QuestionS

[Gary roofner]

My air compressor died .  I am planning replacing it with a Bostitch pancake 6 gal compressor.

Anyone have this brand gets good reviews best in the price range I want to pay from my Lowes store. I have not been happy with the cheap hose I have so when upgrading . I am leaning toward the polyurethane hoses but only come 1/4 .  Is it a big deal the 1/4 verses 3/8 diameter.

Reason is from what I have read the polyurethane hoses don't kink and are flexible and very durable. 

The pancake compressor are they as durable as full size or am better off with a full size on wheels. 

[skippysg]

I had a bostitch and I sold it and got a Makita MAC700 from craigslist. It is so much quieter and works great. The bostitch compressors are just too loud for my liking.

[Scott]

Hey man...

I just had to toss out a Bostich 2-tank because the auto shutoff had stopped working altogether.  When I went to Lowes to search for a replacement, I compared the Bostich Pancake they have on sale (comes with a pin nailer), to the Porter Cable Pancake.  The Porter Cable came with two outlets, and the price difference was just not significant enough to notice for what you got.  If you already have a nailer, go with the Porter Cable Pancake with the dual outlets.

While you're there, check out Kobalt's new "build-it-yourself" garage airhose system.  You can make hoses short for stationary items, long for others, and with the Porter Cable dual outlet pancake, it's a dream match.

My 2 cents just fell outta my pocket.  Happy shopping!

[Joe Stealy]

I have owned my Bostitch pancake compressor and two nail guns for almost 10 years.  I have have zero issues with the compressor.  I did buy a heavy duty hose and connectors for it.

[Gary roofner]

The porter cable reviews are bad they claim only last a year presure switch won't hold up.

[Scott]

Not sure how that's possible, since the model I bought just came out.  Woodcraft has nothing but good things to say about Porter Cable, and regret they went to Bostich.

But, alas, nothing is bullet proof.  I know I'll never buy another Bostich until they fix the auto-shutoff issue, which they've had on several of their portable compressors for a while now.

[Scott]

I hear you.  Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.  Frankly, I don't think either compare to an Ingersoll Rand, but in the price range we are talking about, I'll take the Porter Cable.  I had the exact opposite experience with Bostich that you are having.
 
Joe Stealy said:

I have owned my Bostitch pancake compressor and two nail guns for almost 10 years.  I have have zero issues with the compressor.  I did buy a heavy duty hose and connectors for it.

[Gary roofner]

I think you both are bring out the same concerns . I am having with all pancake compressors they are all susceptible to pressure switch problems . There were more complaints on the porter cable than the Bostitch.  Now the porter cable  has the better price. Although not comparing = equipped.  The porter cable is $99 no hose or brad nailer. Bare compressor.  The Bostitch is $150. Probably all the low price compressors are having same problem.

[Jeff Metcalf]

Hi Gary;

I have several of the poly hoses they work great for all my air tools especially for my small compressors really no difference with the 1/4 inch and the 3/8 inch with small compressors that deliver low CFM,s where it makes the difference is when you use a tool that needs a lot of CFM like my large sand blaster.

As far as small compressors go I have the Bostitch pancake yes it makes a lot of noise but I only take it out to trim jobs, I also have a great two tank oil less Rigid I take out to frame nail in new construction does not need heat up here in the winter cold. MY most favourite compressor is my Campbell Housefield  5 HP 20 gal cast iron my wood shop it is low RPM so extremely quite and true HP it is one of those that goes thug thug when it runs I have had it for over twenty years and I think it will out live me. Low RPM means it is true HP and it is not spinning the heck out of my bearings heck it will even run one of my small sand blasters.

 

Hope some of this helps Jeff

[Derick Upchurch]

I have that compressor, bought it with 3 nail guns for around 300 on sale a few years ago. It works great for nails but is not large enough to do small scale painting with my HVLP gun. I plan to upgrade to a larger one in the future but if you  just plan to nail and air up tires it will serve you well. 

[Jeff Metcalf]

Gary;

Here is a picture of a couple of the poly hoses that I always have available in my shop, also some of my air tools that are easily powered by the hoses and the compressor I mentioned 5 hp 20 gallon. I have many compressors but my favourite is in the picture. What happened to your old compressor and what size is it I do a lot of compressor repairs I rebuild one last December for my friend and it is working like new it really depends on the brand if you can get parts his was a Webster very good and old brand still can get parts. Good luck on your decision I do not use my Bostitch enough to give you a recommendation, although my heavy duty air nail guns framing etc. are Bostitch  highly recommend mind you I love my Grex headless pin nial gun.

 

Good Luck Jeff

[Gary roofner]

I have changed my mind I am going to buy the Porter cable less money and i already have a brad nailer. Probably will spend the extra money on a better hose. I just have a cheap plastic junk hose. Thanks from everyone that replied. 

[Scott]

I don't think you'll regret it Gary.  In this price range, it's a good bang for your bucks.  Like I said earlier, nothing will beat an Ingersoll Rand, but $400 or so, who wants to drop that kind of dough to use a brad nailer?