Who Makes a Good Portable Compressor

[prichard]

This was sitting at Lowe's saturday with damaged wheels for $150. My wife saw it and decided I needed it. Who was I to argue.

Shop Kobalt 2-HP 5-Gallon 175-PSI 12-Volt Twin Stack Portable Electric Air Compressor at Lowes.com

It builds and holds pressure but haven't really used it yet. But Lowe's is pretty good about returns so I figured it was worth a shot.

 

[Garandman]

At work we have a Craftsman Professional. They don't make too many models and they're a lot more than the cheapos but we've run it a lot for five years.

They're all pretty damned loud, we built a box around it with anechoic foam. But the box can't restrict the airflow so still pretty noisy.

From Garage Journal:

I too wanted a portable air compressor and ended up choosing the IR Garagemate. It is a oiled unit and belt driven which are the quietest and longest lasting compressors.

The dewalt compressor is actually made by coleman/sanborn which makes most every compressor out there except IR, Quincy, and a couple others I can't think of.

BTW there have been complaints the Dewalt is louder than their claimed 78db.

 

[Fesntkilr]

I used to work commercial construction for a company that only bought the very best in tools. We only used Rolair or Emglo compressors and the gas compressors only had Honda motors. Rolair is probably the best of the bunch, Emglo was bought out by Dewalt and the quality has suffered significantly since then.

 

[ultrarunner]

It is getting to be a chore to lug my emglo around and it is loud although what a reliable workhorse the last 30 years.

Really looking for something with wheels like a hand truck... I've got a lot of tires to air up with 50 vehicles...

The shop is piped for air but that means driving the vehicle to the shop... I also have a 30 year old Thomas that works well in the service van and have air piped front, rear and to the pullout vice.

My work around has been a 6 gallon air tank... ok to top off but that is about it unless I want to keep making trips to refill.

Some of the new compressors like Senco are 200 psi units and I saw a 500 psi unit on a job... very compact but with high pressure output you get more work from a smaller tank.

By far the Senco 1010 is whisper quiet... perfect for a little air at the bench or for a brad nailer...

 

[ultrarunner]

I took advantage of Zoro's 25% discount and free shipping and bought Rolair

https://www.rolair.com/products/air-compressors/hand-carry/vt20tb

It was just over $300.

The Rolair is rated for 5,000 hours compressor life, is much quieter, has hand truck type wheels and continuous duty cycle.

I think it will be a good fit for my needs

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I took advantage of Zoro's 25% discount and free shipping and bought Rolair

https://www.rolair.com/products/air-compressors/hand-carry/vt20tb

It was just over $300.

The Rolair is rated for 5,000 hours compressor life, is much quieter, has hand truck type wheels and continuous duty cycle.

I think it will be a good fit for my needs

They says it draws 12.3 amps... It would have to draw 20 amps (at 120V) to make 2 HONEST hp..

Hopefully they didn't exaggerate the rest of the specs on that compressor too... lol

SR

 

[joefromga]

2hp is exactly 12.3 amps at 120v. Startup will be more but not running.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

2hp is exactly 12.3 amps at 120v. Startup will be more but not running.

Not in the REAL world it isn't... There's a lot of loss' between paper hp and real hp...

10 amps per hp works all the loss' in, and makes an honest hp.

SR

 

[4570Man]

Not in the REAL world it isn't... There's a lot of loss' between paper hp and real hp... 10 amps per hp works all the loss' in, and makes an honest hp. SR

This motor might be 1.5 hp, but definitely not 2. A true 2 motor won't start and run on a 110 volt 20 amp circuit.

 

[ultrarunner]

I really can't say...

When I was shopping the reviews for Rolair were very good... especially the average longevity was in some cases more than 10 times less expensive models at 5 times the price.... sounded like a win/win

I too had a few questions and called Rolair and I asked the person I was transferred to if he had been with the company long... he said I was speaking to the owner... how often does that happen in today's world?

Family operated Wisconsin USA business that also carries full line of parts for what they sell...

I've never been to Wisconsin and I have never bought anything from Rolair... so time will tell.

In the interest of full disclosure the model I bought is one of the few that is not USA made...

 

[Garandman]

Rolair has a sterling reputation.

