Air compressor opinoins

mick il. · Jan 3, 2015

I'm looking at a 2.5hp 21gal 125psi cast iron oil air compressor from Harbor Freight it's a Central Pnuematics. Have you guys had any experience with these? I don't need a major compressor, just for impact gun, ratchet, die grinder and air up tires. Will this work? Thanks in advance

WGM · Jan 3, 2015

Do you realize 99.99% of the stuff in Harbor Freight is from China? Or does that even matter?

Mike Groom · Jan 3, 2015

Most of the Central Pneumatic's stuff is junk,Pay a little more and you'll be better off.

hd6gtom · Jan 3, 2015

will not run a air gun its too small

504 · Jan 3, 2015

You need a compressor with 10cfm @ 90PSI to run what you want to run. You can run an impact gun(short run time)but a die grinder will be used for a longer time. It may work fine for you just don t expect to have air every time you pull a trigger. I had a 5hp sears with an 60 gal tank that worked good for a home shop, but it was loud(and I found a screaming deal on a true 5hp 80 gal tank.

Stephen Newell · Jan 3, 2015

I use a lot of Harbor Freight tools however I don't buy their compressors anymore. They just don't hold up. Most compressors will run the tools you have listed however the smaller compressors you can't do it continuously. You will run out of air and have to stop and wait for it to catch up. Probably the only tool you would really have problems with would be the die grinder.

Russ from MN · Jan 3, 2015

I looked at a Puma brand compressor at Shoppers Supply yesterday, I was impressed. 60 gal,3 hp, 12 cfm. mostly made in America. $500 A little big for me, but sure would be nice for blowing out the sprinklers in the fall. The direct drive ones are so noisy!

jimg.allentown · Jan 3, 2015

Well, we seem to be buying plenty from every other group of foreigners - like our cars and electronics. And most of that comes from countries that tried to kill us at one time or another. As far as I know, China has never attacked us or been at war with us. Honestly, I would rather spend my money on US made products. If I had my way, the Germans and Japanese would never see another cent on my money - or any other money from the US.

1948CaseVAI · Jan 3, 2015

I am with Mr. Newell. I buy a lot of stuff from Chinese Freight, but only those things that I consider expendable - such as cheap angle grinders (I am going to abuse them and throw them away) or cheap consumables like grinding and cutting wheels. I do not buy anything much over $100 there.

As far as caring where it comes from, I would prefer American but the American public voted with their checkbooks and foreign manufacturers won.

Chris(WA) · Jan 4, 2015

I have had good luck with my Puma. 3 HP 240V single phase motor. V twin configuration on a 60 gallon upright tank. Bought it from Tool Town about 6 years ago after my 20 year old Craftsman rusted out.
Sees about the same work you are talking about.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200455341_200455341

Chris(WA) · Jan 4, 2015

Lets try that link again...
Puma at Northern

VADAVE · Jan 4, 2015

The Die-Grinder will require the most CFM. The rest a wheelbarrow compressor will handle. Look your die-grinder up if you can to see what the manufacturer says about air needed. If you can't look it up then just go by what the catalogs (like Northern tool or Harbor Freight) say. All the common die grinders use about the same CFM.
Then you don't to get the size compressor but something reasonably close will keep it running without the compressor running constantly.

David G · Jan 4, 2015

forget about the die grinder on less than 7.5HP

Air compressor opinoins

mick il.

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WGM

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Mike Groom

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hd6gtom

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504

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Stephen Newell

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Russ from MN

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jimg.allentown

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1948CaseVAI

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Chris(WA)

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Chris(WA)

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VADAVE

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David G

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