Jason Bourne
I worried for nothing. Everything works as well as I hoped. I have several hundred nails through both guns now, and not a single malfunction.
The compressor is… well, it’s not quiet, that’s for sure, but as far as compressors go, it’s not bad. The gauges and regulator work well, as does the regulator. I don’t have a lot of experience with air tools, so I tried a bunch of different air pressures fro 80 to 130. One twist of a knob, and pressure is set.
The tank has a nice, semi-knurled bleeder valve on the bottom of the tank. That’s to release the pressure if you’re not going to be using it for a while, as well as to bleed out any accumulated water.
When I first fired it up, I didn’t know about the valve, and it was open. (Directions? Who reads those??) Obviously that made a lot of noise as the pressure was leaking right back out with a loud whooshing sound. Once I figured that out, it was MUCH quieter haha. With the valve closed, the tank fills up and shuts off in about two minutes from empty, and only kicks on once in a while.
I really didn't want to hear it at all though, so I grabbed
It's not that loud, but it's much quieter when it's in another room. That hose is a lot higher quality than the very skinny one that comes with the kit, but hey, it's a hose, and it works fine.
The kit doesn’t come with any nails or staples, but I bought an assortment of different lengths for both the nailers and the stapler. I initially thought the stapler needed some kind of special staples, but no, it takes regular T50 staples you can buy anywhere. Good news, cuz I have a ton.
The 18 gauge brad nailer and the 16 gauge finish nailer sound like they’d be about the same thing, but no. One peek at the guns and you can see the 16 gauge is a monster. The 18 gauge nailer is adequate for trim and baseboards and light work, but the 16 gauge nailer is much more powerful. Not for framing, but pretty much anything else. That one has an easy to adjust depth setting thumbscrew on the nose.
I had no jambs at all with any of the tools, and I used nails from 1” to 2 ½” in both nailers, with pressures from 80 to 130 psi. A couple of times when nailing on baseboards I hit drywall screws. The nails bent, but never jammed my nail guns. I can’t believe I waited this long to get this.
The only problem with this compressor is that it has a tendency to want to spin on the floor. I put it on a rubber doormat, and that stopped it. The feet are rubber, but there’s usually sawdust or dirt on a jobsite, and apparently that’s all the feet need to let it spin. Might be that all of these pancake compressors do the same thing, I dunno.
In any case, this was definitely a good buy, and I’m thrilled with it. Build or fix something for your spouse, and it’ll be justified.
Pros
+ Zero problems after hundreds of nails.
+ Simple to use regulator.
+ Comes with hose, two guns, stapler, and instructions (if you feel like reading them).
Cons
- No nails, staples, or tool oil included.
- Wife now wants a lot of projects done.
| Brand | Bostitch |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 0.01 Volts |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Drilling, Air Brushing, Spraying, Nailing |
| Power Source | air-powered |
| Noise Level | 78.5 dB |
| Included Components | 1) 6-gallon Pancake Compressor, 1) 18GA 2 in. Brad nailer, 1) 2-1/2 in. 16GA Straight Finish Nailer, 1) Heavy Duty 3/8 in. Crown Stapler, 1) 25' Air Hose. |
| Item Weight | 41.8 Pounds |
| Capacity | 6 Gallons |
| Color | Yellow |
| Material | Blend |
| Product Dimensions | 21.1"L x 19.5"W x 18"H |
| Style | Compressor Combo Kit |
| Air Flow Capacity | 1 Cubic Feet Per Minute |
| Model Name | BTFP3KIT |
| Hose Length | 25 Feet |
| Manufacturer | BOSTITCH |
| UPC | 719918336957 077914061175 |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00077914061175 |
| Part Number | BTFP3KIT |
| Item Weight | 41.8 pounds |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Item model number | BTFP3KIT |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | One Size |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Number Of Pieces | 4 |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 1 year limited manufacturer warranty |
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