If you needed a cheap small compressor what would you get?

[jake00]

A co worker is looking for something to mainly fill tires, but claims he might want to run an impact gun off it. What would you get?



I doubt he'll ever get an impact,

 

[bigjhoov]

Porter cable or similar pancake.

 

[e-tek]

Pancake or 2 tank with one being removable.

 

[jake00]

2 tank removable sounds interesting

 

[HOTFR8]

I've seen alot of builders with these mainly to run nail guns.

I am sure something like that would be suitable.

 

[BWS]

Small blue,dble tank Emglo's have been around a long azz time.

 

[PCO6]

I have a small "Hot Rod" compressor that works well.

Post #17
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2564099#post2564099

 

[NUTTSGT]

If he's just filling tires, something small should work fine for him. If he plans on doing more, he'll need to step up to something larger.

For tires, this will work fine and used to go on sale during Craftsman Club sales for around $100.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-ga...p-00915310000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

 

[aandpdan]

I'd second the Craftsman compressor above. It's oil filled and is fairly quiet. I've had one for about 5 years now as a backup - just for the nail gun or filling tires and it works great!

 

[mrpowderkeg]

Porter Cable, I have the older version of this, and am currently using it to run my air stapler to install the sheathing on my shop. It's small and light, for an average home owner, it will be up to the task.

 

[tolken4]

I have a double tank ridgid that has served me well. Run my nailers off of it mostly.

One thing to note is it pulls a lot of juice. Try putting it thru a regular sized extension cord and forget it.

 

[Den69rs96]

I have this one for my basement. I got it years ago for 89.99 with a 20 dollar rebate. Its no IR compressor, but I've had zero issues with mine in 10 years. It will run a framing nailer or any other type of nailer easily which is the reason I bought it. I kept it in my basment so I can leave my 30 gallon compressor in the garage. This little compressor is perfect for filling up tires. I was able to run my air hammer with this little guy. Since the tanks are only 4.6 gallon it ran alot while I was using it with the air hammer. Normally i used my 30 gallon craftsman for anything other than the nail guns. Might work with a small impact wrench, but you would have to check out the cfm rating of the wrench. This has 3.6 cfm at 90psi.

http://www.pepboys.com/product/details/9232679/00238/

 

[kbs2244]

He is the reason HF exists.
They have on for less than $40.00

 

[6768rogues]

I have a small double tank Emglo that has been in service for 25 years without a single repair. It was not cheap, though.

 

[holland_patrick]

Not sure he can run an air gun off the HF 40 buck one I know I couldn't

 

[Falcon67]

Not sure he can run an air gun off the HF 40 buck one I know I couldn't

I ran framing nailers off one - everything from an 18g nailer to a big Porter-Cable framing nailer. No, I would not try an air impact off one of those. Besides, it only lasted about 6 months before it quit building pressure. But then, I used it almost daily during that time for a big house remodel and the start of my new shop. It died before the wall framing for the shop was done. Not sad about it, that was a loud ******* and I got tired of listening to it. Paid 39.99 with a coupon, just tossed it. Switched to my 25 gallon 1.5 HP Porter cast iron portable to finish the job. It's only...12 years old or so. Glad I never got around to selling it. The neighbors were glad that pancake died too, I'll bet.

 

[numbah9]

I routinely run a framing nailer off a Porter-Cable pancake nailer. It goes through the air pretty quick, but I've never had an issue with performance. However, like Falcon67, my experience is that the compressor is really noisy! That may not matter for you, though.

With a full tank of air, I would probably only get maybe a half-dozen framing nails (at 110psi) before the compressor kicks on again. I run a cheap Craftsman ratcheting wrench off it, and it's also very hungry for air. An impact wrench will probably use less air.

 

[Journaler]

What about this one? It's not belt-driven, but it is oiled.
http://www.homedepot.com/buy/husky-...r-compressor-l13hpd.html#.UGYIQWjij2x.twitter and at $99 shipped, it's pretty inexpensive.

 

[gunguy]

Had a C-man like this one. Took me 25 years to kill it. In addition to tires and nail guns, I blew out my irrigation system, ran impacts and other tools. Yeah, it'd kick on 3 or 5 seconds after pulling the trigger but it worked. I whipped it like a rented mule and it just kept going. Maybe I was just lucky.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-7-ga...0916639000P?prdNo=14&blockNo=14&blockType=G14

Jim

 

[Twiggss]

What about this one? It's not belt-driven, but it is oiled.
http://www.homedepot.com/buy/husky-...r-compressor-l13hpd.html#.UGYIQWjij2x.twitter and at $99 shipped, it's pretty inexpensive.

I have this one. Got it last spring for about $60. For the price I couldn't beat it being an oil lubed style.

 

[LSU]

I picked up a Bostich pancake at Lowe's that came with 2 finishing nail guns. I gave one of the finishing guns to a friend and kept the other. It was on sale for about about $125.00. Wished I'd bought two of them.

I've not tried to run an impact wrench with it but it runs a 3/8 air ratchet well.

Your friend could probably pawn or sell the finishing nail guns and get a decent compressor almost for free.

I got mine after Christmas. I suspect it was an overstocked item. Lowes had stacks of them.