Opinion on this compressor

[Scott]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92504

My dad just bought this compressor yesterday, the specs look good (14.5 cfm at 90psi), 220v, in a smaller 29 gallon package. I think it is a good fit for his garage and usage (light duty work). But he called me this morning and was a bit concerned, it did not dawn on him till he took it out of the crate that the pump is aluminum with cast iron sleeves instead of an all cast iron unit.

So he is debating whether to take it back or not and buy the 60 gallon compressor with cast iron pump. What do you guys think? Is this thing junk? The 60 gallon is only another $30, so it is not price, it is that this compressor is a nice size.

 

[Scott]

Any opinions on the merit of cast iron sleeved aluminum compressors?

 

[OldCarGuy]

My last compressor was a two stage SpeedAir 5HP that had aluminum heads with cast iron sleeves. I ran it 24 hours a day 7 days a week for almost 20 years with no problems and still runs today. The only maintenance was changing the oil once a year. Though it was a light duty industrial model.

Keep in mind that the Harbor freight model is a single stage compressor which is not as efferent and build for lower operating pressures than a two stage. And doesn’t seem to have an ASME tank.

All in all a lot of compressor for $380.00 and would most likely last a long time for the home hobbyist. .

 

[Scott]

Sounds good, I think it will work for the light duty work he will be doing. Some impact work, some occasional die grinder stuff, no painting.

I almost have a hard time believing that flow spec at the price level.

Does anyone know who makes this unit? I have not seen an aluminum "v-twin" design in a compressor this size before.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

If it is a "wet" compressor (oil lubed pump) then it should be OK. It will be slightly noisier than a solid iron pump, but not much. I had an older Craftsman with an aluminum pump with steel sleeves and it was a good unit, just a little noisy. I donated it to the county animal shelter fundraiser auction. Irked me it went for $60, should have been a couple of hundred, for charity.

Charles

 

[Scott]

It is oil lubed.

 

[ron in sc]

That stats. on that compressor are quite good for a single stage compressor. Are you concerned that it may not live up to the advertised output?

Mine is an Ingersoll Rand single stage with a 60 gallon tank, 11.4 cfm at 90 psi. I can run all kinds of air tools, but not a die grinder for more than a minute or so. You will not be able to sandblast. I can spray paint with an HVLP gun as well as a regular gun, so you should have no problem.

 

[Scott]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92504

My dad just bought this compressor yesterday, the specs look good (14.5 cfm at 90psi), 220v, in a smaller 29 gallon package. I think it is a good fit for his garage and usage (light duty work). But he called me this morning and was a bit concerned, it did not dawn on him till he took it out of the crate that the pump is aluminum with cast iron sleeves instead of an all cast iron unit.

So he is debating whether to take it back or not and buy the 60 gallon compressor with cast iron pump. What do you guys think? Is this thing junk? The 60 gallon is only another $30, so it is not price, it is that this compressor is a nice size.

DO NOT BUY THIS COMPRESSOR!!!!

My dad hooked up the first one and it ran for 20 seconds before tripping the reset switch. Then it tripped the reset every time it was turned on. So he took that one back and got another one, from a different HF store, this one ran a bit longer before tripping the reset. He checked the voltage at the compressor, a solid 240v.

So either they are defective, or the motor is too small for the pump. But two bad units, give me a break, obviously they were never tested at the factory. I guess you gotta learn your lesson the hard way about HF, keep it to hand tools and knick-knacks.

 

[HighOctane]

From the specs I read and the picture, it looks like a pretty solid compressor to me. But if its defective and does that twice then I wouldnt even consider HF.

 

[Scott]

I was going to buy it too, the specs and price were really too good to be true. I bet they have to pull them off the shelves, two different compressors from two different stores is a bad sign for sure. But maybe they were from the same batch.

There is a 45 gallon at Lowes that looks interesting for $400.

 

[Scott]

My dad bought that 45 gallon from Lowes today, 10.1cfm@90psi. I will give you guys the report when he gets it hooked up.

 

[VvvJRvvV]

Scott,

Any update on how that compressor from Lowe's is. I was looking at it tonight when I ran through there.