North Star 2 stage ?

[8nford]

First post here , i have been looking at different compressors and impressed with the Quincy 60 gal 2 stage But the one that really interests me is the North STAR 80 gal 2 stage Lesson 5 hp ,powder coated. stainless Swedish valves , easy access drain line , 4 year warranty Its got a 1499.00 price tag. The problem is i have not come across anyone who is using this unit. The reviews on there web site say they [only 2] were from previous model. Does anybody have anything on this unit? Thanks Don

 

[Curmudgeon]

I would be very surprised if the North Star is U.S. made. Much of what Northern Tool sells is the same stuff you get at Harbor Freight with a different brand on it. If you need parts 10 years from now will they be available? Maybe, maybe not.

Quincy is top quality and U.S. made. They have been around a long time. You can still buy parts for the old Quincy compressors and will probably be able to get parts for the new ones 25 or even 50 years from now. Plus, they have a track record that would be hard to top.

If you don't mind spending a little more money, my first choice would be a Champion/Gardner-Denver. Either that or a Quincy will probably outlive you AND your kids.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have looked the north star over in the store and it seems like a nice unit. I didn't look for COO on the parts, but it did look nicer then the new IR's sitting next to it. The new IR's pumps are made in India and the casting is so bad it looks a 3 year old made it out of clay.

 

[Farmall450]

Like they've said though, Quincy will be there 50 years from now.

Don't fix/change what isn't broke!

 

[EOC_Jason]

Today's IR consumer-grade stuff I would rate at the very very bottom of the list. Like you said, parts are sourced / made ANYWHERE in the world, whatever happens to be cheapest.

If it doesn't say "Made in USA" on it, then you can roll the dice on which country you think it's made in China, Mexico, India, Vietnam, etc, etc...

Go with the Quincy. You will pay a little more upfront, but properly maintained it will last a lifetime.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I bet its made by la plante compressor. They advertise their pumps as having swedish valves.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk 2

 

[8nford]

Pretty sure there put together in Minnnesota,don,t know much more than that . Thats why im looking for someone who is actually using it , to get some feed back.

 

[larryq]

I believe the NorthStar 20 gal compressors are made by Puma (per the Q&A section on the NT site.) So the lower-end units aren't junk. Can't speak to the 80 gal but I doubt they'd cheap out on those relative to their 20 gal units.

 

[Grounded Ken]

I'm not sure with this unit either. But some info on the Quincy, Atlas Copco owns Quincy, Chicago Pneumatic, Bellaire and they package the NAPA and looks to be Snap On
units. Their heavier units know as the AR compressor, this is the Chinese Saylor Beall clone.
The Automan series are the aluminum side by side two stage machines that are popping up all over the place. Atlas Copco has a plan to be the biggest air compressor company in the world, I'm not sure how their going to do it with some of the stuff they are putting out there.
I did notice on the machine in question a 30 amp draw. This means a 3600 rpm motor, this unit is wound up. Do your home work. Where will you get parts in the future?

 

[BMB]

I'm pretty sure the pump on them is from Bel Aire.
If so, it is made in Italy and Bel Aire is based out of South Carolina.

I called Bel Aire with some questions on their pumps and they were pretty helpful, so it might be worth calling them to see if they provide that one to Northern.

 

[Grounded Ken]

Guess where Atlas Copco is, Rock Hill SC