Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

[Mark42]

Latest project is putting in hard wood flooring. Borrowed a Bostitch flooring nailer from a friend (about a $500 air nailer) but they could not lend me their compressor because they use it daily on the job. A few calls to the local rental stores made me realize that I will be running up rental bills fast because I will have to rent the compressor 5-8 times to do the job unless I burn vacation time (which I am unwilling to do).

So I looked at cheap compressors that will run the nail gun. Found this one at Harbor Freight:

It is a 2HP piston compressor, with a max usable 115 PSI. and 4.4 SCFM @ 90 PSI. More than enough to run the nail gun at the pace I will be working at. Normally sells for $130, but its on sale for $80 right now.

The compressor gets rave reviews from users on HF. Also checked other sources for similar "made in china" 2hp, 4 gallon pancake compressors. Found this same unit is sold under different names (even Sears sells one from WEN). Prices ran from $160 (WEN) to over $250 for some other brands. Downloaded the manual, and it is the same machine, although there are minor changes to handle placement and gauge locations. Parts for the compressor are identical between HF and these other retailers. And where available, they also had good user reviews.

So I bought one from Harbor Freight. Came yesterday. It is a nice little compressor, and is a lot quieter than the reviews said and what I expected. I can easily work with this inside in the same room. It pressurizes the 4 gallon tank quickly to 120 psi, then shut off. Set the regulator to 40 psi, then opened the ball valve and let it drop off. It kicked back in at 80 psi and even with the valve open, ran back up to 120 psi before shutting off.

So I am happy. Its obvious there are some cheap parts. The brass fittings look to be low grade brass. Disassembled the pressure on/off switch and it is a quality part. The gauges are low grade, but Home Depot has replacement gauges that are much larger for about $6 each (tank pressure and regulator pressure). Had to fill it with compressor oil and it has a nice dip stick and sight glass to determine the oil level. The satin black paint job is low quality, and they missed a few crevice areas that show rust already. Also almost every washer that holds the compressor cover on has rust. The screws are OK. Nice heavy gauge 6 ft cord. Found a label that had date of manufacture as 05-10-10. I'm guessing May 10th of 2010?

Funny how the manual says not to use an extension cord with the compressor, but on the box it says it is great for roofers running nail guns due to low center of gravity. How do you operate this compressor on a roof without an extension cord? I guess they expect the roof to have outlets or use your "low center of gravity" generator. LOL!!!!

Still waiting for new 3/8" hose and quick disconnects that were ordered. Should be here Friday, and then the compressor can be tested with the nail gun. If it works well, the plan is to remove the motor from the unit, and paint the entire tank and handle with Rustolium before it has a chance to rust. I like the WEN blue color. Looks nicer than the satin black. And the unit I got from HF has a slightly different handle locaton than the pic above, in fact it matches the photos of the WEN unit exactly.

One last thing. I could hear that there was something that sounded like sand inside. Removed the drain valve and dumped out 1/16" or smaller ball bearings. There must be a cup or so inside the tank, and I'm sure they were put there intentionally. Any idea what purpose they serve?

Anyone else own this little compressor? Comments?

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

mark if it only works for the one job you bought it for, then your money ahead, but I suspect it will last much longer as long as you keep the oil up in it, where did you get your hoses from? I know I hate the hoses that HF sells, even the rubber ones, they don't last very long at all, the start cracking real quick and develop bulges quickly as well and there is nothing I hate more than to be doing a job and have a hose blow out, scares the crap out of me every single time. I bought a cheapy twin tank from Checkers auto supply for $100 about 8 years ago, with the only expectation that it last for the roofing job I was doing, well it is still going strong, loud but still working with no problems..

 

[robert graham]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

I've had 2 of those Harbor Freight units and for $89, and my shop use, they're pretty hard to beat, definitely not "professional quality", but mine each have lasted several years. I replaced that cheap rubber hose with an orange plastic-looking hose from harbor Freight and it's much better, so far! I consider it a "disposable/when it tears up, buy another one" type unit! So far, so good!

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

Fully agree with MT on his comments. However...ball bearings in the tank? I've never heard of that before. I would go back and check some of the other identical models and see if they too have this 'issue'?.
For intermittent use (like nailing) these work ok...but I would still be tempted to go a little larger on the volume in order to be able to run a few more tools.
Check out the ball bearing thing tho'.....that doesn't sound right.
BP

 

[Mark42]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

yeah, like you said, if it does the job, I got my money's worth. The hose is 3/8" PVC from HF too. Bought the hose with the best reviews, as some of the black rubber hoses had claims of blow-outs like you experienced. The PVC might not coil as well, but does last a few years. I have 2 25' black rubber hoses on my 1hp diaphragm (tankless) compressor by Campbell Hausfeld that are still crack free. Use it for filling the car/trailer tires. Was a gift from my aunt in 1988. I just ran out to the garage and looked at the hoses, and they have "Cambpell Hausefeld made in USA " printed on them. Amazing they are still going strong.

