compressor; small but good quality

[theboman]

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif 1 horsepower...been thru 19 horses the past 23 years.

 

[automech]

CH makes a decent home unit, so does Sears. I have had luck with a bigger CH/Big Red 5 horse 25 gallon 110v portable home unit. Got it almost 20 years ago and I use it alot for weekend repairs. With a 3 gallon pancake comp. you limit yourself to low cfm tools. Once you use air tools you get spoiled and don't want to do it the hard way anymore. I would recomend something with a bigger tank to give you more options but that's a mechanic talking.

 

[flusher]

Harbor Freight puts one or more of its air compressors on sale all the time. I bought 4 gal, 115psi oil-type pancake compressor for $89 (regular $139) to use with my framing nailers. It runs off 115VAC.


HF pancake compressor

This unit doesn't come with a pressure regulator so I had to spend another $25 to get some control on the output pressure. So far it's worked OK and sounds pretty solid.

 

[daveh1]

I picked up a Sears Craftsman portable compressor 1.5 hp 3 gal came with hose and accy kit. Has worked real good with no problems. I use it regularly with a framing nail gun and have had no problems. One other thing I like it is one of the most quiet small ones. Some of the C/H are noisy. Daveh1 <font color="red"> </font> /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[BobG_in_VA]

I can second Dave1's choice. I picked up the same 3 gal 1.5hp model. Oil tank, cast iron liner,quiet, pumps up to 125psi in a hurry and comes with its own little kit. I have a twin piston, cast iron 27 gallon unit I keep on my welder trailer, but I have a reall hard time picking it up and carrying it around like the little one....LOL. BobG in VA

 

[fractal]

I bought a cheap 1 or 1.5 gallon oilless compressor at costco 10 or 15 years ago. I have used it off and on ever since. I upgraded to a 30 gallon "5hp" a few years back and find I still grab the little guy for filling tires instead of putting on hearing protection and waiting 5 minutes while draging out the air hoses and waiting for the big thing to fill. I just plug the little guy in, wait for it to fill and carry it over to the tire. I figure it paid for itself the first ten years and the rest since then have been gravy. Just don't try to use the little things for sand blasting or something like that..

 

[jimy22]

I picked up this Makita compressor a few months back and really like it. It is small and pretty quiet - supposably more so than the pancake compressors.

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[duber34]

I just picked up the Clarke Champ from TSC about 2 weeks ago. 2HP, 4 gallon, direct drive, oil lube, 5.0 CFM @90PSI for $90.00. Maybe a tad heavier than I wanted but more weight is the price you pay for an oil lube vs oilless compressor. I bought it to keep in the house/basement for running a finishing/brad nailer, blowing out clock movements and generally just having one at hand rather then having to schlep out to the garage in the winter. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Works great so far!!

Regards,
Duber

 

[have_blue]

I recommend the Harbor Freight 8gal "2.5hp" compressor. It gets you ~5.6 CFM at 90psi, which is about the same as some 21-26 gallon "oil-less" compressors.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=90385

I've used mine a lot, and really like it. It has an oil sight glass, and is light enough to move around easily. It runs smooth enough to where it doesn't "walk" like some other cheap compressors I have used. It never runs very long, as it refills the tank in a few seconds.

Best thing of all, you can get it for ~$95 on sale.

 

[ericbx1500]

here is mine. been running great for three years now.