air compressor purchase opinion needed

[longranger]

Originally Posted by Sig600

Opinions?

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-too...sor-99925.html

IMHO, if it's electric, don't buy it at HF. I've left a drill press and a bandsaw from them at the curb. The bandsaw cut one piece of metal before the blade refused to ever stay on the wheels again, and the drill press would drill a 1/4" hole with a 1/8" bit.

[Mel]

Originally Posted by longranger

IMHO, if it's electric, don't buy it at HF. I've left a drill press and a bandsaw from them at the curb. The bandsaw cut one piece of metal before the blade refused to ever stay on the wheels again, and the drill press would drill a 1/4" hole with a 1/8" bit.

I have a floor model drill press and band saw from Harbor Freight that I have used regularly for over 20 years and several airplane builds.
When I got ready to buy this drill press, I thought I would buy "quality" instead of HF. I went to Sears "Craftsman" and low and behold they had the exact same drill press except that it was black and had the Craftsman name on it for almost twice the price.

[Don Patrick]

I just picked this up at Home Depot....$199.00 minus the $25.00 for the tool event they were having....plus a couple of air tools and a hose that was included. It's better than the pancake compressor I was using!

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardw...atalogId=10053

Cheers,

Don

[Sig600]

Mel thanks, I'll go with the oiled huskey at Lowes that was discussed. The little 10 gal oil-free I have is dead, and was way to loud.

[N8RV]

Just a note for the archives ...

I built Smokey with a small Pelton & Crane dental compressor. It is very small (probably less than 2' high and only about 1.5' diameter) and VERY quiet. If I had wanted it to be even quieter, I suppose I could've built a small insulated box around it, but I didn't really ever notice the noise that much.

I inherited it when I bought an old practice and his old equipment 20 years ago, so I'm not sure how easy it is to find one these days. However, if you called a dental equipment supplier -- found in most city phone books -- can't hurt to ask. Even the really big one I have now -- twin cylinders -- is pretty quiet.

This little compressor helped me to all of my riveting, powered my air drill and even the die grinder (although it ran constantly and I had to wait a few times for it to recover). Now I just use it to air up my tires.

Just something to consider.

[Experimental Chaos]

"I plumbed my shop with RapidAir for another $100."

Wow, I’ve been suffering from paralyses by analysis, as to how to plum my shop for compressed air (we’ve recently moved into a 3 car garage, with a nice house attached) but this rapidair thing looks like the way to go.

[eric_marsh]

Originally Posted by Experimental Chaos

"I plumbed my shop with RapidAir for another $100."

Wow, I?ve been suffering from paralyses by analysis, as to how to plum my shop for compressed air (we?ve recently moved into a 3 car garage, with a nice house attached) but this rapidair thing looks like the way to go.

I plumbed my shop with RapidAir too. I realize it may not be the best of all choices but you get what you pay for and I've been pleased with the result. I think it took me about two hours to do but it's easy for me to get into my shop's attic.

[swixtt]

Originally Posted by Don Patrick

I just picked this up at Home Depot....$199.00 minus the $25.00 for the tool event they were having....plus a couple of air tools and a hose that was included. It's better than the pancake compressor I was using!

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardw...atalogId=10053

Cheers,

Don

hey don, how loud is that beast? i'm still on the hunt for one.
thanks

[diamond]

I took Matt's advice and bought a Mac700 portable compressor. Looks to be a very solid unit and quiet. Looking forward to many years of use. Thanks for the heads up Matt.

[1911pilot]

To anyone with the Makitas, how are they working out for you?

I just checked them out after hearing about them in this thread and it appears that the MAC5200 is one of the most powerful 120V compressors out there. I can't find anything over 5.5CFM on 120V.

Sadly I'm stuck with 120V, no 220v in the condo garage, only one 20A circuit for everything...

I was planning on getting one of these.