PC Pancake Compressors

T bone

I may have a defective crew versus a defective compressor problem, but we have gone through 3 of the nice little 5 gal PC pancakes in last 90 days. Lowes is real nice about replacing them, but that's still a pain in the neck. Running 2 framers or roofers off them, with no problem but suddenly they simply run but don't compress air. Anyone else having trouble with these? I dissassembled the first one and found the o ring on the rubber line from the tank to the control unit was bad. The others I haven't looked at--just take them back to Lowes. Are we doing something wrong?

Glasshousebltr

I went through 2 Porter Cable Job Bosses about 6 months ago. Both broke down in a week on 2 framers. After the second I pulled my old compressor out to the job. I guess PC's not on the ball anymore.

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Bob

Scott Young

from the sounds of it you are overworking your compressors. many compressors that size aren't rated for two large guns like framers or fast air eating guns like roofers. i had a 4 gallon bostitch oil bath compressor that would keep up, but two roofers kept it running. also if i was using the framers for sheathing or flooring, then it really worked hard. i can just imagine how much heat is generated on an oiless unit running that hard.

Glasshousebltr

Maybe Tbone is ......cause that damn Job Boss said 2 framers right on the box.

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Bob

T bone

Maybe we have overloaded them, but they sure didn't last long, even running just one gun. I'll try using them with only one gun on and see how they hold up. Meanwhile I bought a cooper dual tank that is heavier and harder to carry up a ladder, but it works great. I'd love to be able to use a good little pancake.

airborneSGT

I run two guns frequently off of mine. I mainly do finishing work, but I have run a framer and a roofing nailer off of mine at the same time. Thus far mine has lasted about 8 months without a hitch.

dkillianjr

Thats weird I have the PC pancake and abuse the heck out of it Ive probly had it for atleast 5 years or so without a problem. I run 2 guns off of it on an occasion. Its make in the USA. I bought a second one a few months ago and noticed that the quality had decreased alot it was made in china.

Dave

FINISH TECH

from what I know the pancakes are made for trim guns.
porter cable job boss 4.o gallon on wheels is a good one for framers.
it has more cfm. Ive seen the twin stack ridged on new tracks alot!
I have the emglo dewalt it is heavy as hell, but so far it seems bulllet proof. those lighter ones are great but from what I know they really cant handle the load that the big guns require.
and on the jobb boss you can leave it on the ground and just bring up the manifold run a hose from the compressor to the manifold and have the compressor on the ground while you are running guns 2-story's
up its great for roofers!

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Greg Di

Ditto. I just can't seem to get mine to quit despite throwing it around.

I purchased that new ridgid aluminum oil twin-stack compressor and it's loud as hell for an oiled compressor. Not impressed. I may just break down and buy the Thomas.

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Cole

For me the decision factor when buying pancake compressors is the noise level.

Are Thomas compressors loud?

http://www.thomasairpac.com/index.shtml

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Ed the Roofer

My pancake Porter Cable that came with 3 finishing guns for $ 299.00 from Big Orange, runs so good, the guys use that for the 2-3 roofing guns every day now.

Ed

Teetorbilt

With compressors you have to know the 'duty cycle'. This is how much time it can run before having to goof off for a while. I believe that the little PC is only about 30%.

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In_Mexifornia

Porter cable is made by Black and Decker and if you bought it at Lowes you surely got a home-user compressor.
http://www.bdk.com/porter_cable_info.htm
The old emglo compressors are cheapened down and have a Dewalt sticker on them. Sold at Lowes and Home Cheapo.
http://www.dewalt.com/emglo/

If you want to buy at Lowes or Home Cheapo for those kinda of tools, get a Rigid aluminum twin stack compressor. Atleast you get a 3 year warranty and a lifetime service agreement.

Manufacturers make different models of tools. Some go to home centers, while the industry models go to construction supply companies.
Example: Makita 18 volt cordless.
Home Depot Gets:



Construction supply gets:

Industrial housed motor that last 5 times longer.

Hobroom

No idea what you're talking about. Around here I can go to Home Cheapo and buy:

Milwaukee 0627-24



or go to Blah Blah Construction Supply, Inc. and buy:

Milwaukee 0627-24



The model no. on the label of the tool itself is exactly the same. I'm still looking for this mysterious parts list with the "cheapened plastic gears".

I've heard this wives tale for a long time, yet I have yet to find anyone to show any basis to the argument of the cheapened Home Depot product.

Nathan

I have the same set and like it however I'm not a heavy user of it.

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"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

In_Mexifornia

Anothr example:
I went to home cheapo looked at a nail gun. Then went to Ganahl lumber and found the exact same model. The difference is one came with a case, had a metal hook instead of a plastic one, and one came with a grip that would last with heavy use and the other came with a cheap foam grip the would wear out fast. I'll let you figure out where the cheap one was sold at and where the good one was sold at. Again, same exact model number.

Hobroom

How about backing it up with facts?

You got make, model no.? how about digicam photos of the tool labels? show me that the same model number at the supply center is different that the Home Cheapo one?

Yes, Home Depot sells some cheap tools. They sell Black and Decker, Ryobi, etc etc, and they are aimed at homeowners or hobbiests, whatever. But they also sell professional grade tools as well. And I've never found a difference between the pro grade tools sold at Cheapo, vs. the pro grade tools sold at the supply center. when comparing the same model number tool.

In_Mexifornia

Dude, it was the same tool. I don't take cameras to the home supply or lumber yard to take pictures of tool labels.

Downeast

I was getting a snow blower from cheapo and anoher guy on a forum said that they were cheaper blowers. Didn't have cast iron bores and such. I told him the one at the cheapo had a sticker on it that said cast iron bore.
I then called Ariens and asked them if they in fact sold cheaper or inferior models for sale at the depot's , and he said that they were the same exact machine.

I have bought some professional grade tools at the depot and they have all lasted and performed as I would expect if I bought them at the lumber yard. Got my campbell husfel air compressor at cheapos and thatthing take a beating and keeps on.

KentWhitten

They've got to be the same if they have the same exact identical model number. It's against the law to do so otherwise. There might be an ever so slight variation in the model number if not, but this is a wives tale.

Somewhat back to the topic, I've had the best absolute luck with the cheapo Campbell Hausfield you get from Harbor Freight Tools. 20 gal tank and 5 (so called) HP. Lasted me for years without changing the oil once.

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