Air compressor

I am looking for an air compressor, will use it mainly for tires and cleaning parts. Any recommended? I want to keep it under $200.00, new or used. There is a Harbor Freight two blocks away but I hesitate to buy one from them because of inconsistent quality of their products.
Thanks!

Actually I think HF has some cambel hausfield compressors which are fine and even the smaller generic ones from HF I've seen work well.
Hopefully you get more input. I'm curious also. I have a 6gal I porter cable it's fine for nail guns and blow gun but not really extended blowing. Idk how it would work with pneumatic mechanics tools? Anyone ever use a small compressor for pneumatic sander and such?

I bought a 4 gallon 1.5 hp Fortress brand compressor from HF a couple of years ago and have been very pleased with it. It does a great job with air tools and air gun, recovers fast, and is much quieter than anything I've used of similar size. I like it a lot, best shop compressor I've owned.

I avoid HF like the plague (er...covid). For longevity, try to find a 220V compressor that is cast iron, not aluminum and not oil-less. The important rating is cfm, not pressure. Buy as many cfm's as you can afford. Sooner or later you may want to get some air tools or a spray gun so for grins, look at the cfm's they require. Hobbyists upgrade sometimes and good used compressors are available in your price range - hear it run. My old cast iron 220V, 2hp, 7 cfm@40psi, 150 psi 20 gal. tank Craftsman has been plugged in continuously for nearly 50 years with nothing more than routine maintenance.

hovel said:

I avoid HF like the plague (er...covid). For longevity, try to find a 220V compressor that is cast iron, not aluminum and not oil-less. The important rating is cfm, not pressure. Buy as many cfm's as you can afford. Sooner or later you may want to get some air tools or a spray gun so for grins, look at the cfm's they require. Hobbyists upgrade sometimes and good used compressors are available in your price range - hear it run. My old cast iron 220V, 2hp, 7 cfm@40psi, 150 psi 20 gal. tank Craftsman has been plugged in continuously for nearly 50 years with nothing more than routine maintenance.

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I'm with you! I've got a cast iron V twin single stage on top of a 60 gallon tank. No limitations. At least, not for me. I've had it almost 30 years. It's idle right now as my garage has only a single 110 outlet.

A Makita MAC5200 is a nice compressor, builds pressure quickly, has an oil lubricated pump, wheels to move it around and handle golds nicely for storage. Around here a used one would be in your budget.

I have this one, 30 gallon Sanborn. I wanted the 60 gallon, couldn't justify a complete do over of my garage organization to fit it in there though.

Pleasantly surprised how good the 30 gallon one works. You can run it on 110 volts or 220 volts.

Checked Craigslist. There is a Coleman and craftsmen used in the area. Also a 75 year old farm rig. All on Sheboygan, Wi Craigslist.

I’d bet those Coleman and craftsman are no better than the HF (if they were made in the last 10 years).

I bought this one from HF a couple years ago and quite like it .....

https://www.harborfreight.com/merch...i-oil-free-vertical-air-compressor-64858.html

I replaced a Craftsman with a smaller tank (17 gallon) because it ran all the time when using air tools. I found that at least a 20 gallon tank was needed. This one fits the bill nicely, big enough tank to run air tools without kicking on all the time. It has some very nice features like an easy to adjust air output knob and a very easy to access and use (front mounted) tank drain valve. It's also a 110volt so no special plug or 220 line needed. I highly recommend it.

Bought a Coleman compressor a few years back. The regulator assembly blew apart after a few months' use and a replacement would have been half the price of the whole machine. Found out from a local dealer that the problem was chronic. Never again.

jetmechmarty said:

I'm with you! I've got a cast iron V twin single stage on top of a 60 gallon tank. No limitations. At least, not for me. I've had it almost 30 years.

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Same here. Bought mine as a generic "reconditioned" unit about 25 yrs ago. Replaced the motor once. Other than that, trouble free. As was previously pointed out, buy as many GPM and gallons as you can afford.

mm1ut1 said:

I am looking for an air compressor, will use it mainly for tires and cleaning parts. Any recommended? I want to keep it under $200.00, new or used. There is a Harbor Freight two blocks away but I hesitate to buy one from them because of inconsistent quality of their products.
Thanks!

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its not always whats best for a price. Its what is best for your situation...........Also once you have considered what your situation is, its also once you get a compressor you realize a whole lot of new situations open up

So don't go into it with just a low budget, give your self a bit of leeway.

Air tools use a lot of air. If your using a rattle gun then it wont use a lot because your only tightening or loosing a nut so generally for short periods of time......most others need a good sized tank and engine to run them so the compressor isn't working al the time........thats what kills the direct-drive ones. If the motor is running all the time to keep up to the air flow.

belt drive compressors will usually pump up the tank faster than a direct drive one. belt drive compressors cost more......

As a chippie i would by a 2.5HP 40 liter tank direct-drive compressors. hey were light enough for me to lift them on and off my ute and get around job sites. usually would buy them when they were on sale around $150 to $200 and often they would have something else included. (a set of air-tools or something may be cheep quality tools but they have lasted due to the fact i am not using them commercially), I the compressors would last 3-4 years building houses in a small home workshop they will last 10 years or more. do some diligence on air flows. Might be worth while getting one that can be used with a small paint gun as a minimum. this would make it large enough to do jobs without taxing it and make it flexible for the future.

Old cast iron belt drives will last a life time. You will also not be able to move then around and they are basically left where they sit. They are Very heavy, even the ones on casters are a bitch to move around........buying new would be way outside the price range, buying second hand they still are probably,

650Skull said:

You will also not be able to move then around and they are basically left where they sit.

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Nah... they're easy as pie to move around....

Rattle guns are battery now, air not the hot tip. How much of your life have spent unsnaking air hose? for that reason bigger i.pressors should be a regular on cl etc. For tires a lithium battery hand held compressor is rapidly coming of age.

gggGary said:

Rattle guns are battery now, air not the hot tip.

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I still like my CP734 I bought in 1982. I can judge torque with it pretty well with the sound and feel of the knocks. I must be getting old.

gggGary said:

How much of your life have spent unsnaking air hose?

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Kind of second nature.

I rarely attach a tool directly to the big air hose anymore, I use those plastic coiled hoses, so much lighter and easier to maneuver around .....

Avoid the Home Despot Husky compressors, they are GARBAGE... HF has actually been know for their compressors, I've used them several times and found them to be quite nice. I'd stay away from any oil-less compressor they're LOUDE and slow.

RustiePyles said:

Avoid the Home Despot Husky compressors, they are GARBAGE...

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Bought one. Yeah, it's garbage. Out of the gate it leaked. Just went downhill from there. Got it while I was needing a motor for my big one. It was shot after 6 mo.

Jim said:

Out of the gate it leaked. Just went downhill from there.

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Thats the EXACT same experience I've had with every Husky compressor I've ever encountered.