Battle of the low cost ($400) 60-gallon 240v compressors -- help me decide

[snakyjake]

The only complaint I have ever had with it is the sucker is loud ( that is a problem that you will have with any of the single stage 60 Gallon compressors as noted by a recent thread about compressor noise )

Is the US General more noisy than other single stage compressors within the $400 range (Kobalt / Campbell Hausfeld)?

The marketing material from CH says that cast iron pump and sleeves, not aluminum, is supposed to be more 35% quieter and 60º cooler.

So I figure the CH and US General would be more quiet than Kobalt. But Stinger says his Kobalt is quiet. And rickairmedic mentions the US General to be very loud.

Anyone witness a noise comparison?

Jake

 

[pseudorealityx]

Ironically, I was at Harbor Freight this evening. They didn't have the 60 gallon ~$400 US General on Display. Just the larger 80 gallon ~$800 version. Maybe they stopped carrying this model???

 

[pnut]

Is the US General more noisy than other single stage compressors within the $400 range (Kobalt / Campbell Hausfeld)?

The marketing material from CH says that cast iron pump and sleeves, not aluminum, is supposed to be more 35% quieter and 60º cooler.

So I figure the CH and US General would be more quiet than Kobalt. But Stinger says his Kobalt is quiet. And rickairmedic mentions the US General to be very loud.

Anyone witness a noise comparison?

Jake

I soooo want to hear some data on this point. I am in the same boat. $400ish to spend, and would happily sacrifice some performance to have the quieter one.

 

[rpsurfr]

These are tough times, I just got an 80 gal qunicy for not a lot of money. found it on Craigs list,
The guy who had to sell it- his house was sold and he was moving. The unit is like new, and came with the boxes to hook it up
I got rid of my old Saylor Beal which was 30 years old, that served me very well, and the total out of pocket was 250 bucks.
Here it is awaiting the tie on of power and to the air lines.
take your time, I have had three units the first one was off brand and it was not worth the effort. Wait get the good stuff, and look around.

 

[alohavw]

Did you look at the US General 60 gallon over at Harbor Freight?

For some reason it is not on the website, but it had 12.9 cfm at 90psi and was $397

Here is a pic from my IPhone on which I think that is discussed.

 

[snakyjake]

Ironically, I was at Harbor Freight this evening. They didn't have the 60 gallon ~$400 US General on Display. Just the larger 80 gallon ~$800 version. Maybe they stopped carrying this model???

Talk to the manager. They probably have them, just not on the floor.

 

[Falcon67]

HF is getting so that some stores carry certain things in the "big" equipment category, others maybe not. The store out here was without a big compressor for a while but each store in Fort Worth had several. Almost none carry the big lathes and such anymore. IIRC, you can order from the in store catalog in your local store and should get to use the 20% coupon. Check with the store manager.

 

[splitshot]

not to steal the thread but who owns a campbell hausfeld vt6275 or equilivant?
how loud are they? Im lookin to pick one up and want to know more before I purchase.

also how does the 2-stage compressors work and what makes them quieter and better?
I would love a 5hp quincy but I dont have $1200 to spend at the moment. I have also been watching the used market, how does one tell the difference between the two stage and single stage models?
Thanks for any input, Troy

 

[snakyjake]

Here's my comparison of cast iron vs. aluminum:

Cast iron = more mass = more quiet
Cast iron = more mass = absorb more heat
Cast iron = dissipates heat slower. Retains heat longer.
Aluminum = loses heat faster

Compare it to cooking pans: aluminum vs. cast iron

The other variable in the sound/efficiency will be RPM's. Perhaps the easiest way to determine this will be comparing the gear/pulley ratios.

Another way to check this out is to compare the materials of a professional expensive compressor pump. Are the cast iron or aluminum?

