Thread: Framing nailer and compressor

Burn,

I'm pretty certain that the Organoil factory did burn down Channel 9 news covered it, and showed the Organoil sign with a burnt out factory behind it. I'm sure there's still a bunch of stock in the system though.

I have a Chinese 10cfm direct drive compressor. I've been at a friend's place the last few days and using his 12cfm belt drive. Amazing difference. With the belt drive running you can actually have a conversation. With my direct drive I basically need to wear earmuffs with the damn thing running. There's a range of brands available, best advice seems to be look for something ideally Australian assembled, and ideally with an Italian pump. There are some really nasty Chinese versions around - best avoided, as you can go slightly dearer and get a lot better.

There are lots of choices with nail guns. Personally I really like my Bostitch, and Paslode have a good reputation. You could go Paslode cordless/airless - but then you need cartridges as well. The cheaper Chinese ones are a good option if you're not going to use it a whole lot. I have a no-name staple gun and it's been fine for my purposes. That said, even the no-name framing guns seem to be $400 plus, so you might as well go for Paslode or Bostitch. Find a specialist dealer if at all possible - you want to be able to get nails etc later. With a little luck you should be able to get a good deal from the one place on everything.

On advice from a very experienced spray painter friend I've been looking at a Star 770 - or better the version with the gravity feed (overhead) pot. Looked at them again today. About $155 - but the friend was pointing me at a copy of it going for $65. I'm going to take his advice and grab the $65 version - if I screw it up out of inexperience it's not a big deal, and if I use it enough to justify buying a good one I'll have an idea of what I want by then.

Remember you'll need a regulator & water filter if you want to spray - about $50 at the bottom end, $200 at the top end (self draining etc). Buy decent hoses & brass fittings, they don't cost much (if any) extra. Cheap hoses are a pain in the ass - kink all the time or don't flex like they should - and cheap fittings corrode, stick & won't swivel properly to clear hose kinks. I have I think Nylex hose - yellow & blue stripe - and it works well.

For most types of nail & staple gun you will either need to oil them manually or get an inline oiler. You can get a combo regulator/oiler - but you then can't use that line, or the hose or fittings for either a spray gun or blower (ever). Small inline oilers can be added directly to the air inlet of the gun for about $14.

Get a blower. Or two of them. Handiest thing in my workshop. Get the cast alloy version - about $15-20. The small blue plastic body ones with the thin yellow retractable hose can be handy in the right spot too - usually hanging overhead at a fixed machine (lathe, tablesaw etc).

Darryl,

Gidday. Where did you see the Overhead Pot Spray Gun for $65??? I have been wanting to get one to try but been put of by the price and would be very interested at that price.

Wayne,

It was a local outfit - long trip and they don't do mail order Supercheap Auto I think have something similar.

Slightly sideways note, talking to the spraypainter mate again yesterday and he's steering me toward a Star - $155.

Thanks Darryl

I was thinking about just getting a cheapie to try first but I am now starting to think I might just bite the bullet and go for the Porter Cable HVLP as I've read good things about it. Not in any rush and will probably wait until the Carbatec Sale this year before the wood show.

Any thoughts on the Porter Cable guns??

Can the HVLP guns be used on a standard air compressor. I have been lucky to be given a DeVillebiss HVLP gun and air supply (best description I can use). The air supply unit is a box with two air cleaners and what sounds like a high speed fan and the air is delivered to the spray gun with a 25mm hose. It is a professional setup by American Spray Industries. I was told the air was heated and therefore didn't need a water trap - I'm not sure about this as I haven't used it yet because I am happy with the compressor and spray guns I have been using.
Given the size of the delivery hose and the volume of air required to drive the unit I have it brings me to question if a standard air compressor can deliver the volume of air rquired for a HVLP gun. Perhaps it can but the air lines might have to be beefed up.
I expect to be wrong on this so does anyone know if a HVLP will work on a standard compressor and hoses?