Pancake compressor for small tool room and water separator?

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Hey guys. I currently have an older pancake compressor which I’d like to replace. My tool room is more of a man cave but I do some work in there. I mainly run an air gun of some sort for most of my work but do have nailers, tire inflators, etc. I found this metabo https://www.metabo-hpt.com/new-prod...city-pancake-air-compressor-metabo-hpt-ec914s but if you have any other suggestions I’d be open to them. I’d also like to run a water separator on it, any suggestions for “cheap” and simple? Thanks!

 

[mike93lx]

I'd grab one of the many quiet options available today.

Unless you are painting, I'd skip the water separator

 

[alinc100]

I'd grab one of the many quiet options available today.

Unless you are painting, I'd skip the water separator

^^^This^^^^

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I'd grab one of the many quiet options available today.

Unless you are painting, I'd skip the water separator

I get water blowing out of the air gun currently.

 

[The Cobbler]

water blowing from an air gun is normal if there's high humidity & won't hurt anything really .
I had the previous model Hitachi compressor and it served me well . not sure on this model but the previous model ran at a slower RPM so it wasn't quite as noisy as a run of the mill oiless pancake

 

[Just_Steve]

I get water blowing out of the air gun currently.

Then you need to drain your tank more often.

 

[Citation]

^^^This^^^^

Follow the 'this'

 

[whateg01]

I have the small California air tools compressor for small stuff that I don't want to listen to the 60 gallon compressor running. I really like it. It's quiet and it does everything I need it to do.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Then you need to drain your tank more often.

I do drain the tank but figured a water Seperator would eliminate the problem of excess water coming through during work or if i forget. No?

 

[tarbellb]

Go with the newer quiet style in any flavor you find, couple of bigger names are:

HF Fortress
California Air
Kobalt Quiet Tech
and many new additions from big mfgs like Metabo, Rol Air, etc...

Or if you find a deal on the Makita MAC series, traditional oiled but quieter then most and excellent history


fyi when I replied to a similar message just a few weeks ago the Kobalt was on sale and had a cheaper+longer extended warranty package....

 

[ohhimark]

Definitely suggest the quieter options. How much air you need? I use this one https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/MAC320Q

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Honestly I could use something with more capacity but space is an issue. I have a 6gal pancake right now but something larger would be more beneficial.

 

[bwringer]

The "Fortress" Ultra Quiet compressors at Harbor Freight are extremely quiet, and if you have a problem, well, a store is right there if your town has more than one stoplight.

If you need a little larger than the usual wee hot dog or pancake, there's a 10 gallon version:

https://www.harborfreight.com/10-gallon-175-psi-ultra-quiet-oil-free-horizontal-shopauto-air-compressor-57328.html

And a 26 gallon:

https://www.harborfreight.com/26-gallon-175-psi-ultra-quiet-oil-free-vertical-shopauto-air-compressor-57336.html

I was standing right next to one of these in the store while it was running, and didn't even notice. (You can hear it purring, but in a busy store with people around, you had to listen for it.) They really are nice and quiet. I've had oilless compressors that make an unholy racket... never again.

Both of these have very similar SCFM ratings; there's only so much energy you can get out of 120VAC. I'm generally not the greatest fan of oilless air compressors, but these supposedly have some sort of mojo that reduces heat and extends the life. And oilless can be better for painting.

 

[Citation]

The Goodyear and Hart quiet compressors at Walmart may be worth a look. They are around $150. I haven't tried the Hart model but I have used the GY branded one. It's every bit as quiet as my CAT compressor.