Jake

 

[jayoldschool]

Enjoy the price advantage in the US. We get screwed here in Canada. Here is that $399 compressor at Lowes in Canada:
Description:

* Cast iron, twin cylinder pump
* 155 PSI
* 13.4 SCFM @ 40 PSI
* 11.5 SCFM @ 90 PSI
* 208-240 volts


Brand:
Kobalt

Item #:
221565

$648.00

 

[snakyjake]

Does anyone know the duty cycle between the options?

Also, the Kobalt is a re-baged Coleman Powermate PLA3706056. And it should also be mentioned that it seems like the Kobalt/Coleman are using cast iron in all the right places, and using aluminum where it counts. It seems like it is a cast iron body/cylinder, and a aluminum head for cooling. So it would seem Coleman/kobalt are giving the best of cast iron and aluminum (noise/heat). But I could be wrong.

Jake

 

[back2class]

Go to the post office and get a "relocation packet". They are free, in it will be a cupon for 10% off any Lowes purchase so that will save you $40. Home depot will honor lowes cupons too so either store will work with that Lowes cupon.

 

[Shocker]

My Lowes said they would honor the 20% off Harbor Freight coupon.

 

[Freejack]

From the side profile of the electric motors, the Husky looks like it has a G.E. unit and the Kobalt has an A.O. Smith. They're both good makes, but the A.O. Smith would be slightly more robust, which is also reflected in the horspower ratings (same amperage draw, but A.O. Smith has slightly higher peak HP)

As for pumps, they're both cast iron, inline twins. Both belt driven and oil lubricated. But because of the A.O. Smith having more peak HP, the pump is designed with slightly higher compression giving more PSI and air flow.

The Husky unit has an Emerson motor. As far as the peak HP ratings, those are bogus and don't really mean anything, especially in a compressor application where load is relatively consistent. Unfortunately, you will not find any hp rating on the motors. The only way that you could compare actual motor hp is to look at full load amps. Even that can be misleading if the motors have different efficiency (ie the higher amp motor is not necessarily the more powerful).

If you have any motor questions, let me know as that is what I do for a living.

Jake

 

[72chevy]

My Lowes said they would honor the 20% off Harbor Freight coupon.

Yup! I bought the Kobalt 60 gal. from Lowes when it was on sale for $299, and then they took the HF 20% coupon on top of that.

 

[alohavw]

Yup! I bought the Kobalt 60 gal. from Lowes when it was on sale for $299, and then they took the HF 20% coupon on top of that.

Now that's a steal of a deal! I wonder if lowe's or anyone else is going to have a deal like that this year?

 

[snakyjake]

Another compressor to consider is the Puma PK6060V

CFM @ 40 PSI: 13.5
CFM @ 90 PSI: 12
Max Pressure : 150 PSI
Price : ~$420

Not sure of the inline vs. twin differences.
Not sure if the motor/pump/pressure switch is more heavy duty.
Not sure of the duty cycle.

You can buy this at Harbor Freight or online at other stores.

Jake

 

[snakyjake]

I went to Lowe's to purchase the Kobalt 60 gallon, and found out they no longer carry the model .

 

[kartracer55]

I believe the HF compressors are Atlas-Copco's, or so I have told.

Finding a used compressor is not a bad plan, the only problem is actually finding it. Around here, compressors that are larger than 110 sears offerings but Smaller than 7.5+ 3 phase industrial monsters are in short supply.

I would go with the Husky. Campbell Hausfeld is a solid mid range brand. I honestly do not have any experience with the HF compressors to comment.

 

[krooser]

From the side profile of the electric motors, the Husky looks like it has a G.E. unit and the Kobalt has an A.O. Smith. They're both good makes, but the A.O. Smith would be slightly more robust, which is also reflected in the horspower ratings (same amperage draw, but A.O. Smith has slightly higher peak HP)

As for pumps, they're both cast iron, inline twins. Both belt driven and oil lubricated. But because of the A.O. Smith having more peak HP, the pump is designed with slightly higher compression giving more PSI and air flow.

Tanks and pressure switches look like standard fare. No comparison there.

Looking at the specs, I would go with the Kobalt. More bang for the buck there.

