Compressor Advice: Looking for something in the ~$350 Range

[CarbonCrew]

It's about time that I grow up and upgrade from my PC pancake compressor. I'm a hobbyist and I have got some larger projects that I would like to start. I would like to use 120v service and keep the compressor in the ~$350 range.

I have been eyeing the Dewalt D55168 and HF 68127.

HF 2HP Compressor

Lowe's Dewalt Compressor

1.6 HP (Dewalt) vs 2 HP, 15 gal (Dewalt) vs 30 gal, 200 psi (Dewalt) vs 150 psi both can be had for $350.

In your opinion, do you think that these compressors would be suitable for casual use? Is one compressor exceedingly better than the other? or should I spend my money elsewhere?

Thanks for the help.

 

[SeattleKent]

Check Craigslist. Nice compressors go on sale all the time for cheap. Be patient. Ususally takes a few weeks to get one just like you want but they are out there.

 

[CarbonCrew]

Yeah, I'm trying to be patient, but it is wearing thin. It my be my location, but I can't find anything used that doesn't look like it has been drug through the mud or is not priced higher than retail.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[shannonw]

A few things i noted compressor shopping:

CL people selling compressors are nuts and if they find a buyer that person is nuts too. I regullarly saw husky, kobalt,etc listed used and beat for more than I could buy them new wth. A lot of work on that tool...but eventually I found a decent deal.

Found it interesting that dewalt's oiless had 1000 hour pump life, and I imagine others are the same.

After coming from a twin tank oiled, and bumming a oiless 25 gallon...they are noisy as @##@#@. I'm not a heavy user, but the 5hp running 60 gallon IR i scored I wouldn't get rid of just for the quiet factor, it's not like the champion,etc 1750 rpms one's but it's night and day better than the previous ones...tank capacity has a lot to do with that...it's not constantly running.

A difference in size of those and a 60 gallon is a few *vertical feet*, not more floor space...for 2x the capacity and capabilities. Though 110 kinda limits you.

Maybe some IR garagemates will be on sale for fathers day? Those look pretty good, a couple of threads on here with them tricked out.

 

[Gary S]

Get the Harbor Freight compressor. It is an oiled pump which should last many times longer than the oilless DeWalt. And, the Harbor Freight one puts out more air and is cheaper. No contest.

 

[Jack Olsen]

You say you want to keep 120v -- but there are great 60-gal vertical compressors at that price point if you can run a 220V line. (Assuming you've got a house, then it already has it available. If that's not the case, then it's more complicated.)

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I had two different little 110 compressors. One was a small 20 gal. cambel hausfeld oil compressor. Great compressor.... pumped fast, but just wasn't big enough. In my teens I bought a 33 gal. oilless craftsman. Not very great for moderate-heavy use. Had to replace a piston after 3 years. Good for taking wheels on and off and filling car or small truck tires.

If your looking for a compressor that you can bring and plug in anywhere then that's one thing. but if you need something that won't be leaving your house, i'd hold out for a CL deal. After a month or so of searching I found a 60 gal. speedaire 220v compressor. Wired it, changed the oil and i've been running it for 3 years now, no problems. Night and day with my old 110's. sometimes I think i forgot to flip the breaker because It doesn't turn on. Not the case... the extra air is mint.

 

[rustychev]

I had two different little 110 compressors. One was a small 20 gal. cambel hausfeld oil compressor. Great compressor.... pumped fast, but just wasn't big enough. In my teens I bought a 33 gal. oilless craftsman. Not very great for moderate-heavy use. Had to replace a piston after 3 years. Good for taking wheels on and off and filling car or small truck tires.

If your looking for a compressor that you can bring and plug in anywhere then that's one thing. but if you need something that won't be leaving your house, i'd hold out for a CL deal. After a month or so of searching I found a 60 gal. speedaire 220v compressor. Wired it, changed the oil and i've been running it for 3 years now, no problems. Night and day with my old 110's. sometimes I think i forgot to flip the breaker because It doesn't turn on. Not the case... the extra air is mint.

Just did the same thing with a 60Gal Sanborn for 350 on CL just keep watching and have cash on hand.

 

[dandan111]

Funny,I have a pancake style also. It's served me well,it's still all I need but maybe I will upgrade one of these days. Good deals on CL in my area often. Try to find a quality used 60ga. If your going to step up from the pancake style I would go big. My 2cents.

 

[pipsters]

Evaluating the DIY 120v compressors on output vs. specs

I have the Craftsman Pro 25 gallon, personally I really like it. It's about the best you can do on 120v. It needs a 20 amp breaker though.

