Replies

1. 
   Steve1 | Dec 03, 2003 05:17am | #1

   that little pancake crompressor will be more than adequete for one framing nailer in your application, 3 or 4 pros on a framing job each with their own nailer going at the usual rate will run out of air quickly same with nailing sheathing, but for one man building a shed its ideal

2. 
   mike4244 | Dec 03, 2003 11:13pm | #2

   No, the Porter Cable framer and most other brands need at least  2.7 @ 90 .

   You need at least a 4 gallon tank. There are many compressors out there that will do the job, most are hotdog types with two tanks, one over the other. Oil filled compressors run quieter and last longer. If you live in a cold climate then I would suggest a oilless compressor. When the temperature gets well below freezing the oilfilled are hard to start, although once started they will run all day if you are framing or sheathing.

   mike

3. 
   Ricky_Yu | Dec 18, 2003 01:42pm | #3

   There's no specific air requirements listed for the FR350 round head framing nailer in the Porter-Cable catalog, but a general usage chart states that the compressor you're considering, the CPFAC2600P 2 peak HP/6 gallon, can handle a framing nailer with unlimited capacity. Even as Mike in the previous post stated that you need 2.7 scfm @ 90 psi, all hope may not be lost in that you can adjust the pressure to deliver the required amount since the nailer has an operating range from 70-120 psi.

   Here's another option: I tried running the numbers for the round head framing nailer/compressor combo kit, the CPFFR350. For one thing, at $470, it costs more than its major components, the FR350 at $210 and the CPF23400S at $240. You do get a better capacity 3 peak HP, 4 gallon side-stack compressor; however, once you get the BN125A brad nailer and the FN250B finish nailer separately to even out the comparison, you end up paying a whopping extra $190 for the better compressor, which is especially gallling since the compressors by themselves only sport a $60 difference. But at least it will definitely do the job (7.7 scfm @ 40 psi/5.3 scfm @ 90 psi) with the framing nailer since they are packaged together (though I have no doubt, especially for your anticipated usage, that the pancake compressor is more than adequate).

1. 
   crosscutter1 | Mar 11, 2004 04:03am | #4

   pancake compressors will work for a framing gun you just cant go doing production nailing . Slow down when you are doing the sheating dont overworh the gun & the compressor !! if you do the gun might also jamb

4. 
   hammer1 | Apr 05, 2004 06:07am | #5

   I've been running a PC FR350 for a few years. I have a Speedaire 20gal. 5.5 @ 90psi. This gun will fail to drive 16d in KD spruce framing consistently. Not enough power and yes I have plenty of air and the depth drive is adjusted. In fact I love this gun for its ability with 6d & 8d ringed galvies on trim. The depth control is excellent. The small pancakes and hotdogs will be fine for lite use but you will have to listen to them run every dozen nails. Some of the oil-less are really loud. You have to leave an oil type outside in 20 below before you have starting problems, more likely the power source is not adequate or the air tank is full. A good compressor will last you for a long time so it is worth spending a little more for all that it can do.

   
   

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   Edited 4/4/2004 11:08 pm ET by Hammer