Co2 for nailers
- Thread starter chris s
- Start date
nclemmons
Member
I have a Kobalt CO2 regulator and hose kit from Lowe's. Uses paintball-sized canisters. Lowe's used to sell them and you could exchange the CO2 tanks there, but they stopped selling the regulators and the tank refills so now I go to Dick's sporting goods.
The tanks are certified for maybe four years during which time you can get them refilled. After that, you have to buy replacements. I think the tanks are maybe $12 and refills are under $10.
The tank and regulator hang off your belt and it's great for small jobs. Works really well with a pin nailer or finish gun. Would not work with a framing nailer. I use it in the shop when I have a small job and don't want the noise of a compressor. It's really nice for a quick trim job. Had some base shoe on a kitchen remodel after the painting was done and it was nice not to drag out the compressor for maybe 40 finish nails.
Amazon and others still sell units. I'd suggest using with the coiled short 1/4" hoses to minimize the amount of air that fills the hose and conserve it for driving nails.
The tanks are certified for maybe four years during which time you can get them refilled. After that, you have to buy replacements. I think the tanks are maybe $12 and refills are under $10.
The tank and regulator hang off your belt and it's great for small jobs. Works really well with a pin nailer or finish gun. Would not work with a framing nailer. I use it in the shop when I have a small job and don't want the noise of a compressor. It's really nice for a quick trim job. Had some base shoe on a kitchen remodel after the painting was done and it was nice not to drag out the compressor for maybe 40 finish nails.
Amazon and others still sell units. I'd suggest using with the coiled short 1/4" hoses to minimize the amount of air that fills the hose and conserve it for driving nails.
What he said ^^^
I use this set up for site work. I have / had the Kobalt regulator , but after having two go bad I have switched to one made by Interstate Pneumatics. I have not used it long enough to know how durable it is. But it does have a replaceable safety burst disk ..... that is a good sign. It is also more compact than the Kobalt.
I get about 150 shots for an 18ga nailer from a 9oz. cylinder. Disconnecting will lose some CO2 so you will get fewer shots if swapping guns frequently. After a few trips to Dick's for refills I ended up getting a 50 pound cylinder from a weld shop and I do my own. For that you will need a transfer valve set up which are quite reasonably priced AND an accurate scale.
Yes, I like the 1/4 coiled hoses from Coil Hose Pneumatics (Flexeel) .
And be sure to have some 'O' rings for the cylinders on hand.
Seth
I use this set up for site work. I have / had the Kobalt regulator , but after having two go bad I have switched to one made by Interstate Pneumatics. I have not used it long enough to know how durable it is. But it does have a replaceable safety burst disk ..... that is a good sign. It is also more compact than the Kobalt.
I get about 150 shots for an 18ga nailer from a 9oz. cylinder. Disconnecting will lose some CO2 so you will get fewer shots if swapping guns frequently. After a few trips to Dick's for refills I ended up getting a 50 pound cylinder from a weld shop and I do my own. For that you will need a transfer valve set up which are quite reasonably priced AND an accurate scale.
Yes, I like the 1/4 coiled hoses from Coil Hose Pneumatics (Flexeel) .
And be sure to have some 'O' rings for the cylinders on hand.
Seth
what he said ^^^ plus this, I use CO2 pretty much 100% due to my home being off grid and don't want to have a generator or an air compressor running, use it for nail guns, filling tires, etc. Here is a source for tanks, valves, etc,http://www.powertank.com/cat-construction-series their small tanks are nice because they have a shut off valve, one caution with buying a big tank from them (which I did) is a welding shop will do an exchange but most do not do fills, at least in my area, I bought a 20 lb aluminum tank and now just do an exchange or you can go the route Seth did and fill your own, I have the parts to do it, just have not tried it yet. Good luck and be safe!!
Tyler Ernsberger
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2014
- Messages
- 895
I played paintball when I was younger and had a lot of gear left over. I had a 68ci 4500psi nitrogen tank that had an adjustable regulator and I was able to get around 2000 18ga nails out of it. I haven't used it in years for a couple reasons. The first the tank I was using had to be retested and I switch over to Paslode Cordless Nailers.
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