Harbor Freight FORTRESS air compresso

[16again]

Picked up a 2 gallon FORTRESS air compressor from Harbor Freight. I have to tell you it’s Unreal how quiet it is. Didn’t need a compressor as I’m basically all Milwaukee battery. That said, I wanted one just because...

Anyway it was a toss up between California Air Compressor and the HF FORTRESS.

I decided on the FORTRESS based on reviews.

Time will tell how good or bad the$139.00 investment was. So far I stood next to my fiancé within 2’ of this thing and was able to speak normally without hearing difficulty.

 

[doctordirt]

I have had one for a year. No problems, I love it.

 

[39 LaSalle]

I have had one for a year. No problems, I love it.

Same here. I only use it to air up tires and blow stuff off and it works great for that. Have to admit though, I'm toying with the idea of pairing it with an 11 gal. air tank to see if I can do a bit of touch up painting with the HF Detail spray gun. I know it won't be near as good as having a 60 gal tank, but for no more than I paint, I'm willing to give it a shot.

 

[TTMotorsports]

The compressors are nice and HBF definitely stepped up their game in regards to how their tools are built AND their damn coupons. Used to get free tape measures or LED lights and 20% everytime. Not anymore. I need a larger tank for my compressor which is awesome CFM but a small tank like this one to keep up with some of the air tools I use which it will keep up CFM fine but the air volume drops so does pressure and with a little more volume that wouldn't be a problem.

 

[Jack Olsen]

It's a game changer, so long as (like a lot of guys) you've had battery-powered or corded tools replace a lot of what would have previously been pneumatic. Even if you use a big compressor for paint or other high-volume jobs, it makes sense to use one of these for all the day-to-day stuff like blowing lines out or filling tires.

I've had mine for at least a year. No issues at all and I'm still surprised by how quiet it is.

 

[tez929rr]

I’ve had mine for a few months. One day I turned it on after I had started the car and thought it was broken until I looked at the gauges. I just couldn’t hear it running.

 

[Bacon!]

Yeah, I got a California Air to put next to the garage door, got tired of waiting for anemic little tire inflators to do their job and have corded/cordless for any other tasks that need done in that area.

I know the Cali Air and probably Fortress too, claim much longer running lifespan hours than similar priced, louder compressors. Is it just a matter of running a larger piston slower or something else to account for that and the noise level difference?

 

[9eight7]

I had the CAT compressor for about a week and it was super quiet at 60 dB. It was even quieter than my TV when we watch it! I ended up going for a larger compressor at 73 dB which is too loud.

 

[16again]

Only thing I didn’t like was the drain valve handle position. I flipped it to where I now like it.

 

[joey1320]

I had considered the Fortress but Menards had a sale on their Masterforce Ultra Quiet 4 Gallon compressor at $104.99 and I went for it. Extremely happy. I used to hate running my Craftsman 30 gallon, it was insanely loud in the garage. I actually enjoy using the quiet one now.

Seems a few of the pictures from the Fortress look extremely similar to the Masterforce.

 

[jarhead]

is the consensus still that the small fortress are good compressors?

 

[zendriver]

is the consensus still that the small fortress are good compressors?

I’ve had mine for a year or so.

every time I ever went to use it, it was still fully pressurized from the last time, sometimes months later.

Originally started with 1 gallon too small and I went to the 2 gallon but I like I wish it was a little bit bigger but then the next size is a little too much to carry around

 

[Snapped-off]

I picked one up to do tires. It'll hold me over until I go back home.

It's up to 159 right now on sale. Normal price is 179.

 

[General Geoff]

is the consensus still that the small fortress are good compressors?

Yes. I have the 1 gallon version, smallest one they make. You could run it in a library and not raise eyebrows. It really is that quiet.

Mine lives in a plastic tote bin outside year-round and it is always fully pressurized when I go to use it, even if it's been sitting over a month. Always fires up even in 10 degree weather. I've had it for 2 years now, this will be its third winter. Best $109 compressor ever.

 

[jarhead]

Thanks for the replies!

 

[Rinspeed]

I almost bought the 30 gal a couple years ago, good reviews. I ended up with a Dewalt 60 gal that I have been very happy with.

 

[DrinkMan]

Based on this thread, I purchased the little 1 gallon Fortress for pumping up tires. I love how quiet it is. We stick it on the shelf for weeks and it holds pressure. I can grab it and move it to the cars. It works well.