I'm in the market for a compound miter saw, air nailer, and air compressor for general household repairs. As a new homeowner I'm constantly learning about home improvement projects. Until now I have managed all repairs using the few tools that I own and tools that I have rented and/or borrowed. The first investment I made was in a 4 piece 18V Lithium tool kit including compact drill/driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, and flashlight. Basically I'm looking for advice on which brands/features/etc. to look for and things to avoid. For example, I borrowed a miter saw from a co-worker to cut crown and base. It didn't take long for me to understand why it's important to have a high fence when cutting crown in position. Also, installing crown without a air nailer is a huge inconvenience. Thanks.
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If you have a northern tool and equipment that is where I purchased q 100 gal air compressor.

Dewalt has a good reputation, but the best stuff I've see is from Milwaukee.
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Funny Justin, I was at Lowe's last evening shopping myself.
One thing that I have learnt over the years is to make sure you look at the items you normally wouldn't and ya get what ya pay for.

Example:
My cheap ass Skill Jigsaw and circular saws. They do the job OK.... but who woulda ever thought that I should have looked more closely at the cords when I was buying them. They are a stiff plasticized PITA and get in the way of cuts constantly. My Milwaukee stuff has a nice, soft, pliable cord. They are also removable, replacable, and interchangeable.

Three brands I wouldn't hesitate to suggest:
Milwaukee
Hitachi
DeWalt


Lowe's has some great deals right now on a couple of Dewalt Compound Mitre Saws.
There is also a 12" Hitachi for a steal.
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Highlighted in red :-)
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:-)
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While we're on the power tool topic.... check this out... http://www.sawstop.com/?gclid=CLr8qK...FQTxDAodf3Z1vg

Watch the videos. Amazing , yet simple.
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Cool technology. I imagine when it does kick in it's hell on the saw blade, brake, and motor (it digs right into an aluminum block, stopping it cold). Better replacing those than a finger though!
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Oh yeah, it destroys all that (except for the motor If you pay close attention, it stops within approx 3 saw teeth and cuts power as it does that) but a couple hundred bux is well worth the alternative.
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After the blade hits the stopblock, it's a gonner. IIRC, there's a shear pin in there that breaks to protect the motor from damage and allow the blade to drop out of the way.
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I love DeWalt.
Pricey but man do you get what you pay for.

I have a number of Craftsman items also. They have been very reliable.
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Beauty is in the eye of the tool holder.

I have had not great experience with DeWalt but I cannot kill my Milwaukee tools and trust me I have tried. (CutsAll, Hammer Drill, Planer, Two other cordless drills)

As for a compressor I have only one recommendation - do not get an oil less compressor - this comes directly from the man I respect most when it comes to tools and fixing things and that is my uncle who is (retired) a heavy duty diesel mechanic. He made that one recomendation and I listened, I have a great Campbell Hauser that only has a smallish tank but powers my brad nailer, my finishing nailer, my air grinders, air ratchet, impact wrench, hardwood floor nailer, and even a framing nailer that I rented. So unless you are going to tax it heavily a 100 gal air container takes up unneeded room.

On the miter saw I have a 10 inch Milwaukee that has cut thousands of board feet of lumber from everything from rough carpentry, molding, PVC, HD Fiber Board. If it had been available I would have got the 12" Milwaukee. The miter saw is the workhorse of my tools and I never do any jobs without it. I have had friends laugh at me when I show up to help when I bring my own saw but soon the Milwaukee is the only saw running.

Just my :-) like I said first it is all in the eye of the tool holder.
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DeWalt is always my first choice.
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I feel qualified to advise on this. I am three years into building a log home and have bought and tried a lot of stuff. As for compound miter I wouldn't trade my slider. I am fortunate to have an older DeWalt DW708 which is heavier than the present DW718. If you can find one I would recomend the DW708 but good luck. My friend has a Dewalt non sliding and although a great saw it is tough to cut 8" t&g siding on a 45 deg. I did a lot of this on the house. If I were buying new I would look at ridgid from HD. They have a life time warranty on a lot of there power tools even the batterys. I have some of there battery stuff and am pleased with it.
Nailers are a broad subject. I have several and it all depends on the job what I use. I have a paslode hoseless butane framer that I love. Paslode also makes a butane finnish nailer. I have borrowed the finnish gun and it worked well. This would keep you out of the compressor market. For finish nailers I like the 15 gauge angled finish nailer. It shoots a round nail and is easy to get in tight spots. Mine is a dewalt D51276K and it has been good to me. I like paslode stuff though both butane and pnumatic. A guy that helped me on the house had a dewalt cordless electric nailer that he bragged on and he was a pro contractor, I didn't try it.
Compressors are a budget thing. I have a big two stage in the shop and got tired of dragging hosr across the yard so I bought a cheep noname pancake that has run the air nailers for a year now without a problem and it is oil less. I wouldn't reccomend oil less but it was cheep and not my primary compressor. I also tried the belt clip CO2 regulator (jac pac) uses a paint ball bottle I have mixed fellings about it. I wouldn't get it unless it was cheep, you didn't have a lot to do, and you had a fill station near.

Hope this helps
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Just remember that there's a difference between the tools you see in Home Depot or Lowes (screwguns, etc) and the versions that contractors are able to get. The screwguns we have at work are a better quality than those in the store.
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Alot of it is going to depend on what you want to do, you kinda sound like me do it yourselfer on alot of small house projects and want the tools to make life a little easier.

I bought a package deal at sears that came with the compressor below and a set of 3 nail guns. and i bought just one of there base model mitre saws, a rip saw is wonderful to have if you actually plan on cutting longer material.

I also have one of there table saws that i picked up on sell.

Never once have had a problem, but i do have a 100 gallon in the workshop for running air tools etc, but the pancake one below works beautifully with nail guns and other small projects.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...5215000P?mv=rr
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If I am making a living at it I would get higher line tools but (you can call me cheap now) if I am using a tool very infrequently I get those from Harbor Frieght. For example I wanted a screw gun in the house for blinds, misc repairs etc.

15 bucks for 18v cordless drill with a light and it works fine for the tasks a hand.
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I will use the miter saw primarily for molding, shelving, and general carpentry. The compressor will be used for tires, nailers, paint sprayer, and impact wrenches. As far as nailers the only one that I probably wouldn't have a use for is a framing nailer. Finishing and brad nailers will be used most of the time.
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I bought this off a guy on Craigslist last year (It was still sealed in the box) for just such uses. Works pretty good, but a little loud. I paid $225 and Home Depot wanted $299 + tax.
My brother-in-law has one as well and uses it when he builds fences. Although he bought a better nail gun to use with the compressor.

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-C.../dp/B000HZGTIA
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For impacts, you would generally need more volume than what a pancake compressor could provide. Unless, you want to have it run constantly or recharge between difficult nuts/bolts.

IMHO 10 gallon minimum for impacts/automotive air tools. Otherwise you'll end up drinking too much beer while waiting and it will become counterproductive.
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A compressor to run an impact needs to be at least 10 cfm. Not very portable and not too handy for household repair. A pancake is hard pressed to run an impact. Buy two compressors or the paslode butane or like I did for a while buy a lot of hose.
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