condensation hose?
Don't plug the furnace! Sounds like you either didn't get the right hose connection...or if it really was a garden hose, the washer is leaky and needs to be replaced. Your local hardware store should be able to help you easily....
what is hardwood floor?
Installing hardwood flooring isn't beyond the reach of many DIYers, but, you will need a power miter saw and a flooring nailer. There are manual nailers and pneumatic nailers both of which a struck with a mallet and toenails a nail at an angle into the tongue of the board. They can be rented, but, if you aren't speedy, the rent will kill you. In that case, I would purchase one. Here is a pneumatic for $130 mail order and you may have one of these stores near you. You can sell when the job is don...
want a cordless finish nailer, how difficult to use?
They are easy to use and usually convenient. All nail guns can jam. The cordless finish nailers work pretty well. The framing nailers are too slow, in my opinion, for any big job (sheathing especially). If you think you might someday want a framing gun, roofing gun, brad nailer, pinner, stapler, air sander, drill, sprayer, etc, etc, I'd recommend a compressor. For about the same cost as that cordless gun, you could get the kit from Porter-Cable that has a pancake compressor, 16g finish, 18g brad...
What's the construction outlook for Chicago in 2007?
Right now construction is picking up. and it looks about the same as last year if not a little stronger. Though the new construction marked might be not as strong, but it makes it up in the condominium market....
Attaining 3cfm at 60 psi?
*SCFM/PSI 4 / 90 6 / 40 Above is the data you are getting with 5/8 inch dia hose. Now you want to use 0.5 inch dia hose for, SCFM/PSI 3 / 60 which falls in the range you are using and you have a pressure regulator/pressure switch mounted on your outlet of compressed air. *What is the purpose of using a 0.5 in.dia. hose? If it is necessary, then use reducing coupling to connect 5/8 in. dia hose to 0.5 inch dia hose....