talk to me about air compressors...

[crownjewelwl]

in the market for my bikes (but mostly my cars)...

what should i get??

[Uncle Jam's Army]

I like this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001Q2VPK/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_6?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER Have had it in my cart for over 6 months, but just can't bring myself to take it to checkout.

[crownjewelwl]

I like this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001Q2VPK/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_6?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER Have had it in my cart for over 6 months, but just can't bring myself to take it to checkout.

i dont think i have room in my garage for that bad boy...

does getting a smaller (read: cheaper) compressor not make any sense??

[Uncle Jam's Army]

This one looks good, too: http://www.amazon.com/Makita-MAC700-Big-Bore-Compressor/dp/B0001Q2VK0/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1349710911&sr=1-1&keywords=makita+air+compressor. Looks a lot more space-friendly.

[crownjewelwl]

This one looks good, too: http://www.amazon.com/Makita-MAC700-Big-Bore-Compressor/dp/B0001Q2VK0/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1349710911&sr=1-1&keywords=makita+air+compressor. Looks a lot more space-friendly.

can i get away with a tire inflator?

[bobswire]

I been using one of these for the past 10 years. Nice little around compressor,I even used one when I was doing professional finish work.

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-C2002-WK-Oil-Free-Compressor-Accessory/dp/B000N5UHK0/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1349711268&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=pan+cake+air+compressor

[AngryScientist]

what do you want to do with it? just fill tires or run air tools?

if the former, almost any air compressor will do, the "pancake" style compressors take up very little room and work excellently.

i have a monster air compressor to run air tools and paint accessories in my garage, but picked up a porter cable pancake compressor at lowes a few years ago to install hardwood floors in my house, works great. pretty light and portable.

http://www.plumbersurplus.com/images/prod/6/Porter-Cable-C2002-rw-76971-21376.jpg

[rePhil]

If noise is a concern,Oiless compressors are noisy.

[bobswire]

what do you want to do with it? just fill tires or run air tools?

if the former, almost any air compressor will do, the "pancake" style compressors take up very little room and work excellently.

i have a monster air compressor to run air tools and paint accessories in my garage, but picked up a porter cable pancake compressor at lowes a few years ago to install hardwood floors in my house, works great. pretty light and portable.

http://www.plumbersurplus.com/images/prod/6/Porter-Cable-C2002-rw-76971-21376.jpg

GREAT minds think alike. ;)

[crownjewelwl]

just tires...i don't think you want me anywhere near tools that would require an air compressor

what do you want to do with it? just fill tires or run air tools?

if the former, almost any air compressor will do, the "pancake" style compressors take up very little room and work excellently.

i have a monster air compressor to run air tools and paint accessories in my garage, but picked up a porter cable pancake compressor at lowes a few years ago to install hardwood floors in my house, works great. pretty light and portable.

http://www.plumbersurplus.com/images/prod/6/Porter-Cable-C2002-rw-76971-21376.jpg

[echelon_john]

I have the porter cable pancake compressor shown above, but wouldn't buy it again. A guy working on my house had this one:

http://www.toolbarn.com/makita-mac700.html?ref=base&gclid=CKSm_oLn8bICFUui4AodgxEAoQ

Slightly more $$; $200 for the compressor; but MILES quieter and less vibration.

I love my 80 gallon Porter Cable in the shop, but their oilless pancake compressors, especially the ones from Home Despot, are not that great.

[54ny77]

have had the same one for several years, put it thru the ringer and abused it on so many occasions i couldn't begin to count (construction use, mainly). it's certainly paid for itself in usefulness. cheap, light, easy to store, highly portable, it works, can't ask for more.

i wouldn't think of using it for bike tires though. that's what a floor pump is for. while the psi rating might not blow a tube out or a tire off with rapid inflation, i'd rather not find out its capabilities in that regard.

what do you want to do with it? just fill tires or run air tools?

if the former, almost any air compressor will do, the "pancake" style compressors take up very little room and work excellently.

i have a monster air compressor to run air tools and paint accessories in my garage, but picked up a porter cable pancake compressor at lowes a few years ago to install hardwood floors in my house, works great. pretty light and portable.

http://www.plumbersurplus.com/images/prod/6/Porter-Cable-C2002-rw-76971-21376.jpg

[kestrel]

I bought a 15 gallon Sears 150 PSI compressor several years ago. (it was on sale) I use it mainly for bike and car tires and occasionally to power an impact wrench or blower hose.
I should have followed my Dad's warning and gotten a larger capacity compressor. I continually find this unit is "Too light for heavy work and too heavy for light work".

My next step will be a 50+gallon for the garage and a pancake type for remote use.

Echelon_john has the right idea!

