My 14 y/o Craftsman 3 gallon hot dog compressor bit the dust today. Looking to replace it with something similar. I have no need for a big 20-30 gallon unit anymore as all my tools are cordless now. Basically filling tires and airing up soccer balls. Any of them better than others anymore?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SigM4, January 08, 2022 07:38 PM

The little Makita compressors are real good. And much less noisy. Even better with a muffler you can get from Grainger.

I have a Bostich 6 gallon pancake. Does all the more mundane tasks pretty well. It will only just run an impact, but is just fine with a nailer or stapler. Easily portable too.

This one >>>



Bostich 6 gallon.

I love my little DeWalt 20v for stuff like that, keeps up with nails guns and such.

I know some here will likely malign this option, but a friend of mine has one of these that he's had good success with, and its really quiet. https://www.harborfreight.com/...ompressor-64596.html

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
I know some here will likely malign this option, but a friend of mine has one of these that he's had good success with, and its really quiet. https://www.harborfreight.com/...ompressor-64596.html

This ^^^^^^^ is what I bought last year after my old 20 gallon roll around died. It's portable enough to carry to a job site etc. It's quiet enough that is doesn't scare the crap out of me in the middle of the night if it kicks on because I forget to turn it off! You can easily find ones with more output for less money and it doesn't come with a hose but I love it for my use.

Seems like Home Depot and Lowes are almost always having a sale on a package deal consisting of a pancake or small compressor and a few nail guns.

Here is one LINK seems like a pretty good deal if you want/need/can use the nailers.

I'm keeping my out for one, not in any big hurry.

My neighbor bought the Harbor Fraught one, he likes it a lot, I've borrowed it for wheel barrow tires, it worked just fine.
.

I have a porter cable pancake air compressor from I think it was Lowes for 5 years now, I at least use it monthly and it's oil less and runs perfectly.

Mine looks identical to the Bostitch above, think mine is a Porter Cable.

A lot of people on the Woodworkers forum that I follow like "California Air Tools" compressors. Ultra quiet. I will likely try one when my LOUD Bostich pancake compressor dies.

I have about 5 working air compressors around. The harbor freight FORTRESS brand air compressor seem to work fine from my own experience and others I know that have them. Many of the models have soft start technology. I have their 6 Gal. 175 PSI pancake air Compressor I like the FORTRESS better than my RIDGID 6 Gal. 150 PSI Pancake Air Compressor.

https://www.harborfreight.com/...ompressor-56829.html

I have also have a Kobalt 3 Gal. 150 PSI Hot Dog air compressor that I like and use a lot especially in the car trailer. It is lighter than a typical 6 Gal. pancake air compressor so it easier to move around.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobal...ompressor/1000258241

Heavy duty jobs... 3HP Porter Cable pancake, no longer made. Will damn near keep up with a blow gun for cleaning purposes. Thing is a monster, but heavy.

https://www.partswarehouse.com...cake-Co-s/171267.htm

Light duty... 20 volt DeWalt pancake... Light weight, though eats batteries quickly.

https://www.dewalt.com/product...ressor-kit/dcc2520t1

Airing up tires and such... Schumaker battery jump pack.
Anything from jumping a car battery to airing up tires.
What's nice about this product is that you screw it on the valve, set the pressure and hit run. It will automatically shut off at the set point. If it gets to hot or runs for 10 mins, it will shut off and automatically restart and continue this procedure, until the set pressure is reached.
It also has USB ports, 12 volt ports, 120 volt port, led light
Absolutely the go to for airing up tires.

https://www.amazon.com/Schumac...a-584981232865&psc=1

For a small air compressor that really is quiet ... check out
the California brand. I bought one at Home Depot. If not carrying
them in stock you can order one and pick it up at the store.
I mean these are quiet.

poli Viejo

quote:

Originally posted by Horn:
For a small air compressor that really is quiet ... check out the California brand.

Specifically: California Air Tools.

They do look good, get positive reviews, and appear to be a good bang for the buck. I'm inclined to go with a larger, upright, 20 gal. Ingersoll-Rand for my needs, but would probably go CAT, otherwise.

Plus one on California Air. Very quiet and fast.

ROLAIR

Mine's been great.

quote:

Originally posted by Blackmore:
ROLAIR

Mine's been great.

Same here, never an issue.

Question concerning California Air Tools - where are they made?

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:

quote:

Originally posted by Blackmore:
ROLAIR

Mine's been great.

Same here, never an issue.

Question concerning California Air Tools - where are they made?

Good point. Everybody bitches about China, but few do anything about it.

CAT says "We have an assembly facility in San Diego, CA.", but who knows? Given their vague response, one might reasonably suspect the majority is manufactured elsewhere--quite possibly China.

I've heard good things about Rolair.

Here's a list of American Made Air Compressors

I note Ingersoll Rand is not on that list. Hmmm...

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by Horn:
For a small air compressor that really is quiet ... check out the California brand.

Specifically: California Air Tools.

They do look good, get positive reviews, and appear to be a good bang for the buck. I'm inclined to go with a larger, upright, 20 gal. Ingersoll-Rand for my needs, but would probably go CAT, otherwise.

I've had a 10-gallon 2-stage California Air Tools compressor for 6 or 7 years. Everyone is amazed at how quiet it is (e.g. you can have a conversation next to it while it's running). It has wheels so very portable and I've rolled it in the house a couple times for projects.

I was looking at a pancake at the time, but Home Depot had a Christmas in July deal where it was 50% off (i.e. too good of a deal to pass up). I can run a 1/2" impact gun and rotate my tires with it so it has more capability than a pancake.

Thank you for a timely thread. I am hopeful that I can clean and reuse, or replace my compressor pressure regulator. If not, time for another one. I was not impressed by my call to a non-existent company for part purchase -- the number on the decal of this compressor is no bueno.