Air Compressor Recommendations

ChuckS1

ChuckS1

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I need a portable air compressor for the garage. All I want to do is air up tires and occasionally do some light nailing (like trim and small projects around the house; no roofing or framing). Looked at Harbor Freight and Home Depot web sites and they all pretty much look alike to me. CFM, PSI, oil-free, all Greek to me... :( Home Depot has the Porter-Cable 6 gallon with a finish nailer for $199 and the same compressor with a brad nailer for $170. Thought these sounded okay, but not really have no clue about this stuff.

Anybody got some recommendations?
 
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Most are made in China. I got a good deal on a Husky (oil filled) at Lowes. I like it better then my non oil Cambell Hausfeld.

I needed more CFM to run a texture splatter gun to redo my ceilings. If fills faster, lasts longer and has more pressure. it was $99.00. Bought a 50' hose so I can reach the tires on the cars in the drive way or do work inside while the compressor is in the garage.
 
Have you checked out your local Ace/True-Value/Do it Best?
My local Ace carries factory refurbed power tools with full warranty and does tool shows 2x a year where reps are there and will give you a good deal.
I picked up the PC pancake for 60 bucks last fall (no nailguns or anything) but it was a good deal. I use it fore tires, occasional brad nailing & gun cleaning. This past summer I built a 12'x24' deck for my folks using it as my only compressor for a palm nailer and a big nail gun that I borrowed from a buddy who works construction. As I was the only one there it kept up just fine.
 
I have had a Cambell Hausfeld about 6 gal for about 15 years now I keep it in my workshop and use it occasionally to fill tires and power nailers and Impact wrenches. What ever brand you buy think of one thing I do like very much is the retactable hose reel I mounted on a board accross the handle of the compressor. The compressor is on wheels and whenver I move it around the reel goes with it. The reel is about 5 years older than the compressor. Fit all your tools with the same quick couplers and you will be good to go.
Steve W.
 
I bought the three-gallon Husky Model at Home Depot.

Model # H1503TP

All I use it for is to air-up tires and air-dust my tractors, chainsaws, and other equipment.

It ran great out of the box and still does the same two years later.

It was only about 125 dollars which included hoses and fittings.
 
got the set at lowes a couple of christmas's ago that came with a brad nailer, finish nailer and staple gun for less than 250 i think. does everything you want it to do. It is Porter Cable brand. I use it to air up tires and toys more than anything but have used the nailers/stapler alot and it works great.
 
I have the same set as Trauma1, I got it at Rockler as a remanufactured set. I think I paid less than 200, and it has lasted better than 5 years. Still running strong!
 
I buy the cheap stuff at Harbor Freight, and take GOOD care of them and they've never let me down. If you read the reviews on any of their tools you'll be sure to find people who call them junk but you can kinda read between the lines and figure out that a lot of them don't have a clue about proper maintenance and care of anything. I have this one here

3 Gallon Air Compressor - 1/3 HP, 100 PSI, Oilless

that I use in the basement part of my machine shop, used pretty much just for an air gun that I use to blow aluminum chips, shaving etc. out of the parts or off the drill presses. I've also used it for powder coating when I only had a couple small parts to do and didn't feel like firing up the bigger air compressor, it's light enough to lug out to the end of the drive to put air in someone's tire. It's oil-less so a bit noisier than the regular oil-filled ones but not bad.

I have the previous model of this one as well that I use in the shop itself, and plan on adding another one like it in tandem here soon, I over-work the heck out of this one with my bead blaster and air tools. I have had to replace the head gasket on mine, but like I said, I abuse them, but take good care of them as well with oil changes twice a year, and got rid of the factory air cleaner and installed a much better one.

Vertical Air Compressor - 2.5 HP, 21 Gallon, 120 Volt, 125 PSI

This one is an oil-filled one, meaning that it has a crankcase like a car engine that has to have oil in it and the level maintained. Mines three years old now, the only problems I ever had with it were minor and easily fixed. I would hate to estimate the number of hours on it, but I use it daily, pretty much 6 days a week or more, so I know it's well into the thousands.
 
I bought a Sears 2HP. back in 1974 used it to run a body repair & Paint Shop for many years, Still use it around the shop for all my needs. I think I have gotten my monies worth out of it. The only power tool that works it real hard is a DA sander.
 
I have owned all type of compressors over the years, and based on your stated uses, ANY 115vac Oilless compressor will do the jub for you.

All of the uses you mention are short term low pressure needs. I would recomend you approach it more from a garage / shed storage ability view. As to tank capacity, anything above 3 Gal would be fine. Again, considering usage, I would go for the cheapest thing I could find.

You will end up spending more for hose, connectors, and tools than the compressor.
 
My first compressor way back when was an oilless.Burned it up in 6 months.Since then I've bought half a dozen contractor grade oil type compressors.Two were stolen,the others just keep running.It really depends on how much use you expect to get from it.Spend a few more bucks now,pay attention to the oil level and it may outlast you.
 
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