Its kind of sad when you think that I have to justify the length of a product life to just doing one job, when the Campbell Hausfeld compressor has been run regularly, even used for spray painting, for 23 years. Those hoses are as limp as hot spaghetti, and coil just fine. Still no cracks. Too bad I don't have the same expectations for this new compressor from China.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

I have the same exact compressor and have used it a bunch. I also have a 20 gallon compressor from HF that is also very good but I mostly use this little bugger because it reaches full pressure much faster. Your right about the brass ball valve...it is junk,I replaced mine with something better. I like most of the cheap stuff from HF,I sometimes buy 2 of each so I have a spare but have found this to be unnecessary. Catch the sales and manipulate the coupons and you can come out pretty good. Some of their other stuff that I am happy with is the inverter welder, oscillating multi-tool,folding trailer, all the trailer hitches and accessories.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

It is not unusual to find tiny ball bearings in tanks when a compressor new, they are the bead blasting pellets that are used to clean the inside of the tank after they are welded together, they knock off the welding slag inside the tank, which is why you should always take the drain valve out and get as much as possible out of it, the majority of the less expensive compressors are not rust proof coated on the inside of the tank, normally they are heavy enough to not be pulled into the air delivery system, but it is always a good idea to take the valve out and get rid of as much of it as you can.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

I was going to explain the ball bearings but I got beat to it. The compressor will work just fine for what you want to do with it. It's made for portability and small amount of air use (CFM) at a time...exactly what you're doing. I wouldn't try to run a die grinder or an impact with it, that will burn it up.

By the way, they're great for roofers because they sit on the groung plugged in and the air hoses for the roofing nailers are 100+ feet long...

 

[Mark42]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

Thanks for all the comments about your experiences. Makes me feel better about the compressor. Hope to have it for many years as long as its not abused.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

I don't think you'll be disapointed. I bought an Alltrade twin tank cheapie from Checker about 7 years ago for $140. It is still going strong. I to had the "ball bearings" which come out if you pull the drain valve and run the compressor. All the connections leaked as well and I had to teflon tape those. But other than that its been great and when it goes I'll get another. My 20 gal compressor just takes to long to fill and is louder so I have found that I use the small one for 90% of my work.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

You can use an extention cord...just make sure it can carry the Amps.

Make sure the outlet your plugged into has service enough for the unit or you will burn your motor up.

YD.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

Just a quick update.... Been using the compressor for a few days now to run the Bostitch flooring nail gun. At the pace I work, its more than adequate. Can shoot about 30 nails before the pressure drops and the motor kicks in. Holds pressure overnight (unplugged and hose off). Its not too loud, so it can be in the same room you are working in, although its hard to talk over. At least it pumps up fast.

BTW, the PVC hoses from HF stink to high heaven with that "new plastic" smell. Yech! Although a 50 ft hose is working fine (if not a lot more hose than I need in a 14x14' room). Also bought and filled the compressor with oil from Lowes. So far, so good. Non-foaming, no oil in the hose, and compressor is still alive. Can't ask for more!

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

Yeah you'll need a real rubber hose soon. If it's not 120 degrees out those PVC crap won't ever roll right. I've built two 20x40 barns with a framing nailer with mine.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

The hoses I use with my setups are the type designed for painting, they are durable, stay flexible and wear like steel..they are a bit more expensive, but I have never blown one in the last ten years and they don't leave marks if you get them upside a paint job..

 

[swl]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

Seems like everything I get a HF has that stank to it!! what is that smell? I thought it was just me. but the sales, the coupons, man I love that cheap crap!!!

 

[1979checkmate]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

i got a 2 ton engine crane from harbor freight for 130.00. Best tool i ever bought. Most used large tool as well...Maybe its a sign that i have to pull the old Merc TOP off the Checkmate too often...

 

[bigdee]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

Seems like everything I get a HF has that stank to it!! what is that smell? I thought it was just me. but the sales, the coupons, man I love that cheap crap!!!

Ohhh that HF smell. I know what your talking about. At my age not too many things arrouse me anymore............but that smell...!!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

Get rid of the fat plastic/PVC Harbor Freight hose. They're stiff and cheap. It's fine as a spare, but not if you ever need to use it for any duration.

I use 1/4" soft rubber air hoses in my shop. They're much easier to work with and you can basically feel the better quality.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

Most extension cords are too light of a wire guage for use for much more than a drop light. Any real power tool draws enough amps that the voltage will drop, causing the tool/motor to overheat and burn out.

A number of cheap extension cords have increased their insulation thickness so as to LOOK like a nice heavy cord but really are just another thin wire cord.

Don't fall for it.

Always look for the wire guage, you want 12 guage or better, and remember the smaller the guage # is the heavier wire.

Now if I can just get my Son to remember this! He is also why most ALL my power tools are AIR.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Bought cheap compressor.... Good or no?

We put an addition on the cabin for a large family in the wilderness. There were about 6 of us, most with power nailers, so it was going to go fast. The only problem is the generator wouldn't reliably start the air compressor.

Between us we had 3 of those little pancake things. I manifolded them all together, started them one at a time, and we had plenty of air for everything.