Best Portable Air Compressor for Garage Use?

[nandny6789]

I’m looking for a portable air compressor for my garage. Mostly for filling tires, blowing off dust, and occasionally using small air tools.

I don’t need anything huge, but I also don’t want to buy something underpowered.

What compressor are you guys using, and what tank size/CFM would you recommend for general garage use?

Any models you’ve had good or bad experiences with?

 

[theoldwizard1]

I’m looking for a portable air compressor for my garage. Mostly for filling tires, blowing off dust, and occasionally using small air tools.

Portable as in battery powered ? Small air tools, like nothing larger than a finish nailer ?

The only one I would recommend is

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Milwaukee-M18-FUEL-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-2-Gal-Electric-Compact-Quiet-Compressor-Tool-Only-2840-20/312244443

There are dozens of small corded compressors out there. Some are EXTREMELY loud. Look at California Air Tools.

 

[IndyGarage]

Makita. They have several models. I have the mac5200 3.0 hp in the garage, works great but it's a bit overkill for filling tires.. I bought mine used, I think I would buy the 2400 if I were buying it new. I notice they also have something called the quiet series. I don't know if they are better or not.

Honestly, I don't use even that much anymore - I have a small chinese made compressor that uses my makita tool batteries that I just take to the car and fill up the tires. I did several this morning with it.

 

[ALinCarolina]

I have 3. Couple of pancakes that I should sell or give away. Once I got the California it is the one I grab when I need to take one off site. It is lighter and quieter.

 

[Beerhippie]

For corded, Rolaire are the quietest I've used.

If you're using the comp on a nice, clean floor in a nice, clean garage, oilless is acceptable. For any outside work, I'd get an oiled one. Oilless comps tend to turn into airless comps fairly fast in the dusty conditions of a jobsite--my experience.

 

[The Cobbler]

for light occasional use, probably almost anything will do.
oilless are noisy , direct drive oiled are somewhat noisy..
I prefer belt driven oiled pumps . a 20 gallon tank is a reasonable general purpose machine

 

[Bill Wright]

A second for Rollaire. I have the double tank wheel barrow electric and the smaller double stacked tanks. Drama free for years.

 

[Beerhippie]

oilless are noisy

I purchased a small, pancake, oilless Rolaire comp for powering the beer pumps at a pub. It lived in the beer cooler, which was directly behind the bar with a "shadowbox" tap set-up--so very little insulation behind the taps. If you were in the pub when it was closed and there was no other noise, you could just hear the comp running.

 

[M635_Guy]

I have a California Air Tools 4620AC - 2HP 4.6gal with aluminum tanks, and portable in the strictest sense since it can be moved around and is light enough (barely) to throw in a car or to move wherever I need it. It handles everything I've needed for several years.

My eldest spawn had one of their little 1 gal units that was super-quiet.

If I was buying something small I'd probably get the HF Fortress ultra-quiet. For something bigger like my current one, I'd buy the 4620AC again.

 

[Citation]

This is a very open ended question. Also, "too small" is going to vary a lot with use. For some almost anything that can honestly be called a compressor is fine. For others a 5hp, 240V 80 gallon "monster" isn't sufficient.

Other questions:
*How much are you willing to spend?
*What is your quality vs price trade-off?
*How much do you care about noise?

Here is my "today" answer. If my compressors were stolen I would probably get one off these
https://www.walmart.com/ip/20G-AIR-COMPRESSOR/16354156255
Not a fancy brand but I'm not doing too much with my compressor. It wouldn't do a great job with my air drill or zip wheel but those get limited use anyway. It should do the impact, air gun and tire inflation nicely.
Importantly, it's a low noise compressor. I'm generally willing to trade max 120V performance for quiet. Heck, half the reason I like "power" is so I don't have to listen as long.

I don't think HyperTough is a great brand but for occasional use it will likely last a long time.

If space is limited get something smaller but still low noise. If space and cost are not limited, get a belt drive model and get a good intake muffler to limit overall noise. This is what I currently have. It works well for my needs and isn't too much louder than my 5.5 gallon CAT 1055A. However, it takes up a lot more space in my small garage (I've had it longer than the current garage). If it were stolen I would miss it but enjoy the extra space and just use the CAT compressor.

 

[LopezBart]

I have a HF Fortress Ultra Quiet model which works well for the usual uses. Not sufficient for air impacts, etc, but M18 tools have that covered. Very quiet indeed.

 

[JuncleJohn]

I normally keep a pancake in the house garage. My son borrowed it a few weeks ago so I can’t tell you the brand for sure, but I think it’s Bostich 6 gallon.

A little loud but does a good job.

John