Who Makes a Good Portable Compressor

[prichard]

This was sitting at Lowe's saturday with damaged wheels for $150. My wife saw it and decided I needed it. Who was I to argue.

Shop Kobalt 2-HP 5-Gallon 175-PSI 12-Volt Twin Stack Portable Electric Air Compressor at Lowes.com

It builds and holds pressure but haven't really used it yet. But Lowe's is pretty good about returns so I figured it was worth a shot.

 

[Garandman]

At work we have a Craftsman Professional. They don't make too many models and they're a lot more than the cheapos but we've run it a lot for five years.

They're all pretty damned loud, we built a box around it with anechoic foam. But the box can't restrict the airflow so still pretty noisy.

From Garage Journal:

I too wanted a portable air compressor and ended up choosing the IR Garagemate. It is a oiled unit and belt driven which are the quietest and longest lasting compressors.

The dewalt compressor is actually made by coleman/sanborn which makes most every compressor out there except IR, Quincy, and a couple others I can't think of.

BTW there have been complaints the Dewalt is louder than their claimed 78db.

 

[Fesntkilr]

I used to work commercial construction for a company that only bought the very best in tools. We only used Rolair or Emglo compressors and the gas compressors only had Honda motors. Rolair is probably the best of the bunch, Emglo was bought out by Dewalt and the quality has suffered significantly since then.

 

[ultrarunner]

It is getting to be a chore to lug my emglo around and it is loud although what a reliable workhorse the last 30 years.

Really looking for something with wheels like a hand truck... I've got a lot of tires to air up with 50 vehicles...

The shop is piped for air but that means driving the vehicle to the shop... I also have a 30 year old Thomas that works well in the service van and have air piped front, rear and to the pullout vice.

My work around has been a 6 gallon air tank... ok to top off but that is about it unless I want to keep making trips to refill.

Some of the new compressors like Senco are 200 psi units and I saw a 500 psi unit on a job... very compact but with high pressure output you get more work from a smaller tank.

By far the Senco 1010 is whisper quiet... perfect for a little air at the bench or for a brad nailer...

 

[ultrarunner]

I took advantage of Zoro's 25% discount and free shipping and bought Rolair

https://www.rolair.com/products/air-compressors/hand-carry/vt20tb

It was just over $300.

The Rolair is rated for 5,000 hours compressor life, is much quieter, has hand truck type wheels and continuous duty cycle.

I think it will be a good fit for my needs

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I took advantage of Zoro's 25% discount and free shipping and bought Rolair

https://www.rolair.com/products/air-compressors/hand-carry/vt20tb

It was just over $300.

The Rolair is rated for 5,000 hours compressor life, is much quieter, has hand truck type wheels and continuous duty cycle.

I think it will be a good fit for my needs

They says it draws 12.3 amps... It would have to draw 20 amps (at 120V) to make 2 HONEST hp..

Hopefully they didn't exaggerate the rest of the specs on that compressor too... lol

SR

 

[joefromga]

2hp is exactly 12.3 amps at 120v. Startup will be more but not running.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

2hp is exactly 12.3 amps at 120v. Startup will be more but not running.

Not in the REAL world it isn't... There's a lot of loss' between paper hp and real hp...

10 amps per hp works all the loss' in, and makes an honest hp.

SR

 

[4570Man]

Not in the REAL world it isn't... There's a lot of loss' between paper hp and real hp... 10 amps per hp works all the loss' in, and makes an honest hp. SR

This motor might be 1.5 hp, but definitely not 2. A true 2 motor won't start and run on a 110 volt 20 amp circuit.

 

[ultrarunner]

I really can't say...

When I was shopping the reviews for Rolair were very good... especially the average longevity was in some cases more than 10 times less expensive models at 5 times the price.... sounded like a win/win

I too had a few questions and called Rolair and I asked the person I was transferred to if he had been with the company long... he said I was speaking to the owner... how often does that happen in today's world?

Family operated Wisconsin USA business that also carries full line of parts for what they sell...

I've never been to Wisconsin and I have never bought anything from Rolair... so time will tell.

In the interest of full disclosure the model I bought is one of the few that is not USA made...