CO2 powered pneumatics tool or toy?
Hey Fellow Dust warriors!
Looking for some advise and feedback on a new tool i saw while cruising throught the tool department at my local Lowe’s store.
It is a CO2 powered regulator device that you can hook up to any pneumatic nailer. The guy at the store said it fires all sizes right up to a framer but the number of shoots varies by size of gun. Im thinking this would be great for me as I am a renovation trades guy and hauling that darn compressor in and out all day gets annoying. This might work well for those quick fix ups or smaller area jobs. Also tried the Paslodes, but man the maintenance to keep it running is killing me!
anyway this thing i saw uses a screw on cylinder which the guy says is a standard paintball cylinder.I thought I would have to buy new tanks each time they run out but he said that they exchange the empies right at the store for full ones and you only pay for the fill (same like my propane cylinder i guess)
It sounds pretty cool considering it only weights 4 lbs and hangs right off your belt. My question is does anyone out there already own one and what did you think?
Would appreciate any advise on this. Its not a big expense at $100.00 but would still like some feedback before I drop some coin on this!
thanks
Replies
I saw this also. My guess is that the inconvenience of having to haul a compressor around is replaced by the hassles of frequent cylinder changes and having to take the cylinders to someplace to get them refilled. I doubt if a cylinder could drive even 100 nails per charge so the cost of the refills might be significant and you would probably need to have several $100 tanks to get through a day.
An alternative would be to keep a very small and light compressor for small jobs. We have a very small one here in the shop that is no trouble at all to carry around.
John White
Not really that new but for the quick touch-up and if there is no power available for that even really small compressor it would be an option. Even better might be the Palmgren cordless compressor...
http://www.palmgren.com/p-wp-compressors-hipshot.html
Talk to the Breaktime guys.
Edited 6/29/2007 4:05 pm ET by RickL
http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/09/hot-or-not-portable-compressed-co2-regulatortank-for-nailers/
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=54534
http://www.instructables.com/id/EY3GR8TS7EEYVZD42V/
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.home.repair/browse_thread/thread/7bbe1c5105686360/56392623d4879a20?#56392623d4879a20
Ok, this is way out there but I wouldn't be surprised to see the use of CO2 cartridges banned (or severely restricted) eventually.
Now that CO2 has been identified as the boogey man causing global warming, I suspect that it's just a matter of time until "controllable sources" (such as CO2 cartridges) become the target of regulatory legislation.
No, it won't make much sense but it's a quick and easy way for our legislators to show that they're "doing something".
I believe that the CO2 used to recharge the cylinders is taken out of the air in the first place and thus isn't increasing the amount in the atmosphere.
John W.
I'm sure you're right, but you're also using logic in a situation where illogical thought gets more media attention. - lol
Your comment makes me wonder, however, why someone would go to the trouble and expense of separating CO2 from the air so it can be packaged for use in an air driven tool? Why not just compress the air and "package" that?
why someone would go to the trouble and expense of separating CO2 from the air so it can be packaged for use in an air driven tool? Why not just compress the air and "package" that
Because CO2 is readily available, used for carbonated beverages and welding. I guess it's safer as well, since it doesn't have any oxygen and can't aid combustion.
Small aluminum cylinders (about 15 inches tall and 6" diameter) are common for beverages (I use one with homebrew beer). You could hook a regulator up to it set for 100 psi for tools. The cylinders hold ~3500 psi, so should last awhile. Filling them is cheap, probably alot cheaper than what Lowes charges for their paintball-sized ones.
At least one of my tools cautions not to use CO2. Before this belt pack, I had heard of people who buy a bottle of CO2 from welding suppliers or soda distributors and use that to drive pneumatic nailers.
To me, it would seem a major expense for a minor inconvenience, unless you really need the portability while climbing around places more than 100' from a power outlet.
These were discussed at Breaktime a while back. IIRC,those that tried them liked them for doing quickies when it would be a hassle to pack in the compressor.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
I bought a light-weight air tank for $25 or so. 10 gal. I think. It's perfect for those small jobs. It came with an inflator hose which I took off and replaced with a quick connector. I just fill it up to a little over 100 psi and can drive quite a few nails before it needs recharging.
OK, take it from a former pro paintballer, now a woodworker. While the idea sounds good, and might work, at least on paper, co2 is no longer used in the sport of paintball ANYWHERE. 'Ballers went to compressed air many years ago because co2 would go to liquid when forced into one of those bottles, and when released through the paintball gun, you got very inconsistent results. Compressed air is the only way the paintball guns work now.
My point? You won't find anyone who can fill the old school steel or aluminum co2 canisters anymore. 'Ballers use carbon fiber tanks now that are usually 4500 psi, and filled with high powered air compressors. I've played paintball tournaments all over the nation, and I have not seen anyone shooting co2 in more than 10 years. You might be able to find a local welding shop who can fill small bottle co2, but I'd be shocked.
I'd do some research before you waste your money.
Jeff
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