[echelon_john]

Pancakes definitely work fine for tires and small stuff. In the shop most of my tools are air; die grinders, cut-off wheels, dynafiles. But the big air suck is the sandblast cabinet. Even with a 19CFM 80 gallon compressor, it's kicking on a lot during steady sandblasting.

I find the P-C pancake particularly annoying when I have to be in the same room with it when I'm working, like when I'm using a finish/brad nailer or a flooring nailer. Definitely ear protection required. The Makita I linked above is much quieter, and the noise it puts out is at a much lower frequency that's just not as annoying indoors. I liken it to a diesel at idle vs. a 2-stroke engine running half open.

For an extra $50 for something that will likely last you forever, I'd strongly recommend the Makita over the P-C pancake.

[zap]

I purchased a small (not pancake style) Porter Cable compressor to adjust car tire pressures. Happy with it so far.

I read a number of complaints online about pancake style compressors so I didn't purchase one of those. Best to step up to the next level of baby compressors.

I use a floor pump for bicycle tires.

[djg21]

There is good info at http://www.prestacycle.com/air_compressors.php

I'm looking to get one to use with a prestaflator too.

[Gummee]

For cross an mtn tires:
http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/00911586000?hei=600&wid=600&op_sharpen=1&qlt=90,0& resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.9,0.5,0,0
Chop the schrader end off and hose clamp a 'crack pipe' inflator on the end for ease of use. Alternatively, get a replacement hose/chuck for your favorite floor pump and use that. Should be similarly sized hoses.

For car tires get something like the 4gal Craftsman.

For air tools get something with a 50gal tank. DAMHIK that the little Craftsman tank goes 'dry' REAL quick using an impact wrench to get the blades off your mower deck.

HTH

M

[djg21]

For cross an mtn tires:
http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/00911586000?hei=600&wid=600&op_sharpen=1&qlt=90,0& resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.9,0.5,0,0
Chop the schrader end off and hose clamp a 'crack pipe' inflator on the end for ease of use. Alternatively, get a replacement hose/chuck for your favorite floor pump and use that. Should be similarly sized hoses.

For car tires get something like the 4gal Craftsman.

For air tools get something with a 50gal tank. DAMHIK that the little Craftsman tank goes 'dry' REAL quick using an impact wrench to get the blades off your mower deck.

HTH

M

For hosing, air conditioner hose can be purchased at any autoparts store. I've used the stuff to rebuild my old Silca pumps for years.

[Vinci]

I have the Makita MAC700 that was linked a couple times earlier in the thread. It is an excellent compressor, and surprisingly quiet. If you compare it side-by-side with one of the Porter-Cable pancake units (we have one at work), the differences are huge.

FWIW, I got my Makita from Home Depot for the same price as Amazon (even including tax) earlier this year. I don't see them there anymore, so maybe they stopped carrying them.

[rice rocket]

Those little pancake/dual-barrel compressors work for inflating bicycle tires and nailguns, but completely useless for most other air tools, in case you wanted to do other things in the future like painting, impact wrenching, air hammers/drills/shears/sanders/polishers, etc. You'll want at least a 20 gal. or larger tank (and they cost no more). If you have the room and have ambitions to do other things, you might want to go larger.


Don't look at the PSI rating, look at the sustained CFM output.

[AngryScientist]

Those little pancake/dual-barrel compressors work for inflating bicycle tires and nailguns, but completely useless for most other air tools, in case you wanted to do other things in the future like painting, impact wrenching, air hammers/drills/shears/sanders/polishers, etc. You'll want at least a 20 gal. or larger tank (and they cost no more). If you have the room and have ambitions to do other things, you might want to go larger.


Don't look at the PSI rating, look at the sustained CFM output.

while this is fine and good advice, the OP clearly stated that this compressor is for inflating tires only. buying a larged tanked compressor is totally overkill in his case.

in my experience, and i have quite a bit, there are two compressors to buy. the small pancake type for very little jobs, and a huge 60 gallon, high cfm unit. most of the stuff in the middle are bad at both jobs. if you're really going to sandblast, or paint, or run heavy duty tools, most pedestrian compressors fall way short, and leave you wanting for more air.

for the guy who wants to keep his car tires topped off, and inflate a kids toy every now and then, the pancake works just fine.

IMHO, of course:)

[rice rocket]

Ah, I thought "mostly for my cars" meant for something other than inflating.

I must've missed the 3rd post, sorry.

[Ken Robb]

I have a small Sears piston-type unit that is 15 years old and works fine for bike, motorcycle, and automobile tires. It is also good for blow-drying bikes of all sizes and easing on rubber bar grips. I think they are still sold for about $100 with a hose and basic nozzles.