"Speaking of compressors being energy hogs...have you (or anyone else here) tried using one of those smaller pancake compressors?"
I've used a pancake compressor quite a bit, mostly for trim and finish work. They're definitely quieter and easier on the electric bill, but honestly, they struggle a bit with framing. Tried mine once for decking, and it was constantly cycling to keep up—not ideal. Cordless nailers are my go-to now too; convenience wins out unless it's a really heavy-duty job...
I totally get what you're saying about pancake compressors struggling with framing. I picked one up when we started renovating our first custom home, thinking it'd handle most jobs, but it definitely bogged down during heavier tasks like framing and subflooring. For trim and smaller projects though, it's been pretty reliable and easy to move around. Cordless nailers seem like the sweet spot—no hoses to trip over, less noise, and decent power. Might have to give one a shot for the next project...
"Cordless nailers seem like the sweet spot—no hoses to trip over, less noise, and decent power."
I see your point about cordless nailers being convenient, but I'm not entirely sold on them yet. I've tried a couple of different cordless models, and while they're definitely handy for quick jobs or tight spaces, I found they still lack consistency when it comes to heavier framing tasks. Maybe it's just my experience, but the battery life and power output weren't quite up to par when I was framing out my garage extension last summer. I ended up switching back to my pneumatic setup halfway through because the cordless just couldn't keep pace.
That said, I completely agree about pancake compressors struggling with framing. They're great for portability and smaller tasks, but when it comes to driving 3-inch nails into dense lumber repeatedly, they just don't have the recovery time or air capacity. I upgraded to a larger compressor a few years ago, and while it's definitely bulkier and louder, the difference in performance is night and day.
Honestly, I think it depends heavily on the scale and frequency of your projects. If you're mostly doing trim, cabinetry, or occasional DIY stuff around the house, cordless nailers are probably fine. But if you're regularly tackling bigger framing jobs, a solid pneumatic setup still seems like the more reliable choice. Maybe cordless tech will catch up eventually, but for now, I'm sticking with hoses and compressors—even if they're a bit of a hassle sometimes.
Totally get what you're saying about cordless nailers. I tried framing a deck last spring with one, and halfway through the battery started lagging...ended up grabbing my pneumatic again. Cordless is handy, but for bigger jobs, air still wins for me.
I see your point about battery-powered nailers hitting their limits on larger projects, but honestly, pneumatic nailers aren't always the smoothest ride either. I tackled a custom bookshelf build last month—kinda big, floor-to-ceiling—and dragging that hose around corners and up ladders got old real quick. Sure, the cordless battery died on you halfway through framing, but nowadays, battery tech has seriously improved. If you've only tried older models, you might be surprised.
For example, newer cordless nailers with brushless motors and lithium-ion batteries can handle hours of steady use. Just gotta invest in a spare battery or two, and swap them out as you go. It's a bit pricier upfront, but the freedom of movement is worth it, especially indoors or on multi-story builds. Pneumatics are reliable, no doubt, but cordless nailers have come a long way—might be worth another look?