Be careful as the A.O. Smith motors I've seen lately look suspicously like Chi-Com units... not sure but you might want to look 'em over.

 

[3baysofplay]

I just bought one of the Home Depot ones yesterday. I wired it up today and am plumbing the air fittings today. I will take some pictures of it, but I do notice that it is not the motor that some have mentioned. Pictures to follow....

 

[35mastr]

I would hold out and keep looking for a better unit than the box stores offer.

There are still plenty of shops closing up and CL is always flooded with shop equipment.

Be patient and keep looking till your compressor dies.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Well, I wrapped my search up -- more out of convenience than anything else. The Kobalts are discontinued, and I couldn't locate any in California. That left the Campbell Hausfeld variants at Lowes, Home Depot or Tractor Supply -- and the Harbor Freight $400 model.

On Monday, I had to go pick up 2000 pounds of used cabinets I bought. U-Haul kills you on mileage charges and often doesn't have the truck they promise you. So I thought about it, and realized a place like Home Depot rents trucks motivated less by profit on the rental than by the fact that a truck makes it easier to contemplate buying one of their oversized items.

So I went down to Home Depot to simply rent their truck (no mileage charges at all, and $19 for the first hour and a quarter). I brought with me a Harbor Freight 20% off coupon, and figured I could either drive the Home Depot truck to a Harbor Freight and use the coupon there, or find out if my local Home Depot would take Harbor Freight's coupon. As it happened, they did. So I got $80 off the $399 compressor, and then used that truck to bring the compressor home and also to pick up the big cabinets.

Like the Kobalt, the Harbor Freight's 60-gallon model specs are slightly better than the Campbell Hausfeld (re-labeled as Husky Pro), but the Husky Pro has a 4 year warranty. The motor on mine is a Marathon, out of Wasau Wisconsin.

The cabinets are Strong Hold, also out of Wisconsin. It's difficult to describe how hard it was for one 160-pound guy to get 800-pound cabinets off of a dock-height truck bed with nothing but some lumber and rope. My neighbors think I'm insane. My wife is surprised I'm not dead. (I'm a little surprised, too.)

 

[jwith68]

Good deal there, Jack - congratulations! That's a lot of compressor for ~$320. I'm sure happy with mine.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Nice score with the compressor. What are the plans for the cabinets ?

 

[Jack90210]

Great deal on the compressor, Jack. And I too am a fan of overbuilt, heavy cabinets -- though they never seem to be available near me.

Now that you've bought your compressor, I hope that it's safe to post this without jacking the thread. Somebody (with 3-phase power) needs to come buy this Craigslist special (near me, but not mine):

http://charlottesville.craigslist.org/tls/1522762905.html

 

[Titus]

I was given a 25% off HF coupon good only on New Years Day when I was in there today. I think its going to go toward the $399 60 gallon compressor they have in stock.

 

[Gizzy]

I tried to use that HF coupon at a TSC for a compressor.They told me they were not the same quality so they wouldn't deal with me.

 

[Stargeezer]

I tried to use that HF coupon at a TSC for a compressor.They told me they were not the same quality so they wouldn't deal with me.

So how do these "Coupon Matching" transaction go anyways? Why would Lowe's or Home Depot honor a HF coupon when the item is not exactly the same?

For those that swung it-how did it go down?

And Jack-Glad you made your mission without injury.

 

[Jack Olsen]

For those that swung it-how did it go down?

And Jack-Glad you made your mission without injury.

I went to customer service and asked. A manager asked me what I wanted to use it on, and when I said an air compressor, he said okay.

Watch for a future thread on the cabinets -- there was one moment where the mission detoured briefly into full-on disaster. (But no one was hurt, and the cabinets are intact.)

 

[Sideways240sx]

On nov 11th i went to lowes and was hopeing to get them to take the hf 20% off coupon. I had a lowes 10% in my other pocket, and was buying the compressor either way. Well i went to customer service, first women i went to said, sure well take it. I thought man to easy. Brought the price from 399 to 319.20 before tax.

