Anyone have an HF compressor they like?

[tec508]

I need something light and portable to drag around my house while I do all my trim work. My shop is detached so I don't want to run a line to it.

Was hoping to keep it relatively cheap so I was looking at HF. I'd only use it for nail guns/staple guns, and occasionally blowing out electronics, etc with an air gun.

 

[iagsxr]

I have one of their black roll arounds mounted in my race car trailer. It's worked better than I expected.

It uses a little oil so I don't know how it would be for what you want to do.

 

[gamescastspencer]

I have had the oiled 8 gallon and currently the 21 gallon. Both have worked fine for me. The 8 gallon I returned under the replacement plan to upgrade to the 21 gallon as my needs increased. Three years of service and still chugging along. Die grinders, nailers, impacts, sand blasting, hvlp guns. Restored my 76 Chevy pickup with it and currently my 79 Chevy pickup.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

 

[fasteddie]

I have had the oiled 8 gallon and currently the 21 gallon. Both have worked fine for me. The 8 gallon I returned under the replacement plan to upgrade to the 21 gallon as my needs increased.

What is the replacement plan?

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I have a 3 gallon pancake and it has worked well (along with the other hose and nailer from hf) for trim.
When it kicks on I try to get some distance between me and it though since after all it's a pressure vessel built by the lowest bidder.

 

[BFBOB]

Ditto what AceofSpad3s said. Got it to do trim nailing, and it works fine. I also use it with a blowgun to blow-dry tools when they come out of the e-tank. Dries them a LOT faster than heat or towels, keeps the flash rusting way down. It'll only blow with good force for 15 seconds or so, but that's enough.

 

[protegeV]

https://m.harborfreight.com/29-gal-...r-61489.html?utm_referrer=direct/not provided

I have this one. Got it on special for $299
I'm pleased with it for the price.


Oops, I only read the title. I missed the part where you said you were looking for portable...

 

[gamescastspencer]

What is the replacement plan?

At checkout they will ask if you want to spend like $20 for a 2 year replacement plan. It is essentially a warranty, if it breaks or you break it just go in and swap it for a new or return it no questions asked. Employees have told me even if it is fine you can still swap it out for a new one if you want to take advantage of it.

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[fasteddie]

I have both a 3 gal and 8 gal. If you need to go up and down stairs, I would grab a 3 gal. I have done lots of trim work with it and stapled 1/4" underlayment in a few rooms, it is loud though. If you don't need to carry it, the 8 gal is on wheels, is quieter and will run more tools, even light spraying. They also have a 10 gal that they rate at almost the same CFM as the 21 gal.

 

[rq375]

I have the 3 gal hotdog compressor, works fine for nail guns and bike tires, I think i got it on coupon for $40 and its noisy. I also have a 93274 60 gal 2 stage, very good for the price.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I have the 8 gal. oiled compressor. It's worked fine for the last 4 or 5 years although I haven't worked it hard.

It is rather noisy.

 

[mbshop]

I have the oil less 8 gal comp. Not that long but I like it. Labeled McGraw. Got it because I just didn't want to deal with the oil hassle. It goes on sale regularly.

 

[mike93lx]

Get an aluminum California Air Tools comp. Really quiet and really light. Much nicer when dragging to different projects than a steel tanked screamer

 

[Warrenator]

I have the cheapo HF horizontal, I think mine is a 2hp. Oiled compressor, runs at a high rpm, direct drive instead of a belt like the quieter more expensive ones. I like it just fine for intermittent use. Wheels ****, handle is too low for us tall folks. Meh. It was cheap, I can haul it out on the lawn and use a stout extention cord on it and it drives a nail gun just fine. It does not like a thin extention cord, pops the little internal breaker.

The real 5 hp compressor in the shop can't really be moved around and I only have 275 feet of hose (yeah I know, but I actually needed them all together last week so I measured them coupled together) so the little compressor is handy.

Wouldn't want to paint or sandblast with it but works great for Intermittent tool use.

 

[rpcraft]

Like is a strong word when it comes to HF compressors. I think we who have them tolerate them until we can afford to upgrade. Lately mine has been getting replaced with cordless Milwauke tools but before too long I'm going to upgrade and probably go with a Dewalt unit I've had my eye on at Atwoods for about 200 less than anywhere else i have seen it, but I keep hoping Milwauke or some other genious company comes out with a cordless sand blast cabinet because I would much rather spend 500 bucks on that then 1000 on an air compressor that needs 240. I have the plug and breaker space already setup, just for the time being it's running a 120 outlet and a window unit and until it cools off I'd much rather have the AC than the Compressed air. I guess that begs the question is there a way to run a 120 leg off it for the AC and still keep the compressor outlet?

 

[oldmxracer]

I have an 18 year old Central Pneumatic oiled 2HP 4 gallon pancake compressor that was purchased new via eBay and the damn thing still works as it should !

 

[fasteddie]

I guess that begs the question is there a way to run a 120 leg off it for the AC and still keep the compressor outlet?

I don't know what the code says about it but if you have a neutral leg at the outlet it can be done. You would never be able to run both at the same time though.

 

[rpcraft]

Yeah I was thinking I might just keep it and run an exteranal lead for a new 240 and have my cake and it eat too.