[weirdbeard]

I have been wanting to buy a small lightweight air compressor for a while now.. Sometimes I need portable air and my 5 gal. air tank is nice, but does not always do the job.

Do any of you guys have small lightweight compressors that are worth a dang?
I know its a bit strange.. Normally we are talking CFM and bigger is better, but I am not talking about painting or blasting.. Just airing up tires or maybe taking off a few lug nuts when I can't take the big compressor.

[willys36@aol.com]

I have a Harbor Freight $89 one (got mine on sale, normal price is $99) that I have been using and abusing for at least 5 or 6 years. I use it mainly for my air hammers during construction. Perfect for the uses you describe. Puts out a respectable 3cfm.

[weirdbeard]

Well I had not even looked at the HF compressors.. I thought they might be junk.. That is pretty impressive that you have been using yours for that long.
That one is 50lbs.. I am thinking half that weight.. I will see what else they have.
There is also a Senco I am looking at.. It is one gal. 20lbs with an aluminum tank.
Walmart sells a cambel haulfeild.. (I will never know how to spell that!) for like $50. I don't know if I would trust that at all. It is only 15lbs. Probably would have a hard time airing up a tire.

[willys36@aol.com]

Yes mine is a bit heavy but manageable. They also have the 1/3hp pancake type that weigh much less. Don't be afraid of them - pumps are made by the same Chinese outfit making them for all the name brand ones and mine has a USA made motor. Good as any. The De Laval 5hp comp I have had even longer has had a new reed valve many years ago and just last month the motor burned up. But that was a Westinghouse so can't blame that on the Chinese. The 6hp replacement I bought from HF is also a US made motor and cost half what I could find one locally for.

[weirdbeard]

That is very interesting. I guess I am going to mosey on over to HF and see what they have at the store.
On the website I saw one compressor where the frame was the air tank. I thought that was cool.

[4 Jaw Chuck]

I have a 2HP (yea I know its a peak rating) Campbell Hausfeld, bought it 5 years ago. It is oiless and is quite portable and easy to move.

Everyone I spoke with said they were junk and I shouldn't waste my money. To date it has 1000 hrs on it and all of that time has been in my shed where is has been rained on and run in -40C weather in the winter.

The only mod I made was to put an industrial sized water separator on it, it has performed flawlessly and has never blown my 15A breaker once. It still pumps up to 130PSI and with the 100ft hose I run into the house I use it all the time for air brushing models and using a blow gun to clean electronics etc.

I paid $150 CDN for it and since it has not required one minute of my attention I consider it a great buy. The only real issue is it is extremely noisy, I have considered making a little insulated doghouse for it with an external switch and an external hose reel.

If this thing ever wears out I will buy another immediately to replace it, it has filled more tires and popped more beads and painted more toys/models than I care to mention...I've also dragged it across more gravel driveways and stuck it my trunk dozens of times to the racetrack (where 120VAC 15A service is all you get in the pits).

Worth every penny I say, here is a pic of the 2009 model...mine is minus the fancy shrouds and front wheels but is mechanically the same.

[68-poncho]

i have one of those small campbell hausfield compressors from wally world.i use it when i'm outside my shop.it airs up tires just fine.little slow on my f250,65psi.i have had it for 8 years,and has maybe 2 gal tank. paid 50.bucks cdn for it.my shop compressor just to big to move around.

[matt167]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90168

I have the predisesor to this compressor.. had it about 3 years and got it on 1 of those sidewalk blowout sales for $50... run it in tandem with my big compressor ( 4hp peak HF 10 gallon compressor ) all the time.. airs up tires quick when used alone, great for airbrushing...

[weirdbeard]

4jaw we use those cambell compressors like that at work for nailing mostly. I think they might be one step down.. Anyway they are really tough compressors. We have given them hell for four years and they are still fine.. However... I would like to replace one with a lightweight compressor. I get sick of picking those things up.. 40lbs I would think.. The wheels are nice, but for me at six foot five they don't touch the ground when I stand up straight.
I am going to try one of those lil HF compressors.. If I like it, I will get one for work.
Probably that one you have there Matt.

[1ownerT]

Check on Craigs list, in my area there are always small compressors for sale, housing industry is very slow and a lot of tools are for sale.
Most of the small compressors I have worked with are a bit weighty though.
Another thought, what about a air bag/suspension compressor?

[TexasT]

I have a SpeedAire I bought at Grainger. It is a little hotdog but I use it the most. I rarely fire up the big one unless I have a bunch to do.