Then my buddy showed me how lowes is giving out 100 dollar gift cards for the purchase of this compressor. So i took my recipt went to lowes, and figured it was worth a shot. I went to customer service, they returned and resold it to me @ 319.20 and on the 23rd so now i am getting a 100 dollar lowes gift card.

With the gift card taken out i have paid 219.20 for the lowes 60 gallon compressor.. Hard to beat that.

 

[rickairmedic]

Great deal on the compressor, Jack. And I too am a fan of overbuilt, heavy cabinets -- though they never seem to be available near me.

Now that you've bought your compressor, I hope that it's safe to post this without jacking the thread. Somebody (with 3-phase power) needs to come buy this Craigslist special (near me, but not mine):

http://charlottesville.craigslist.org/tls/1522762905.html

Jack that would be a deal and a half even if you got it and switched all the 3 phase stuff over to single phase .


Rick

 

[Zeke]

Well, I wrapped my search up -- more out of convenience than anything else. The Kobalts are discontinued, and I couldn't locate any in California. That left the Campbell Hausfeld variants at Lowes, Home Depot or Tractor Supply -- and the Harbor Freight $400 model.

On Monday, I had to go pick up 2000 pounds of used cabinets I bought. U-Haul kills you on mileage charges and often doesn't have the truck they promise you. So I thought about it, and realized a place like Home Depot rents trucks motivated less by profit on the rental than by the fact that a truck makes it easier to contemplate buying one of their oversized items.

So I went down to Home Depot to simply rent their truck (no mileage charges at all, and $19 for the first hour and a quarter). I brought with me a Harbor Freight 20% off coupon, and figured I could either drive the Home Depot truck to a Harbor Freight and use the coupon there, or find out if my local Home Depot would take Harbor Freight's coupon. As it happened, they did. So I got $80 off the $399 compressor, and then used that truck to bring the compressor home and also to pick up the big cabinets.

Brilliant! I would have never have thought to ask the HD to take an HF coupon.

 

[Shocker]

You guys are welcome!

 

[wakeboarder311]

anybody with a single stage compressor have any trouble running da sanders and cutoff tools? i am trying to maximize my christmas money.

 

[StumpXJ]

On nov 11th i went to lowes and was hopeing to get them to take the hf 20% off coupon. I had a lowes 10% in my other pocket, and was buying the compressor either way. Well i went to customer service, first women i went to said, sure well take it. I thought man to easy. Brought the price from 399 to 319.20 before tax.

Then my buddy showed me how lowes is giving out 100 dollar gift cards for the purchase of this compressor. So i took my recipt went to lowes, and figured it was worth a shot. I went to customer service, they returned and resold it to me @ 319.20 and on the 23rd so now i am getting a 100 dollar lowes gift card.

With the gift card taken out i have paid 219.20 for the lowes 60 gallon compressor.. Hard to beat that.

I was at lowes on Thursday and saw that they were giving a 100 dollar gift card as well... I was wondering if anyone combined that with a coupon. That is a friggin steal there...

They had several of the 60 and 80 gallons in stock too...

~James

 

[Hellcat6]

I tried the HF coupon at my local Lowes and HD, no joy. So I went with the HF 60 gallon that has been discussed here. I was told that the display was the only one they had left and they were not going to get any more. And nothing else off if I took the display, yeah I asked!

Got it home and wired up. Simple set up for me, no lines run throughout the garage, at least for now. Just a long hose that will reach all corners of the garage. Mine is sitting on my RaceDeck floor and does not hop around at all. In fact it is much quieter than I thought it would be. So far, very pleased with it.

 

[Shocker]

So, is that $100 gift card only in store? I can't find any info online.

 

[snakyjake]

So, is that $100 gift card only in store? I can't find any info online.

The promotion was listed on the sales flyer...and the sale is over.

 

[protouring72]

Damn! What a steal!! I wish I knew about that promo from Lowes! I've been looking for a new compressor for awhile!!! Oh Well!!!!!!