Thomas Compressors

[SteveC]

What's your pic for a 1 trim gun compressor ?
T- 635HT or T-617HDN
Talked with John at Thomas, good info but...
can get 635 locally for $299 or 617 at Amazon for $349
Is a 9 decibel difference noticeable ?
Will replace Senco PC1010 (Thanks ,Sal)

[dgbldr]

Can't help with the pick, but yes a 9dB is very noticeable. Basically the human ear perceives a 3dB difference as quite noticeable and 10dB is perceived as twice as loud.

dg

[Toolwhore]

Is a 9 decibel difference noticeable ?

9 decibels is a huge difference. It's kinda like how they measure earthquakes. Each step up is many times the lower #.

[SteveC]

Found this :

Threshold of hearing 0 Don’t hear anything
Broadcast studio interior or rustling leaves 10 1/32nd as loud as conversation
Quiet house interior or rural nighttime 20 1/16th as loud
Quiet office interior or watch ticking 30 1/8th as loud
Quiet rural area or small theater 40 1/4th as loud
Quiet suburban area or dishwasher in next room 50 1/2 as loud
Office interior or ordinary conversation 60 Ordinary Conversation
Vacuum cleaner at 10 ft. 70 Twice as loud
Passing car at 10 ft. or garbage disposal at 3 ft 80 4 times as loud
Passing bus or truck at 10 ft. or food blender at 3 ft. 90 8 times as loud
Passing subway train at 10 ft. or gas lawn mower at 3 ft. 100 16 times as loud
Night club with band playing 110 32 times as loud
Threshold of pain 120 64 times as loud as conversation (twice as loud as night club)

60 db is ordinary conversation and 70 db is 2x as loud

[Greg Di]

Steve,

I was all set to buy a Thomas, but then heard the little dewalt micro compressor. I think I paid $110 for it give or take.

It's so quiet, I cannot hear it in the next room. For $100, it's disposable as far as I'm concerned. The unit itself is about the same size as my Bosch jigsaw carrying case...no joke.

http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/to...roductID=15513

However, if you are going to buy Sal's compressor, then the Dewalt is a POS and I can't stand it. :)

[jobercian]

Good to hear about the Dewalt since they are clearing them out at HD near me for about $100. I've been ready to get a new one for a while (pancake is so damn loud), but couldn't justify it, because mine works great.

Everyone raves about the Thomas as the greatest compressors ever, but what exactly do they do that is so amazing for three times the cost? I certainly don't need 100% duty cycle, so besides that?

[SteveC]

I'm looking at 60db vs 71db and made in the USA.
Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather not buy "disposable" tools.
Looks like I may have to order from Amazon, no 617's local.

[Greg Di]

I'm looking at 60db vs 71db and made in the USA.
Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather not buy "disposable" tools.
Looks like I may have to order from Amazon, no 617's local.

Steve, you're so old, you might as well be buying disposable tools!!!!

My tools get used and abused for the sake of making me $. I love nice stuff, but some things are just not worth a premium price to me. A compressor compresses air. Not rocket science. As long as the house doesn't shake off the foundation, any compressor will work for me and get the job done.

I couldn't justify the Thomas surcharge considering I break out the compressor only a couple of times a week. YMMV.

[Greg Di]

no 617's local.

I think Godwin has them...Call them and ask. I know they stock Thomas.

[SteveC]

Ya' young whippersnapper !
With that attitude you should be riding a bike and towing a wagon instead of your fine looking truck !
Now I have to find the best deal on wheelchairs ! ;)
(Godwin only has the 635) $50 less but 2x as noisy.

[S. Donato]

steve,

i know you are fixing the senco already but just so you know my two Thomas' are the 635HD and 635HT both are maybe a hair louder then my MAC2400. which translates to being able to talk to someone in the same room but at a louder volume.

the 617 is pretty much silent - as far as compressors go.

if i wanted a trim only compressor i don't even think i would buy the 617 i would probably get the Dewalt. Greg and i heard the Dewalt, Senco and Thomas 617 at JLC RI and the sound difference was not worth the price differance. this is one time i say cheap out and go with the Dewalt. i am really not a huge fan of senco but others speak well of them and i don't own a senco product so i guess i can't complain. ;-)

at the same time i love that your considering it but seriously if you got 3 out of the PC1010 i would buy another one. the only reason i am such a fan of Thomas is b/c i can run my framing gun on a ~28 pound compressor. its all i use unless i am building something large and have a way to store the MAC2400 on site.

good luck ;-)

[jeffaah]

The little DeWalt is a good compressor. I used one a few weeks ago while helping out a friend. I used it with a 15g, 18g and a siding gun. It did the job....but is definately a trim compressor.

I'm hoping my PC pancake bites the dust soon, so I don't have to listen to it. But It just won't die...which is a good thing I guess.

I also have a two PC C3151 and they are LOUD. If I use them inside, I make sure they are at the other end of a 100' hose.
http://www.amazon.com/Decker-Porter-...7974837&sr=8-6

When Sal, Greg and I listened to the compressors at JLC, I was shocked at how quiet they all were. But I'm with Greg...If I was to buy a small compressor it would be the Dewalt.

Jeff

[SteveC]

Since I'm heading for the wheelchair, I just ordered a $7 valve to fix my Senco.
Thanks to all, now to order some tool bag oil. ;)

PS if this doesn't hold up I may take GregDi and Sal's advice and get Dewalt or maybe cheaper still, a bicycle pump and balloon! ;)

[dgbldr]

A compressor compresses air. Not rocket science. As long as the house doesn't shake off the foundation, any compressor will work for me and get the job done.

Just wait for the new Festool compressor. Then you will realize that a compressor doesn't just compress air. It gently persuades it down the hose with uncanny precision in a perfect stream of laminar flow that make your tools so happy they just start yodeling...

OK, I'm awake now.

dg

[SteveC]

I put the new check valve ($7) in today and it still leaked down. I sprayed every connection again and ultimately found a pinhole leak where the frame is welded to the bottom of the tank. Going to the tool store Mon and will check out the Dewalt and Thomas, I'm leaning to the 635Ht, compact, 69db (same as Senco), higher cfm to run 15ga finish and framer once in a while. I will then regulate my Emglo for just larger framing or trim jobs.
Thanks to all
PS Ya' think Festool is gonna come out with a wheelchair ?