Can you use an carry tank to run an air nailer?

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Simple question. My compressor is a long way from where I need it. Want to use my little 18 ga nailer. They don't use much air. I was wondering if it was possible to fill a carry tank to operate one.
Thanks,
Lar

 

[Chet]

It will work for a few nails, but when the pressure runs down from use you will have to carry the tank back and fill it up again. How far is a long way? I have laid out three hundred feet of air hose once to work on a building, with the compressor at the closest outlet. You might get an idea by trying it on a scrap board and see how many nails you can fire before the pressure drops to the point that the nailer won't operate. Chet

 

[BillG_in_TX]

This is why I always thought that Zetor had such great idea. I think they have air compressors on every one of their tractors. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I wonder if they'll be added to the "new" Century?

 

[shvl73]

I would think you would get quite a few shots with a little 18ga brad gun.
Is it more convenient to go back to recharge the tank than to run extra hose? Is the run too far to be practical to run hose?
With long runs of air hose, you will get some pressure drop, but it shouldn't affect something as small as a 18ga brad gun.

 

[Soundguy]

I'm not sure what kind of tank you have.. but my old campbel hausfield has a tire valve type nipple on it for being refilled by a 12v automotive air pump. IN the rare circumstances i wasn't around power.. I charged up the air tank, and then hooked up the tire pump to it as a top off. I only let the tire pump run about 5 minutes on.. then let it cool. For very limited air use this might get you by.. if you have that recharge option. Other options are an engine operated air pump .. it screws into a sprak plug hole, and has a small compressor plunger and valving. Thing is you have to have a gas engine on yer tractor.. etc.. other options are pto powered air pump.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[DocHeb]

I made this "carry tank" from an old propane tank. I left the tank open in the sunlight (after it was empty) to let any traces of propane escape. Then I pumped it down with a vacuum pump, opened the valve to let the air in, and then pumped it down again. The escaping air after five cycles was not flammable - it does, however, still smell a bit like mercaptan (odorizing agent for propane).

I put a pressure valve on it, and made a Male-to-Male adapter to allow me to fill the tank from my hoses that have quik-connects, or I can use the Schrader adapter on the right (similiar to a tire valve) to use a tire pump or gas station hose for inflation.

A tank at 100 psi. can drive about 90 - 2inch 18 gauge brads. You have to pause ~2 seconds between shots since the tight valve doesn't allow fast equilibration. You may also get some minor change in the driving depth of the brad as the pressure drops. It is, however, just the ticket to trim out two windows or one doorway without having to drag out a lot of hose, or do a small job at a site without an air compressor.

One of these days I'll get around to painting it a different color, and label it as "COMPRESSED AIR - NON FLAMMABLE".

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Chris,
Great idea! This is exactly what I need to do, trim out some windows etc. in the house and I don't feel like stringing around all the hose. 100 nails between fills would be fine!
Are those 5 gal CH tanks 100 PSI?
Larry

 

[DocHeb]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Are those 5 gal CH tanks 100 PSI? )</font>

Around here they're called "20 lb tanks", and they are about the size of a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Chris,
I like your 20 pund propane tank use, but if I didn't want to go through the effort of fabricating one myself. So I was referring to the Cambell Hausfield (CH) tanks you can pick up at Home Depot that were mentioned above.
Larry

 

[Junkman]

Chris..... do you know what the safe maximum amount of air pressure you can put into one of the propane tanks? Since the new design has been mandated, there are a lot of the older ones available just for the taking.