enough capacity for everything we do, but it's time, what do you recommend. I would like stay with something that mimics as much of the positive aspects of the pancake I have but still is going to give me more capacity.

Downeast

Have you thought about a make up air tank ?

I have a 9gal makita that connects to my 4 gal 2hp CH compressor .

dayspring

BUY A NEW MAKITA! Reasonable as far as price, quiet compared to any I've heard, doesn't take too long to fill, more capacity than the PC pancake. I love mine! I've run finish guns, framing guns, roofing gun, no problems at all!

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dayspring

I doubt the one I have will run a air chisel though

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Donedat

A lot of guys around here pull trailers with big upright compressors on board. They can power anything and anyone all at the same time.

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IHI

I've got a Cambell hausfeld 4 gallon (2 twin 2gal hot dog tanks stacked on top of each other) and a 2.5hp 120V motor. Compact for what it is, maybe a 20"x24"x16" package. it's not a compressor you want to carry all day long but you can grab with one hand, pick up and go, plus it's oil less.

I have not seen my exact model lately, it's bright azz yellow and has run my air cheisel no problem along with the less demanding air guns, nailers, etc..., heck, I even ran my 3/4" MAC impact gun at the track one night in an emergency and that thing loooves the air and requires the cfm's keep up.

It's a bad ombre and I think it was right around $269 on sale 3 or 4 years ago. We've had 6 roofers hooked to it, and then it did run alot but kept up with the load. Did I mention this thing fills both tanks to 125psi in under 20 seconds

Tried to do a search to get a link, but they've changed designs/models so did'nt want to post one that I did'nt own.

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PALEX

Get a Rol-Air. They make a pankake that will make you forget you ever had that PC. I have the PC as well and i still use it sometimes. I also have a emglo wheel barrow that i love. My framing buddies just use this rol-air pankake, and never have any problems. They are made for people who make a living doing this stuff.

RobertCDF

I have the EXACT same one Josh. And I agree completly it is one heck of a machine. I got mine on clearnace for $180 I think.

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Scott Young

i have a 4 gallon twin tank bostitch oil bath compressor. it isn't overly loud, and it isn't exspecially heavy. it is heavier than an oiless, but it is quieter. it will run two framers or two roofers. i have run three framers and three roofers, but you start running low on air. it will keep up on two roofers all day. if you are shooting deck and sheathing with the framers then you might have a little trouble running two, but that is fine i rather shoot light and then drive flush than drive overly deep on the first to compensate. it is perfect for the trim work i do. when i buy another it wll be a two stage trailer mount. air hoses are cheap, plus all the noise is way away from you.

ApgarNJ

i use the 5.5 honda powerd old emglo when it was still blue, not yellow from dewalt buying them out, that thing keeps up with anything we throw at it.
at gas prices the way they are, i'm thinking of picking up an electric one too. just some jobs i do have no power there, so gotta have a gas one too. the wheelbarrow twin tank design is easy to move around on site and wheels up into my truck on a ramp.

pricey, but worth every penny

i was at HD the other day(yeah, i know. lol) and the ridid one actually had one of the highest CFM rates of all the other brands out there.
not sure if anyone has one of them or not. it wasn't the pancake kind, it was the twin tank stacked.

Downeast

Sounds like the one I have,and they are rather quiet as compressors go.Another good thing about it ,is that you don't need a 20 amp plug to tap into. plugs in anywhere and just goes.

Greg Di

Mike,

Why the hell are you running air chippers when you can buy a Bosch demo hammer with a chipping blade? That's what I've been using. Just plug it in and go--no hoses. You can buy them on eBay for a song all the time because most guys buy them for one job and sell them.

I'm a big fan of the PC pancake for all your reasons. I went to buy that new Makita compresser and didn't once I picked it up. Too damn heavy compared to the PC.

Downeast

For working by myself I wanted to pick up one of those single tank 1 0r 3/4 hp models ,with the long skinny tank. Thought it would be great to have something small and light.

dayspring

The PC pancake is light, its also a light duty unit, at least the one I bought is, (came with a finish and brad gun in a package)they may make a better one, I dunno. It's good for running 1 finish gun, Not so good for even 1 framing gun. But it is light.

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Mike Finley

Greg,
Pretty much mobility is the only reason. A small air chisel is very easy for a guy to hold above his head and chip off a shower surround, not so easy with a demo hammer. Also I have found the air chisel works better because of the almost parallel angle you can get it, the body of a demo hammer or hammer drill gets in the way and prevents me from achieving this optimal angle that chips tile without gouging the wall.

Mike Finley

I'm mulling over all these compressors you guys are throwing out here, sure would be easier with a few pictures or links or actual freaken full names of them!!!!!!

Trying to hunt them all down...

IHI

Mike, I looked on line for awhile to match up what I've got since it fits every bill you wish for and will probably be more compressor than you'll need for anything else but your air hammer, and like Downeast said, for the beast that this thing is, it is VERY quite, they muffler system on it is very good. Gives off a very deep growl LOL!!

The ones I seen on CH website were similair is design, but different colors so I did'nt want to link one and if you purchased be like, this is a POS cuz I'd feel bad for leading you on and have to turn to a life of drinking and shooting drugs cuz I let a bud down

I've got a chit load of estimates and billing to do tonight after this post, but tomorrow I will get my camera and take pics of my unit and give specs on the sticker so hopefully it will give some idea of what to look for.

FWIW, the pancake compressors are great for finish carpenters or airing up kids toys and just like ths single hot dog 1-1.5 gal tank compressors, they will serve the purpose and "help" if you need to break out a big framing nailer in a pinch unexpectedly, but as far as continuious use they just simply dont keep up...esspecially with roofing guns LOL!!! You have to look at cfm ratings and capacity, having larger tanks will allow bigger guns to operate consistently while the tanks fill themselves up or at least stay at the same level until you provide it a break to fill completely. The ONLY PC pancake compressor I picked up about blew out 1.5 of my nutz this medium sized beast I have is easily 1-2lbs lighter or possibly the same weight of the small PC pancake they always have on sale with the 2 guns.

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ApgarNJ

this guy who works for me has a CH pancake, not sure which model but that thing is NOISY, it's good for lightweight work but I wouldn't trust to do to anything requiring lots of CFM.
I don't think you can go wrong with a twin tank emglo, rigid, or portercable.

dayspring

This is the one I purchased, http://www.makita.com/menu.php?pg=pr...et&tag=MAC2400 They (Makita) make several models

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dayspring

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...93561?n=228013This is the Porter Cable package I bought, sorry image didn't display

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