Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[dragoneggs]

Recently bought one of these for my wife's art studio. The 8 gallon model. It's silly quiet. She uses it one room over from my office; I can only hear it if the door between the two rooms is open, and even then, it's a background hum.

Air Compressors - Air Compressors, Tools & Accessories - The Home Depot

They are truly pleasant to use. I'm planning on getting one for my workshop; can't see buying a really loud compressor ever again.

60dB Wow! I just looked at that, and the 10gal 2hp model. Double the price but more than double the CFM. But it is 70dB vs. 60dB. Thanks for sharing.

 

[newbury]

There's a few youtube vids w/ sound showing the volume of the Ca compressor to others.
one

 

[rbstern]

60dB Wow! I just looked at that, and the 10gal 2hp model. Double the price but more than double the CFM. But it is 70dB vs. 60dB. Thanks for sharing.

Glad to help.

70db is still much quieter than the typical 80 to 90db of standard air compressor noise.

Depending on your use, you might be able to get away with adding an additional air tank to one of the smaller models. The motors are rated for 3000 hours of use, so a couple of extra minutes of run time to pressurize a second tank shouldn't effect practical lifespan.

If you need sustained CFM for extended use, you're probably stuck moving up to a more potent model.

 

[Michael Aos]

I have the California Air Tools 10020C. Works well for me.

 

[California]

I see their aluminum tank versions don't cost much more. For me I would choose that option. It will be easier to transport, and move around.

 

[Diggin It]

Does HF sell any durable air compressors that are not so loud they blow your ear drums out? I'm looking for something to use in a shop with a concrete floor and walls. My old compressor is loud as heck, and is not in the greatest shape.

Whichever device you choose, does it have to be inside the shop? If you can put it outside enclosed in a small shed built against the wall, the noise will be almost nil inside.

 

[aeblank]

I see their aluminum tank versions don't cost much more. For me I would choose that option. It will be easier to transport, and move around.

Aluminum pressure vessel? Yuck. Cyclic loading anyone?

 

[Oldpath05]

I get a fare amount of water from my vertical air compressor especially in extended usage, so much so I can see water coming out of my impact and die grinder. I see filters at HF at a good price but will those HF water filters stop the water and or which one, or should I look elsewhere?

 

[California]

I see filters at HF at a good price but will those HF water filters stop the water and or which one

I have HF's $33 'Industrial' Air Filter Regulator.

This is one of HF's 'Some Assembly Required' bargains, apparently a clone of something that costs 4 x as much. Everything leaked. I took it apart and chased the plumbing threads with taps, cleaned the debris out and lapped the sealing surfaces to make them flat, then reassembled using both teflon tape and paste. I configured it with outlet down instead of horizontal for less strain on output hose.

After that I sprayed several gallons of rustoleum. No fisheyes from water getting past the filter and the regulated pressure was steady. Drained a lot of water out of the cannister, discovered the drain handle is flimsy and had to be re-crimped so it wouldn't fall off. After that major project I haven't needed the filter again but it was worth the $33 just for the nice painting results on that one project.

Summary - it's more like a DIY kit. Get it set up properly and it will do what you expect.


Edit: As noted in 3Ts' post below the air needs to be cooled to condense the water to liquid, before it reaches this water filter. I had 25 ft of air hose before the filter which was sufficient in this case. I also had a tiny regulator/filter 5 ft before the gun and never saw water in that one.

 

[3Ts]

I get a fare amount of water from my vertical air compressor especially in extended usage, so much so I can see water coming out of my impact and die grinder. I see filters at HF at a good price but will those HF water filters stop the water and or which one, or should I look elsewhere?

You also need to cool the air prior to the water filter. I use a serpentine copper pipe right out of the compressor tank before it goes to any of my tools. Then use the water filter on that.