What do you think of this air compressor?

[Monty]

I've got a thread on here asking for advice on buying a new air compressor, and I just happened to see this ad today.  It seems to have a couple of the things I'm looking for (quiet, lower cost), but since I know virtually nothing about air compressors, I'm hoping someone more knowledgeable will point out any downsides that might make it a less than ideal solution.

https://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/power-tools-accessories/air-compressors-pneumatic-tools-accessories/air-compressors/masterforce-reg-ultra-quiet-1-8-gallon-portable-electric-trim-air-compressor/3301511/p-1444423543348-c-12910.htm?tid=-2912616006167889150&ipos=1

 

[935k3]

Looks pretty nice for the price. I wonder how loud it is.

[Casey]

Menards' (a Midwest based home improvement store) sells Masterforce tools as their house brand, so quality comes after price. Not saying they are total garbage, but I've only ever bought one Masterforce tool in almost thirty years of shopping there, a smooth jaw pliers...and it wasn't worth the $4.99 I paid. 

[Mark]

You might be able to scrounge something cheaper right now, with Christmas shopping season in full force.  I bought a Ingersoll-Rand "pancake" compressor earlier this year at Home Depot, I think I paid $100 for it.  Depending on where you live, if the compressor turns out to be noisier than you would like for indoor operation, you can carry it outside and fill the tank.

I wouldn't pay more for a particular brand name either; most of these things are probably coming out of the same industrial complex anyway, with the last step in assembly being to slap the brand name sticker on...

[Dave G.]

On 12/14/2018 at 9:44 AM, 935k3 said:

Looks pretty nice for the price. I wonder how loud it is.

The fine print says 60db.

The CAT (California air tools) one I listed in another thread I believe is 58db and less money with good reviews, and I believe it's lighter weight. But this Master Force is rated to run finish nail guns fwiw.

Edited December 15, 2018 by Dave G.

[aurfalien]

Hi,

I had and can vouch for this one.

https://www.amazon.com/Airbrush-COMPRESSOR-Training-Published-Exclusively/dp/B001738DXU

They are not fire proof

However I did change out the gauge due to personal preference.

[aurfalien]

Hi,

I'm fairly unhappy with compressor options in general.

So when I am able to, perhaps mid next year, I plan do build my own, something like this.  In fact I'm going to use this video for reference;

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

If you do a little shopping around you can pick up a 6 gallon pancake compressor pretty cheap.

I got a DEWALT along with an 18 gauge brad nailer for around $150.00.

Amazon has Bostitch 6 gallon pancake compressors for $99.00.

 

Steve

[Pete J.]

I think you will find a lot of compressors look very similar.  That is because the majority are made by Campbell-Hausfeld, Devilbiss and Ingersoll- Rand.

  The top end industrial compressors(and air tools for that matter) are made by Ingersoll-Rand, but they also make compressors for the home user and also have several generic brands.  If you go into a large industrial shop, there is a high probability that you will find a large IR doing the work.   Some of the Sear Craftsman compressors are IR's but you have to understand Sears source codes(the first three numbers of the model number) to figure out which ones. 

 Devilbiss has been around for a long time.  In fact the invented the paint gun and are well known for their painting equipment.  They are owned by Porter Cable/ Black $ Decker so all of those are essentially the same. 

  Campbell-Hausfeld also have a wide range of compressors from industrial to small homeowners machines.  Home Depot's Husky brand are Campbel-Hausfelds as are some of Sears Craftsman(see the comment under Ingersoll-Rand).

Having said all that, these are the primary american compressor manufacturers.  Most are very good quality so you really can't go wrong with these.  Everything else(except air brush only compressors made by the major airbrush companies) is a roll of the dice.  You may get a good one, you may not.  Kind of iffy. 

 

As to noise, well you really have to hear it to understand it.  Here is the normal definition of decibels. 

• Near total silence - 0 dB
• A whisper - 15 dB
• Normal conversation - 60 dB
• A lawnmower - 90 dB
• A car horn - 110 dB
• A rock concert or a jet engine - 120 dB
• A gunshot or firecracker - 140 dB

 By the way, the decibel scale is geometric not arithmetic.   10 dB's at the low end of the scale is much less difference that the higher end of the scale.   60 dB of constant sound from a compressor is much more annoying than being in a room where a normal conversation is going on.  A compressor running at that level will render conversation unintelligible.