Portable air compressors

[PassnThru]

I know there are lots of threads about air compressors - but I haven't seen much on portable compressors. I have a workable compressor in the garage. It's a Craftsman horizontal 5 HP 25 Gallon model. It's oil less and loud as all get out. It's really also less portable than I'd like. Whenever I do some work in the house it gets rolled up to a door and I snake a hose through the house.
I'd like to get something more portable and quieter so I can set it in the house and work without dragging so much hose around. It would need to run nailers (finish, framing, and flooring) but only one at a time so capacity needs are pretty low. Also, it would probably only be used a few times a year.
I'd like to stay below $200. There are plenty of compressors out there lower than that but I'd prefer not to have something I can't stay in the same room with when it's running.
Any suggestions?

 

[Outlawmws]

How much pressure/volume do you need, and for how long? ? there are little compressors meant for air brush use and work for air off jobs, but not too useful for bigger job...

For quick jobs a 5 gal portable air tank might do. Key to your answer is your requirements.

 

[PassnThru]

It would need to run nailers (finish, framing, and flooring) but only one at a time so capacity needs are pretty low. Also, it would probably only be used a few times a year.

Again - it will be used for nailers. No shop work.

 

[ibedayank]

define portable....
portable to me is being able to lift it in the back of a truck alone

 

[TireTracks]

define portable....
portable to me is being able to lift it in the back of a truck alone

I think he's looking for something like a little Pancake type compressor.


My grandpa has a oiled piston pump 4gal hitachi compressor that came with his nailguns, it's not loud loud, but it's anything but silent. It sounds like a giant bee, Buzzzzzzzzz. Sears had them in the catolog for $200. Edit: This is the one- http://www.amazon.com/Hitachi-EC12-2-Horsepower-4-Gallon-Compressor/dp/B0000225DO/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1320520291&sr=1-1

It's quieter than an oilless, but the consensus between my dad, everyone who's ever been in the shop with it running, and I is thats it's annoying.

 

[PassnThru]

define portable....
portable to me is being able to lift it in the back of a truck alone

Pretty much my definition also. Since it isn't going to be running anything but nailers, I should be able to lift it into the truck with one hand.

I think he's looking for something like a little Pancake type compressor.


My grandpa has a oiled piston pump 4gal hitachi compressor that came with his nailguns, it's not loud loud, but it's anything but silent. It sounds like a giant bee, Buzzzzzzzzz. Sears had them in the catolog for $200. Edit: This is the one- http://www.amazon.com/Hitachi-EC12-2-Horsepower-4-Gallon-Compressor/dp/B0000225DO/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1320520291&sr=1-1

It's quieter than an oilless, but the consensus between my dad, everyone who's ever been in the shop with it running, and I is thats it's annoying.

Yes - a pancake or a stack. Something I can pick up easily and carry into the house. I think the main thing is how loud it is. I can buy $100 pancake compressors all day long. But I can't hear them until I buy them unfortunately. Of course, since my noise benchmark is a large Craftsman oil free compressor then everything else made is probably queter
The Hitachi looks like a nice unit. It may even be a little larger than I need. I'm not sure.

 

[TireTracks]

Pretty much my definition also. Since it isn't going to be running anything but nailers, I should be able to lift it into the truck with one hand.



Yes - a pancake or a stack. Something I can pick up easily and carry into the house. I think the main thing is how loud it is. I can buy $100 pancake compressors all day long. But I can't hear them until I buy them unfortunately. Of course, since my noise benchmark is a large Craftsman oil free compressor then everything else made is probably queter
The Hitachi looks like a nice unit. It may even be a little larger than I need. I'm not sure.

Is one also has good reviews, never used one though, claimed 80db-

http://www.amazon.com/Makita-MAC700-Big-Bore-Compressor/dp/B0001Q2VK0/ref=pd_cp_hi_1

 

[ibedayank]

any of the smaller direct drive compressors are going to be load

just the way they are built

 

[crewchief888]

i hav a porter cable pancake compressor i keep in the house for running nailers.
much quieter than my cm oilless out in the garage.

for as much as it runs it's "tolerable".

 

[benny27]

I have one of the porter cable pancake compressors it works fine but is loud.

If I was to buy a new one it would be this Rolair. 60db http://www.toolnut.com/Rolair_JC10_1HP_Oil_Less_2_5_Gallon_Air_Compressor_p/jc10.htm
I was sold on it after I seen the 2nd video on that page.

 

[PassnThru]

i hav a porter cable pancake compressor i keep in the house for running nailers.
much quieter than my cm oilless out in the garage.

for as much as it runs it's "tolerable".

Good to hear the porter cable is quieter than the craftsman. Are the smaller compressors going to be quieter in general? I can't imagine running my Craftsman in the house. It would be insanely loud.

I have one of the porter cable pancake compressors it works fine but is loud.

If I was to buy a new one it would be this Rolair. 60db http://www.toolnut.com/Rolair_JC10_1HP_Oil_Less_2_5_Gallon_Air_Compressor_p/jc10.htm
I was sold on it after I seen the 2nd video on that page.

I'll keep that one on my radar. Thanks.

When you get into the smaller compressors - is it still better to go with an oiled compressor for lower noise levels? Or is it a moot point since portability means reduced weight which means thinner cylinders and direct drive versus belt drive versus blah blah blah.
In other words, does small size and portability equal more noise across the board?