Thread: Air Compressor/ Brad Gun

Originally Posted by hursts77

I am wanting to start using a compressor and brad in the home work shop, i am a novice, can you please give ma advice as to what to look for and the best place to buy from, I am in NSW Metro

One of those cheap compressors from Bunnings or Supercheap will do the job for brad/nailing furniture. Also the cheap brad nailer sold in Bunnings is capable of doing most furniture work. Both the compressor and nailer gun should cost less then $200. I use mine all the time and had no problems. Good luck.

I also use a Bunnings elcheapo with a Supercheap brad nailer. Has worked fine for several years now. Don't use the compressor for anything else.

I have a GMC compressor, one GMC finishing nailer and a couple more nailers. I got the brad nailers as part of a 3 tool set from Bunnings. I am happy with all of them.

The brad nailer saves a lot of time for putting together projects, and can be a good way to tack things together to allow glue to work. One thing you must do is keep the nailers oiled, the tools run much better that way. The only time I got into trouble with them is when I forgot to oil them. You need to also get a few boxes of brads, all different sizes for different jobs. It is a timesaver not having to use a nail punch to bury the nail into the workpiece.

regards

M

I've got a very old (almost 20 years old) SIP compressor and an ebay t nailer and a 2 in 1 bradder/stapler. Both work very well (especially the t nailer ... it's a beast), although I have issues with long brads > 40mm collapsing, even into pine.

thanks,

Will look at Bunnings for a compressor have seen one for $189 for 40ltr 2hp,

I have buoght a Porter Cable Brad gun from ebay for $55 BN125A

Can some let me no the difference between Brad, T nailer,Pin, and Finish Nailer, I am assuming this are differrent guns

I did a comparison of low end compressors about two years ago and posted the results in the forum.
see
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ir+compressors

I still don't own a compressor but it is on the wish list.
From what I understand the Free Air Delivery is the most important component followed by the tank capacity and in my circumstances price.
If you look at the spreadsheet that I attached, you can sort it in the order you require and use that as a starting point.
Update as required and you should get something that will do the job.
Best of luck.
Mal

FAD (Free Air Delivery) is not an issue with nail/brad guns unless you are doing lots and lots and lots of nails in very quick succession.

However FAD considerations come into play if you plan to use the compressor for more than just your nailer (eg spraying, die grinder, etc).

Agree with Vernov, I often run the compressor to fill the tank, then disconnect and wheel it where I need to use the nailer, I can fire quite a few brads before I need to top up the air supply.

M

There is a family of nailers I supose you could call brad nailers.

the smallest common format is C1 which is the lightest (18 guage I think)
they are great for light assembly and some trimm work brads from 10mm up to 40mm but moat machines stop at 30mm.....the timber would have to be pretty soft to drive in a 40mm C1.

the next size up is "C" which is what the cheap nailers in the chain stores are, (16 guage from memory) they are a bit heavier and may go as long as 50mm....... certainly not as fine for trim work.

you might put skirting ip with a "C" series but you are fiddling to eve try with a "C1".

then you move up to the "T" nailer which is realy the smallest of the serious builders nailers.... it realy follows the same fromat as the smaller nailers but is much heavier and more powerfull.....it is reasonable to bang (some) flooring down and pickets up with a "T" nailer.....it is commonly used for interior trim like hevier skirts and door jamms
12 guage from memory and nails up to 65mm

All the above are paralell colated in that the strip of nails and magazine are straight & square to the nail shank.

The "DA" nailer is similar to the "T" nailer but the nails are diagonal colated. The strip of nails and the magasine receed away at an angle from the azis of the nail......this allows better access and nailing at angles.
"DA" nailers tend to be a bit more refined than a "T" nailer and may not have as much hitting power.
"DA" is problay the interior trim nailer of choice in construction.....often called a finish nailer.

Most builders will have a frame nailer ( real nails, big nails) and a "DA" nailer.

I have had a couple of "C1" nailers and for small stuff they are great.
they have surprising holding power but with care you can still fire edge on into 6mm ply.
properly adjusted a good one leaves a hole that is barely visable.....you can get nails with the heads painted a couple of colours so they blend in.

I have a little supercheap compressor as a second machine & it is fine for nailing work......it is an angry little machine.

The single most important thing to do to any compressor ( after filling it with oil) is to adjust the preasure switch.

you need at least 110 psi in the tank and a reasonably narrow cut in cut out window...... then run your regulator at 90PSI.

Getti ng a decent filter reg is the next thing you need. the ones on the cheap compressors are just that cheap and generaly do not have a moisture trap

cheers