Guys are right you can definitely get a 60 gallon one for about what you'd pay for a 20-30 gal 120v unit. But they miss the benefits of a 120v unit.

I would seriously consider a pump and motor belt driven unit, not a combo, and definitely not oil-less.

 

[Falcon67]

X2 on the HF unit. My portable is a Porter Cable 25 Gallon "6 HP" (lol - 1 1/2 is what I get for it). It's a 120V oiled belt drive compressor with a little better specs than the HF unit, but all are about the same. I paid $349 at Lowes probably 12 years ago. I picked it because it was the same look, specs, HP, etc as the Craftsman except it was red and $150 cheaper. I've done everything with it, including painted the race car's hood and re-painted the whole tail end. I was going to sell it when I got the 60 gallon upright - very glad I did not, or I would be without air right now on the new shop build. I used it over the last year to run all the air nailers used in the build. I bought a little pancake HF unit to use inside on the old house remodel-for-sale. I started using it on the shop build. It lasted through maybe two walls with the big framing nailer before it just ran and produced no volume. I got my $70 out of it, barely. Then the Porter took over and it never blinked.

 

[CarbonCrew]

Thanks for the responses. It looks like my budget for the compressor has changed. Yesterday after making the post, I took my bike out for a ride, and it wasn't 10 minutes before someone had pulled out in front of me and I was skidding on my side. I know better, but unfortunately I was squidding around with shorts, t-shirt, and a helmet. This is my second close call, and my second ride to the ER. I'm calling it quits. I'll put my money into something that won't kill me.

I greatly appreciate the advice. My reasons for a 120v compressor, were really for the easy of installation at my current home and my new house (hopefully will be moving in the next 3-4 months). 120v would just make things easier.

A 220v compressor would actually make a lot more sense in the new house and wouldn't be too much trouble to make the electrical connections. I guess, I'll broaden my search and keep my eyes open for a oil unit.

Are there any brands that are particularly better than others? I see that some of the Kobalt units are popular, but I've read a lot of complaints about the units getting extremely hot.

Thanks again!

 

[PinkLinc]

I've got that 1.6 HP DeWalt and it's great for casual, hobbyist garage use. It's reasonably quiet, fills the tank in less than 5 minutes and will run all my air tools with no problems. I also like that it's on wheels and can easily be moved around if necessary.

 

[1stblack97ZJ]

definitely get an oiled unit. Much better than oiless, and much quieter.

 

[38Chevy454]

Oilless will drive you crazy with the noise. No matter what voltage or size tank, make sure it is an oil lubed compressor run by a belt from the engine.

 

[1stblack97ZJ]

Oilless will drive you crazy with the noise. No matter what voltage or size tank, make sure it is an oil lubed compressor run by a belt from the engine.

Just out of curiosity, is there anything wrong with a direct driven oiled unit?

 

[pipsters]

Just out of curiosity, is there anything wrong with a direct driven oiled unit?

They typically turn faster which equates to more noise and slightly more wear and tear on the pump itself but they are a good alternative/cost effective solution.

My first unit was an oil lubed direct drive 21 gal unit from Harbor Freight, I returned it (wasn't happy, was still pretty noisy) and bought a belt driven 25 gallon one from Sears that I am much happier with.

 

[Jack Olsen]

On the oiled, 220v units -- there are decent entry-level models available from Lowes, Home Depot and Harbor Freight. I had a thread about them a while back. There are lots of others.

 

[Freshmeat]

I have two air compressors. One was free (20-gal, 220v, oiled) needing a pressure switch ($25) and the other (30-gal, 110v, oil-free, loud as ****) was $50, needing a regulator ($10). I then coupled them together and ran hard lines through my garage ($125), one leading to a 50-ft 3/8" automatic reeled hose from HF ($60). For under $300 I have fifty gallons of air, an air fitting wherever I could possibly need one, and a 50-ft automatic reel.

Not saying you'll get quite that lucky, but if you hold out, research, and stay patient, you can blow your mild ideas of what you can do for/with a compressor out of the water.

 

[shannonw]

my porter cable jobsite compressor (4 gallon twin tank) was oiled and loud as @#@, not as loud as oiless but it was up there pretty close. I think that was mostly the direct drive and they're running the small pumps super fast and the intake noise..probably would have helped to have a solberg or something on there.
=

 

[CarbonCrew]

I definitely want an oiled compressor. Loud noises in a small garage space drive me nuts.

Thanks for the link Jack. I had been wondering where the good/low cost 220v units were located.

For those interested, since I've been on the 220v hunt, I've noticed that Sears has their 220v Craftsman Professional 60 gallon on sale for $499.