 

[prichard]

Regardless of true HP that looks pretty good for what you paid.

HP is always some number made up by marketing. I'm guessing they base it on 746 watts/hp even if that wishful thinking.

 

[ultrarunner]

On a side note...

I ordered from Zoro and it was delivered the next day... amazing and free freight and the best price with the 25% off coupon.

What came as a huge surprise is the delivery truck and package was Grainger.

See.. I have a National Grainger Account and Grainger couldn't come anywhere close to Zoro pricing which a 100% wholly owned by Grainger... $303 incl freight or $478... go figure?

 

[John_Mc]

A true 2 motor won't start and run on a 110 volt 20 amp circuit.

I've got a 2HP motor on an electric logsplitter that runs off a 120 vac circuit with a 20 amp breaker. (It came with a plug with one of the prongs turned sideways, so intended for a higher amperage 120v circuit, but I swapped the plug and have not had a problem). Probably part of the reason it works is the motor does not start up with any sort of load on it. It runs anytime it's plugged in, but only gets a load when I activate the hydraulic valve on the splitter.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've got a 2HP motor on an electric logsplitter that runs off a 120 vac circuit with a 20 amp breaker. (It came with a plug with one of the prongs turned sideways, so intended for a higher amperage 120v circuit, but I swapped the plug and have not had a problem). Probably part of the reason it works is the motor does not start up with any sort of load on it. It runs anytime it's plugged in, but only gets a load when I activate the hydraulic valve on the splitter.

How many amps does it draw? You don't know if it's REALLY a 2hp motor, until you see how many amps it draws...no matter what the mfg called it.

SR

 

[downsizingnow48]

My three compressors are: a 25 year old Emglo. An I-R Garagemate. And, the 1010 Senco. Like Ultrarunner I got the Senco for less than $200 with a brad nailer I have never used. I use the Senco compressor with a Senco 1/4" crown stapler and a Senco finish nailer. Works fine and so easy to move around. And real quiet. For everything else I just run air hoses from the I-R that is in a corner of the shop. The I-R is pretty quiet. The Emglo is getting heavier as I get older and it is also a bit noisey. It is in semi retirement don't really need it these days.

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^ Just got to the point where I appreciate quiet and lightweight...

My Emglo has never let me down... but I swear it gets heavier all the time!

(As a side note... I have been regularly buying the cheap Harbor Freight Dollies which I have come to appreciate)

Part of my problem is gripping can be painful and it doesn't take much get the back out of whack...

The 1010 is amazingly quiet... bought it of all places at a Father's day sale at the local Hardware store.

I will leave the Horsepower discussions to those that know more than me only saying motors can pull more amps for short periods of time... had issues with some pumps at work... the new replacement one were tripping breakers yet they were sold as a direct replacement... end up having to reconfigure the magnetic starter so as to make it "Slo-Blow" and also upsized the leads... not a problem since. The old motors are Baldor made in USA and the new replacement is China...

 

[ultrarunner]

Rolair has this to say about using with a generator:

WHAT SIZE GENERATOR SHOULD BE USED TO POWER MY ROLAIR AIR COMPRESSOR?

Our air compressors are built with inductive style motors that draw a significant amperage spike during each start. Most generators will not provide this start up requirement and lead to premature capacitor and complete motor failures. Therefore, our recommendation is to completely avoid the use of generators. Motor related failures that occur due to generator use will void the warranty.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

IF I need a bunch of air away from the shop, I just use my older Emglo compressor...

It's been one he!! of a compressor!

For air in and around my shop, I have this Le Roi,

I also have a couple this size too,

And, one even smaller than that, that I have in my basement...

BTW, I've started and ran that big Le Roi with my 15kw Winco pto generator, no problem at all!

SR

 

[ultrarunner]

That is some heavy iron... would love to have a place for a large industrial compressor.

Never did hear back from Senco... I did an online information request and called their toll free number and left a message 10 days ago.

In the scheme of things the sale of 3 portable compressors and accessories isn't much but I thought being a Senco Customer looking to purchase would have at least warranted a reply...

As mentioned... with Rolair... a company I had hardly heard of one phone call and I was transferred to one of the company owners...