I currently own one of those small pancake compressors. It works for 95% of my needs. However, as a man, I feel the need to fill that 5% void. I want to run small air tools for pulling lugs off tires etc…
I’m looking for an upright to conserve space. It needs to be entry level considering it only gets used a few times a year.
Are there features that make one compressor stand out above others? My budget is $400.00 or less.
So what makes this Dewalt so much better than this Husky ??
Thanks!
Kooty
Two differences is the Dewalt is 200 PSI max and 5CFM at 90lbs. Husky is only 150 max and 4CFM at 90.
For my personal use I like a belt driven compressor and the largest air tank I can get. Direct connected your stuck using there motors if any thing happens. I look for the highest CFM in my price range and hopefully a cast iron compressor. In the lower priced air compressors they will never keep up with the air demand of air tools so I want that big tank for reserve.
We bought a Husky for our shop and I’m very happy with it’s performance. We drain the vessel a couple times a year and change the oil and that’s it. It’s going on 6 years old and running like the day we bought it. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another Husky. 
P.S. This one would look good in your garage. 
Try calling/contacting this place in Chanhassen. They service many makes and likely will tell you what brands are best, require least service, etc.
Air Compressors Plus
http://aircompressorsplus.com
(952) 679-2095
550 Flying Cloud Dr
Chanhassen, MN 55318
4 things
1. Keep it oiled
2. Keep the filter clean
3. Drain the moisture often
4. Run it once a month, whether you need to use it or not
(90 psi will run any Impact/Air tools you will use in a garage type setting)
Try northern tool, after I dumped my 8hp Ingersoll Rand I went to a smaller vertical unit and found one at northern, comes on wheels so ya can move it around.
Seems to work ok so far.
Looks a lot like this one.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200518764_200518764
al
One other thing oil-less compressor will be make more noise then a piston pump.
If all you want to do is remove lug nuts buy an electric impact. I thought about going with a bigger compressor and some of the small air wrenches would be handy at times but the average guy wont get much use out of them. I also have a small compressor for airing up tires and blowing out carbs etc.
This one is an excellent tool at a very good price. I know it is not upright, but far quieter, and will last far longer than either of the oiless compressors you are looking at.
If I remember right, the in-store price is lower.
Compressor at Menards
Try http://www.manta.com/c/mm0n75z/sanborn-manufacturing in Springfield, MN. They do compressors for several big name outfits, and you might get a decent price.
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If all you want to do is remove lug nuts buy an electric impact. I thought about going with a bigger compressor and some of the small air wrenches would be handy at times but the average guy wont get much use out of them. I also have a small compressor for airing up tires and blowing out carbs etc.
x2 I bought a 30 gallon upright craftsman for the same purpose and by the time the damn thing filled up with air and was ready to use, I could be done with whatever it was I wanted to use it for, just by using hand tools. That craftsman was a nice compressor but I ended up selling it and picked up a small dewalt.
Let’s not lose sight of the fact I am a man. And a pretty red, yellow or blue compressor sitting in the corner will provide some level of jealousy amongst the neighbor men, possibly a couple of the women. 
Quote:
This one is an excellent tool at a very good price. I know it is not upright, but far quieter, and will last far longer than either of the oiless compressors you are looking at.
If I remember right, the in-store price is lower.
Compressor at Menards
I have the same one, it’s real nice being portable for wood working projects and such.
I’d take the money you’re going to spend on a compressor and buy a top end set of cordless tools including a cordless impact wrench. More versatile and zero maintainance.
I drive an impact wrench with my pancake compressor and it works fine. It works fine, it’s just sometimes you have to wait to let the compressor catch up. Is bigger and faster worth the $$$ price tag to you?
Grouse
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I’d take the money you’re going to spend on a compressor and buy a top end set of cordless tools including a cordless impact wrench. More versatile and zero maintainance.
Grouse
X2
I don’t think there is one compressor that makes everything convenient. I think you need a couple, maybe even three if you do offsite work.
1. A small, dual tank, @4 gallon, oil lubricated compressor – builds pressure quickly, fills tires, blows dust off tools, air to clean carbs, runs air nailers, etc.
2. Optional – but something similar that is very light, portable, run air nailers on a jobsite. The above can be used, but is generally heavy to carry.
3. A larger stationary compressor that has capacity to run impact wrenches, air-orbital sanders, HVLP finish sprayers, with a pretty sophisticated filter system.
Depending on your needs, 1, 2, or three. You will appreciate a quiet running compressor in future years. Universal motors mean the compressor is a throw away tool when the motor goes out – try to avoid the universal motors where possible. Oil lubricated is good. Make sure you match the duty cycle to the expected usage intensity.
Hitachi, Dewalt, Ingersol Rand make some nice compressors for homeowners and contractors.
For industrial usage, you wouldn’t believe what you could buy for $20,000.
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I don’t think there is one compressor that makes everything convenient. I think you need a couple, maybe even three if you do offsite work.
1. A small, dual tank, @4 gallon, oil lubricated compressor – builds pressure quickly, fills tires, blows dust off tools, air to clean carbs, runs air nailers, etc.
For Kooty, it’s worth calling out that oil lubed compressors can be troublesome if they’re going to be kept in an unheated space. When the oil gets cold I’ve had issues with some models not wanting to start and then they blow the breaker.
Yes, yes, obviously you can change to a thinner oil, etc, but here we go with maintainance hassles.
On for his farm, my uncle bought a DeWalt XRP cordless impact wrench some years ago and has hardly touched the air-driven 1/2 inch ones since. It has the lb/ft rating to bust almost anything loose and not having to constantly have hoses getting pinched under tires, wrapped around stuff, etc is just so much better. Plus you can use it in the field or wherever you go.
Those smaller cordless 1/4 impact drivers are just awesome for other stuff. In fact, I use mine all the time for mechanic work.
Grouse
kooty,
another thing to think about is, do you have a sprinkler system in your yard, and do you pay somebody to blow it out every fall??? i have one about the same size as pictured above. it has no problem blowing the system out, all you need is enough hose to reach the spot where you blow it out at. if you buy a larger unit, you will use it, after all, you are a man.
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