Looking for a new compressor

Don’t scrimp on your compressor. you will find more uses for it. you will grow out of a small one before you know it.

-- hey honey! watch this!

I’ve lived by a couple of rules when it comes to compressors. First, always get one size bigger than what you think you’ll need, and second (and this probably should probably be # 1) do not buy an “oil less” compressor.
I have a 5 hp 220 volt with a 20 gal tank in my garage, but if I had to do it over again, I’d get a 110 volt model. It’s much more versatile that way. To get around that issue I bought a 2 hp pancake compressor that I could easily move from home to cottage, and project to project. It came from Harbor Freight and it goes on sale occasionally for about $79. I bought it on the recommendation of a friend who has an auto shop and when his shop compressor went down for repairs, he used this make & model to literally run the whole shop for 3 days. The little compressor ran almost constantly for those 3 days, and still works great. I think mine is 3 yrs old & all I’ve done is change oil occasionally.
Anyway, that’s my 2 cents worth -SST

-- Accuracy is not in your power tool, it's in you

If you are only going to be using nail guns than a 110 v single stage will do you fine. I bought a Porter Cable set from HD that came with a stapler, brad, finish nailer and small compressor for your price. But I also have a large one for working on the big toys.

-- T. Nelson

Here is the one that I have for the little stuff. W/Nail guns.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100497650&N=10000003+90043+502400

-- T. Nelson

I look at it like this:

My pancake compressor drives 23 to 15 ga. nail guns, blow guns, and my Critter with power to spare, as well as my Porta-Nails flooring nailer. It’s portable and runs on 120v to boot!

For spraying finishes, I have a 4 stage HVLP unit that delivers dry, clean, perfectly uncontaminated air, to the gun, with no extra components. To get the same with a typical huge and expensive compressor, I’d also need oil and moisture separators, uncontaminated hoses and fittings, etc… I spray lots of water base and lacquer, so this is a big deal.

If I had a big compressor, I’d still need the HVLP rig and a portable compressor. You do the math… <g>

-- - Please help keep Lumberjocks an enjoyable escape by refusing to participate in political discussions. Simply spit out the bait and ignore the thread...

I would get a min. 2hp motor and as big of air storage as you can afford. If your going to use any air tools or do any spraying you need more air storage. The bigger the tank the longer the motor will run but less often. If you try running air tools or spraying with a small air compressor it will run and run right into the ground.
I say be sure to evaluate your purpose and future uses and get the biggest you can for that purpose.
Check here for some comparisons and prices.
http://www.mytoolstore.com/compare/cpcmpr1.html

Hi Dave

Just bought a Makita MAC2400 air compressor and I really like it. The compressor is 2.5 HP, has 4.2 Gal. twin stack tanks and is oil lubricated. It has great quality, low noise level and fast pressure recovery. I would highly recommend this unit. Good luck on picking a new compressor.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Thanks everyone for the excellent advice! It will be powered via 110v and single phase. I think noise will be a big factor in purchasing, since it will be in basement and the living quarters are above me untill I ca nget some sound proffing I don’t think my wife will appreciate a noise compressor, not to mention the sound bouncing off the concrete walls. The main purposes of the compressor will be for nailing, I have some molding work to do in the house at other small odds and ends.

Any brand that I should stay away from?
Straightpiped – how quiet is the one you linked?

Again thanks for the excellent advice!

-Dave

I bought a Craftsman 26 gallon tank about a year ago replacing my old one. I’ve been happy with it, especially in that it is very quiet for a compressor. So many of them are terribly noisy and this one isn’t and performs well.

-- Randal, DeKalb, Illinois

Listen to ND2ELK.

I just replaced my Porter-Cable pancake compressor with the Makita MAC2400. Wow what a difference. This compressor is incredibly quiet. You can carry on a conversation while it is cycling … oh and it cycles in about 30 sec. Not a bad little compressor.

I studied a bunch of compressors and kept coming back to the Makita. The unit was built in Taiwan, but I was told designed by a company in Canada for Makita. I wouldn’t hold either of these items against the Makita, it is rock solid.

Definitely worth a look … and a listen.

Good luck.

-- Just 'cause a cat has kittens in the oven, it don't make 'em biscuits.

Get the biggest compressor you can afford. Mine is plumbed in from the garage to the basement wood shop and runs all those little nail guns and sprayers you guys are talking about in addition to 3/4” impact wrenches and air powered jacks for the vehicles upstairs.

-- bbqKing, Lawrenceville

My Porter Cable is fairly loud…

-- T. Nelson

I agree with Shopsmithtom. 1)- don’t buy an airless. I’ve had 2 for just occasional use and each of them failed just after the warranty ran out. 2)- I’m a big fan of Harbor Freight tools and they have some really nice air compressors. I recommend one that has a separate motor and compressor. 3)- Don’t scrimp on air compressors. Nearly 30 years ago I bought a 5 horse with a 30 gallon tank and thought I would go broke buying it. I’m still using it today.

-- Randy, Louisiana